No, we’re not talking about how high the fairway grass should be or the amount of sand that should be in the bunker.  We’re talking about how you’re playing your game and maybe even how to cut a stroke or three.  How, you ask?  I reply, by playing the hole in reverse!  That, my friends, is the idea behind course management.

Here’s a simple example.  Let’s say that you’re playing a par 4 hole that’s 260 yards.  You know that you can hit a drive somewhere between 190 and 210 yards depending on certain variables.  You also know that your high percentage go to club is your pitching wedge which you can hit 90 yards with a great trajectory and fairly on target all day long.  So then, subtract 90 from 260.  That leaves you with 170 yards.  Why then would you hit it 200 and then go for the next 60 with a club that may not give you the same confidence (real or imagined) as your pitching wedge?

It’s not only okay, but also wise, to break out let’s say a 3 wood and tee it off from there.  You end up around the 170 mark and, Bingo! you pull old faithful out of the bag, step up to the ball with the confidence that you have already established with that shot, and watch it fly high and plop down on the green.  Make sense?  Yes, there will be those in your group that can drive the ball and get it within ten or fifteen yards of the green.  But, have they developed the confidence to flop shot it 10 yards and land it soft enough not to run to the other side?   Even if they do, you both got there in two.  Once again, the short game is the great equalizer.

On average a Champions Tour player hits their drive around 268 yards depending on which study you reference.  On average I hit my drive around 195 yards give or take 5 yards or so (unless I really skull it and hit a worm burner 40 yards!).  Yes, I’m basically a short hitter and I’m fine with that.  I almost always get out driven but, more often than not, I’m usually in the fairway or pretty close to it.  This means that the above example is pretty much how I play my game.  It also means that I may need three shots to get to the green instead of two for the simple reason that I like to take the high percentage shot.  Remember, as someone once told me, ‘the woods are full of long hitters!’

So where else does the course management concept come into play?  How about knowing whether to lay up or try to make it over the stream?  Or maybe how to avoid the bunkers by hitting right before it instead of trying to clear it and then aiming for the spot from where you can have the confidence to hit the green?  Maybe to set up the correct angle to the pin on a dogleg?  I’m sure that you can think of a specific hole or two that you may be able to cut a stroke on by looking at it from the reverse.  Start at the hole, work out how far you need to come back in order to use your best club, then back it up to the tee taking into consideration any hazards or obstacles between you and that money shot.

If you haven’t played this way before let me tell you, it’s not easy.  If you’re used to stepping up and letting it rip every shot or if you see someone in your group make a shot that you ‘think’ you can duplicate; then this will be a slow process.  But that’s okay!  Just start by trying it on one hole and see how it turns out.  Even if it only works once, well, that’s one less stroke on your scorecard isn’t it?  

Make sure to share with us how you already, or are going to, apply course management to your round!

Play well,

Roseann 

I must admit that when I first saw the Martini Golf Tee I thought that it was just a novelty and brushed it off.  I mean, how can something that looks like a martini glass for a woodland fairy be of any real use?  And what about the price, around six bucks or so for a pack of five?  Seemed ridiculous!  Well, now I’m here to tell you how wrong I was.  I think that these tees are one of the best ones out there, especially for aging golfers or those with physical challenges.  ‘Why?’, you ask.  I reply.

As we get older not only does our speed and reflexes slow down, but also our steadiness,  Sad, but true.  Towards the end of a round it sometimes seems that the consistency that is oh so important is harder to maintain.  Even something as minor as teeing up the ball can be a struggle.  You either don’t maintain the same tee height or even worse, you don’t place the tee upright enough and the ball starts falling off the tee.  Face it, it happens.

This is where the Martini Tee shines.  Not only does the tee come in different lengths, but you can also get tees with a stop feature.  This will guarantee that each and every time that you tee up, the ball will be at the same height.  Need to tee up a little lower due to wind conditions?  Try the 2 ¾”.  Short par three and using an iron?  Use the 2” tee and press it in until the cup rests on the ground.  Like to ‘tee it high and watch it fly’’, or going long with a driver that has a head the size of a horse?  Use the 3 ¼” tee with a stop and tee it up the exact height each and every time.  No more teeing the ball too low and wondering what happened to your loft that you had six holes ago.    

Another handy trait of the cup shape is that it will hold the ball.  According to Martini Tees, the ball will stay in the cup up to a 20 degree angle of the tee.  That’s one less time that I have to bend over to reset the ball on the tee. Also, this gives you the flexibility to tilt the tee towards the hole allowing for better alignment and possibly even more roll.  Try that with a standard tee.

 Add to that the durability of a tee made of a proprietary polymer resin and you have a tool that lasts for multiple rounds without snapping or bending out of shape.  This I can attest to after smacking the tee instead of the ball on more than one occasion!  Plus you have a choice of colors to choose from and sometimes, with aging eyes, certain colors make it easier to focus and to see the contrast against the turf.

In case you’re wondering, they also conform to USGA and R&A Rules of Golf and are made in the USA!  So, keep those old wooden tees for cleaning your grooves or for practice and try Martini Golf Tees by the pack or by the shaker full.  Chances are you’ll get used to them real quick! 

You can reach out to them at www.Martinigolftees.com and don’t forget to let them know that you found them at SeniorGolfDigest.com.

Stay safe and play well,

Joe

Zerofit North America Selects Jamison Golf Group As Agency Of Record

LAKE MARY, FL (April 4, 2023) – Zerofit North America, the exclusive authorized distributor of Zerofit baselayer apparel in the U.S. and Canada, has selected Jamison Golf Group as its agency of record. Zerofit is a Japanese performance apparel brand and manufacturer of the best baselayer products for outdoor activities.

As agency of record Jamison Golf Group will help elevate Zerofit’s presence in the golf industry by successfully developing a Public Relations Program for its variety of baselayer products that will keep golfers comfortable regardless of the temperatures.

 “We selected Jamison as our launch partner in the U.S. because of the company’s extensive golf industry expertise and experience,” said Doug Zirbel, CEO of Zerofit North America LLC. “Our baselayers offer the best-in-class innovations and technologies to keep you active outside throughout the year, and are designed primarily to address colder weather conditions, but we also offer apparel to keep you comfortable whatever the weather. Our tops, hoodies, leggings and sleeves have proven to be extremely popular in outdoor activities like skiing, sailing and motorcycling. We know golfers will find that our products enhance their enjoyment of the game as well.”

Zerofit was founded by Koji Higashi in his native Japan in 2005 and the brand was launched in the UK and Europe in 2018 before further expansion into North America in 2020 and Australasia in 2021.

A passionate golfer and fitness enthusiast, Mr. Higashi was unable to continue to do the sports he loved when the weather turned extremely cold, because he felt there was a significant lack of suitable clothing options to keep participants warm and their body temperature regulated.

The award-winning Heatrub Ultimate baselayer was unveiled to the Japanese public in 2011 and since then hundreds of thousands of outdoor enthusiasts have discovered the benefits of that best-in-class product. Many products have been added to the extensive Zerofit collection over the years, including Heatrub Ultimate Leggings and the Heatrub Move baselayer, as well as products that are designed to cool users down in hot summer weather.

Zerofit’s “Ultimate” is its warmest line of products and allows for total mobility and comfort for a variety of activities and sports with amazing warmth. The Boken Institute in Osaka, Japan, tested the heat retention of the Zerofit Ultimate baselayer and it was proven to be five times warmer than leading competitors. Zerofit is trademarked as “The World’s Warmest Baselayer.”

The technology in the threads is activated by movement, generating heat instantly. The “double-loop” barrel fabric provides both heat insulation and “friction heating” via extra-long bristles. These bristles ensure that a layer of warm air is retained around the body, and even a little movement of the bristles causes friction which creates heat and actually warms you up.

If you need a garment for cool weather but not freezing temperatures, Zerofit’s “Move” line of products are still twice as warm as a traditional baselayer and allow for unrestricted mobility and maximum comfort.

“We’re thrilled to have the pleasure of working with Zerofit North America to promote the Zerofit brand,” said Mike Jamison, president of Jamison Golf Group. “Their baselayer products are so technologically advanced that golfers can now play in cold weather without having their swings restricted from wearing multiple layers of clothing. Just the Zerofit top and a jacket will keep them comfortable.”

Zerofit North America is looking to partner with pro shops, sales representatives and distributors to grow the line. Interested parties should call Doug Zirbel at 760-310-9840, email at info@zerofitusa.com, or visit www.zerofitusa.com for more information.

ABOUT ZEROFIT

Designed in Japan, made for the outdoor world, Zerofit baselayers offer best-in-class innovations and technologies to keep you active outside throughout the year, designed primarily to address colder weather conditions, but also offering apparel to keep you comfortable whatever the weather. From the award winning Heatrub Ultimate and Heatrub Move baselayers for the colder winter months, through to the Ice Weave and Cold Skin baselayers in the heat of the summer, our products are changing the game for hikers, runners, anglers, bikers, golfers, sailors and more.

ABOUT JAMISON GOLF GROUP

Since 1990, Jamison Golf Group has been a respected leader in the golf industry’s media and public relations field. Golf is a relationship business, and no firm has better relationships in the golf business than Jamison Golf Group. Jamison’s team consists of experts specializing in publishing, public relations, advertising, social media, event management, broadcasting, video production and graphic design. By focusing entirely on the golf business, Jamison’s diverse team has forged solid lifetime relationships, providing clients with a powerful advantage. For more information, please visit JamisonGolf.com.

COMPANY CONTACT:

Doug Zirbel

Zerofit North America LLC

info@zerofitusa.com

760-310-9840

The Barstool Classic began its 25-event schedule at True Blue Golf Club on March 6. The one-day tournaments are being played in 18 states and Toronto, Canada with courses such as The Greenbrier, TPC Boston and Grand Traverse Resort joining True Blue as high-profile hosts in 2023. 

As the official “Buddies Trip” of the Barstool Classic, PlayGolfMyrtleBeach.com, the Grand Strand’s leading golf trip planning resource, will have activation opportunities at every event. The winner of the closest to pin contest at each tournament will also receive free entry into 40th Annual World Amateur Handicap Championship, a 72-hole, net stroke play event that annually attracts more than 3,200 people from across the globe to Myrtle Beach. 

Additionally, one lucky “Stoolie” will win a free trip to Myrtle Beach that includes: 

– Two nights, three rounds for four golfers
– Two Double Occupancy Rooms 
– Three rounds of golf on a Golf Tourism Solutions member course
– Visit www.ForePlayMyrtleBeach.com to learn more and enter.

The Myrtle Beach golf community’s partnership with the Barstool Classic extends a relationship that began in 2022 when the Fore Play podcast team brought its ever-popular travel series to the area, spotlighting Pine Lakes Country Club, Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country Club, TPC Myrtle Beach and True Blue. The YouTube series included four videos that have all generated in excess of 125,000 views. 

Barstool’s team – Trent, Riggs, Frankie and Dan – have enjoyed a meteoric rise based on the popularity of its Fore Play podcast, an engaging, irreverent look at the game through the eyes of regular golfers. Many of golf’s biggest names have appeared on Fore Play, reaching a younger, yet no less passionate, audience.

For more information on everything the Myrtle Beach golf scene has to offer, visit PlayGolfMyrtleBeach.com.

About Golf Tourism Solutions
GTS provides a broad array of services, including email marketing, website design, social media and content production, targeting public and private clubs and real estate developments. With an email database that includes more than 700,000 addresses and an ever-growing social media presence, GTS has the assets of a large media company at its disposal. 
 
GTS also has full responsibility for a thriving tournament division, headlined by the PlayGolfMyrtleBeach.com World Amateur Handicap Championship. The company runs eight events, including the Dustin Johnson World Junior Golf Championship, and brings more than 20,000 rounds of golf and room nights to Myrtle Beach.

For more information, go to www.GolfTourismSolutions.com. 

PAWLEYS ISLAND – True Blue Golf Club and Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, two of America’s top 100 resort courses, are poised to host 36 teams from across the nation for the Golfweek/Any Given Tuesday Intercollegiate. 

The 54-hole event will be played March 27-29 with 18 men’s and 18 women’s teams competing on the highly acclaimed Mike Strantz designs. The women will play Caledonia all  three days while the men will tee it up at True Blue, with everyone hoping to build momentum as team’s look toward postseason play.

“We can’t wait to welcome teams for the Golfweek/Any Given Tuesday Intercollegiate,” said Bart Romano, director of golf operations for True Blue and Caledonia. “We will have 36 teams from 15 states playing Caledonia and True Blue while enjoying the best the area has to offer on and off the course. Both layouts are in pristine condition and will provide an enjoyable test for the game’s next generation of stars.”

The men’s field will feature Valparaiso, University of Connecticut, High Point, Ohio, Evansville, Southern Illinois, Jacksonville State, Wichita State, Marshall, Central Arkansas, Xavier, Austin Peay, Winthrop, Troy, Delaware, Northern Colorado, Loyola-Chicago and Western Illinois. 

The women’s field will include North Dakota State, Marshall, Akron, Gardner-Webb, Evansville, Winthrop, Morehead State, James Madison, Coastal Carolina, St. Thomas, Florida Gulf Coast, UNC Greensboro, East Carolina, UNC Asheville, Western Illinois, Ohio, Illinois-Chicago and Northern Colorado. 

Caledonia and True Blue are two of the Myrtle Beach area’s most acclaimed courses. Strantz’ first solo design, Caledonia is a consensus top 100 course. The layout is equal parts art and architecture, rewarding precision as much as raw power. 

Conversely, True Blue is a big course in every sense of the word. Players will enjoy the opportunities provided by some of the area’s widest fairways, but that doesn’t mean tee shots will be without challenge. 

True Blue’s greens are equally large in scale and it is incumbent on golfers to find the proper spots off the tee if they hope to attack pins on a layout that rewards a creative approach to the game. 

The Golfweek/Any Given Tuesday Intercollegiate is one of three college events the Caledonia and True Blue will host this year. 

For more information or to book a tee time, visit CaledoniaGolfandFishClub.com or TrueBlueGolf.com.