Tag Archives: USGA

Go Out and Compete!

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Golf is a great game to play just for fun, but sometimes a little competition is in order. No matter your skill level, competitive play tests your game and can lead to some great improvements. Here are a few ideas to get you going, whether it’s competing with friends or flying solo.

  1. Challenge yourself on the golf course even when playing alone. Keep track of how many fairways and greens you hit. Track these numbers each time you go out and play to see how you are improving.
  2. Choose your favorite putting drill.  Set a goal and achieve it before you leave the course that day. For example, try to make 10 4-footers in a row.
  3. Find friends. Gather up some of your pals or check with your local golf course to see if others are seeking golf partners. Make it even more fun by making a friendly wager. See who hits the most greens, hits the longest drives or putts with the fewest strokes. Ever heard of Bingo Bango Bongo? Give it a try.
  4. Local or statewide competitions are great options for intermediate skill levels. Many states have great organizations, such as the FWSGA (Florida Women’s State Golf Association) or the IGF (Indiana Golf Foundation).
  5. National organizations are great for more advanced players. Take a look at the USGA, PGA Jr. Series, and the AJGA that host tournaments all over the country.

What about you? Do you have any fun ways of seeking competition?

My New Life as a Professional Golfer

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Dolores White, a recent Wake Forest University Women’s Golf Team graduate, hits the road for a summer filled with golf tournaments. But this year it will be different. She is now a professional. Dolores will keep us posted on the ins and outs of being a young professional golfer.

While all the other Wake Forest graduates were touring the country or hitting the beach, my parents and I packed up both of our cars and traveled to Atlanta, Ga. Unfortunately my team (Wake Forest Women’s Golf Team) didn’t make it to the NCAA Championship this year, so I began more pro career a little earlier than planned. My US Women’s Open Qualifier was a week after graduation, so I was able to spend a lot of time preparing my golf game around the greater Atlanta area.

At first it was very stressful; thanks to the new groove rules with the USGA my clubs from college were not conforming. So I met up with a couple guys in Marietta to fit me for new Cobra irons (which by the way I am hitting about 10 yards farther!). The course I was fitted at was very generous and let me practice there the rest of the week.  The members were all very kind and the practice facilities were great.

I’ve had some long days this past week, but I’m loving every minute of it- who wouldn’t, I get to golf all day! Tomorrow is the practice round for the qualifier; and I’m starting to get excited. I’m hitting my new irons great and I’ve worked hard on my driver and working the ball lately. It’s going to be a long couple days but this is what I’ve been working for!

More to come, Dolores.

The Golf Wedge Controversy: U-Shaped Grooves vs. V-Shaped Grooves

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In case you’ve been privy to the controversy surrounding the Ping wedge in Phil Mickelson’s bag, we thought we’d attempt to shed a bit of light on the situation. Over the years, golf wedge technology has improved greatly. The grooves, which generate spin on the ball, are now cut by machines rather than created from molds. Recently the USGA made a new rule which prohibits the use of U-shaped wedges, with exception to the Ping-Eye 2.   wedgegroove

The Ping-Eye 2 wedge, at the center of the controversy, was created in the 1980s at the time when U-shaped wedges were perfectly legal. The wedges generate more spin than a V-shaped wedge and are still technically legal. These wedges are still allowed on tour because Ping won a lawsuit against the USGA in 1990. Ping sued the USGA because the tour was implementing new changes in their groove rule and it was going to cost Ping a lot of money. Under the settlement, any Ping-Eye 2 wedge made before April 1, 1990 remains approved for play.

There are a few technicalities, however, to this ruling. If a player wants this type of Ping wedge they must either have already owned it or bought it online or from a garage sale. While this seems like quite an advantage having a club that generates more spin, the Ping-Eye 2 still has some drawbacks. The Ping-Eye 2 wedges are only allowed in competitions that the USGA has jurisdiction over, meaning players cannot use this wedge at the British Open or anywhere outside of the United States or Mexico because the USGA settlement would not apply.

So if you wondered what all this fuss was about these last few weeks, I hope this helped to explain it a bit!