I was giving a golf clinic the other day and noticed a good many of the folks participating had an incorrect grip, or certainly a grip which was not working in their best interest.  I have to admit I am a real grip guy; in my mind it's the most important element in golf, and if done correctly the learning curve is shortened dramatically in the game.  Below I have illustrated the desired grip plus others. 

 

A correct grip will give you increased accuracy, more length and much greater consistency.  Yes, there are a few exceptions to the orthodox grip, but they are few and far between.  I constantly tell my students, proficient golf is about consistent fundamentals.  The grip is a key element and one which if you want to play better golf, get the correct grip of choice as illustrated below. 

 

The important elements to a great grip are:

 

a.        When looking down you should see two knuckles of the left hand. The right hand should be very much on top of the club.  The grip should look and feel compact in nature.  The right thumb MUST be positioned on top of the grip as shown below.  Perfect!

 

 

   

b.      The thumb and main body of the left hand should be pursed together...If done correctly the player should be able to hold a coin as shown below.  If the thumb is not pursed the player will have difficulty in closing his right hand on the club.

 

 

 

c.        The right hand should be very much on top of the grip...when you look down you should not be able to see rubber between your hands.  In this example the right hand is too strong...meaning it is too much dialed clockwise on the club. Notice too the right thumb is not over the grip as it should be.  If the right hand is too strong the player will usually hit the ball low left or hook the ball.

 

 

    

d.       In the picture below the left hand is too weak, meaning it is too much under the club.  As mentioned earlier, you should see two knuckles of the left hand.  A great many ladies have a weak left hand when first starting the game.  If the left hand is too weak you will most likely hit the ball to the right, and very short.  A sure sign for weakness in the grip is the player will say, "I hit most of my clubs the same distance".  The reason....it is near impossible to cock the club correctly in the back swing with a very weak left hand.    

 

 

 

e.      The hands can be presented in three ways...the Vardon Grip which has the small finger of the right between the trigger finger of the left and the index finger of the left...The Interlock Grip which finds the right little finger interlocked with the trigger of the left...The Ten Finger Grip which allows the player to have all fingers on the grip without combining the fingers.   The most common on Tour is the (Harry) Vardon overlapping grip.  Please use which ever feels the best.  For most ladies who are starting the game, I would recommend the 10 finger grip.

   

 

f.        BETTER GOLF STARTS WITH A BETTER GRIP...IT'S JUST THAT SIMPLE!   

Ben Hogan said..." the grip is the heartbeat of the action of the golf swing".    

Qualicum Beach Golf Club:

Qualicum Beach, Brirtish Columbia was my home town for 16 wonderful years; a glorious quiet hamlet with a golden beach.  For those who do not know, I was the Head Professional at Eaglecrest for nine years and Head Professional at Morningstar for seven.  My additional duties for the last 6 years of my stay were that of General Manager of both facilities.  

Anyhow, just down the road, Qualicum Beach Golf Club was first opened in 1913.  The course and hotel were built by the Merchants Trust and Trading Company.   The company went bankrupt in 1915; the new owner became General Noel Money.   The facility was converted in 1917 into a convalescence hospital for wounded soldiers from World War l.

In 1920 the course and hotel were revived, and the facility was sold again in 1938. In 1950 the Brown family of Calgary (Home Oil Co.) purchased the course.  Finally the town bought the course in 1981. The 9 hole course is simply splendid, always in great condition, overlooking the Straits of Georgia, Lasqueti and Texada islands.   A must play if you are looking for a great place to enjoy the game. 

This very early pre 1913 postcard illustrates the layout of the course, plus the positioning of the resort hotel.  The course remains on the same track of land but the layout has been modified from the original design.  

This photograph from the hotel shows nicely the very early days at the course, with the close proximity to the sea.  I think the old cars in the shot are particularily interesting.

This early shot depicts a couple playing on the links.  I really like the players attire.  He appears to be playing in a sport jacket or suit and she in a three quarter length dress.  She looks to be quite focused. 

It would appear a good number of trees were dropped to accomodate the course; clear cut to the sea shore. One would have to define this as a truly links layout in course design.  It looks a bit lonely out there!

The resort hotel.  Qualicum Beach was always renowned for attracting important folks.  From Kings to Queens, to senior executives, Qualicum Beach has hosted them all.  Only a few years ago the Queens cousin, Mrs. Milner donated her seaside bluff estate to Malaspina College, famous for it's beautiful gardens and grounds.  It should be noted H.R. MacMillan had a holiday home, as did many other noteable B.C. families on or near the famous Judge's Row.  Qualicum was a very uptown destination!

I really like this card, dated 1934, showing a golfer teeing off a mat with his plus 4's and stripped socks.  It certainly goes without saying the course looked a little rough around the edges.  I have to say, I like his set-up over the ball.

An early 1920's postcard of the first green at The Links at Qualicum Beach.  Love those sheep!

 www.golfqualicum.ca

Talking about golf books....the best deal in town! Check out the Times Colonist Book Sale held this May 12 & 13th from 9-5 at the Victoria Curling Club on Quadra Street.   It's a wonderful book extravaganza with proceeds from the sale going to 'Raise a Reader.' Guaranteed fun....my family goes every year.... a real treat!

Hey folks, don't forget the Victoria Times Colonist Island Savings Open is being played June 7-10th at the beautiful Uplands Golf Club. Believe me, it's a super event at a wonderful venue.  Every year the tournament is loaded with lots of great international golf talent plus "stars of the future".  

A great golf tip...If you are able to visit the event, get close to the players and check out their basic golf fundamentals.  Look at their set-up, including their stance, their posture, and most importantly their grip.  When the players are teeing off, check out their head movement (during their swing) using a tree for reference in the background. So much to do with good golf is staying centered over the ball. Always remember, if you move out of the operative position, so does the club!  

              Uplands is always a great host!  Check it out!  Guaranteed great day!    

In the 1980's Jack Nicklaus was designing a course in the Grand Caymans.  What made the project particularly challenging was there was not enough acreage to build a conventional 6000+ yard golf course.  To solve the problem Nicklaus asked the MacGregor Golf Company to create a ball which would have the same flight qualities as other balls but go a lesser distance.  Therefore his short yardage course would play like a regulation length course with the limited flight ball.  What is particularity interesting about the ball is the dimples are convex in design, not concave; meaning the dimples protrude outward, not inward.  History tells us the concept, though unique and resourceful in nature did not satisfy golfers' needs and the ball ended up a marketing triple bogey.

Note:  The Cayman Golf Company still exists today.  www.caymangolf.com