Ultimate springtime golf fitness tips for "real" golfers

By Tim McDonald,
National Golf Editor

For those of you unfortunate enough to live in the North, you must be salivating at the thought of the spring golf season.

Hold on, Tiger. You ain't the man you used to be. You can't just jump up and go straight to the golf course after a long winter of sloth and mold.

Now, you will find any number of charlatans willing to sell you their total golf fitness regimens. These sleazoids always assume you're a golfer interested in a cleaner, healthier way of living and golfing. I've seen you out on the course, and I know that's not the sort of thing you're "into."

So here is my total golf fitness regimen for the "real" golfer:

• For God's sake, you have to strengthen your core! This involves eating really hard food, like jawbreakers. Eat a bag of those and have your neighbor punch you in the gut to see if your core is all it can be.

Options: Month-old fudge, Purina Dog Chow, pine bark.

• You also have to really work your obliques, I mean really work the hell out of them. Here's the perfect exercise for that. Lie flat on your back with knees bent slightly wider than your hips. If you have really fat hips, you're either going to have to really stretch your knees like in a cartoon, like The Elastic Man from India, or just skip this exercise. In fact, if you have really fat hips, just skip playing golf, nobody wants to see you out on the course.

Now, you slim-hipped people reach your hands to the ceiling like you're crying out for the Lord Jesus Christ to spare you from your miserable existence. You can hold light hand-weights, or not. What do I care? Lift your head and chest toward the ceiling and rotate to reach both hands just outside of your fat, right knee. Repeat on the left side. Now, take a breather. Ask Christ for forgiveness.

• Breathing exercises: Breathing properly and deeply is critical, especially for those tense moments on the course when normally you would start crying.
This deep-breathing exercise involves attending your local adult movie house, or calling up one of those sites on your Internet browser. Follow your instincts. It's either that or follow mine, and then you're looking at jail time.
• Horizontal abduction/adduction: I can't give you much help here, because I always get "horizontal" confused with "vertical," and I have no idea what adduction is. Who came up with that word, anyway? It's a stupid word and should be eliminated from the English language, if it's even English.

• Standing hip rotation: Don't do this. It makes you look like a girl.

• Alcohol fitness: How many times have you lost $2 Nassaus because while you were getting hamboned, your playing partners were just holding up that bottle of Jack Black pretending to drink?

Well, no need to waste good liquor. You can still drink and maintain your competitive edge. You just need to build up a tolerance. Stand upright in a dark closet, with a wide stance, and suck it down. Keep drinking until your wife leaves you.

• Aerobics: Ha! Don't make me laugh. This is golf!

• Putting: Don't bother to practice putting. Putting in golf is overrated. I play golf maybe 200 times a year and I've yet to meet anyone who can putt. You either make it or you don't. If you miss, just keep putting until the ball goes in the hole. Simple.

• Seniors: As we age, our bodies react differently, so seniors must prepare for golf differently than young punks. An important thing to remember is that there is an inverse relationship of increased ear hair to laughably short drives off the tee.

So keep those ear hairs trim and neat. If you're proud of your thick mane of ear hair, don't sweat it. If you're short off the tee, you're probably small in other areas, and I think you know what I'm talking about.

• Excuses: A healthy psychological outlook is a must for Better Golf. If you can convince yourself that the snap hook you hit into the weeds over there is not your doing at all, you'll retain the confidence needed to excel in the game.

The first time you smack one of your all-too-typical lousy shots, turn to your playing partner and snarl," "Will you stop that!" Look at him, looking all hurt and everything. Who would have thought golf fitness could be so much fun?

• Torque development in the downswing: This is so important, I can barely contain myself. This is vital to any golfer who has ever wanted to improve his score. You could even say it is absolutely critical in terms of reaching your full potential as a golfer and knowing what it is to be truly human.

• Alignment and posture: Face the target squarely and stand erect, with your rump jutting out slightly. Feels a little silly, doesn't it? Can you think of another situation in life where you would position yourself in such an odd manner? I can't.

Fiddler's Elbow in New Jersey to Unveil Renovated River Course

Fiddler's Elbow Country Club will unveil this season its renovated River Course, one of three golf courses at the private corporate club that follow the Lamington River in Bedminster Township, N.J.

The new River Course consists of two original nines designed by golf course architect Hal Purdy in 1965, combining what most recently were the front nine of the Meadow Course and front nine of the River Course.

"We have retained the classic style of the River Course, while adding a modern touch," said Tom Breiner, GCSAA, Fiddler's Elbow golf course superintendent who directed the renovation.

Among the major changes to the River Course, the No. 1 hole was shortened from a par-5 to a par-4, complete with a new green complex. No. 6 hole has been lengthened from a par-4 to a par-5, which stretches 550 yards from the new back tees. The course will remain a par 72.

Bunkering changes can be found throughout the River Course. Existing bunkers were redone or replaced with new traps. Further infrastructure work included a complete modernization of the irrigation and drainage systems, along with several miles of new asphalt cart paths.

"The course will be a better test of golf," Breiner said. "Each hole will be more interesting and more appropriate for today's modern game."

The River Course routing is along the Lamington River, the Meadow Course is within the confines of the old dairy meadows and pastures and the Forest Course is situated amongst the hardwoods and evergreens on the southwest corner of the property. All three layouts feature bentgrass greens, fairways and tees, with Kentucky bluegrass/fescue roughs.

"The latest improvements have been made to maintain our standard of playing conditions and improve the aesthetics of the course," Breiner said. "The redesign is nothing severe. Our goal was to make improvements, but maintain the integrity of each golf hole."

Fiddler's Elbow Country Club unveils is renovated River Course

BEDMINSTER TOWNSHIP, N.J. -- Combining classic style with modern technology and agronomics, Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club will unveil this season its renovated River Course, one of three distinguished golf courses at the private corporate club that follow the natural, rolling terrain along the Lamington River.

The River Course now features a modified configuration that alters course strategy throughout. The new layout consists of two original nines designed by renowned golf course architect Hal Purdy in 1965, combining what most recently were the front nine of the Meadow Course and front nine of the River Course.

“We have retained the classic style of the River Course, while adding a modern touch,” said Tom Breiner, GCSAA, Fiddler’s Elbow golf course superintendent who directed the renovation project.

Among the major changes to the River Course, the No. 1 hole was shortened from a par 5 to a par 4, complete with a new green complex, while the No. 6 hole has been lengthened from a par 4 to a par 5, which is to play 550 yards from the new back tees. The course is to remain a par 72.

Bunkering changes can be found throughout the River Course. Existing bunkers were redone, or replaced with new bunkers located more strategically to accommodate the modern player and equipment. Further infrastructure work included complete modernization of the irrigation and drainage systems, along with the laying of several miles of asphalt cart paths.

“The course will be a better test of golf,” Breiner said. “Each hole will be more interesting and more appropriate for today’s modern game.”

The ensemble of golf courses are the focal point of Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club, nestled along a scenic span of Somerset and Hunterdon Counties of northwestern New Jersey. The distinctive routings of each of the golf courses traverses their natural habitat.

The River Course routing is along the Lamington River, the Meadow Course is within the confines of the old dairy meadows and pastures and the Forest Course is situated amongst the hardwoods and evergreens on the southwest section of the property. All these course routings provide a unique diversity of scenic as well as championship golf challenges. The 54 holes at Fiddler’s Elbow comprise New Jersey’s largest range of golf options, while retaining an intimate golf environment.

As the courses have undergone alterations the past 40-plus years, one constant has been their superior playing conditions, which feature Bentgrass greens, fairways and tees, with Kentucky bluegrass/fescue rough throughout each layout.

“The latest improvements have been made to maintain our standard of playing conditions and improve the aesthetics of the course,” Breiner said. “The redesign is nothing severe. Our goal was to make improvements, but maintain the integrity of each golf hole.”

The design characteristics still include numerous uphill and downhill shots, several doglegs and mostly generous fairway landing areas.

The River Course now begins with what most recently was the front nine of the Meadow Course, and closed with a new back nine consisting of what was the front nine of the River Course. As a result of the changes, the Meadow Course now consists of the back nines of the two courses, while the Forest Course was unaffected by the renovation.

About Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club

Founded in 1965, Fiddler’s Elbow offers executives an escape from the halls of industry and commerce to the amenities of fine dining, superior golf and business facilities. Fiddler’s Elbow provides its membership an atmosphere conducive to both formal and informal exchange of ideas where business and social relationships can be nurtured. Although it is the largest private country club in the state, Fiddler’s Elbow retains an intimate environment and service that is personal and attentive. The three superbly conditioned courses offer a unique diversity of challenge and a broad range of options for both personal play and private events. The club proudly hosts some of the most prestigious corporate, charity and PGA golf tournaments in the state. The club is located at 811 Rattlesnake Bridge Road, Bedminster Township, N.J. For general information call (908) 439-2123; for the golf shop call (908) 439-2513.

New Jersey Golfer Named Golfer of the Week

The Northeast Conference has named Sacred Heart's Pat Fillian the NEC men's Golfer of the Week. Fillian, who carded an opening round one-under par 71, placed tenth at the Palmas Del Mar Intercollegiate in Puerto Rico, with a three-round score of 218. The Tinton Falls, NJ native followed up his impressive first round with a one-over par 73 and a two-over par 74 in the second and third rounds, respectively.

Long Valley Woman's Club Third Annual Charity Golf Outing

On May 8th 2008, The Long Valley Woman's Club will sponsor its Third Annual Charity Golf Outing at the Hawk Pointe Golf Club at 294 Route 31 in Washington, N.J. All proceeds will benefit local charities and community organizations.

Registration begins at 10:30 a.m. with a box lunch on a cart at 11:30. The shotgun start is at 12:00 p.m. followed by awards, dinner buffet, and cash bar at 4:30 p.m. The cost is $155 per golfer. Pre-registration by May 1st is required. Register on-line at lvwcgolf.xpgr.com or mail: name, address, phone of everyone in your group, along with your check made out to:

Long Valley Woman's Club
Attn: Golf Outing Chairman
P.O. Box 534
Long Valley, N.J. 07853

Anyone wishing to attend the dinner without golfing may send a check for $40 to the same address. The dinner buffet is at 4:30 p.m.

Plainfield #70 According to Golf Magazine

Plainfield Country Club, NJ, USA
Green Keeper: Greg James

More so than all but a very few Ross courses, Plainfield has genuine stand-out golf holes. Pictured
is the green complex for the 145 yard 11th, perhaps Ross's finest short one shotter.

While Donald Ross courses have been famously (or infamously) altered in order to host major championships, the vast majority of his courses have endured more passive forms of change over the decades. The four most commonplace occurences are:

1. Overzealous tree planting, which reduces Ross's wide fairways and compromise his intended playing angles.
2. Fairways that have been shifted to accomodate the tree growth, with one result being that many of Ross's fairway bunkers have become detached from the hole's playing strategy.
3. Bunker faces that were inconsistently maintained, with many acquiring flashed-up sand faces as opposed to their original grass face.
4. Ross's large-ish greens have shrunk 1-10 feet around their perimeter, thus losing many of their more interesting hole locations.

The above is as true for Ross courses in the middle of the country like French Lick and Beverly Country Club as it is to the south like at Hope Valley Country Club as it is to such New England gems as Charles River CC and Metacomet Country Club.

Plainfield Country Club, which has hosted such national events as the the 1978 Amateur and the 1987 Women's Open, had also fallen prey to the above, but unlike many clubs, Plainfield decided to do something about it.

Green Keeper Greg James first started selectively restoring the bunker faces to their original grass faced version in 1995. Given his success, the Club started to consider broadening the scope of such renovative work. To that end, they conducted interviews with several leading architects who had previous experience in working on Ross courses. They ultimately selected Hanse Golf Course Design to prepare a Master Plan to address each of the four points referenced above and in 2000, the Club committed fully to the project.

Ross aficionados were particularly pleased at the prospects of Plainfield being properly restored because it possesses as ideal topography upon which Ross ever worked. And while everone always applauds Ross for his routings, this one is a particular standout. For instance, as Gil Hanse points out, Ross's varied use of the same ridge in the creation of the 1st green, 6th hole, 7th tee, 9th tee, and 8th hole is nothing sort of brilliant.

Ross's superb routing over the property's rolling hillocks yielded many singularly distinctive holes to the point where Plainfield doesn't remind the golfer of any other Ross course. Within the eighteen holes, there are the three first rate starting holes, the mighty 7th which is one of Ross's all-time best, the tiny one shot 11th, and two sterling three shot holes on the second nine.

The old mowing pattern is evident with the fairway at one point having ended at the right edge of the
bunker, thus leaving this bunker detached from play. Hanse shifted the 1st fairway mowing
pattern ten yards to the left as per Ross's final plans. The ideal angle into the
back right to front left pitched green is once again from near this bunker.

Unfortunately, the evolution of a few of the other supporting holes tended to obscure the excellence of these standout holes. For instance, trees on the inside of the dogleg 4th had ruined the strategic merit of that hole. Hanse replaced the trees with bunkers and once again, if the golfer is willing to flirt with the bunkers and the nearby out of bounds, he will be rewarded with the ideal approach into the angled green. Further examples of improvements include the 8th fairway being shifted back to how Ross's final plan and selective tree removal on the inside of the 17th hole.

Hanse replaced trees with these bunkers on the inside of the uphill dogleg 4th hole.

Holes to Note:

1st hole, 430 yards; Not exactly a typical Ross handshake hole as an opener, nonetheless this one makes for an inspired start as the hole stretches past the clubhouse and across tumbling ground to the green below. The green is unlike any other Ross green that the authors can recall, with its fierce slope from back right to front left, save for an interesting back right shelf.

Hitting greens in regulation is not enough at Plainfield. The golfer must continually seek to
position himself underneath the hole on such sloping greens.

2nd hole, 450 yards; Tree planting was particularly popular in the northeast of the United States in the 1960s and 1970s and Plainfield was not immune to this phenomenon. Its effect on the 2nd hole was two fold. Firstly, the trees planted along the fairway masked the rolling nature of the property by giving it an enclosed feeling. Secondly, several trees were planted directly behind the green which aided the golfer with depth perception. Following Hanse's advice, the Club removed such ornamental trees and with no trees behind the green, the golfer is more keenly aware of how the green is perched on a knob and that to go over the green is to court a double bogey.

A running draw is ideal for the approach into the 2nd green. Note the clean look behind the green.

3rd hole, 180 yards; The end to what the authors consider as Ross's toughest three hole opening stretch, the pond to the right forces many players to bail left, which is precisely where Ross hide a five foot deep bunker. The resulting recovery shot back toward the pond across the left to right sloped green is not what the golfer was hoping for on the tee.

If just left of the 3rd green looks like the safe play off the tee...

...guess again!

Somerset Hills Named Top 100 Golf Courses by Golf Magazine

Somerset Hills, NJ, USA

7^th hole, 445 yards: The downhill approach with a long iron to the inviting, sloping green is one of the most appealing shots on the course. Most players do not enjoy long-iron shots, but Tillinghast had the unmatched ability to make long iron shots appealing. As with the 8^th at Pebble Beach, the relatively uninteresting tee shot becomes more significant as the player wants to catch one so he can enjoy the approach shot. The second shot is inviting, encouraging a good, aggressive swing. It is so easy to picture the proper shot landing just short and chasing up the sloping front half of the green toward the hole.

11^th hole, 415 yards: On this dogleg right around a creek, the player in control of his driver can fade his tee shot to the corner, leaving him only an 8-iron into the green. However, most will elect to hit 3-wood off the tee to the center of the fairway and take their chances with a 5-iron to this large but wildly undulating green. Either way, the golfer faces another most appealing approach shot.

12^th hole, 145 yards: A treasure in American golf; there are few more natural or appropriate water par threes. The lake short and left of the green grabs the player's attention, but the sloping green from right to left is the hole's real defense. The farther right and away from the water the golfer plays, the less his chances of making par. Conversely, many a member can perfectly use the green's slope to feed the ball toward the left hole locations. Tillinghast believed the quality of a course's par threes went a long way in determining the overall quality of the course in general. The one-shotters at Somerset help place the course among his two or three finest designs.

15^th, 365 yards: Even more so than at the 11^th, the player has a choice off this tee: play a big fade with the driver around the dogleg and down the hill to have a pitch into the green or hit a 3-wood down the center and have a 6- to 8-iron left. While the hole does not appeal from the tee, the player faces one of the best views in inland golf as he comes around the corner to look down at the angled green set inches behind a babbling creek and tucked into the trees. If there was not a golf hole here, thinks the player, this would surely be part of a garden. The green is ample to accommodate the longer approach but has more than its share of rolls to fend off any undeserving pars.

What is a recent course built that the informed golfer would describe as charming? Not many spring to mind. Why don't more architects instill the variety found at Somerset into their own designs? Why the pre-occupation with length?

One frequently heard comment about Somerset Hills is 'Boy, would I like to play there every day!' Tillinghast would have smiled.