Golf for beginners

In the New Year many of us decide to start a new hobby or take up a new sport. Golfing is a great sport to learn to play since it can be both an individual and a group sport, and it is suitable for people of all ages and genders. The golf course is also where some companies do business, so being able to join your boss and client on the golf course could even boost your career.

Golf is a game which suits many personalities. It can be thought of as an individual sport since you rely on yourself to win, it all comes down to your own skills and technique. On the other hand, golf can also be played in pairs and you need a group of people for a tournament so there is some element of team spirit involved.

If you’ve ever watched golf you will have seen many professional players lose their cool on the golf range. It can get pretty tense and competitive out there, so if you are taking up Golf then make sure you read all the tips and advice below to make sure you develop your game and skills successfully.

Firstly, Golf is a fairly easy sport to take up. There are normally lots of golf ranges and clubs around cities so you won’t struggle to find somewhere to practice.

Don’t buy a brand new set of clubs. There are lots of different clubs to suit different playing styles so it is a mistake to spend a lot of money on a brand new set before you develop your game, especially since a full set can be very expensive. Instead you can hire clubs from golf courses and driving ranges. Alternatively you could buy a half set. This generally comprises five irons and perhaps two woods and a putter. Usually the irons are the odd numbers 3,5,7,9 and a wedge. The best club to start off with is the shortest iron (nine iron) or a wedge.Firstly, Golf is a fairly easy sport to take up. There are normally lots of golf ranges and clubs around cities so you won’t struggle to find somewhere to practice.

Start out at the driving range. The golf course is no place for beginners. Here you can practice your shot until you have more control of the ball and can hit a target. Make sure you practice in all weather, since you can’t guarantee what the weather will be like during a game of golf. You need to be able to react to wind and rain and adapt your game.

You will also be able to access lessons from the professionals at the driving range. It is a good idea to get a minimum of 5 lessons, that way you will get a hang of the basics faster and can be assured you have the correct grip on the club.

The first golf course you play on should be a 9 whole course, before you progress to an 18 whole course. Once you have reached this stage practice and play with other experienced players to pick up the rules and etiquette of golf.

Think about arranging golfing trips. There are lots of excellent golfing hotels in the UK with their own golf course. Check out hotels in Chester with resident pros on hand if you want some tips and access to several magnificent courses.

Lastly try watching the pros playing golf tournaments on television. This will help you develop your game, as stance and posture are two of the most important skills in golf.

Let us know how you get on developing your game and if there are any other top tips you want to share!

Poetry in Motion

Reblogged from The Ben Lomond Free Press:

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I enjoyed performing at my first Burns Supper of the season last night. I've been asked to sing and play at four this year. Last night's immortal memory was very interesting and quoted William Wordsworth from his poem "At the Grave of Burns 1803"

"I mourned with thousands, but as one
More deeply grieved, for He was gone
Whose light I hailed when first it shone,

Read more… 347 more words

Some great Robert Burns poetry featured in this blog!

Drinking Calories: What do dieters drink?

Reblogged from Food Blogger on a Diet:

It's been a long time since I drank my calories - in university I gave up soda (Diet, actually) after I found it ineffective at keeping me up studying for engineering finals. Since then, I've probably had soda once or twice a month, if that.

I know fruit juice, which I love dearly, is to be avoided and I do very well - only fresh-squeezed orange juice when I feel the twinges of a sore throat, and cranberry or apple only on special occasions (and when I can actually find it here in Italy).

Read more… 186 more words

I'm sure lots of us are thinking about this topic at the start of a New Year! Perhaps we should drink water and pretend it's a vodka lemonade!

eat.write: from Food.com, Happy Chinese New Year! Green Onion Pancakes Recipe - Chinese.Food.com - 14530

Reblogged from lifestyle30:

eat.write - Happy Chinese New Year! This is a great recipe for one of my favorite Chinese dishes from Food.com!

Check it Out!

Green Onion Pancakes Recipe - Chinese.Food.com - 14530.

image from Food.com

This recipe looks yummy!

Getting your wedding ‘look’ right

Your wedding day is on of the most important days of your life so you want to feel at your best. So getting your look right is vital so that you feel beautiful.

'Springtime flutter' look via Glitzy Secrets

The main elements you need to consider are: The Dress, Your Hair, Your Accessories and Your Make-up. But before we think about all of that, you need to decide what your theme is as this will make your look much easier to pull together.

Are you going for an elegant, sophisticated wedding or a spring-time butterfly theme (like the image shown). Your chosen wedding theme will help you to decide all the elements in your wedding.

The Dress

The dress is the first part of your ‘look’ you should organise and you should really start looking now! You need to be looking to buy, or at least start visiting shops about 18 months before the wedding in order to get it ordered and to have enough time to get it fitted etc.

Have a look at wedding magazines and online websites and work out what you do and don’t like. Although, you are highly likely to change all of that when you actually try them on- it’s all part of the process! Have a look at articles like this one from Confetti which explains what you need to think about when choosing your dress. You need to think about your body type and what colour you want your dress depending on your skin colour. Tell the shop assistant what your wedding theme is, the designers you like and what you want to avoid. Once you have found ‘the one’, sort out your shoes- think about height relative to your fiance! Then you can start thinking about your hair.

half up half down via you and your wedding

Your Hair

When it comes to thinking about your hair, you need to let your stylist know what your dress is like. There are lots of very different hair styles you can look into and it depends on your dress. For example if you have a  low backed dress, it is better to have your hair longer to make the most of the look whereas if you have a high-backed dress you should choose an up-do. Rich Harvey, make-up artist recommends the half up and half down look (like the image across) to:

“soften the face and add glamour from height and movement”

Your Accessories

What really makes your look extra special is the accessories you put with it. Think about some wedding hair accessories such as the beautiful Butterfly of Enchantment headpiece in the first picture. A statement piece like this can really make your look unique and memorable. Remember and chose some complimentary jewellery pieces, think along the same theme and colour but if you are having a statement hair piece, make your jewellery more simple.

Your Make-Up

The final part of your look is your make-up. You don’t want to go over the top and change your look too much. As Rich Harvey says:

“I believe, on your wedding day, you should look like a very polished version of the ‘normal’ you. It’s definitely not a time to experiment with fads and styles!”

Don’t try something crazy new, if you haven’t before as you won’t know how it will be received. Splash out and buy yourself some really good quality make-up and try it out a few times before your wedding day so you can get used to using it. If you are getting a make-up artist, then show them what your ‘normal’ look is and ask how they can make it a bit more special.

So I hope that this has helped you decide what you theme you are going for and what elements make up your wedding ‘look’.