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| SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | APRIL 2016 | 11 Golf & Pro Shop News If you have questions about golf in Sun Lakes, please call the Main Pro Shop at 845-2135 or the Executive Pro Shop at 769-8444. How to get more backspin around the greens: What does every golfer want more of around the green? Backspin! Having that kind of control on your short approach shots is a huge advantage, and by using these few tips you are actually able to get more spin on short irons and wedge shots. Hit down on the ball: While you may have heard this tip before, you may not be aware that it is one of the key elements of getting spin on the ball. If you aren't coming into impact at a descending angle your ball won't be able to climb up the club face and grab the grooves like it should. A great way to ensure you are hitting down is to practice taking a divot after the ball. Hit it solid: Unless you are making solid contact on your shots there just isn't much hope of getting good spin on the ball. To practice hitting solid shots start with a very small swing, and don't increase the size of your swing until you hit 3 shots in a row with that perfectly "crisp" feeling a well struck shot provides. If you have to reduce your swing down to a chip shot size that's fine — the only goal is to hit it solid every single time. Keep your clubs clean: This might seem like an odd tip, but it's one of the most overlooked when it comes to getting good spin on your approach shots. If you're grooves are filled with sand or dirt there is just no way for them to grab the golf ball and put any sort of spin on it. Keep your clubs clean, and use a tee to scrape the dirt out of your grooves before you hit a shot that you want to put some spin on. Using these three tips should help you put more spin on your short iron and wedges, and give you an edge out on the course! Slow Play… I also want to take a quick minute to talk about slow play. Pace of play for the most part is good, 5-somes are allowed and please be considerate to those behind you. Faster players should play through and 4-somes and 5-somes should play in no more than 4 hours. A couple of tips to reduce slow play: On the tee) show up on time, shorter hitters should hit first, tee off as the group is clear, carry an extra ball in your pocket, when in doubt, hit a provisional ball. On the fairway) prepare to hit your shot when others are hitting theirs, you do not need to be away to hit, take appropriate clubs and hit without delay, have the group watch where each shot goes, limit your search for a ball and continue order of play while searching for a lost ball, and pick up at your equitable stroke limit. On the green) place your clubs between the green and your cart, study your putt while others are putting, continue putting until the ball is holed, leave the green immediately after holing out. Short Cuts) mark your score on the way to the next tee or at the tee, when driving a cart drop your partner at their ball then continue to yours, when playing with guests use the desert rule, call in any food orders at #9 tee. If pace is slow… do your part by keeping up with the group in front, if you do this then you have no place to go. Tips from the Pros

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