Mar, 29th

Spring training, Vol. II

After my first pro session of the year last friday, it was about time to get some practice on the course. One of the things I want to work upon this season is my short game, hitting a precise shot into the green from under 100 meters, chipping and sand saves.

A perfect training facility for this is the new 6-hole short course at the Golf Resort Berlin Pankow. I didn’t have an opportunity to play it until yesterday.

The first hole is the longest with 124 meters and also the hardest green to hit as it sits back right behind bushes and trees. The above picture is looking back from green to tee, so judge for yourself. Either you hit it directly or you play a nice left to right shot (which I have no clue of whatsoever). This hole would be a good enough par 3 for any grown up course.

The following hole lengths are 46 – 96 – 74 – 79 – 94 meters. The greens are rather small, which spices things up a little bit. Basically, I could play all holes except #1 with my PW and SW. The thing I tried yesterday was to hit three tee shots on every hole, the first with a wedge, the second with my 9i and the third with my 7i. As I was alone on the course, I was in no ones way.

It turned out to be a very funny practice routine that helped me get more versatile with my iron play. The most precision came with my wedges, but I have to practice the other shots more often to get a better feel for them. And the 6-hole course was just the perfect training facility.

Two rounds on the short course are 14 €, so if you get tired of hitting bucketloads of golf balls on the range, try something different here.

AlexanderGolf Courses, The GameTrackback7 Comments

Mar, 28th

Golf TV weekly

Congratulations to Sandra Gal and Florian Fritsch! Sandra won her first LPGA title, outlasting Jiyai Shin in the Kia Classic, becoming the only first-time winner on the LPGA in 2011. Florian suprised with a top10 finish on the European Tour at the Open de Andalucia. Great to see that not only Martin Kaymer and Bernhard Langer produce german golf headlines.

Monday, 28. March 2011
23:50 SPORT1, Audi Golf News

Wednesday, 30. March 2011
22:00 Eurosport, US PGA Tour 2011 – Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, FL (USA)
23:00 Eurosport, European Tour 2011 – Open de Andalucia in Malaga (ESP)
23:30 Eurosport, Golf Club

Thursday, 31. March 2011
10:30 SPORT1 Golf Journal
17:30 SPORT1 Sport1 Reportage
23:50 SPORT1 Audi Golf News

AlexanderGolf TVTrackback1 Comment

Mar, 27th

Formula 1 Golf: Albert Park Golf

I’ve been following Formula 1 races for more than 25 years now and ever since I play golf, I love spotting golf courses next to Formula 1 race courses. The first time I noticed bunkers and fairways was whilst watching the Australian Grand Prix a couple of years ago.

And since today the 2011 season kicked off in Melbourne today, I bring to you the Albert Park Golf course.

Situated in the same park that is part of the F1 circuit, the pblic course wraps itself around the Albert Park lake. It brags itself to be “one of the best courses close to a major center anywhere in the world”. I wouldn’t be so optimistic about that, but it sure is located in the centre of the city.

Größere Kartenansicht

The pessimistic golfer describes the course as “very flat and narrow, and with the limited land, the holes are bunched very close together.” The 18 hole course adds up to a total length of 5.743 meters, the scorecard shows very playable lengths for all the holes, especially the par fours are rather short.

But then: it is in the middle of the city. Something I’d love to have in Berlin (Tempelhof Golf Club, anyone?). And the greenfees are very reasonable, with 27 to 29 AUS$. So, go play!

AlexanderGolf CoursesTrackback1 Comment

Mar, 25th

Spring training

Had my first trainer lesson of the season with my fellow Royal Benzinger colleague Reiner Stallbaumer. Very good lesson and lots of stuff to work on as you can see:

AlexanderThe GameTrackback3 Comments

Mar, 24th

10 Dinge, die man auf einem Golfplatz besser nicht tun sollte

Link: www.youtube.com

(via dem GolfenMV seinem Facebookpost)

AlexanderThe 19th holeTrackback2 Comments

Mar, 22nd

Outside the Ropes: Paul Casey

Link: www.youtube.com

AlexanderWatching the ProsTrackback1 Comment

Mar, 21st

Golf TV weekly

Wednesday, 23. March 2011
22:00 Eurosport, US PGA Tour 2011 – Transitions Championship in Palm Harbor, FL (USA)
23:00 Eurosport, European Tour 2011 – Sicilian Open in Donnafugata (ITA)
23:30 Eurosport, Golf Club

AlexanderGolf TV, The GameTrackback0 Comments

Mar, 15th

Golf als Randsportart?

Gemessen an der Anzahl der Aktiven liegt Golf unter den im Deutschen Olympischen Sportbund (DOSB) vereinten Sportarten an 11. Stelle also noch vor der olympischen Kernsportart Schwimmen oder auch Skifahren, Volleyball und Hockey. Sportarten, die wohl niemand als “Randsportarten” bezeichnen würde.

Auch wenn Herr de Maizière seit zwei Wochen Verteidigungsminister ist und nicht mehr als Innenminister auch für den Sport zuständig ist, nerven mich solche Äusserungen kolossal. Auch wegen solcher Äußerungen klebt an Golf immer noch das Elitäre und Schnöselige. Vollkommener Blödsinn.

Vor 22 Jahren war ich in den USA an der Highschool und es war völlig normal, daß die Schule neben einem Basketball- oder Leichtathletik-Team auch ein Golfteam hatte. Der Golfplatz um die Ecke war für jedermann zu bespielen auch ohne Platzreife oder sonstiges Gedöns. Eben komplett unverkrampft.

Und hierzulande wird ohne Blick auf Mitgliederzahlen einfach so nach Gutdünken Schubladen aufgemacht und Dinge abgestempelt, weil es bequem ist und man so auch viel einfacher die Sportförderung für angebliche Massensportarten wie Rennrodeln oder Rudern ausgibt.

AlexanderThe 19th holeTrackback4 Comments

Mar, 15th