Few hobbies can be asenjoyable one moment andas frustrating the next asgolf. Golfers know a greatputt can be quickly fol-lowed by a bad tee shot,and maintaining theircomposure through thehighs and lows of thegame is a key to successon the links.

Maintaining that compo-sure isn't always easy,even for the professionals.It's even more difficult forbeginners, who quicklylearn the game of golfinvolves more than justspending sunny weekendafternoons on pristine golfcourses. In fact, golf can bequite demanding, andbeginners would be wiseto heed a few tips beforehitting the course.• Don't commit to anexpensive set of clubsright off the bat. Golfclubs can be very expen-sive, so beginners shouldbuy an affordable second-hand set of clubs so theycan get the hang of whatthey like before spending alot of money. Visit a proshop and explain that youare just a beginner. Theshop will likely makesome valuable suggestionsand might even let you tryout a pair of clubs. Inaddition, many drivingranges allow customers torent clubs, and this can bea great and inexpensiveway to find the right clubsfor you.• Take lessons. Even thevery best at self-teachingmight find it extremelydifficult to become a self-

taught golfer. When firsttrying your hand at golf,take some lessons anddon't expect to be playing18 holes any time soon.Before hitting the course,where you might be dis-couraged and you mightfrustrate those golfingbehind you, learn the fun-damentals by taking a fewlessons at the drivingrange. Learn from a pro-fessional, who won't offeryou any hidden secrets togolfing glory (there aren'tany) but will offer soundadvice on the game's fun-damentals.• Take the game homewith you. Beginners caneven take advantage ofgolf's vast popularity bytaking the game homewith them. This doesn'tmean building a puttinggreen in your backyard.Rather, purchase someinstructional DVDs tolearn the game duringyour down time through-out the week. Manygolfers don't have time tohit the links during theweek, but they do havetime to watch some DVDswhen they get home fromwork. Such instructionalDVDs can help you masteryour grip and stance,which you can then takewith you to the courseover the weekend.• Have fun. Golf is a fungame; it just takes time tohone your skills. But evenif you aren't ready for theprofessional tour afteryour first few rounds, youcan still have fun. Don't letsome beginner's frustra-

tion, which every golferexperiences, ruin the funof the game. Take note ofyour surroundings whenyou hit the links, andappreciate the time you'respending with your group.

If the game becomes morea source of frustration thanfun, then take a break andput in some more workaway from the course, beit at the driving range orstudying at home.

2 Golf Guide • May 19, 2013

It is essential to havea consistent stance…

Every time you face the ball, in a practice sessionor a game situation, you should work with very pre-cise markers. You will develop an appropriate rou-tine for your style. Developing a routine requires that you pay attention and adjust your position forevery shot. Once your routine is well-established,you only need to focus, because you will always bein the correct position.

Unfortunately, many golfers hold the grip in thepalm of their hands like a hammer. Instead, try hold-ing it with your fingers. At the beginning, it will feeluncomfortable because it is unfamiliar. Of the threetypes of grips, one is as good as the other. Get curi-ous and try them all. The right choice is a compro-mise between ease and result. The grip should suitthe size of your hands and the length of your fin-gers. Holding your club incorrectly will affect theposition of your club in some way.

Before you even initiate a swing, this simple cor-rection will reduce the risk of multiplying your mis-takes. The two knuckles (index and major) on thetop hand are an easy marker to check: the knuckleson the left hand for a right-handed golfer, for exam-ple.

For a good stance, try these three important mark-ers:• Align your feet, hips, and shoulders parallel toyour target.• Position your ball near the middle for short irons,slightly toward the front foot for mid and long irons,and at the heel for the woods. (The front foot is clos-est to the target).• Place your ball proportionately to the length ofyour club. Place the tip of the grip so it reachesabout mid-thigh. The longer the stem, the furtheryou stand from the ball.

A good golfer is a player who often replicates thesame swing. Pay attention to your markers.

3Golf Guide • May 19, 2013

(812) 299-GOLF(4653)

2013 MembershipFees & Rates

Applicable for the 2013 Golfing Season

Season Passes for the General Public:Individual Season Pass $900Family Season Pass $1,700Junior Season Pass $325Senior Season Pass $575Corporate Season Pass Call Ray

Daily Green Fees:9-Holes 18-Holes

Weekend $20 $33Weekday $17 $28Residents, Seniors & College Students $16 $25Juniors $8 $8

Carts:Daily Cart Fees (per person) $8 $15Pull Cart Fees $5 $5

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informationand prices!

4 Golf Guide • May 19, 2013

Summer Golf RatesWeekday Walk 18 -$14 Ride 18 - $25Weekend Walk 18 - $19 Ride 18 - $30

Everyday After 4:30 - $20 � Driving Range Bucket - $4

Weekly EventsM o n d a y – Men’s League 5pm, Women’s League 5pm, Separate leagues, one starts

off the front nine, the other off the back Tuesday – So c ia l C lub 5 pm, Scramble format, great way to spend quality time with

your loved one, family, or friends, the club also plays every other Sunday at 2pm Wednesday – Sen ior Choose up Sc ramble 9 am, (50 and up) Thursday – Mixed Coup les S c rample 9am, You and your Spouse, significant other, or

friend can play in a fun filled scramble

Driving Range Open Summer Events

Father’s Day Family Scramble

Rally for a Cure Event Exercise and Workout Room

Open and accepting memberships

Turkey Run Golf EstatesHousing Lots Available

7951 E St Rd 47 � Waveland, IN 47989 � 765 435 2048 www.turkeyrungolf.com

35 min. North of Terre Haute, 5 miles east of Turkey Run State Park

Golf is a great game forbuilding friendships,socializing, and formingbusiness relationships. Thegreens are not just an idealplace to meet people whoshare the same passion; bygolfing you can widenyour circle of contacts andbuild trusting relation-

ships with clients andbusiness partners.

Whether you’re a man-ager of a large enterpriseor just a salesperson start-ing your career, there’s nohierarchy on a golf course.The chairman of the boardand the new officeemployee might very well

share the same golf cart,discuss many differentsubjects, and become loyalgolf partners.

A few golf games withpotential clients could leadto interesting businessopportunities in the shortor long term. There’s notelling how many dealshave been discussedbetween the first and eigh-teenth holes and thensealed over drinks at theclub house.

A golf tournament is agreat opportunity to bringemployees in the sameoffice closer together andto meet people from sur-prisingly diverse back-

grounds. A simple golfgame is often the perfectoccasion to widen yoursocial circle. Joining a golfclub also allows you todevelop a sense of belong-ing and strengthen tieswith other members.

Of course golf can havedisadvantages for some ofus, especially beginners. Itcan be a great sport butalso a very frustrating one,so it’s always important tocontrol your emotions. It isoften said that the behav-ior of golfers on the courseis a reflection of their truepersonality. So, you’d bet-ter make a good impres-sion!

Adults who play golfknow just how fun andfrustrating the game canbe. Whether you're a vet-eran golfer or someonejust learning the links, golfcan be challenging.

But as exacting as thegame can be, it also can bejust as rewarding, even forkids. Children whoembrace the game of golfwill learn a host of lessonsthey can apply in all facetsof life. A humbling gameeven for professionalgolfers, golf can teach kidslessons in humility andthe value of persistenceeven when things aren'tgoing your way.

Golf is also a great wayfor parents to get kids offthe couch and outdoorsfor some fun in the sun.Instead of spending sum-mer afternoons in front ofthe television, kids whoplay golf are out patrollingpristine golf courses whilegetting some cardiovascu-lar exercise along the way.Golf can also strengthen achild's hand-eye coordina-tion, which can help themin other activities, includ-ing many different sports.

Though manypeople do notbegin playing golfuntil they'vereached adult-hood, it's nevertoo early for boysand girls to startlearning the gameof golf. Parents ofpreschoolers canstart their kids offwith a toddlerplay set. Thoughit's just a toy, aplay set can help

lay a solid foundation forfuture golfers. Kids whohave watched Mom andDad play golf or practicetheir swing can developtheir own swings on theirplay set.

As kids approach schoolage, don't overlook thenearby putt-putt orminiature golf range as avaluable teaching tool.Miniature golf clubs aresmall enough for manychildren to use comfort-ably, and kids can useminiature golf courses asa place to put any lessonsor advice on putting togood use. What's more, aminiature golf course ismore than just golf, withcreative courses andother fun activities, sokids won't feel over-whelmed with golf.

When kids move onfrom preschool to ele-mentary school, somemight want to tag alongwith Mom or Dad to thedriving range. Youshould try to avoid over-whelming kids with toomuch instruction orinformation. Instead,keep things as simple as

possible, teaching themthe basic swing andencouraging them no mat-ter how quickly theyadapt.

As kids enter middleschool and approach highschool, those who areenjoying the game of golfcan take advantage of thedriving range if theyhaven't already begun to.A driving range typicallyhas markers that indicatethe distance of a regularhole, regardless of whichtee you will play from onan actual golf course. Kidscan aim for holes at short-er distances to learn howfar their drives are going.You can then adjust thelessons you teach yourchildren based on how far

youngsters can drive theball.

As a child gets closer tohigh school, you mightwant to buy the child hisor her own set of clubs.Look for inexpensive clubs(oftentimes, thrift stores orother secondhand retailershave clubs for sale)because growing childrenwill eventually grow outof their first set of clubs.When your child finds aset of clubs that suits himor her, teach the properway to swing and considersigning up your son ordaughter for lessons.Those first few lessons canprove invaluable, turninga pastime into a passionkids will carry with themthroughout their lives.

5Golf Guide • May 19, 2013

Monday:18 holes with Cart

$20 Tuesday:

18 holes with Cart $25

Wednesday/Thursday: 18 holes with Cart

$29Friday/Saturday/Sunday:

18 holes with Cart$31

18 Holes with Cart Twilight Rate

(Tues/Wed/Thurs after 2 p.m.) $24

18 Holes with Cart Twilight Rate

(Fri/Sat/Sun after 2 p.m.)$25

Monday - Thursday:9 holes with Cart $17

Friday/Saturday/Sunday:9 holes with Cart $18

Highway ## 54 EE astLinton, II N 44 7441

Phone

(812) 88 47-4790

6 Golf Guide • May 19, 2013

The driving range iswhere beginners learn thegame, where average play-ers perfect their strokesand where professionalscorrect their weaknesses. Itis also where golfersshould spend more time.

Hitting balls is certainlyless enjoyable than around of golf on yourfavorite course in the com-pany of friends. However,those baskets of practiceballs are sure to be benefi-cial when playing yournext round of golf.

At the beginning of theseason, be sure to practicefirst with your short irons.

Choose atarget andtry andhit someballswithin aradius often ortwentyyards. Dothe sameexercisewith your other irons. Alsoplan a few sessions withyour woods. Because adriving range is wide andobstacle free, players donot have to worry abouthitting their balls into thelake to the right, into the

woods to the left or thesand trap in front of them.It is important, therefore,to decide on a target.Players should also takethe time to relax and toconcentrate on each stroke.Hitting a basket of balls isnot a race against time!

Good results on thedriving range do notnecessarily mean thatyou’ll knock off tenstrokes from your scorecard during your nextround of golf. If yourpractice session helpedto improve just oneaspect of your game,it’s very positive.

Good golfers will tellyou that you can neverspend too much time on adriving range. It’s not sur-prising, therefore, that pro-fessionals return theretime and again, even afterplaying five strokes underpar.

7Golf Guide • May 19, 2013

8 Golf Guide • May 19, 2013

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