If you really love the game of golf then you really need to book one of the great golf vacations in La Quinta California. The Palm Springs area hosts more than 120 quality golf courses and many are considered world class. When people who love the game of golf retire they move to La Quinta area. Famous celebrities have used the area for entertainment and relaxation for more than 80 years. President Gerald Ford retired and lived there just because it was the best place to play golf in America. Many of the stars of the cinema have homes in the La Quinta/ Palm Springs area because of the easy access to great golf courses located in a beautiful setting.

No matter what your skill level there is a golf course to suit your game. There are very challenging courses like Norman and Stadium courses that are built for golfer who are part mountain goat. The 150 slope course will challenge any player. Ranked by Golf Magazine as one of the top golf courses in the world these courses were laid out by Pete Dye. Each year the courses host several top PGA tournaments including the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic and PGA Grand Slam.

Depending on the season you can book a great discount golf vacation at several theses world class golf destinations. The best way to travel to La Quinta is by air directly to the Palm Springs airport. Almost all the major airlines provide service to Palm Springs. Upon arrival you should rent a car so as to have the freedom to totally enjoy area and all its beauty. Many avid golfers will play a different course on each day of their golf vacation. After 5 or 7 days of golf on these challenging courses you will need a second vacation to recover from the first. Golf vacations in La Quinta California provide a lifetime of memories.

By: Jim Kesel
James Kesel, MS, is the publisher of Discount Golf Vacations website at http://www.good-golf-swing.com Providing great information on the great game of golf and great golf destinations including golf vacations in La Quinta California

The amateur golfer can improve their ability to execute the golf swing, complete a full shoulder turn, generate more clubhead speed, and hit more accurate shots with improved flexibility. The process an amateur golfer can improve their flexibility is through golf stretches.

Before providing information on what are the best stretches for golfer let us define flexibility. Flexibility refers to range of motion. It is defined as the optimal extensibility of all soft tissues in the body (Michael Clark, Director, National Academy of Sports Medicine). The biomechanics of the swing require the golfer to swing the club on the correct plane. In order for the biomechanics of the swing to be executed correctly every muscle, ligament, and tendon in the body must allow for optimal joint range of motion.

Increased flexibility is the benefit of stretching. These benefits occur through the elongation (i.e. stretching) of soft tissues (muscles, tendons, ligaments). Typically certain muscles in your body are in a shortened position (i.e. "tight"), causing restrictions in the golf swing. Golf stretches (i.e. elongating) these muscles alleviates these muscles alleviates these restrictions allowing for the ranges of motion required of the golf swing to develop.

Because the golf swing requires a large range of motion from multiple joints (ankle, hip, thorasic spine, and shoulder), I suggest performing a series of flexibility exercises for the entire body. Many golfers will find "tightness" in the hamstrings, hips, lower, and upper back causing restrictions in their joint range of motions as well as golf swing. This may require additional golf stretches to assist in the restrictions caused by these muscles.

Guidelines to golf stretches are quite simple. A comprehensive series of stretches for golf should be completed a minimum of four times per week. If an individual desires these exercises can be performed daily. In addition to performing golf stretches multiple times per week each exercise should be take each target muscle passively to the point of "tension" and holding the stretch for 30 seconds. Do not attempt to "bounce" or "push" the stretch for this can result in injury. Pay strict attention to technique with each of your stretches. It also recommended to perform a warm-up prior to your golf stretches to get more out of each exercise. The following are the stretches I often recommend to the amateur player; Rotators, 90/90 Hamstrings, Cats Down, Cats Up, Piriformis, Kneeling Hip Flexor, Openers, Standing Calf, and Standing Quadricep.

Remember what is required from the body in regards to the golf swing. One of these requirements is drawing the club through a long range of motion. Golf stretches can help with this part of the swing.

By: Sean Cochran
Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly working with professional golfers, most notable PGA and Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. To learn more about Sean Cochran and his golf fitness exercises and training programs go to http://www.seancochran.com.

Often we tend to remember the driver tee off that did not cross the ladies tee, the duffed shot that took out an excessively large divot from the fairway, or the OB tee offs. If we're serious about our scores, then we also need to remember that one of the most important clubs in our bag is the putter.

The putter is used more then any club in the bag and if we want to win that golf bet we have going with out golfing buddies, the putter is a club we want to get good at.

Here are some tips to help you become a good putter.

Putting Tip #1:

Have a gentle grip on the putter. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being a strangle hold, our grip pressure would be around a 4. Tight muscles produce tension and this will produce a jerk in our backswing when we take away the putter. This prevents consistency in our putting stroke and prevents us from producing the right distance control.

Putting Tip #2:

Just before the takeaway of the putter face, lift the putter just slightly off the ground. Again, this helps prevent us jerking the putter away because of friction with the ground.

Putting Tip #3:

Place the ball just beneath the left eye. The hands are in front of the inner thigh. Doing this consistently allows us to have a consistent putting stroke and distance control.

Putting Tip #4:

Have a pre putt routine. Having such a routine allows you to calm your nerves and block out the distractions around you. Putting is about feel and the less tense you are, the more fluid your putting stroke will be.

Hope these tips help your putting stroke. Enjoy your game!

By: Sherman C
For a great resource on how you can transform yourself into a seasoned golf player in just a few days...even if you're a complete beginner, visit http://pickupgolf.blogspot.com.

Sherman is an avid golfer sharing his enthusiasm and knowledge about the greatest game on earth.

The backswing initiates the entire golf swing. A good back swing will allow us a consistent timing and be able to return the club face to the ball consistently. Here are 3 tips that will allow you to develop a smooth backswing.

Tip #1: Allow your forearm muscles to relax and your arms to hang loosely down. The arms should be straight and not bent at the elbows. There should be just enough muscle to keep your arms firm and yet not to the point where you feel tension in your arms.

Tip #2: Have a starter motion. This can be a small movement of your hands toward the left before moving the hands to the right and starting the back swing, taking the club face away from the ball.

Tip #3: Keep the "V" triangle shape formed by the left and right forearm intact as you bring the shaft of the club to the 8 o'clock position. From there, allow your wrist to cock naturally as you swing the club to the top.

You will also feel your weight shifting from the center to the right inner portion of your right foot. Keep your right knee flexed as it prevents the body from bobbing up and down.

A good timing sequence can go like this, a small movement of hands to the left, then count 1, hand starts to move right, count 2, hand swings and places golf club at the top of the swing, count 3, weight shift and transition of weight from right to left.

By: Sherman C
Get a great resource that transforms you into a seasoned golf player in just a few days...even if you're a complete beginner at http://pickupgolf.blogspot.com

Sherman is an avid golfer sharing his enthusiasm and knowledge about the greatest game on earth.