Scotland Golf

Scotland is a golfers dream, a golf travel to Scotland is a well known golfers fantasy, the historic importance of Scotland to the game, the splendor of the old course, the tradition and the unique role that golf plays in Scottish life make this country a golfers heaven.

For families, golfing friends or singles wishing to enjoy a profound golf experience, the Golf Resorts of Scotland are the perfect choice.

Many countries around the world pride themselves for having great golf courses but no other country can claim to be the home and heart to the game of golf. Scotland is the birthplace of golf and today has more than 45 golf courses, one of them being the most famous course of all, golfing Mecca – St. Andrews.

Golf history has began here 500 years ago and is very much a way of life in Scotland, with new golf courses aside old ones (and some new courses that are actually very old). Golf resorts are as old as golf in this country, a visit to Scotland is not complete without a round of golf in one of this county’s golf resorts, or a visit to one of the many golf courses here.

The Dornoch Castle Hotel is steeped in Scottish history, the 15th century Castle is not only a perfect golf loacation but also a perfect venue for weddings and receptions.

The Old Course Hotel Golf Resort and Spa is one of the worlds greatest golfing resorts, the hotel has a spectacular location overlooking the famous 17th “Road Hole” of the Old course. Think of a vacation that starts every morning by looking at the birth place of golf.

Carnegie Club at Skibo Castle is located in a romantic Highland landscape of contemplative beauty and offers luxurious hospitality, magnificent golf and traditional country sports.

While visiting Scotland a golfer might enjoy a visit to the British Golf Museum in St Andrews, a golfer may also want to pay his respects to the first winners of past golfing tournaments who are buried in the cathedral. An aspiring golfer may try and improve his game by visiting the National Golf Academy at Drumoig, this practice facility provides everything you need to become a better golfer.

Non golf events

When golfers are not busy on the golf courses there is plenty to do in Scotland during the year, the Edinburgh Festival held every August is one of the world's most important and colorful arts festivals. Every September the Braemar Gathering is attended by the queen in Braemar, with other games held all over the country.

The Scottish way of celebrating the New Year is called Hogmanay, a festive joyous party in the best of Scottish spirit. Other events - The Edinburgh International Film Festival (every year, in mid August) , Edinburgh Book Festival and Glasgow's World Pipe Band Championships.

How To Drive The Golf Ball Straighter And Longer With Golf Fitness Exercises

This is probably a burning desire of most every golfer on the planet. The desire to drive the golf ball farther and straighter, allowing us to lower our golf scores on the golf course. One of the keys to driving golf the straighter and longer is a golf fitness program. This type of a training program incorporates exercises to improve your golf swing.

An amateur recently sent me an e-mail describing how he is driving the golf longer and straighter than ever before. He plainly states the reason for the improvement is directly connected to a golf fitness program he implemented 10 weeks ago.

Here is what he had to say;

“Sean, Thought I’d drop you a note to let you know I am still enjoying the BioForce workout exercises and I’m getting closer to the goals I set 10 weeks ago.

I still track my workouts and I am encouraged by the progress I see, not only on the chart, but also with my swing. As a reward for my efforts and progress, I bought a new Ping Tour wedge. Why a wedge?

Because I can already see I am hitting my drives consistently much straighter –

This, of course, is giving me more distance and great enjoyment.

And, I am much more consistent with my pitches and chips.

So, a good wedge that will give consistent distance and allow me to try different types of shots to expand my skills seemed like the right reward.

The only thing I am unsure of is “am I pushing myself enough? Could you please have a look at my workouts and advise the best schedule for me to meet my goals.

I know I haven’t pushed myself on some the exercises like Side Holds as I should have; the result being no progress with this.

For my initial goals I have 5 weeks to go, if I miss these then Mid-May is the next deadline I have set.”

Colin

Colin, let me first congratulate you on your progress, determination, and results you are seeing. It is because of your hard work and dedication to the golf fitness programs your golf game is improving.

I always like to say; “I have the easy part, all I have to do is teach you, and the hard part is following through with what I teach you.” I tip my hat to you.

Before I answer your question about “pushing yourself”, I would like to make a note of your goal setting. Goal setting is extremely important. I know Phil and almost every athlete I work with sets goals. On one hand, it allows you to measure yourself and see how you are progressing.

I think all amateur golfers do this to some extent. Aren’t we all trying to lower our handicaps, make more birdies, and overall improve our golf game? The answer is yes, and on some level, we set goals to measure our progress. Additionally goals have another benefit.

It provides a “mark” to achieve, keeps you focused, and provides a sense of accomplishment when met. We as golfers often set goals of lowering our handicap to single digits, drive the golf ball 280 yards, or not make any three putts. These are all “marks” we are trying to hit, and these “marks” are essentially goals.

Once the goals are set, a plan can be put in place to reach those goals. For example, if the desire is to lower your handicap to single digits, part of the plan may be practicing at the range three times per week. On the other hand, if the goal is add an additional 20 yards to your drives, part of the plan may be the implementation of a golf fitness program to increase your flexibility, strength, endurance, and power.

I will also say at times goals are not met, and that is okay. If a goal is not met, it provides us a point to reflect, make adjustments in our current program, and set new goals.

Additionally, Colin you bring up a very good point on how much should you be “pushing yourself” on the exercises. We all probably are aware that in order to improve in any task, golf swing included, we must put forth an effort. How much is very important, and this is of the up most importance in relation to golf fitness exercises.

Let me first say there is a very fine line between the correct amount of exertion and too much exertion. Too much exertion can lead to poor exercise technique and a possible injury. Too little exertion will limit the benefits received from your golf fitness program.

A term I use as a guideline for the correct amount of exertion on each exercise is: “Perform each exercise to your own level of tolerance”.

Essentially this states every exercise you perform should be done with the;

1) Correct technique

And

2) Performed for the number of repetitions in which you can maintain proper exercise technique.

This requires you to “push yourself”, but in addition maintain an awareness of your exercise technique. For example with the golf fitness exercise Side Holds, once you set yourself up in the correct position, you should “hold” the position for the amount of time you can until your technique falters.

This guideline can be followed for almost every golf fitness exercise. Another golf fitness exercise, the Jack Knife should be performed for as many repetitions with the correct technique. If you find your technique starting to falter this is the point at which you stop.

To summarize, we know a golf fitness program can assist a golfer in driving the golf ball longer and straighter. In the bigger picture longer and straighter drives is a goal. In order to achieve a goal in the sport of golf, a plan must be put in place. The plan can include golf fitness exercises as part of the steps for us to meet that goal. Additionally, when we talk about any golf fitness exercise the correct amount of effort must be exerted, but not exceeded. Following the guideline of “perform every golf fitness exercise to your own level of tolerance” will help you maintain this fine line of effort.

Sean Cochran

Copyright, BioForce, Ltd 2006

You can find additional info at the following links:

Click Here for more information
Click Here for more information

How to Make Aebleskiver (Danish Puff Pastries)

What's an Aebleskiver?

Danish aebleskiver (sometimes called "ebleskiver") are one of the few pastries that you can make on the stovetop—that doesn't require baking—and that you don't have to fry. They are made with a simple batter, are often filled, and usually dusted with sugar. They are easy to make and the varieties are endless.

You can fill your aebleskivers with jam, cream cheese, marshmallow cream, whipped cream, or savory fillings like cheese and sausage.

An Aebleskiver Pan Makes it Easy!

Spoon the batter into the cavities in the pan and turn them with a toothpick or skewer. We'll tell you how below.

You can use either a cast iron or aluminum aebleskiver pan. Aebleskiver require pans must hold their heat well to cook properly and cast iron is perfect. Cast iron does have to be seasoned and kept dry to keep from rusting.

We have tested both cast iron and nonstick aluminum pans in our test kitchen. The aluminum pans that we tested (and that we sell) are thick and heavy enough to hold their heat well. A nonstick surface on aluminum pans is recommended to make the aebleskiver easier to turn.

You can choose either type of pan and it will work well. A cook that works often with cast iron, appreciates it, and knows how to care for cast iron, will be happiest with a cast iron pan. A more casual cook might appreciate the carefree qualities and attractive good looks of an aluminum pan.

How to Make Aebleskiver

The "aeble" in aebleskiver means "apple." Traditionally for holidays in Denmark, aebleskiver are filled with applesauce or slices of sautéed apples. At least in this country, we use many fillings. In our test kitchen, we have made chocolate aebleskiver, filled with melted chocolate, drizzled with chocolate sauce, and topped with whipped cream for luscious desserts. (We produce a chocolate aebleskiver mix.) Jam fillings are very common but jam and cream cheese makes a great filling.

Grease your aebleskiver pan with a spray dispenser or with butter. (Spray your pan again as needed or put a dab of butter in each cavity occasionally.) Heat the pan over medium heat. When hot, fill each cup one-third full with batter. Add a small amount of filling to each. Cover with an additional one-third batter. A larger cookie scoop works well to cleanly drop the batter into the cups.

Cook for one to one and one-half minutes before turning. (You can turn your aebleskiver with a toothpick or skewer.) Cook for another minute or until done. Remove your aebleskiver to a plate and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve them warm.

What do I fill my aebleskivers with?

Almost anything. Fill your aebleskivers with jam or jelly, whipped cream, pastry, cream, applesauce, and much more. Some people fill their aebleskivers with savoring fillings like bacon and cheese or pepperoni, cheese, and marinara. One of our favorites is a corn bread aebleskiver (made with a mix) with a cube of melted cheddar cheese in the center and served with raspberry jalapeño jam. The cornbread and cheese is a great combination and jam packs a little heat.

If you would like to fill your aebleskiver with pastry cream, whipped cream, or marshmallow cream, do it after they are cooked. Fill a pastry bag or decorator set with your cream filling. Use a star tip or long tip to inject filling into the center of your aebleskiver. You'll be able to feel the aebleskiver puff as they fill.

You can find additional info at the following links:

Click Here for more information
Click Here for more information

Stack and Tilt Swing Revisited

By now you've probably heard of the Stack and Tilt swing model. Stack and Tilt is relatively new, but it has gained ground on the Tour. Developed by Andy Plummer and Mike Bennett, this new model has drawn good reviews from both veterans and youngsters. golfers like Eric Axley, Dean Wilson, and Aaron Baddeley have all tried the new swing model. Even some veteran golfers, like Brad Faxon and Mike Weir, have tried it. Stack and Tilt sounds like a good way to cut strokes from your golf handicap.





But Stack and Tilt is controversial. It challenges time-tested principles being taught in today's golf instruction sessions. It's also unique. For one thing, it looks much different than other swing models because the body never moves off the ball. For another, it has golfers tilting to the front on the backswing. This forces players to spring up through impact to hit the ball, which has some experts up in arms. So while Stack and Tilt is new and different, the question remains: Can the new swing model cut strokes from your golf handicap?





Here are three key principles of Stack and Tilt, plus a brief discussion of each to help you decide if you want to try the new swing model.





Stay On The Front Foot





In golf lessons instructors teach you to shift your weight onto your back foot on the downswing. Then, shift it back to your front foot in time for impact. That's hard to do consistently. Thus, you often end up hitting off your front foot. Stack and Tilt teaches you to start with your weight on your front foot and stay there throughout the swing. Its proponents claim this change helps golfers hit the ball solidly-and that they say is what the new swing model is all about.





Critics of Stack and Tilt reject this idea. One of the biggest problems golfers have, they say, is coming down into the ball too steeply. If they lean forward, as the new swing model suggest, they run the risk of making their swing even steeper, unless they dramatically tilt their spines away from the target on the downswing. That's extremely difficult in the milliseconds it takes to swing down, leading to mis-hits. It's easier, they say, to learn to shift your wieght





Tilt Of The Hips





Golf lessons also tell players to stay in their address positions through their swing. Stack and Tilt disagrees. It says that your body has a limited capacity to turn when your hips are titled toward the ball, as they are at address. If you stay in that position through impact, the body stops turning, killing momentum and clubhead speed. Stack and Tilt encourages you to release that forward tilt by having you thrust your hips upward. It's a move you often see other athletes make, like baseball players.





Critics of Stack and Tilt say there's definitely a weight shift in the modern swing. They also say that anything can be overdone, including lateral motion, causing mis-hits. But if you look at many of the great golf swings, like Ben Hogan's, you'll see there is clearly lateral motion in them.





Flex Your Spine Away





In addition, Stack and Tilt holds that players must flex their spines away from the target on the downswing. The upward thrust of the hips is coupled with the forward flexing of the upper body. The top half of the spine must then stretch back, tilting away from the target. When the spine goes back and the hips release, the body has great rotational power. Plus the arms are stretched and straightened through impact.





Critics of Stack and Tilt say the model requires great flexibility. Without that, mainly coming from the mid-back, this swing model places a tremendous amount of sheer force on the lumbar back. Sheering is the most destructive force the lumbar spine has to deal with. In addition, Stack and Till places increased load on the front knee. Players with damaged or arthritic leads knees could make them worse.





If you're thinking of trying the Stack and Tilt to cut strokes from your golf handicap, keep one thing mind. Many of the games most noted golf instructors don't teach a system. They teach individuals in golf lessons. These instructors don't believe there's one set of fundamentals for all players. So while Stack and Tilt may be right for some, it may not be right for you.





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. Free weekly newsletter available with the latest golf tips, lessons and instructions.

To Increase The Power In Your Golf Swing, Be A Tree!

Copyright (c) 2009 Scott Cole



Proper balance is probably the most overlooked key to a powerful golf swing. Although most instructors teach their students about good balance, the student can take this concept a step further through the study of the martial arts.



I trained for eight years in the martial art of Pai Lum Kung Fu, and proper balance was stressed throughout my training, from my days as a beginner student, and even beyond when I attained 1st Degree Black Belt. However, in our training, we focused on every possible detail regarding balance, from the feet, to proper stance width, posture and center of gravity. These are all important keys to developing power in our Kung Fu techniques, and they are important keys to helping golfers develop more power in their golf swings as well.



In describing the swing of J.B. Holmes, noted golf instructor David Leadbetter has this to say..." Starting down, his legs get into a squat position, which lets him use the ground as resistance and create an unbelievable energy flow from his legs, up through his shoulders and down into his arms and the club."



Using the ground as resistance and the creation of energy flow from the legs are two important components we focused on for generating power in our techniques at the kung fu school.



To increase the power in our punching techniques, my teacher often stressted getting our feet rooted into the ground. We devote an entire breathing exercise that lasts about five minutes to this concept of rooting. Later in our training, we were taught to focus on a specific spot on the bottom of our foot where our balance will be rooted into the ground. This spot will also draw energy from the earth into our body, and then we learn how to transfer this energy into our technique. When you develop this ability, you become capable of generating incredible bower with minimal movement.



To locate this specific spot on the bottom of your foot, take a moment to sit down, and take off your shoes and socks. On the bottom of your feet you will notice thick pads, that are often described as the balls of the feet. The biggest of these pads is under the area beneath the big toe. Next to this large pad is an area that looks like a small hollow. Take your thumb and push into this hollow firmly. If you feel a nice jolt of pain, you have found the right spot! If not, keep searching until you feel that bit of pain. In Chinese medicine, this spot is known as Kidney Point 1, and it is viewed as a very significant healing point, even for a heart attack victim.



Now that we have identified this point, we want to take this information and transfer it into our golf swing. So, with your shoes off, find a spot on a hard floor and get into your golf stance (without a club of course). As you get yourself set into your golf stance, focus hard on these specific points in the bottom of your feet. These are the points where you should focus your balance.



Now I want you to feel a sort of corkscrewing motion, starting with that spot in the bottom of your feet, then feel it up into your knees, then into your hips. You should feel as if you are trying to screw the bottom of your foot into the ground, and then the hips tuck under your torso, and maybe move forward a little bit (we also refer to this as a curling of the hips). Practice a few times at home with your shoes off, then try getting that same feeling with your golf shoes on (preferably not indoors or you will have some damaged floors!). You see, it is absolutely critical that you engage the hips in your golf swing, particularly at the start of your downswing. Engaging the hips in this manner will help them clear out the path for the golf club more quickly, generating more power.



Posture also plays a significant role in developing proper balance. Although we want to feel as if we are rooted into the ground like a tree, we certainly do not want to stand straight up in our golf stance, nor do we want to be bent over too far in our stance. Generally speaking, if we draw a straight line up from the ground to the sky at the back our hips, we then want to be bent at the hips so that our spine is angled about 30 degrees from that straight line. Find a photo of Tiger Woods' stance and you have a perfect picture of what I describe. This stance allows the arms plenty of room to swing freely in the golf swing.



Finally, it is important to maintain a low center of gravity throughout your golf swing. You will often hear football announcers describe how a running back is difficult to tackle because he has a low center of gravity. The martial artist looks to develop that low center of gravity as well, in order to generate power in his punches. The golfer will lose power by rising up in his/her golf swing.



To make sure you keep your center of gravity as low as possible, it is important to learn how to relax your abdomen during the golf swing. In other words, let your gut sag instead of sucking it in! This will require you to learn how to breathe so that you fill up all three levels of your lungs (lower, middle, upper), rather than just the upper level of your lungs. By learning how to breathe in this manner, you will learn how to maintain a low center of gravity even while holding your breath at the beginning of the swing (you should learn how to exhale during the downswing).



If you can learn how to develop proper posture and balance in this manner, you will have success in improving the power of your golf swing.





------



Scott Cole is a golf instructor and 1st Degree Blackbelt in the art of Pai Lum Kung Fu. He has produced a golf fitness e-book "How to Increase Your Golf Power" and is the owner of the website, http://www.powergolftraining.net

You can find additional info at the following links:

Click Here for more information
Click Here for more information

Golf Swing Tempo vs Golf Swing Speed

Are you told by your golf buddies that you swing too fast?
Do you think Ernie Els swings nice and slow?

The chances are that Ernie's smooth swing is WAY faster than yours. It's not the speed, but the tempo, that separate you from Ernie, because Golf Swing Speed and Golf Swing Tempo are fundamentally different.

Quite often a golfers swing can appear extremely fast, because they don't have the correct swing tempo. They usually have a very deliberate take away and back swing, where they are trying to 'Place' the club head in the correct position. There may even be a deliberate pause at the top.
This is then followed by a rush, down towards the ball, trying to gain the momentum that was lost during the back swing phase.

The chances are that all of the PGA tour players swing faster than you. What separates them, from us, is that they do it with a swing tempo that is fluid not disjointed. They also swing to an exact tempo ratio.

I've read many articles, allegedly about Golf Swing Tempo, that start to talk about components of the swing. Swing plane, take away, ball position, alignment. These are fundamentals and separate parts of the swing. These are the individual parts that you learn, which when combined, give you a complete golf swing.
Golf swing tempo, is the glue that holds all of these constituent parts together. In fact, the more you swing, with the correct swing tempo, the more stable all of those swing components become.

So what is Swing Speed? Well it's simply the amount of time you take to get from the start of your takeaway to the point of impact. But let's say for simplicity sake, that for you, this takes 4 seconds. (And it better not! Otherwise you and I won't be playing together anytime soon!) If you take 2 seconds getting to the top of your back swing and then 2 seconds getting the club head to the ball, you really are not going to generate any club head speed.

So what is Swing Tempo? Let's take the same 4 second swing OK?
This time you take 3 Seconds getting to the top, but 1 second on the way down, and what do you have? Well you have a very slow swing, but you have PERFECT Golf Swing Tempo.....Why?

Because all PRO's swing at this exact tempo ratio. 3 To 1. So you can swing as fast as you like..Really! As long as you do it using the 3 to 1 ratio. Now all you have to do is achieve this tempo using one of the many training aids available. Most of which are audio cue devices. When you do what you will find (As I did), is that you will swing faster than you ever have, but with a tempo and a consistency, that is going to stay solid throughout your next round of golf. Also, when you use one of these aids, your mind tends to focus on waiting for an audio cue, which eliminates those mind games you tend to start playing when you are addressing the ball. You know, the ones that get you all tensed up and anxious, the ones that took away any chance you ever had of a good smooth swing tempo.
Your golf buddies will probably make comments like, "Wow, Your swing is so much smoother". They won't notice 'Faster'.
Because as I said...Golf Swing Speed and Golf Swing Tempo are two different things.

Whether you share this secret with them....Is up to you!

Steve Snead lives in Youngstown Ohio. Married with 5 children, Steve teaches golf to children of all ages. Steve Snead's
Golf Swing Aid Blog

You can find additional info at the following links:

Click Here for more information
Click Here for more information

Putting A Stop To Food Cravings

Most of us don't eat the perfect diet and we have struggles with food, same as everyone else. Having an awareness of this and knowing a little bit about our health and food nutrition can help when it comes to making wise decisions.

Many people struggle with food "cravings." Studies tell us that it's fairly common for food cravings to happen quite often at around bedtime. Your guard may be down, you may have had an unusually hard day, and off you go on your not-so-merry way to find that tasty treat.

When food cravings are unconstrained, what starts out as a bedtime snack quickly turns into a full blown feeding frenzy. We head to the kitchen and every other place where food can hide, clearing a path as we go.

Most food cravings are not about satisfying a nutritional need or imbalance. They seem to be more emotionally related, or God forbid, are caused by plain old gluttony. Exactly why we over-indulge is not completely understood.

Listed below are some thoughts and ideas about food cravings:

- If the food isn't available, you can't eat it! Empty the cookie jar and keep it that way! Keep healthy food choices on-hand.

- Recognize the feelings and emotions that lead-up to a food craving. Do you have food cravings when you’re bored, lonely, or stressed? If you can identify a trigger, you can deal with the emotion that’s making you desire a certain food.

- Don't beat yourself-up. There is always tomorrow. Call a friend, make good use of your support network and share your feelings with someone.

- Get enough sleep. When you’re tired, you’re more likely to crave things.

- Never give-up. When you "slip", do whatever is necessary to re-gain control. Try to practice restraint most of the time,

Think moderation and not abstinence at all times!

- Understand that self-control and discipline by themselves, won't cut it! If you depend totally on yourself for control, you will fail. Forming caring and supportive relationships is required. If you do not currently have a support network, start building one TODAY.

- Exercise. It increases feel-good endorphins that cut down on your cravings. Try to get at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day.

- Use moderation. Instead of stuffing yourself with every kind of food hoping that your craving will go away, eat 100 to 200 calories of your "craved" food.

- Substitute with low-fat foods and complex carbs. If you’re hungry for chocolate, eat non-fat chocolate yogurt. Try fig bars or raisins for a sweet craving.

- Never skip a meal. Eat every three to five hours. Try six smaller meals or regular meals with nutritious snacks.

- Understand that hunger cravings are oftentimes stress related; walk in the park, spiritual connections, a cozy fireplace, baths...all these stimulate regions of the brain that stimulate pleasure. Relaxation techniques may also work. Bottom line, substitute pleasurable experiences for comfort foods.

- Beware of certain medications. They can stimulate appetite. Drugs used for the treatment of depression and bipolar disorder can be appetite stimulants. Other drugs, both prescription and over the counter, may influence appetite as well. If you are on a medication, and troubled by food cravings, discuss this with your doctor or pharmacist. You may be able to find an alternative that doesn't send your cravings out of control.

- Distract Yourself. Get busy. Do anything other than cave-in to your desire for food.

- Look inside your refrigerator and kitchen cabinets and do some "house cleaning." Throw-out that unhealthy stuff and start shopping more wisely. Careful planning will go a long way for improving your chances of success.

Eat wisely, be happy, and live long!