95240

The 2007 British Open will be played at Carnoustie Championship Course. For four days fans will see the world's greatest golfers tested by one of the toughest links courses in scotland, if not the toughest. Links courses aren't as popular in the United States as they are in scotland, which means you may never have played one. But if you have, you know that you must adopt a different style of play to score well on the course and keep your golf handicap down.

A links golf course, as I've explained in my golf tips, is the oldest style golf course. It was first developed in scotland. The word comes from the Scottish language and refers to both an area of coastal sand dunes and sometimes open parkland. many links courses though not all are located in coastal areas, on sandy soil, often amid dunes, with few water hazards and few if any trees. Links courses reflect the nature of the scenery where the sport originated, and the fact that only limited resources were available to golf course architects at the time. Earth moving had to be done by hand, so it was minimized.

Challenges of A Links Course Uneven fairways, thick rough, and small deep bunkers known as "pot bunkers" characterize links courses. many links courses are frequently windy, affecting the style of play required. Since many links courses consist of an "outward" nine in one direction along the coast, and an "inward" nine that returns in the opposite direction, players often have to cope with opposite wind patterns in each half of their round.

Playing a links course is demanding. You're often exposed to extreme weather conditions and usually play in winds far stronger than you experience inland, so you need to keep most shots low and/or on a line. A links course may look flat and featureless from a distance, but once you start playing you'll discover the ground is a mass of humps and hollows. many tee shots are semi-blind.

hard, fast-running fairways cause unpredictable bounces. Your ball shoots forward on the first bounce, while the same shot pitching into a hump stops quickly. Occasionally, a ball flying in the middle of the fairway kicks into the rough. The short grass and closely mown fairways on a links course remove some of the fear of mid-range approach shots. But a crisply struck iron generates a great deal of backspin because very little grass comes between the clubface and the ball at impact.

Take Advantage of the Wind The wind is almost always a factor on a links course. Use it to your advantage. With a tailwind you should hit the ball higher to gain maximum distance on the shot. With a head wind it's difficult to put enough backspin on the ball to pitch and stop it neatly on the green. Also, forget the distance you usually hit a ball because the wind drastically alters your normal club selection. Take less club, swing smoothly, and let the wind carry the ball well short of the green and expect plenty of run on the shot. Crosswinds force you to aim way off line and allow the ball to be blown back on target.

Wind Also Affects the short game The wind also affects the short game on a links course. A low pitch and run is safer when playing in the wind than a high lob, as I've explained in my golf tips. A 7-iron is the ideal club for the shot. Bunkers are hard to spot in the humps and hollows of a links course and devilishly difficult to escape from. Don't take risks it's fine to sacrifice distance particularly if it keeps you on the fairway.

When you land in a fairway bunker it's unlikely you'll have a direct route to the green. Concentrate on making sure your next shot isn't from the same spot. The powdery fine sand is perfect for the high splash shot. Open your stance and keep the clubface open. swing long and smooth on an out-to-in path. Huge sandy dunes are punishing hazards that surround many fairways and greens. The thick, wiry grass doesn't let go of your ball easily.

Putting o a links course is no easy task, either. A long putt on a large sloping links green often takes two or three different breaks. It's important to study the green's slope carefully. look at a putt along the ball-to-target line and then from the side on to give you a better perspective. Wind also affects the ball's roll. Occasionally, a long putt drops, but you should never be disappointed to get down in two strokes

Playing a links course for the first time is exciting. But you need to adjust your game to make up for the differences in a links style course and to set realistic goals for yourself. If you try to be too aggressive, your scores-and your golf handicap-will suffer.

Jack Moorehouse is the author of the best-selling book How To Break 80 And Shoot Like The Pros He is NOT a golf pro, rather a working man that has helped thousands of golfers from all seven continents lower their handicap immediately. He has a free weekly newsletter with the latest golf tips, golf lessons and golf instruction

Copyright (c) 2007 Jack Moorehouse

posted by 45193  # 8:27 PM 0 comments

Ok, I will admit it; my husband and I temporarily lost our minds. Before judging us though, I want you to consider the whole story. We were in our late forties, our only child blissfully married and on his own. Maybe we were going through a mid-life crisis, or that empty nest syndrome, I am not sure what you would call it. We decided to purchase a motorcycle. Actually, we traded a boat for one.

The desire to ride started slowly. We began by just hopping onto the motorcycle and taking short rides around the local countryside. We gradually progressed to riding further away and staying out longer. Because the Honda was so small and did not have a backrest, I started whining. "Mike, if we are going to ride very often, we are going to have to purchase something larger. This motorcycle is killing my back. I want a bigger one."

He agreed and we began our quest for a larger motorcycle. A man whom we knew personally had one for sale. On the very day of my whining, we went to visit Mr. Calico, after checking it out and eventually taking the motorcycle for a spin, we bought the Yamaha 1300. This was about the precise time that we witnessed a minor change in our children, Eric and April. April is actually our daughter-in-law, but I refer to both as our children. They took on the role of concerned parents; mocking the manner in which we grilled them when they left to go anywhere. "Where are you going? When will you return? Be careful, call us when you stop so we will know you are all right. Let us know when you get there."

Thus was the routine before we left to go riding. If we failed to phone, there were explanations and excuses to make later. There are a few things different from when we rode motorcycle as teenagers. First, getting on and off the motorcycle is certainly not the same. My arthritic, paunch body does not afford me an opportunity for a graceful exit off the bike. I can step up, swing my leg over, and get on ok, but practically every time I get off, I just about break my neck. I struggle with raising my leg high enough to be graceful and generally will hop as I try to extract my leg. I am quite sure onlookers have laughed at me.

Another disparity between riding when I was younger compared to the present time, is back then I had to have plenty of clothing on or else I would get cold, even on a sunny day. Now though the hot flashes take care of that little problem! One more difference is apparently our decision-making ability has flawed with age. Take this explanation as evidence.

Scheduled to go to a weekend conference in Bowling Green Kentucky, which was roughly three hours away from where we reside, we elected to make the excursion on our motorcycle. If I packed lightly, we would have ample room for our small overnight bags. The week before our journey, we tuned in to the local weather stations periodically to track the weekend weather forecast. Our local forecasters called for stormy weather but the prediction for Western Kentucky was for storms to be of the hit and miss variety with mostly sunny skies. Remind me not to rely on weather forecasts in the future.

We were resolved to make this journey on two wheels. After promising our children, we would be fine and after accepting our expected instructions and directive to phone them when we arrived at our hotel, we were on our way. The beginning of the excursion was nice enough, but as we proceeded on, we began to observe the formation of the menacing sky very closely. We believed we were traveling in advance of the storms when in fact we headed straight towards them.

The Cumberland Parkway appeared all but deserted as the winds picked up and the rain started to bounce off our helmets. Luckily, we donned water resistant jogging suits or we would have been soaked. As it was, the rainfall was not the predominant issue. Mike had to wrestle hard against the wind to hold the 1300-pound motorcycle in the highway and upright. We could occasionally see the trees bend from the force of the wind.

Mike pointed to the sign indicating that we were going to take that exit. As the wind blew harder and the downpour persisted, He continued to concentrate on keeping the cycle upright. Suddenly, I began to wave my hands and arms in front of Mike pointing to a tree, which had fallen across the parkway. He had not seen it; luckily, I had. He was able to maneuver around it. Our exit was just in front of us and we were able to make it to McDonalds where we stopped to wait out the intense storm.

We took off our helmets, moved inside, and phoned our children, as good parents should. We expressed to them we were fine, excluding the graphic details of our nerve-racking journey. We downed several cups of hot chocolate as we waited out the storm. Eventually we made the impending decision to get back on the highway. The rainfall halted and the wind receded. As we moved out of the parking lot, pointing to the sky I said, "The lightning concerns me practically as much as the wind did. Maybe we should remain here a little longer." Shaking his head in the negative, we continued toward Bowling Green. A cold rain began to fall once more. I constantly looked toward the sky, frequently seeing the lightning dance all around us. I thought about what I had heard about rubber tires keeping the lightning from striking. I sure hoped this implied motorcycles too. I felt exposed and unprotected. The only thing between the lightning and me was my helmet. That was not reassuring.

The stars were out in full force; actually, it was a beautiful night. The lightning was high in the magnificent sky and did not seem to be striking anything. It was playing across the sky instead of aiming down towards the earth. That was the only consolation I had. I previously had a relationship with the Lord, but before the evening was over, I had an intimate, up close and personal relationship with Him. I sure did a lot of praying that seemingly endless night.

Now, do you understand what I mean about losing our minds? Is it a normal thing for 50-year old mature adults to behave in such a way? We didn't make good decisions but maybe when we get older we will. For now, we are continuing to enjoy our motorcycle rides. Thankfully, our children have eased up some too. I realize motorcycles are not for everyone. However, if you are fifty, don't live like life is over, live life as if it were just beginning. Actually, it is just beginning.

Darlene has articles published in the Outlook magazine, a feature article in the Kentucky Monthly with one of her scenery photographs chosen as the cover of the June 2007 issue. A short story was published in The Storyteller. On Mission, Working Nurse and Hopekeepers magazine, all have purchased or accepted articles for future publication. A Christmas story she wrote was published in an anthology titled I'll be Home for Christmas. She writes part time from her home in Central Kentucky. She has been married for thirty-two years to the only man she has ever loved. She has one child, a son who is married.

posted by 45193  # 8:24 PM 0 comments

We've all heard the predictions - Fifteen major Atlantic hurricanes are expected for 2007, five of which are predicted to impact Central Florida. Certainly, nobody yet has forgotten the four hurricanes that inconvenienced us in 2004, nor can we forget the three storms of 2005. But before we look ahead to this coming season, let's stop and take stock of the lessons we've learned from our most recent experiences and prepare our children for this year.

In 2004 and 2005, we pulled together as a community and did all the things good friends and neighbors do when the chips are down. We shared food, water, tarps, and cell phones, and we took time to connect with the strangers across the street. We reached out to those in need and made some great new friends in the process. We hunkered down, we weathered the storm, and together we cleared the deadwood.

We became accustomed to the blue tarps, and fortunately, tarp city is almost gone. So what can we do to prepare for this year? Certainly we cannot change Mother Nature. After all, few mothers allow her children to change her. However, we have now learned how to live with her. And that is the first step towards a safe season.

The good news is that most of the things five hurricanes can damage have already been damaged and replaced. New roofs, stronger windows, and better structures mean less damage. The old trees are gone and the new trees are firmly rooted in their place. Our communities are now ready to come through the storm with minimal or no damage.

Yes, were ready. We all know what we have to gather, and for the most part, we all have our storm supplies ready. Sure, there are some things we can still do. For example, we can still have our plan of where to go when the phones are out. We still need to know where the closest shelter is.

Those of us with kids should consider going to visit friends or relatives when the next storm comes. After all, what better time is there to go on vacation than when a hurricane is in town?

Weve all discovered that cell phones work during the storm, and weve all learned that if you cant call directly to a family member, then we need somebody else to calla central friend or message boardsomebody out of town who can let everyone else know were okay. Dont forget text messaging, email and SMS. Teens and even young kids with cell phones are expert at these technologies. Chaos is the only constant in natural disasters such as hurricanes. The answer to coping with the sense helplessness chaos brings is to take control of some aspect of the disaster. Even if you know how to text message, ask your kids to help you or even teach you to use these technologies.

The key to feeling safe and not worrying about this years storms is to be prepared and to have a plan. Make sure your children know the plan, have practiced the plan and can implement the plan without you. Thats right, the key to security is knowledge. After 2004 and 2005, we have the knowledge and we have the experience. And as a result, well get through this years storms far easier than we got through last years.

So when the wind blows and the rain falls this season, well be warm, dry, and hunkered down. Well play games with our kids, talk with our kids and maybe even learn something about them as people. Well hold your children close until the sun shines in Central Florida again. After all, they dont call us the Sunshine State for nothing.

Dr. Maurice A. Ramirez is the founder and president of the consulting firm High Alert, LLC.. He serves on expert panels for pandemic preparedness and healthcare surge planning with Congressional and Cabinet Members. Board certified in multiple specialties, Dr. Ramirez is Founding Chairperson of the American Board of Disaster Medicine and serves the nation as a Senior Physician-Federal Medical Officer in the National Disaster Medical System. Dr. Ramirez has a new book: You Can Survive Anything, Anywhere, Every Time. His website is http://www.High-Alert.com

posted by 45193  # 4:35 PM 0 comments