This past week, the Santa Clara Weekly wrote a great piece featuring one of Pruneridge Golf Club's longest standing traditions, the Tuesday Toppers. The Toppers is a women's group that comes to the course every Tuesday morning for 9 holes of friendly competition and an afternoon of catching up with friends.
I'll always remember seeing these enthusiastic women come and go every Tuesday morning during my days working the front counter at Pruneridge. They were always smiley and polite, and they had a had a blast getting together with friends to play the game they love. They're a great group, one that we hope continues playing at Pruneridge for years to come. Definitely check out the article (linked below) and contact the course if you want to know more about joining these ladies!
http://www.santaclaraweekly.com/1632.html
Also, feel free to share your favorite memories of the Tuesday Toppers in the comments section below. There must be quite a few stories in their 40 years!
Monday, November 8, 2010
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Course Update - Aerating the Greens
Today, the crew at Pruneridge Golf Club aerated each of the nine greens on the golf course. This sometimes frustrating process for golfers is actually a very important preventative measure taken at courses all over the world.
In the short term, this means that the greens at Pruneridge will be bumpy, slow, and quite sandy for about the next week, until the grass heals. Golfers must know however, that this process is essential to the long-term health of the green. I'll refer below to an article on aerification that explains some more of the process.
(From About.com: Golf)
"Aerification achieves three important objectives. It relieves soil compaction, it provides a method to improve the soil mixture around the highest part of a green’s roots and it reduces or prevents the accumulation of excess thatch.
Like so many things, the quality of a good putting green is more than skin deep. In fact, the condition of a green has a lot to do with what goes on below the surface. In order for grass to grow at 3/16-inch, it must have deep, healthy roots. Good roots demand oxygen. In good soil, they get the oxygen from tiny pockets of air trapped between soil and sand particles.
Over time, the traffic from golfers’ feet (as well as mowing equipment) tends to compact the soil under the putting green – particularly when the soil contains a lot of clay. When soil becomes compacted, the air pockets on which the roots depend are crushed, and the roots are essentially left gasping for air. Without oxygen, the grass plants become weaker and will eventually wither and die.
Aerification is a mechanical process that creates more air space in the soil and promotes deeper rooting, thus helping the grass plants stay healthy. In most cases, it’s done by removing ½-inch cores (those plugs you sometimes see near a green or in fairways) from the compacted soil, allowing for an infusion of air and water that brings a resurgence of growth. The spaces are then filled with sand “topdressing” that helps the soil retain air space and makes it easier for roots to grow downward."
http://golf.about.com/od/golfcourses/a/aerification.htm
In the short term, this means that the greens at Pruneridge will be bumpy, slow, and quite sandy for about the next week, until the grass heals. Golfers must know however, that this process is essential to the long-term health of the green. I'll refer below to an article on aerification that explains some more of the process.
(From About.com: Golf)
"Aerification achieves three important objectives. It relieves soil compaction, it provides a method to improve the soil mixture around the highest part of a green’s roots and it reduces or prevents the accumulation of excess thatch.
Like so many things, the quality of a good putting green is more than skin deep. In fact, the condition of a green has a lot to do with what goes on below the surface. In order for grass to grow at 3/16-inch, it must have deep, healthy roots. Good roots demand oxygen. In good soil, they get the oxygen from tiny pockets of air trapped between soil and sand particles.
Over time, the traffic from golfers’ feet (as well as mowing equipment) tends to compact the soil under the putting green – particularly when the soil contains a lot of clay. When soil becomes compacted, the air pockets on which the roots depend are crushed, and the roots are essentially left gasping for air. Without oxygen, the grass plants become weaker and will eventually wither and die.
Aerification is a mechanical process that creates more air space in the soil and promotes deeper rooting, thus helping the grass plants stay healthy. In most cases, it’s done by removing ½-inch cores (those plugs you sometimes see near a green or in fairways) from the compacted soil, allowing for an infusion of air and water that brings a resurgence of growth. The spaces are then filled with sand “topdressing” that helps the soil retain air space and makes it easier for roots to grow downward."
http://golf.about.com/od/golfcourses/a/aerification.htm
Monday, October 18, 2010
Mondays with Mike Bricker - Grip: Your One Connection to the Golf Club
For the second episode of Mike Bricker's golf tips, we focus on the grip. As he says, this is your one and only connection to the golf club, so it is important to be comfortable and consistent.
In the video below, Mike shows us a trick he uses to keep the grip of the club properly lined up in his hand by drawing small marks on the palm of his glove. This guarantees the club will be in the same place in your hand for every swing.
Next, Mike talks about the three different options for setting the bottom hand on the club. First is the 'overlap' grip with the right pinky resting on top of the middle and index fingers of the left hand (for right handed players). Second is the 'interlocking' grip where that pinky is locked in between the middle and index finger, (the grip that I use!). And third is simply wrapping all fingers on both hands around the grip.
If you choose to change your grip, remember that it takes time to become totally comfortable with the new position. Allow yourself a few sessions at the driving range to consistently lock in to the new grip, so much so that you can do it without a club or in your sleep.
In the video below, Mike shows us a trick he uses to keep the grip of the club properly lined up in his hand by drawing small marks on the palm of his glove. This guarantees the club will be in the same place in your hand for every swing.
Next, Mike talks about the three different options for setting the bottom hand on the club. First is the 'overlap' grip with the right pinky resting on top of the middle and index fingers of the left hand (for right handed players). Second is the 'interlocking' grip where that pinky is locked in between the middle and index finger, (the grip that I use!). And third is simply wrapping all fingers on both hands around the grip.
If you choose to change your grip, remember that it takes time to become totally comfortable with the new position. Allow yourself a few sessions at the driving range to consistently lock in to the new grip, so much so that you can do it without a club or in your sleep.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Mondays with Mike Bricker - The Difference Between Irons and Drivers
In the first golf tip featured on the new Pruneridge Golf Club Blog, head teaching professional Mike Bricker shows us the difference between hitting an iron and a driver.
Do you find yourself unable to consistently hit a solid iron shot? It may not be a problem with your arms or hands. Mike shows us that the key to hitting the ball flush - not hitting it fat or topping the ball - has to do with ball placement and weight distribution. He stresses the importance of keeping your weight on your front leg through the swing.
However, this theory is reversed when hitting a driver or wood. Mike shows us a drill to practice keeping the majority of your weight back to achieve lift and greater distance when teeing up the driver.
Watch the video below, and use the comments section to give feedback on the video or ask the staff any questions. Also, stay tuned for more video lessons and golf tips from the professionals here at Pruneridge Golf Club. Good luck!
Do you find yourself unable to consistently hit a solid iron shot? It may not be a problem with your arms or hands. Mike shows us that the key to hitting the ball flush - not hitting it fat or topping the ball - has to do with ball placement and weight distribution. He stresses the importance of keeping your weight on your front leg through the swing.
However, this theory is reversed when hitting a driver or wood. Mike shows us a drill to practice keeping the majority of your weight back to achieve lift and greater distance when teeing up the driver.
Watch the video below, and use the comments section to give feedback on the video or ask the staff any questions. Also, stay tuned for more video lessons and golf tips from the professionals here at Pruneridge Golf Club. Good luck!
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Welcome to the Blog!
Thanks for visiting the new blog of Pruneridge Golf Club. We're excited to bring you all sorts of news and information about our course and the game that we are all so passionate about. Keep an eye on the site in the coming days for our first Tip of the Week and other special features. Also, if you haven't already, follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/Pruneridgegolf for up-to-the-minute updates and exclusive offers. See you at the course!
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