Golf Tips & Quips

There was a bit of controversy between Michelle Wie and the rules officials during the final round of the Kia Classic at La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California. Wie was forced to take a two shot penalty because she grounded her club in the hazard area after hitting her shot. Wie did not agree but in the end the ruling was final.

This is how the ruling reads.

Rule 13-4 of the Rules of Golf:

Ball in Hazard; Prohibited Actions
Except as provided in the Rules, before making a stroke at a ball that is in a hazard (whether a bunker or a water hazard) or that, having been lifted from a hazard, may be dropped or placed in the hazard, the player must not:

a. Test the condition of the hazard or any similar hazard;

b. Touch the ground in the hazard or water in the water hazard with his hand or a club; or

c. Touch or move a loose impediment lying in or touching the hazard.

It is important to know the rules of golf especially if you plan to play in any tournaments. Honesty and integrity are a big part of golf and knowing the rules ensures that you will live up to these standards.

So what does Fred Flintstone have to do with all of this? In the following episode of The Flintstones, The Golf Champion, Fred is playing in the lodge golf tournament and finds himself in a water hazard. He finds a way to get it up and down for par to win the tournament(with a little help from a big friend). I don't think I would have the nerve to pull off that shot. And what would be the ruling on this one?

Have a good one and always hit your target.





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Natalie Gulbis and Paula Creamer prove that your swing doesn't have to be pretty to be effective. Please...Don't try this at home. I don't think your neck or your back can take it:-D Have a good one and always hit your target.



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Arnold Palmer will be making a special guest appearance on The Golf Fix with Michael Breed tonight. Palmer is one of the greatest golfers ever to step onto a golf course. He captured many titles on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour in a career that began in 1955.

Palmer did a lot for the commercialization of the sport around the world. He was the face of many products and seemed to be in every advertisement on radio and television. Palmer was one of the first if not the first athlete to hire an agent to handle his business affairs. He and his agent pioneered the trend of celebrities lending their image and skills for advertising.

He was a member of "The Big Three" along with Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player. These three popularized the game by playing exhibitions around the world. They cared about the game and did everything they could to promote it around the globe.

I never really got a chance to see Palmer play as I didn't start playing or paying attention to golf until three years ago. I have watched footage of Shell's Wonderful World Of Golf on The Golf Channel (which he helped to get on the air) and would have loved to see him play in his prime.

The Arnold Palmer Invitational will be held this weekend at his Bayhill Club in Orlando. The field is stacked with some of the top players in the world so it should be a great tournament. Be sure to tune in for tonight's broadcast. This episode has a special start time of 6:30 PM est. so don't be late. If you miss it, of course, you can always catch the replay at 1:00 AM est. but I can't stay up that late. I have an early tee time. Have a good one and always hit your target.



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Annika Sorenstam will be making a special guest appearance on the Golf Fix tonight with Michael Breed. Sorenstam is one of the greatest player ever to play on the LPGA tour. Before her departure from competitive golf at the end of the 2008 season, she won 90 international tournaments as a professional, making her the female golf player with the most wins to her name.

She went on to win 72 official LPGA tournaments including ten majors and 18 other tournaments internationally. She leads the LPGA's career money list earning more than $22 million which is $8 million ahead of her closest competitor.

She was also awarded the Player of the Year award eight times, and won the Vare Trophy six times. A trophy given to the LPGA player with the lowest seasonal scoring average. She is the only female golfer to have shot a 59 in competition.

Sorenstam always challenged herself and made history at the Bank of America Colonial tournament in 2003 as the first woman to play in a men's PGA Tour event since 1945. She was criticized for trying to play with the men, but it did a lot for the LPGA tour. Up and coming women golfers took notice and she inspired a whole new generation of female golfers.

I'm looking forward to tonight's broadcast. Breed will be discussing chipping and pitching. Annika will have to keep up with Breed's uptempo style, but I'm sure she will deliver as she always did on the golf course.

Maybe you too will be able to shoot a 59 after watching. Well, at least we can all dream. Have a good one and always hit your target.



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I'm a fan of Loudmouth Golf. In fact I was wearing Loudmouth pants before John Daly made them (in)famous. Udorn Duangdecha of Thailand, however, has taken it to a whole new level.

I don't know what Duangdecha was thinking when he woke up for the second round of the Maybank Malaysian Open at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, but he definitely should have thought twice.

I'm all for expressing yourself through your clothes and accessories. I'm a big fan of Ian Poulter as he is known for the flare that he brings to the course. Much is talked about the belt buckles adorned by Anthony Kim. Golfers have always had a unique sense of style when it comes to clothing. It's part of the game.

Golfers have been ridiculed for their attire for years. And I'm sure this will add fuel to he fire. But that's why I love golf. As varied as the swings of the many golfers who play the game, so should they be varied in their sense of style. Some swings are a beauty to watch. While others make you cringe. Some outfits are elegant and stately and then there is Udorn Duangdecha.

Have a good one and always hit your target.

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Today I worked on hitting from a downhill lie. It is one of the tougher shots in golf in you don't understand the mechanics of the swing. Watching the following video definitely help me.

I had always had a tough time with this particular shot. I would often hit behind the ball creating huge divots and not producing any distance. It just feels awkward when you stand over the shot.

During my last round of golf I had a shot to hit the green in regulation from about 85 yards out. Usually not too difficult a shot but I had a downhill lie and had to carry water. Water is intimidating enough, but the lie of my ball added extra anxiety.

I had know idea how to hit this shot and I of course put it in the drink. No green in regulation for me. Now I'm hoping to make par with a good up and down after a drop. Too much pressure for a 17 handicapper.

After practicing this shot today, I feel more confident that if I am in this situation again, I will have better results. These are the shots I need to make if I am ever to attain a single digit handicap.

Hope this video helps you as it has for me. Have a good one and always hit your target.



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Tonight's episode of the Golf Fix features Brad Faxon of the PGA Tour. I'm excited about this episode because Faxon and Michael Breed will be talking about putting. This is the part of my game that needs the most work and I am looking forward to getting some good tips from one of the most consistent putters of all time.

I'm also excited because Brad Faxon is from Rhode Island. Although I was born on the island of Trinidad, I grew up in Rhode Island. I have fond memories of the Biggest Little State In The Union. One of those memories was playing baseball during the summer vacation.

I played baseball from the age of six until I left for college playing my final to summers for Post 10 an American Legion team. One day we got a visit from Brad Faxon who was friends with our coach and few of the families on the team. At the time I had know interest in golf and I had no idea who he was.

What I remember about Faxon on that day was even though I didn't know who he was, I knew he was somebody. He carried himself very well and he seemed like someone who was calm but in control of his situation. I guess that is why he is such a good putter.

To be a good putter one has to be calm under pressure situations. No situation in golf is more tense than standing over a four foot putt to save par. I start thinking about all kinds of things instead of staying focused on just making a good stroke.

Hopefully I can pick up some useful tips from tonights broadcast. I need it. I recorded five three putts on the front nine of my last round. None on the second half but without those three putts I would have recorded my best round.

Make sure to tune in for the special putting episode tonight at 7:00 PM EST. on The Golf Channel. I'm going to try to get my email question on the show. Maybe Brad Faxon will remember me. Hey, you never know. Have a good one and always hit your target.





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