Continental Country Club

Longer Drives
by Mark Robison, Head Golf Professional

The Summer is upon us and it's time to enjoy playing golf in the cool pines at Continental Country Club. We would all really like to increase the distance of our drives, however, many of us try to do so in an inefficient manner. Swinging too quickly is a common mistake. I'm not saying you shouldn't swing with power and acceleration, but rather, that you need to maintain a rhythm.

One of the best ways to accomplish this is to imagine a slight pause at the top of your backswing before changing direction and beginning the downswing. Also, too many players think they have to grip the club hard in order to hit hard. Actually, a tense muscle is a slow muscle. Clubhead speed is crucial for distance, and light muscles can work faster. On a scale of 1-10, try to attain a grip pressure of 5 or 6.

Another way to acquire the proper grip pressure is to hold your club straight out in front of you and try to feel the weight of the clubhead. Then, lower your club to the ground and try to maintain this feel throughout the entire swing. A very important part of a powerful swing is to be able to swing through the ball and not at it. A good way you can learn to perfect this is to put a tee about eight inches in front of the ball you are hitting. Make an effort to hit not only the ball but also the tee. This will help train you to extend through the ball after hitting it. Try these tips and discover the power and acceleration you will develop to increase your distance.

The golf course is open from 7 am until dusk. The Driving Range is open Tuesday through Sunday, from 7 am until 6:30 pm, and Mondays from 8 am until 6:30 pm. All practice must be completed by 7 pm.

The Junior Golf Program will once again be taught by John Dodd. The first session begins June 15. Brochures with information regarding costs, times and dates of each session are available at the Pro Shop. This is a wonderful opportunity for kids ages 8 to 18 to obtain professional instruction at a reasonable cost.

We would also like to take this time to remind all members of the Continental Country Club Homeowner's Association to present their 2004 member's card when checking in to play golf in order to receive their discount on golf rates. Unfortunately, without the card you will not receive the discount. We would like to thank you in advance for cooperating with this request. Enjoy your golf and have a great summer! [top]