Guide for Beginning Golfers » Golf Fun

Golf On A Bet – “The Nassau”- Not Just An Island In the Bahamas

Mike — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 19:20:09 +0000

One of the important but often overlooked aspects of golf is the terminology used in playing the game. Par, Ace, Bogie, Double Bogie, Eagle, Sandie, Greenie, Nassau, etc. are all golf terms to be acquired when learning to play and will be addressed in a future post. But what is “The Nassau” you say. Well I’m glad you asked. Nassau is not only a popular vacation destination in the Bahamas but in terms of golf it is a friendly wager amongst friends to make the golf round a little more interesting. The term Nassau, if I’m not mistaken, was derived from its creation at a country club in Nassau County, New York, in fact I believe it was The Nassau Country Club.

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In my opinion, the Nassau is the most popular and fun format for betting in golf. It consists of a front nine hole bet, a back nine hole bet, and an overall score bet which is determined by the team or individual player who has won the most holes in any particular golf round. As noted previously the Nassau can be played as an individual player or a team. There are also varied types of bets that can be made during a Nassau. Stroke Play, usually with Handicap, NOTE: I would be remiss if I didn’t explain handicap here – Just as in bowling, the handicap is the equalizer in competitive golf. In bowling a player gets spotted the difference between the average of another player that may be better than he or she. In other words if player A has a 180 average and player B has a 150, player A has to give player A an 80, 90 or 100 % spot, or 24, 27 or 30 pins respectively, depending on the rules established for a particular league or tournament, in order to equalize the fairness of any bet or competition. The same analysis applies to golf. If one player normally averages a score of 80 and another player averages 95, then the 80 shooter will have to spot or handicap the other player with 15 shots or a percentage of the difference in stroke average, again depending on the rules established by the club or tournament for that particular competition. Besides stroke play, which is the count of all the strokes incurred for the front nine, the back nine and the overall score you can play by Match Play, which is a hole by hole format whereby you have an individual game for each hole and the player with the most amount of winning holes at the end of the first nine or front nine, the back nine and the overall 18 holes is declared the winner. In Stroke Play the handicap is deducted from the total score at the end of the front nine, the back nine and the overall to determine the winner. In Match Play the handicap is adjusted on each hole. As you know there are 18 holes in professional golf and each hole has a difficulty rating, depending on it’s rank against the other holes on the golf course. Since there are 18 holes the holes will rank in difficulty from 1 thru 18. If a player is entitled to 15 strokes in stroke or match play then they will receive a stroke on the 15 most difficult holes on the golf course ( See The Score Card for the Difficulty Rank of Each Hole ) . The other 3 remaining holes will be played even up so the player receiving strokes should take advantage of that opportunity whenever possible. There are many different formats that can be utilized when playing a Nassau but the one I enjoy the most is Low and Overall which keeps all players in the competition and can only be played with four players. This means that the Player with the lowest score on any given hole would get one point and the total of both players on the team with the aggregate total lowest score would receive another point. If the two low scoring players tie on any hole then no points would be received because the bet is cancelled out by each others score and the same would go for total score if the teams were even on that hole. The handicap of each player is considered on each hole and is added or deducted accordingly before a point is allowed for that hole.

A friendly bet is usually $2 to $5 per front, back and overall which would mean a total loss of six to fifteen dollars if one team or player lost all three bets. The teams should be made so that the they are as evenly matched as possible to allow for a fair and fun match. There is also an additional bet that can be added to the game called “The Press”. The press is a bet that can be automatic or at a players discretion depending on how many holes he is down and his optimism in thinking he can beat the other player or team and win any money lost back. In automatic press format, if you are down by a hole you automatically have an additional bet on the next hole and the potential loss or gain can become substantial using this format. For beginning golfers I would recommend a simple $2 bet and optional presses after you have established somewhat of a handicap. To establish your handicap you should average at least ten scores and use that average to establish how many strokes you give or take from the other player or players who you are competing with.

As noted earlier there are many fun betting formats in golf to make the game even more interesting, competitive and enjoyable. Next time you’re out playing with friends give it a try, even if just for fun and no money is exchanged at the end, but especially remember to have a great time and Happy Golfing To All !

For more valuable tips and golf info visit http://www.guideforbeginninggolfers.com

“Las Vegas” – Gambling, Golf and Good Times !

Mike — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 22:04:02 +0000

In my previous writings I spoke about my Myrtle Beach and Disney World golf vacations, which are two excellent choices for golf and vacation destinations, no two ways about it. I had been alternating between both places for about ten years and had some great times but we were ready for a change, for something different. Where would we go next ? I had always wanted to return to Las Vegas since my first visit there in 1976, but just never had the opportunity. I had stopped in Las Vegas for three days on my return trip home from my Honeymoon in Hawaii, my favorite place on the planet, met some friends there and had a blast. In 2002, my 50th birthday was quickly approaching and my significant other surprised me with a gift that I did not expect, a four day golf trip to Las Vegas. Can it get any better ? I guess maybe a five or six day trip would be better but she wanted to make sure we did not go broke while we were there so four days was a good compromise. We were staying at the MGM on Las Vegas Blvd., more commonly known as “The Strip”, where most of the more famous hotels in the city were aligned. From Mandalay Bay, The Luxor, Excalibur and New York, New York on the one end to Circus, Circus, The Riviera, The Sahara, and The Stratosphere on the other, and The Bellagio, Caesars Palace, Paris and Bally’s in between how could you go wrong ? Then there was the golf. Upon review of the available golf courses we chose three venues that we thoroughly enjoyed. We played Bears Best, a Jack Nicklaus design and who is my favorite player of all time, as some of you may remember from a previous writing, Angel Park, an Arnold Palmer design and another magnificent golf venue, which includes three courses, The Mountain being my favorite, and last but certainly not least is Bali Hai, adjacent Mandalay Bay, right on the Strip. Jacks’ Bears Best course was designed by utilizing the signature hole layouts of some of his other outstanding golf course acomplishments to date and reproducing them in the Las Vegas landscape. The green fairways contrasting with the desert mountains and sand dunes in the background was a breathtaking site, especially if you have never been in the desert before. Angel Park was also very enjoyable and there was a great view of the golf course and a real green miniature golf course, the only one I had ever seen, right off the dining veranda and the club house. It was a great setting for lunch as we took in the gorgeous panoramic view. Bali Hai was as exotic as the name exudes. With well over two thousand Palm Trees imported by the course designers, and many thousands of other varied forms of exotic plant life, complimented by the beautiful white sand bunkers, it added a tropical touch of the South Pacific to the desert, a unique and fun innovation to say the least. After 36 holes of golf at Bali Hai, my birthday celebration meal was a real treat. Dinner at the elegant Wolfgang Puck, “Cili” restaurant located right on premises, in the club house, at the Bali Hai golf course. The design and the ambiance of the restaurant and clubhouse was a continuation of the tropical theme so blatantly displayed on the golf course. Great food, fine wine, dessert and espresso with a touch of Sambuca to top off the meal, which included some live piano music playing in the background was the icing on my birthday cake so to speak. After our dining experience at Cili’s we headed to the casinos. New York City is known as “The City That Never Sleeps”, but Las Vegas is the literal personification of that expression. We walked from one end of the Strip to the other stopping at almost every well known Casino in town and all the joints were hopping no matter what time we went in. New York, New York, MGM, The Bellagio, Caesars, Bally’s and Paris were our favorite stops. I actually won a few grand at The Bellagio but gave it right back at the Paris, but you only live once, or do you ? – a topic for another time, so having fun should be the priority. It’s only money. Once you become enamored with the casino atmosphere and lack of daylight and get into a hot run on the Blackjack or Craps tables, it is very easy to transpose night and day. The hours pass quickly and I see many people having dinner at 5:00 or 6:00am and breakfast at 10:00pm or midnight for that matter. Since we were playing golf , we usually went to sleep around midnight and were out and about by 5:00am or so the next morning, which is when we noted the varied dining habits of the habitual gamblers and night time crowd. As we strolled down the Vegas Strip I could almost feel the presence of some of the larger than life personalities who frequented Las Vegas in the 50′s, 60′s and 70′s – Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy and the rest of the Rat Pack to name a few. I was especially reminded of Frank because Frank Jrs.’ face was plastered on the big sceeen video monitor and he was singing all of his dads hits and doing a pretty good job of it at that. Wayne Newton has been a lifer in Vegas and is still as popular as ever. Las Vegas has perhaps the biggest line up of top notch entertainment in the world. Wayne Newton, Barbra Streisand, Elton John, The Rolling Stones, Celine Dion, Tony Bennett and The Blue Man Group plus the first class Magic acts and much more all entertain in Las Vegas. The list of famous Las Vegas personalities from the Golden Age would not be complete without including mention of perhaps the most well known and idolized entertainer of all time, Mr. Las Vegas himself, the veritable “King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley”. His name is synonymous with the hierarchy of Las Vegas Royalty, they don’t refer to him as the King for nothing. The list goes on and on, but just check on line if you are planning a visit and you will note a dozen or more top rated shows at any particular time you may choose to plan a trip there. On our next night we walked the entire Strip again, aka Las Vegas Boulevard, starting at Mandalay Bay and finishing at the Sratosphere. We stopped in a least a half dozen Casinos, including MGM, New York, New York, Paris, Ballys’ and The Bellagio. The lights were incredible and the water light show in front of The Bellagio was most enjoyable and entertaining. It also kept me out of the casinos for a while longer and saved me some dough which made the time spent there that much more rewarding.

We revisited Las Vegas about four months later and we got some great deals on golf and hotel rooms. I guess they figured they should lower the rates for anyone crazy enough to play golf in 114 degree temperatures. It was tough I must say, but we played and still had a good time, wet face cloths and all. It was another wonderful vacation under our belt and they just keep getting better. If you’re considering Las Vegas for your next trip, I can guarantee you won’t be bored. It truly is the “City That Never Sleeps”. You can get some terrific packages, both for golf or just to stay and play at the resorts. Las Vegas is truly the ultimate playground for the over 21 crowd. Happy Vacationing and Golfing To All !

Visit http://guideforbeginninggolfers.com and http://mddeagle.golfbegin.hop.clickbank.net/ for more valuable golf info, especially for the beginner to learn “The Right Way”

“Disney World” – Land Of Make Believe and Golf Too !

Mike — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 00:02:45 +0000

We have to give credit to Mr.Walt Disney, whose ability to manifest his dreams is second to none. Walt, or out of respect, I should say Mr. Disney, opened Disney Land in Anaheim, California in the mid-fifties, at just about the time the Brooklyn Dodgers were leaving their fans in Brooklyn and heading for Los Angeles, California. His vision was not yet complete though, he had found a perfect piece of property in Orlando, Florida where he would initiate the creation of the most Magical Land on the face of the planet. This was also the place where another and maybe final portion of his dream would be realized. In the spring of 1990 I had planned my first golf vacation ever to Myrtle Beach and it was such a wonderful trip I was soon ready for another. While I was contemplating my next golf and vacation destination, slated for the fall or late summer of 1990, my significant other came up with what later turned out to be an excellent suggestion. How about Disney World ? I said, “I have never been to Disney World or Disney Land for the that matter but what about golf ?” I was reminded that the Buick Classic, which I think it was called at the time, was played at Disney World so “Duh”, there must be golf courses there, right ? Yes, there were. In fact, Disney World was a stop on the PGA Tour since opening in 1971, if I’m not mistaken. The Magnolia and the Palm were the two courses that high lighted the tournament. There is also Lake Buena Vista, a course less known but one that turned out to be very enjoyable to play. I was convinced that we should give it a shot, what could we lose ?

In September of 1990 we were headed for what turned out to be one of the best vacations ever. We booked our hotel right on Disney premises at, “The Disney Inn”, a quiet little section of the resort adjacent the two main golf courses, The Magnolia and The Palm. A few years later, the Inn was turned over to the U.S. Government and from my perception, it is now utilized for the armed services entertainment and supplementary needs. We were disappointed when we couldn’t make our future reservations there because it was an out of the way place where we could enjoy peace and quiet. We now frequent the other resorts, especially Port Orleans, which is centrally located and reasonably priced. Although not quite as sequestered as The Disney Inn, it provides an amount of privacy, beauty and and just the right touch of ambiance in the surroundings to be enjoyable as well. In the process of booking our golf reservations, we were advised that there were two other newer courses at The “Bonnet Creek” Resort, not too far from where we were staying. They were named Eagle Pines and Osprey Ridge, and were designed by two of the premier architects of the time, Tom Fazio and Pet Dye respectively. Having kept up with my Golf Digest subscriptions, I was well versed in the reputation of these two golf architects, and it dawned on me that I had just recently read about the openings and rave reviews received when they had first opened a short while ago. Since we were able to visit Disney World for six days, it allowed us enough time to play a different course every day and one course twice if we chose to. Luckily, we were able to reserve tee times at the two new courses at Bonnet Creek. So, our room, airfares, rental car and tee times were booked as we waited impatiently for the next few months to go by so we could venture off to another unforgettable golf vacation.

Unforgettable is just what it turned out to be. Our days there commenced with awakening in a magnificent suite at the Disney Inn Resort, which included a view of Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs carved into the hedges outside our room, enjoying the sunrise each morning with an overview of a water feature in the courtyard area outside, which was landscaped with beautiful and exotic plantlife and fauna, then off to a cheery musical breakfast fare at The Contemporary Resort where Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto and Goofy entertained and joined us for some fun, and last but certainly not least, the anticipation of playing golf on any one of five magnificent golf venues, each one better than the next. How could you beat it ? We enjoyed every one of the golf courses, especially the two new Bonnet Creek courses, Eagle Pines and Osprey Ridge. After golf, we enjoyed a quick lunch at the Clubhouse Dining Room, which overlooked the golf course. But then, the fun had just begun; it was off to one of the Magical Parks that are part of the Disney World Resort.

We visited every park, Magic Kingdom, MGM, Animal Kingdom amd Epcot and like the golf courses, I enjoyed each one more than the next. I was 38 years old when I first visited Disneyworld but age did not matter. Whether some of us want to admit it or not, we are all children at heart, and that is a good thing. It allows us to enjoy the rides, exhibits, entertainment, characters, parades, fireworks and the rest without the inhibition of feeling foolish. The high points of my Park experiences were “The Carousel Of Progress” in Magic Kingdom, where I reminisced of my pre-teen years and when I first viewed it at the “World’s Fair” in Flushing Meadows, Queens in 1963 -64, “Fantasmic” and the Sci- Fi restaurant at MGM, The Laser Light Show and Pavillions Of The World at Epcot, and The Tree Of Life, It’s A Bugs Life 3-D show, and “Tarzan” at Animal Kingdom, which was awesome and a must see if you visit Animal Kingdom during your stay at Disney World. There are so many other wonderful things to see and do at the parks too numerous to mention. If you are planning a family vacation, or just a getaway for yourself or for you and your significant other, make Disney World a choice for your next trip. If golf is on your itinerary, I can attest from my own experience, “You won’t be disappointed”. Note: If you stay on premises, and book your tee times after a certain time, around 10:00 am, you may be able to receive discounted rates on green fees. There are also twi-light rates in the afternoon that are priced at a reduced rate.

While on vacation at Disney World, my daily agenda included playing some golf, then visiting the parks in the afternoon after golf (between 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm),and stay well into the evening and enjoying the nightly parades, light shows and fireworks displays. Since this was my first trip there, I did not want to miss out on any of the Magic that Disney World has to offer. I have tried to make Disney World an annual or bi-annual stop since my first visit and I never tire of the excitement and Magical experiences that the resort has to offer. Bravo to Mr. Disney – He had a wonderful dream that we all can share and benefit from thanks to his fortitude and ability to make that dream come true ! Happy Golfing and Vacationing To All !

Visit http://guideforbeginninggolfers.com or http://mddeagle1golfbegin.hop.clickbank.net/ for more valuable golf information.

“Myrtle Beach” – Top Rated Golf Destination, Vacation Spot or Both

Mike — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 23:38:34 +0000

In the winter of 1990 I was contemplating planning my first golf vacation. At that time I had been playing for about 13 years, approximately once a week, either with my golf club at Marine Dunes Golf Course in Brooklyn on Flatbush Avenue or Dyker Beach Golf Course in Bensonhurst, which at the time was the most played public course in the country. I always wondered what it would be like to go on vacation for an entire week and be able to play golf every day if I wanted to. In conversation with my golf club comrades and reading my favorite golf magazines, Golf Digest being at the top of the list, it became clear to me that Myrtle Beach would be a great choice. I had one dilemma, my significant other was joining me on the trip and had never played golf before. So I offered her this option – Learn to play golf or wait for five or six hours, while I played for my return. She was into sports – softball, baseball and football like myself, and athletic so she opted to learn to play. Her decision to learn posed my second dilemma, which was how to teach her to play in four or five weeks before we had to embark on our trip. A crash course with an instructor or should I take on the challenge ? I presented her with the choice and the next thing I knew we were in the local ball fields after work and on weekends and I was teaching her to play. She actually progressed better than I would have imagined. She was hitting 8 iron about 125 to 130 yds. and pretty straight at that. Some of the guys I played with did not hit that well. She had one last query before we left, especially since she had never played, and that was, “Are there other things that we can do besides golf ? ” Good question, but I had already anticipated it and was ready. Of course there are other things to do – I heard the beaches are beautiful, miniature golf, which she enjoyed was readily available, water parks in abundance, great restaurants and I saved my ace in the hole for last, and plenty of places to shop. That did the trick. We were ready – Myrtle Beach here we come ! So, in April of 1990 we were off to our first ever golf vacation. We stayed at the Ocean Dunes and had reserved an oceanfront room with a balcony overlooking the beach, which turned out to be a very good decision on our part. If you have a few extra dollars and enjoy the beach and ocean it’s well worth the additional cost. We are usually early risers and we enjoyed the sunrise each morning as we anticipated our day. Then on to breakfast – a nice little buffet type whcih was incuded in our golf package. All it cost additional is a few dollars for the tip. Finally, the golf was incredible, the first course we ever played at Myrtle Beach was Buck Creek ( now renamed Aberdeen ), then Long Bay ( A Jack Nicklaus design and noted in many golf magazines at the time, especially his signature 10th hole ) and also Tidewater, one of my favorite golf courses played to date and a few others one better than the next. Since this was her first time playing she was a little nervous on the first tee since all the other players are mulling around waiting for their turn to play. Realizing our situation, the starter, who on most courses is usually very nice and considerate, set us up on the back nine where no one was around. This courtesy was greatly appreciated and made the experience much more enjoyable than it would have been otherwise. I would strongly recommend to the new golfer to let the starter at the course know that you are just beginning to play, and would appreciate if he can place you where the least amount of golfers are playing, if possible. Some golf course complexes have more than 18 holes (Myrtle Beach National, Barefoot Landing Resort, Legends, Arrowhead and Heather Glen to name a few )and one nine hole layout may be more readily open for you to play. This is not always the case, but you can also schedule your tee time when the course is less crowded and you would have a more relaxed atmosphere in which to play and take a little more time if necessary. The dining was also very enjoyable, we had some fine meals at Gullyfield’s ( No longer Exisiting), Rossi’s, a nice Italian venue with music, including a little Dean And Frank (located at the Galleria Mall off Business RT.17), and also offered atmosphere and ambiance with an Italian flair as you enjoy your meal, Damons for the rib lovers ( located at Barefoot Landing at the time and since relocated), Chuck’s Steak House and my favorite restaurant at the beach – Greg Norman’s Australian Grille, also located at the Barefoot Landing Shopping Complex ( About a mile or so North of where Rt. 22 and Business 17, aka Kings Highway meet ) I’m not sure if Greg’s Place was open at that time but it has been a must stop for us for the last few years. The Australian Grille offers the option of dining inside or outside the restaurant which overlooks the Intercoastal Waterway. The outside offers a bit more relaxed and less noisy atmosphere, complete with tree lighting, gas torches, an outdoor fireplace, entertainment and a view of the sunset as you dine if you time it right. What more can you ask for ? The shops at Barefoot are also varied and offer a multitude of choices for dining, clothing, fudge, taffies and all kinds of souvenirs. Klig’s Kites And The Christmas Mouse are two of our favorite shops to visit where we always find some great Seasonal Flags and Christmas souvenirs and gifts respectively to bring home.

Our first few trips to Myrtle Beach were so centered around golf that we never realized how enjoyable a day at the Beach could be. Before golf, Myrtle Beachs’ reputation as a seaside resort was well known and it attracted many visitors each year. Even for the most die hard golfer, which I would pretty much consider myself, I would highly recommend a day of relaxation and fun at the beach. Rent a lounge chair and umbrella, toss the football or frisbee around, enjoy the beauty of the ocean and the waves, or just sit, relax, have a beer or two if you’d like, and take in all the sights around you. I promise you won’t be disappointed. Since the sport of golf has become an integral part on the make up of Myrtle Beach it really has become BOTH a family vacation spot and golf destination that the entire family can enjoy. The Golf, Beach, Water Parks, Rides, Miniature Golf, Restaurants, Shopping Complexes such as Barefoot Landing and Broadway At The Beach ( which also has many shops, restaurants, mini – golf, rides, entertainment including tha Hard Rock cafe, nightspots for the younger and middle aged crowd and a multitude of other enjoyable choices including Ripley’s Believe It Or Not and The Aquarium which is fun for all ages. When the sun is down the die hard golfers can also enjoy Medieval Times, The Carolina Oprey, Alabama Theater and Dolly Partons Dixie Stampede, which are just a few of the other options providing entertainment for the entire family golfer and non-golfer alike.

For the family vacation many of the hotel golf packages and golf courses offer FREE golf for children and young adults aged 16 and under when accompanied by a paying adult. Not a bad deal. Some of my favorite but more pricey courses to play are Tidewater, as mentioned previously, Caledonia, a beautiful Mike Strantz design, True Blue, TPC, Kings North at the Myrtle Beach National Resort and Pawleys Plantation, located at the southern end of the Grand Strand and designed by Jack Nicklaus, my favorite golfer of all time. With over 130 golf courses located within a 30 mile radius it’s no wonder that Myrtle Beach is known as “The Golf Capital Of The World” If you are planning a golf and / or a family vacation check out Myrtle Beach. I’m sure you will revisit it for many years to come. Happy Golfing And Vacationing To All !

Visit http://golfguideforbeginninggolfers.com and http://mddeagle1.golfbegin.hop.clickbahk.net/ for more info on learning to play “The Right Way”