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Golf Trip Packing Essentials

For many sports enthusiasts, their vacations and holidays revolve around the game they’re interested in. For a golfer, a chance to discover new golf courses on a trip is as fun as getting away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Whether it's during vacation downtime or a getaway strictly about golf, it’s important to pack some essentials you’ll probably need. New courses are best experienced with familiar and seasoned clubs. Here are some other necessary items to carry on your next golf trip.

Golf Travel Bag

Playing with your own clubs on new courses is always great. But the fact is that they aren’t exactly something which can easily pass of as overhead carry-on luggage. Hence, your golf bad is extremely important when planning a golf trip. The three different types of bags are soft, hard and hybrid cases. Soft cases are great when you’re travelling by car because of the flexibility and padding in them. Though hard cases provide the most protection, they take up too much space. A hybrid case would be the most appropriate option for its hardtop guards the club heads and the soft body conserves space.

Backup shoes

Who knows what kind of conditions you’ll find while travelling and playing. Hence, golfers must always travel with their regular shoes and have a backup pair for emergencies. Whether you’re packing athletic shoes or proper golf shoes, remember to bring at least two pairs that you can golf in. There’s nothing worse than having to wear wet shoes. They’ll be smelly, uncomfortable and not mention, unhealthy for your feet.

Weather appropriate attire

Your weather appropriate gear must include attire which is suitable for rain. It should have long sleeves for protection against the colder weather and also against the harsh heat and UV rays from the sun. Don’t forget caps or hats, and windbreakers if you’re headed to a windy course.

Course app or GPS

You won’t have the advantage of experience on any new courses that you may visit on your travels. A golf GPS can help you navigate the course with ease. However, smartphones nowadays have apps which can offer the same benefits without having to carry the extra weight of the device.

Equipment you don’t want to purchase

Forgetting to pack sunscreen, a divot tool, extra golf balls etc. isn’t the end of the world. Most of these items can be found on the course you’ll be playing on. However, they’re going to be more expensive. Therefore, it’s best to carry essential items that you know you’ll absolutely need prior to and during the game.

Organize your tee times

It’s best to book your tee time in advance instead of just showing up at the course. It saves you the hassle of arriving at the course only to find out there’s some tournament going on and no tee times are available. Making a quick call to the pro shop guarantees your golf day doesn’t end unexpectedly.

Every golfer’s bag is different and has diverse things in them. Players have different must-have items in them. Figure out what your essentials and enjoy your trip!

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Common Golf Misconceptions

There are several misconceptions about golf floating around the internet. To separate facts from fiction, we’ll discuss some common misconceptions in this post which surround the game.

It’s extremely expensive

Golf will only be expensive if you purchase high-end gear and clubs. Similarly to any other sport, you must purchase some basic equipment which includes a caddy bag, balls and clubs. Thankfully, there are several affordable options available. Purchasing premium gear won’t make you magically better at the sport than you already are. A great way to save money is to purchase used equipment. People often play a few games and then decide that the game’s not for them. At this point, they’ll sell their equipment. The equipment may not be brand new, but you can get a club which has been barely used for a fraction of the price.

There’s an age limit

There are no such rules mentioned, written or otherwise, which state that golfers must be of a certain age in order to play. Some courses and clubs may have their own requirements, but there’s no such norm as someone being too young to play. Starting early allows golfers to learn the basics of the game at a young age. This helps them establish the skills required for long-term success.

Your head must be down while swinging

This might just be the most common misconception about golf. People believe if they keep their head down throughout the swing motion, it will yield better results. The common belief is that looking down increases the speed and accuracy of a swing which then allows you to create more contact with the ball. The reality, however, is that if your focus is solely on the ball, it will restrict your upper body’s range of motion. This might throw off your balance and the ability to make a solid contact.

Your body should be still when swinging

This misconception is very similar to the one mentioned above. From an outsider’s point of view, golfers may appear to maintain an extremely stiff form while swinging. Their body remains at the same position while shifting very slightly throughout the swing. However, after playing a few games, most people realize that the players actually twist their body while maintaining a single axis. This motion creates the power required to drive that ball hundreds of yards across the fields. Keeping your body very stiff drastically reduces the speed while putting you at risk of getting shoulder injuries.  

These are by no means the only misconceptions surrounding the game of golf. However, this list should help clear the air of some very basic myths that people have about the game. A little attention to detail and practice can ensure you go a long way.

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5 Ways in Which Golfers Benefit from Yoga

Both golf and yoga are very similar. They both can teach you a lot about yourself. Not only does yoga give you an edge mentally, it will also help with flexibility and breathing, helping you to be successful in a competitive field. Yoga is usually not associated with golf, but what most people fail to realize is that it both maximizes and optimizes your performance on the course.

Some benefits that yoga can bring to your golf game are:

Improving Your Overall Strength

Yoga helps in improving your overall strength. It’s almost equivalent to a weight-lifting regimen.  It is beneficial to your core strength, which helps in improving your swing during a game.

Along with improved strength, during a yoga class, you are constantly working on your core, whether you realize or not. It helps in activating your abdominal muscles and in turn, gives your golf game that extra boost of power and strength that may be required during difficult shots.

Superior Flexibility and Mobility

With continued yoga practice, tense muscles tend to loosen up which greatly improves your swing. Improved flexibility allows for a better, complete range of motion resulting in a more powerful swing.

Yoga also helps your joints gain a better range of motion. This allows you to move with better accuracy and at a much faster pace.

Advanced Stability and Balance

Yoga includes exercises which help you improve your stability. It greatly helps when you have to hit a ball from a difficult position since you’ll be more grounded.

Balance and stability go hand in hand. Yoga provides a better centre of gravity, and in turn, will help improve your balance. It is perfect for improving your golf swing.

Amplified Focus

Yoga greatly focuses on breathing exercises. These exercises help in improving your concentration and focus on your game. If your mind isn’t focused and calm, your peak performance will suffer greatly, in turn hampering your overall score.

Greater Endurance

It is important to sustain certain positions, for a certain amount of time, while doing yoga. This helps in building your endurance. Enhanced endurance allows you to perform better on the course over a longer period of time.

Encourages Positive Attitude

In both yoga and golf, positivity is key. You never criticize or doubt yourself in yoga for not being able to manage to perform a difficult pose. This is a key aspect of keeping your mind from getting negative thoughts when you can't make a shot while playing golf.

Both golf and yoga are activities that you wouldn’t think mix well, but they do. Each complements the other by offering benefits to your mental and physical well-being. If you’re having trouble with your golf game, try out a little yoga and see if that helps!