Welcome to the October issue of my E Newsletter.
This issue features an article written for Golf Exclusives by my friend, Margie Muzik, an LPGA Class A Teaching Professional. The article will give you tips on
how to prepare for your next golf vacation. Margie worked with Golf Exclusives in its early days as the resident golf instructor. She still has a robust teaching
business. I urge you to contact her at www.margiemuzik.com. for assistance with your golf game.
Speaking of golf vacations; now is the time to start planning your winter golf trip. We are having an early cold snap in Chicago, so that means that destinations
like Amelia Island, San Diego, Orlando and Tampa will soon be seeing a nice influx of snow birds. Will you be with them? Start planning now.
We are continuing to promote a new program for you called Golf Exclusives Trip Reviews. Please help your fellow golfers learn more about the places you play
golf. Please submit a trip review to me and receive a discount on your next trip.
Contact me with any ideas you have to make my E- Newsletter better for you.
Thanks
Mike Fitzgerald
Golf Exclusives
mike@golfexclusives.com
Saddlebrook Fall Recipe
Chicken Calabrese with Polenta
INGREDIENTS:
4 boneless chicken breasts - pounded
4 slices prosciutto
1/4 cup basil pesto sauce
1/4 sun dried tomatoes in olive oil
1 tbsp olive oil
2 oz white wine
4 oz tomato sauce
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
salt and pepper to taste
PREPARATION:
Layer each (pounded) chicken breast with prosciutto, pesto, and sun-dried tomatoes. Roll up the chicken breasts, tucking in the sides to completely
envelop the filling. In olive oil, brown the chicken on both sides. In the same skillet, add the wine, tomato sauce, and the basil. Salt and pepper
to taste, cover, and simmer 30 minutes. Serve with rice or polenta. Serves 4.
Gather your family and friends and Enjoy!
Key Points for Optimizing Your Next Golf Vacation
By Margie Muzik
Golf Specialist
LPGA Teaching Professional
PGA Member Professional.
Expectations - Pre round Warm Up - Keeping It Together - After Golf Development
When planning a golf trip, many times we get all geared up with the plans of the trip and when we get there our golf rounds can turn out to be a
complete disaster and a very unrewarding golf experience. This can also be the case when playing our weekly golf events at home. There are several
things that can be done to allow for a more enjoyable golf experience, whether you're an experienced player or a novice beginner. Your preparation
is the key to have the opportunity for success!
Let's look at a few key points that are usually over looked or not even thought about when planning a golf trip or a local round of golf.
When planning your trip you also need to plan your golfing round Expectations by having clear and concise golfing goals in mine. Keep in mind
that you most likely have never played this golf course before and most likely it's much different than any course you've played before. This is
especially true if you're traveling to different places throughout the world. Planning attainable goals for your skill level is very important
every time you step to the first tee. Why this is a critical factor when you're traveling is very simple. You've never played there before,
the surroundings can be extremely intimidating which lends itself to one big thing, Uncertainty! Uncertainty of your new surroundings and
the course you are about to play creeps into your decision making process on the first tee which leads to the major cause of all missed shots,
Tension, the ultimate killer of the golf swing and your round of golf that was supposed to be Fun & Enjoyable! Basically if you
start out with several missed shots in the beginning of the round, the downward spiral of enjoyable golf keeps derailing itself.
Plan attainable goals that are unrelated to score and the result of any given shot. In other words, let go of result oriented ideals during the
round! Examples of attainable goal setting can be like these following statements. "I want to swing to my finish in good balance on every swing I
make today." "No matter what club I swing during this round I will maintain smooth rhythm." "I will work on my pre-shot routine on every shot
off the tee, in the fairways, my short shots and putting." "I will not waste my energy reacting to poor shots today; I will enjoy each hole with
new enthusiasm." These are just a few examples of setting unrelated scoring goals. Make up your own before each round and remember you only need
one or two goals for any given round of golf.
In planning your rounds expectations this also sets the tone for what is Pre-Round Warm Up? Most golfers think that warming up is a matter of
hitting 20 or so balls, smack a couple of putts and running to the first tee! I will admit, it has been stated by many professionals not to hit more
than few before you tee up, hit just enough to warm the muscles. I completely disagree with this notion. I don't see Tiger Woods just hitting 10 -
20 balls before his round of golf! Most likely he's there at least 1 ½ hours before his round. Now keep in mind, professional golfers have a little
more at stake here!
A pre-round warm up is just that, warm up your muscles, stretch a little, get the blood flowing first before you start hitting golf balls on the
range. Actually, you should start your ball striking with your putter on the green first and then progress to some chips, then pitch shots before
even thinking of make a big swing! When you're ready to make regular swings, start with a shorter iron first and progress through your set until you
get to the driver as your last club to hit. Spend time enough to hit 15- 20 balls with your short iron to get your rhythm established first while
working on any key swing thoughts. As you move to your longer clubs, now hit 5-8 balls with each of your next chosen clubs up to your driver. As
your hitting these shots, your focus should be on your pre-shot routine like the one you use on the golf course! Save your driver for last and just
hit a couple pretending your hitting that first shot on the new golf course you are about to play. You can break down your warm up clubs to be
the odd numbered ones (SW,9,7,5) or the even numbered clubs (PW, 8,6), a fairway wood, hybrid, driver. Remember, it's not important to hit every
club but it is important to hit clubs of various lengths to establish feel for the day. For example, I like to hit several 9 irons first, working
on balance and rhythm then I progress to the 7 iron, 5 iron, 4 hybrid, 5 wood, then Driver. This type of pre-round warm up routine takes about
45 minutes to complete and is essential in helping ease the uncertainty of your round you are about to play.
As you are playing your round of golf, Keeping It Together for the next 4 - 41/2 hours is important to the over all success of your day. This
by far is the hardest goal to achieve during the round, unless you plan for it ahead of time in your pre-round preparation. It's one thing to state
your goals to yourself before you play and it's another to actually write them down. It takes two minutes to do this little task! Write your one
or two golf goals down on your score card or write them on a business card that you can keep in your pocket is a convenient way to stay on task.
The major thing during your round of golf to do is remember why you're out there! It is to have fun, enjoying the company of the others you're
with, taking in the beauty of the surroundings, and enjoy the Great Out Doors! That's why you're truly out there, Isn't it? It's amazing to see
how many golfers end up having a terrible time by getting too emotional over the outcome of their golf shots and losing sight of the real reason
they are out on the links. Step back occasionally and review your goals when things seem to be getting out of focus. You will enjoy the day and
be surprised at how good you actually did at the end. Whether that turns out to be a better golf score, or finding that you actually had true sense
of FUN playing a game!
To conclude your round of golf and have further development for your future games of golf. It's important to review your After Golf Development. It only takes a moment of time to go back over your day. Ask yourself how well you did keeping your goals of the day. Rate your performance on this. Look at all the good things you did in your round. Review the great putts you hit, or the tee shot that soared, look at all the positives of the round, even if that was to keep a smile on your face the entire round enjoying the people you were with. Then go over what you would like to improve upon. Don't go crazy here, be realistic! Maybe it's to have better control of distance on long putts, or to hit more fairways, or even to have less whiff's during the round. Reviewing your round helps create a sense of achievement and satisfaction with the game. It also keeps you developing and learning more about yourself and seeing your improvements along the way.
This is a much different approach to playing a round of golf; I guarantee you will have better chance at starting your round with success and having an enjoyable day!
Golf Exclusives 
