Tap the face of the putter with your right index finger at different points near its center.

As you tap the putter it will move slightly and will vibrate.  As you continue to tap in various places you will notice a point where there is no twisting or turning of the putter and the least amount of vibration.  It is at this point where you have found the center of gravity which is the ‘sweet spot’.  Strive to make contact with the ball at the ‘sweet spot”.

Proper Use of the Golf Cart
By Eileen Zilvetti

When the golfer receives the golf cart he may be told to stay on the cart path, use the 90 degree rule or scatter.  To scatter means that once you leave the teeing area you may continue on the course toward your ball.  When you are asked to follow the 90 degree rule that means you may leave the cart path at 90 degrees toward your ball and after making the stroke return back to the cart at 90 degrees.  Of course if you did not hit the ball too far you may drive to it and then return back to the cart path.

When you first receive the cart make sure the golf bag is securely strapped, as it may otherwise fall off. How embarrassing!

Tuck all paraphernalia well in the back basket so they don’t slip out when driving on the course or in the rough. Avoid putting your wallet, cell phone, keys, or valuables in cubby hole area.

On cold mornings use the choke to help start the cart if there is one available. 

Ride with both feet inside the cart.  If you come to an uneven area in the cart path and your leg is hanging out you may break your ankle.  Please do not attempt to stop the cart with your feet.

Place your club back into your bag before you return to the cart and take off. Riding the cart with a club in your hand is very dangerous.  A quick stop, sudden jerk, or going over a bump may cause the club to hit your face or body or even cause and eye injury. 

Many carts have a brake pedal that has two parts or sections.  If you press the lower part before you accelerate, the brake pedal will disengage and allow you to press the accelerator pedal easier and not experience a loud and jerky start.

Report any noticeable problems you may see or have encountered with the golf cart to the pro shop.  Examples of problems are:  soft brakes, jerky movements, an unfamiliar noise, low tire, flat tire, a branch stuck underneath the golf cart, a broken windshield, the cover for clubs not working properly, the steering wheel seems too tight, or the cart seems to be lacking power or running out of gas.

When playing on the course keep a lid on your beverage.  This is especially needed on sugared drinks in order to keep the bees away.  Spillage on the floor may not be noticeable by another person that later uses that cart. Let the cart person know if you spill a drink so that the cart may be washed.  There are many people allergic to bees.

Birds love to fly around the course.  What are they waiting or looking for?  They wait till you leave the cart and steal your snacks.  Protect your snack by keeping them securely closed and out of their sight and reach.

• Stand behind your ball so that the hole, the ball and your dominant eye are aligned.
• Extend your arm slightly and hold the grip of the putter lightly between your thumb and forefinger allowing it to dangle freely in front of you.  
• Have the shaft of the putter intersect the ball and the hole.  The ball will be at the bottom of the shaft and the hole at the top of the shaft.  
• Now keep only your dominate eye open and look up at the hole to see at which side of the shaft the hole appears.
• Does the hole appear to be on the left or the right side of the shaft? If the hole is on the left of the shaft then the break is from right to left. If the hole appears on the right then the putt will break to the right. If it appears directly behind the shaft then the putt is a straight putt. 

Worthy Range Practice
By Eileen Zilvetti

I have asked all my students to practice on the range.  I ask them to loosen up with just a few balls before teeing off.  I recommend to them that if they had a bad round or trouble with a particular shot that day to head to the range and work out the problem.  Yet, when I meet with some of them again they made excuses for not going to the range. 

Some of these were: I was too tired, it was too hot or too cold, I didn’t have time, the golf balls are too old, and I find it boring. Let’s take a look at some of these excuses and find solutions.

Swinging Strength
By Kevin Denley

Let's face it ladies you are not built like a man. Men have natural upper body strength that is tailor made for swinging clubs.

It is part of a man’s mythos - he pictures himself saying “me caveman, me bash, bash, and bash!” The average man addresses the ball with one intention - to send it as far down the fairway and as close to, if not on the green.

In golf, strength does count: to control your club, to power through wet thick grass, and stamina to continue swinging your clubs through 18 or 27 holes of golf. You can find it through strength training.

Do the following exercise three times a week resting a day in between:

Move your club through your back swing and then down and up into your follow through. Repeat as many times as you can until your muscles begin to burn, rest about five minutes and then repeat again until muscles are exhausted. You must not swing the club as if you were stretching in preparation to play. Swing so that your muscles are involved in the club's movement. Do not allow the club's own weight and momentum to help you through the swing. For best game results do not do this exercise the day before or the day you plan to play.

Coiling is not the same as turning from the ball in your back swing. To coil is to wind up your body like a taut spring ready with stored power to rip through the ball.

The elements of a coiled back swing consist of your hips turned 45 degrees from the ball and your shoulders 90 degrees from the ball. If you find that you can not turn your shoulders as far as 90 degrees from the ball just make sure your hips are only turned half as much as your shoulders to keep your back swing in balance. An example would be if you can only turn your shoulders 70 degrees from the ball then your hips will be about 35 degrees from the ball.

If you are looking for more turn add a lower back rotation stretching exercise to your workout routine. Also before your first tee limber up with upper body twisting stretches. Remember to follow though on every shot so as to not waste the power you gained from coiling and watch your balls fly.