Besides being physically and mentally ready for the game, a professional golfer should not let slip his guard on the importance of eating well, especially nutritionally speaking, before an all-important competition.

It is easy to think that nutrition is not important as golf, unlike other sports, is much less physically demanding and strenuous. Well you are so wrong as in all very demanding sports, playing a competitive round of golf does burn a lot of calories and your body system, like the engine of a car, needs to be fine tuned and filled with the right fuel mix before it can perform at its optimal best.

The key to a eating well before a game is to load up with complex carbohydrate, the night before the game – a meal that consists of potatoes, rice, pasta and for breakfast, porridge, and low-sugared cereal. Just before you began to feel the in-between strokes pangs, you may also want to stock up with a muesli bar and plenty of fluids to keep it at bay.

For a pre-round meal, consider food types that are high in carbohydrates, low in fats and a moderate amount of protein (about 400 to 500 calories). This may include in your elaborate menu bran flakes, a glass of juice, banana, and a piece of bread spread thinly with your low-sugared jam. During the round, a high- carb snack bar that is low in fat and protein would suffice. Bananas, pretzels, raisins are some examples. Finally, for post-round, high-carb, moderate-protein snack like unsalted almonds and a chicken sandwich make are some favorites that you may consider.

The most important meal for golfers is undoubtedly breakfast. So, even if you are teeing off after lunch, one should not miss breakfast, as it can be a very good source of vitamins and energy. Some of these include cereals that have been fortified with minerals and vitamins. Cereal (low in sugar), with non-fat milk, or low-fat yoghurt, fresh fruits or juice, and a piece of break with jam, makes an ideal breakfast meal for the golfer. This is because while the carbohydrates provide energy quickly, help to maintain blood-sugar level s, it also reduces the feeling of fullness and bloated-ness.

Finally, dehydration is also a big concern for golfers, especially this part of the world. At all cost, alcohol should be avoided before a game because of the diuretic effect. Water, is, the best choice, before and after a game, to replenish the fluid that was lost during a game. What about sports drinks? They are fine as a replacement for lost electrolytes (sodium and potassium) through perspiration. As a rule of a thumb, drink at least 16 ounces of water ( a typical bottle) two hours before a game, and at least 32 ounces of water or sports drink during game. Ideally it should be 16 ounces per hour of activity.

Lincoln Chua, adapted from Golf Asia, Nov 2007

Although many of the best ranges (outside the US) can be found in Scotland, where out of the 100 ranges, 17 are Scottish, the other ranges are sprinkled all over 26 other countries dotted all over the globe.

Foremost is the world acclaimed Royal County Downs in Northern Ireland, built on shaggy sand hills with the amazing Mourne Mountains as the backdrop.  So picturesque is the range that many golfers have often compared it to an oil painting of stunning beauty and grand perfection.
Close second is none other than the very famous St Andrews golf range situated in where else but Scotland. Famous by all means, this pre-eminent golf course continues up to this very day to be the dream venue for golf enthusiasts.  Designed by Scotsman David McLay Kidd and inaugurated not too long ago, the Castle course in St Andrews is, like its sister course, also noted for its large, undulating greens and wide elevated areas with unobstructed views of the sea and the town.

The intense rivalries between best known courses during economic bad times have allowed golfing aficionados the once-in-a –lifetime opportunity to play at some of the great golf courses in the world. From Southern Europe to Moscow, the Turkish coast to Palm Beach, Dubai to Japan, the market for new golf courses have generally felt the full brunt of the recession with the value of many of these exotic and famous courses depressed. Yet, for some, it remains even more attractive to many travelers, motivated by the rare opportunity of playing in one of the courses frequented only by the rich and famous.

15 of the Best courses outside the United States

Royal County Down GC, Newcastle, Northern Ireland                          Royal St George’s GC, Sandwich, England
St Andrews Links, St Andrews, Scotland                                           Cape Kidnappers,Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand
Muirfield, Gullane, Scotland                                                             Royal Birkdale GC, Southport, England
Royal Portrush GC, Portrush,                                                           Northern Ireland  Royal Troone GC, Troone, Scotland
Turnberry Resort, Turnberry, Scotland
Royal Dornoch GC,Dornoch, Scotland
Ballybunion GC, Ballybunion,Ireland
Carnoustie Golf Links, Carnoustie, Scotland
New South Wales GC, Sydney, Australia
Sunningdale GC, Sunningdale, England
Kingston Heath GC, Melbourne, Australia       

From : May2009, Golf Digest

The economic pressures have affected the golfer’s wallets so badly that many have curtailed their passion of playing golf to a later period, or has that really been the case?  While some penny-strapping golfers may have stopped for now, others have continued with more frequency as they now find themselves with more free time in the afternoons to visit golf greens and driving ranges, due to a general drop in business activities.

How then does one, like me, continue to enjoy golf during this harsh and rancid period of economic growth without burning a hole in my pants that is big enough for an elephant to pass through? And at the same time making sure that the end of the day, I can still put food on the table. Do I need to sell off my new set of Callaway on the internet for a fraction of the price to the highest bidder?

3.1 A better way to putt.

This drill aims to improve your putting by giving you a better feel of your putting swing motion.

Place a club under your arms, and then hold it there as you set up to putt. In order to putt; you would have to move your shoulders, arms and putter as one unit. This blending of the different parts gives you more sensitivity in your hands. In addition, you promote lighter grip pressure to give you a smoother putting stroke.

2.1 Swing through the ball.

The golf swing should be in one smooth motion picking up speed along the way. For the higher handicappers, they tend to slap at the ball causing the club head to slow down through impact. This would cause poor contact. Try swinging with you head cover or invest in some club weight that can be attached to your iron head. You can learn to accelerate the club through the hit by practicing to hit with these resistance. The resistance will force you to drive through to a full finish. 

2.2 For balance, hold your finish.

It is important to hold your finishing position until the shot ends. You should be able to do it without tipping over or shuffling your feet or shifting your body incorrectly. Take some time to analyze how some of the professional golfers finish their shots. You will be amazed how much your transition and tempo improves when you start focusing on the finishing.

1.1 Beat the elements

When playing on the course, there are many variables to consider. Wind is one of them. Under estimating this can reduce the shot's distance. You can use one club higher in a crosswind from either direction. Cold weather also reduces how far ball flies. Moisture on the face of the irons reduces spin on shots and the ball won't fly as high or check as much on the green.