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Tips from visiting golfers
WHAT-TO-DO - NASSAU, CABLE BEACH & PARADISE ISLAND - JULY 2007
Tips from visiting golfers
Moderate expectations
Next time you miss a putt in The Bahamas, you can always blame the green. Most courses in The Bahamas are seeded with Bermuda grass, which has the reputation of being a shade slower than the varieties of grass used in more northern climes.
Actually, there is considerable disagreement about that nowadays, with many golfers attesting that some varieties of Bermuda grass are plenty fast enough for handicap players.
?I really don?t notice that much difference in speed from my home course,? says Karen Campos, a high-handicapper from the Detroit, Michigan area. ?What I do notice is there?s less break than what we get back home.?
All greens get slower as the day goes on but the change may be less noticeable in the tropics with slow growing Bermuda, adds Campos. ?Here, the putt tends to break toward the nearest water.?
Hitting from the rough
Putting on these greens is one thing, but hitting shots out of Bermuda rough is much more challenging, say the pros. They recommend hitting down more sharply than you do back home, to minimize the amount of grass that gets between the clubhead and the ball.
Bill Ryan, who plays to a 12 handicap back home in Canada, warns fellow vacationing golfers not to expect too much the first time out. ?During the winter layoff, we all think we?ve analysed our swing, you know, and figured out all our faults. We?re ready to shoot lights out.
?Well, it doesn?t work that way,? laughs Ryan. He suggests putting in some time on the practice range and the putting green before going out on the course, especially if you have not handled a golf club for a few weeks or months. ?It?s easier to knock the rust off on the range than it is on the course.?
It takes a while to get your swing back and, until it is, you?ll be less frustrated on the course if you ?moderate your expectations,? says Ryan.
While tips are helpful, low handicappers say it?s always a good idea to practice the fundamentals: grip, stance, alignment and ball position. Get those right and you?ll be better prepared to play the grand game anywhere, including in the sunny Bahamas.
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