If you’re a golfer from the land of ice and snow, newly arrived in the sunny Bahamas, you probably can’t wait to get out on the course and see your ball streaking down the middle of the fairway.
With the snow laying deep and crisp and even on the courses back home, you’ve had time to reflect on the flaws in your grip, posture and stance; the little faults that prevented you from moving on to the next level.
In your mind, your swing’s already fixed and ready to go. But if you’re a seasoned golfer, you’ve had these thoughts before and you know that in no other sport do illusions die so quickly as they do in golf.
Thus, one of the first things to do, says Chris Lewis, director of golf at the Radisson Cable Beach & Golf Resort, is to rein in the fantasy; “don’t let your imagination get the better of you.”
If you haven’t played for awhile, “keep it simple, just move the ball forward… Some golfers try to hit miraculous shots, or play like the pros on TV,” says Lewis. And that doesn’t work, especially after a layoff.
“When they pick up their clubs they are thinking, ‘I should be able to play the way I was playing when I put my clubs down,’ but they can’t. With this game, there are many motor skills involved and it takes a lot of repetitions to make them all work properly,” he says.
The Radisson course on West Bay Street, The Bahamas’ oldest golf course, was remodeled in 2003 by veteran designer Fred Settle, Jr. It’s now a par-71 layout, 6,453 yds from the back tees. It’s really not a tough golf course says pro Richie Gibson, as long as the player doesn’t automatically pull out the driver on every par four or five.
“Play within your game”
Jerry Hardy, pro at South Ocean at the western end of New Providence, advises snowbird golfers: “You want to play within your game, take fewer chances, especially in the first couple of rounds.”
After that, “you may feel your swing coming back to you so you can play closer to your handicap. A one-time lesson from the pro is not a bad idea either. He can see flaws that you may not be aware of.”
South Ocean, a 6,707-yd par 72 track, was originally designed by renowned architect Joe Lee but is now set for a major facelift. At press time the course was still open, admittedly not in good shape, but offering the lowest green fees on the island. When it’s redesigned and back in full business South Ocean will be one of the prettiest courses in The Bahamas, featuring two blue holes, a spectacular ocean vista on what is now the 11th hole and ruins dating back to the days of slavery.
Golf course renovations are part of a “right-sizing” of the entire South Ocean Golf & Beach Resort, which began in 2003.
Stretching and practice
According to T J Bagett, pro at the Ocean Club Golf Course on Paradise Island, golfers fresh off the plane should do some stretching exercises before every round. Stretching your neck, bending from the waist and rotating your arms, shoulders and chest is not only good for your swing, but reduces the risk of injury.
Pros at Bahamian courses also advise snowbirds to hit the range before they hit one of the beautiful Bahamian courses.
Practice is essential, says Bagett, but you should concentrate on the short irons rather than the longer clubs. “As golfers start practicing, and I see this every day, you see them hit a couple of wedges and then they get that driver out,” he says
Bagett recalls that he once overheard the late, great Sam Snead saying that he preferred always to practice with his wedge… “that’s how he grooved his swing, and there’s no better way to build confidence and develop your tempo.
“So, coming off a long layoff it’s good to hit a lot of short irons and especially the wedge. Then try to hit the driver with the same rhythm and tempo.”
The Ocean Club course is a 7,159-yd, par-72 course at the eastern end of Paradise Island, reserved for members and guests at Atlantis and the One&Only Ocean Club properties.
Summary of tips
To sum up the tips for winter-bound golfers newly arrived in the land of perpetual June: temper your expectations, play within your game, do some stretches before you play, set the driver aside and practice more with the short irons, particularly the wedge, to retrieve your rhythm and tempo, and have the pro check out your swing before you tee it up the first time.
Follow the advice of the pros and you might not be yelling “fore” quite so often.
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