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Threading Shots Through Gaps In The Trees Stroke Savers

I have played golf for more than 40 years. Most days on the course I find myself shaking my head at the dreadful decisions people make, especially after hitting their tee shot into the trees. The sound of the ball pinging around amongst Japanese cedars happens far to often and even has begun to creep into my dreams. You cannot imagine my frustration as I watch hard-working students not improve their scores because they try to weave their ball through a gap in the trees that even Phil Mickelson wouldn't attempt. Inevitably they end up with scorecard wrecking 9 and I realise their recent lobotomy was a complete success.

Golf courses in Japan are mostly parkland-style courses whose fairways are heavily tree-lined. It is quite a rare occurrence to play links golf here. Even the...

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What happens if your ball strikes another players ball? Golfing Rules, Seriously!

On the course this past weekend, I putt from just off the green and my ball struck my playing partners ball, knocking it closer to the hole.

After a quick giggle, we began to discuss the ruling, 'I'll play from there and its a one-shot penalty for you' my friend said. 'I was off the green' I said, 'Doesn't matter' he said. Right, I said. 'Hang on, and I'll consult the rule book'.

Luckily, I had The R&A's Rules of Golf on my phone (Well worth a download and it's FREE)

Without quoting the book verbatim, there are basically three scenarios which you should be mindful of:

On the Fairway (updated June 14th, 2023) If your ball strikes a fellow player's ball on the fairway by accident, The 9.6 rule comes into affect, meaning If my ball...

What happens if I ground my club in a bunker? The new rules of golf explained

In 2020, the US Golf Association (USGA) and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews (R&A) made several changes to the rules of golf.

One major change was to the "drop procedure" when a ball is lost or out of bounds. Players are now allowed to drop the ball from shoulder height, rather than knee height, making the process more consistent and less prone to mistakes. Another change was to the rule regarding penalty strokes. Players will no longer be penalized for accidentally moving a ball on the green, such as when marking or lifting it.

Additionally, players are now allowed to repair almost any damage to the course, such as spike marks on the green. The changes also include simplifying the rules for bunkers, allowing players to touch or move loose impediments...

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What happens if your ball strikes another players ball? Golfing Rules, Seriously!

On the course this past weekend, I putt from just off the green and my ball struck my playing partners ball, knocking it closer to the hole.

After a quick giggle, we began to discuss the ruling, 'I'll play from there and its a one-shot penalty for you' my friend said. 'I was off the green' I said, 'Doesn't matter' he said. Right, I said. 'Hang on, and I'll consult the rule book'.

Luckily, I had The R&A's Rules of Golf on my phone (Well worth a download and it's FREE)

Without quoting the book verbatim, there are basically three scenarios which you should be mindful of:

On the Fairway (updated June 14th, 2023) If your ball strikes a fellow player's ball on the fairway by accident, The 9.6 rule comes into affect, meaning If my ball...

Junior Golf in Tokyo At Samadhi Golf School Tokyo

If you are new to Tokyo or are wondering what is the best way to introduce your child to golf here in the bustling metropolis, then look no further.

Samadhi Golf School is in the same building as the Jingu ice rink, and since its inception in 2014, has gone from strength to strength with the local international community, and is a popular group lesson for kids in English.

All junior lessons are with teacher Brian Joseph and are after school on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. There are 3 different lesson times on offer, with generally the younger kids coming for the earlier classes.

The maximum number of children in the class is five. Each child has their own hitting bay- with safety as the number one priority.

Students will learn the following skills in...

Ten reasons children should play golf

There is nothing more important for the future of the game than the next generation of players to learn and love the game, but here are 10 other fantastic reasons for children to take it up:

10. Enjoy the outdoors

9. Develop lifelong friendships

8. Practice personal responsibility

7. Have a safe place to play

6. Learn to manage your emotions

5. Appreciate diversity

4. Pick up the game quickly

3. Learn etiquette

2. Spend time with family

1. Develop healthy habits for life

The lessons learned in golf can and WILL apply for the rest of their lives!

Having a lot of three putts during your round?

If you have been struggling with three putts recently, this is often a result of poor distance control. If you play many different golf courses, it is usually difficult to get a feel for the speed of the greens before the round starts. You can do the following putting drills before your round starts in order to help you get a feel for the speed of the greens.

Drill – Put your driver on the ground 50 feet away. Then put your 4 iron on the ground 35 feet away. Finally, put your SW on the ground 20 feet away. Practice hitting putts to each club. Your goal is to have each putt stop within the length of the club.

Lag putts – Put a tee in the ground 48 feet away. This is your target. Then put a tee in the ground 45 feet away and a tee in...

Having Problems With Your Swing...?

Recently, have you been having problems with your golf swing? This is common for all golfers from amateurs to professionals. Most golfers focus solely on their swing. While the swing is very important, you should first look at your fundamentals. This is the foundation of your swing. Think…………….. BPGA.

B all position - The position of the ball relative to your stance (the location of the ball between your right foot and your left foot).

P osture - The position that you assume over the ball when preparing to make a stroke.

G rip - The method for holding the club.

A lignment - The direction that your body and club are lined up in the set up position.

If you are...
Golf Practice

How to get the most out of Golf Lessons Are your lessons are teaching you the right things?

Many golfers will at some point decide to embark on golf lessons, but how do you know that these lessons are teaching you the right things, and that you’re getting the most out of them?

A clear understanding of the contents of the lesson requires concise delivery and reception, so be sure to listen carefully and ask questions whenever you are not sure of what is being asked of you. Remember, there is no such thing as a silly question.

Try to look at what you are doing, because feel is unreliable. You can rely on what you see more than what you can feel, as the feel will change unless you check on a regular basis. A good golf coach will show you positions in front of a mirror, show you still photographs, and play your swing on video compared...
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What happens if your ball strikes another players ball? Golfing Rules, Seriously!

On the course this past weekend, I putt from just off the green and my ball struck my playing partners ball, knocking it closer to the hole.

After a quick giggle, we began to discuss the ruling, 'I'll play from there and its a one-shot penalty for you' my friend said. 'I was off the green' I said, 'Doesn't matter' he said. Right, I said. 'Hang on, and I'll consult the rule book'.

Luckily, I had The R&A's Rules of Golf on my phone (Well worth a download and it's FREE)

Without quoting the book verbatim, there are basically three scenarios which you should be mindful of:

On the Fairway (updated June 14th, 2023) If your ball strikes a fellow player's ball on the fairway by accident, The 9.6 rule comes into affect, meaning If my ball...

What happens if I ground my club in a bunker? The new rules of golf explained

In 2020, the US Golf Association (USGA) and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews (R&A) made several changes to the rules of golf.

One major change was to the "drop procedure" when a ball is lost or out of bounds. Players are now allowed to drop the ball from shoulder height, rather than knee height, making the process more consistent and less prone to mistakes. Another change was to the rule regarding penalty strokes. Players will no longer be penalized for accidentally moving a ball on the green, such as when marking or lifting it.

Additionally, players are now allowed to repair almost any damage to the course, such as spike marks on the green. The changes also include simplifying the rules for bunkers, allowing players to touch or move loose impediments...