Rory McIlroy's Miracle Mile - Play Best Golf Courses in Charlotte, NC

Golf TipIn NASCAR Country –Speed Equals Fun – Why Not In Golf? By: Sam SmithTry these tips next time out toavoid 5 ½ & 6 hour rounds:1. Choose a set of tees appropriate to your skill level. High handicapper – forgetthe championship set of tees.2. Don’t travel in packs. Each member of a foursome (or any group) should proceeddirectly to his or her ball.3. While walking (or riding) to your ball, begin thinking over your next shot -the yardage, which club you'll use, and so on.4. If sharing a cart, don't drive to the first ball, wait for the first player to hit,then head to the second ball. Drop the first player off at his ball, drive on ahead tothe second ball. The first player should walk over to the cart as the second player isplaying his shot.You don’t have to be aNASCAR fan to understandthat speed is thename of the game, and knowing how touse that speed produces victories andmore fun.Why not use speed to enhancingyour experience on the golf course.This doesn’t mean taking corners athigh speed in your golf cart, sprintingbetween shots or rushing to hit the ball.It’s much simpler than that if you followa few rules of being ready to hityour shot when it’s your turn, and behavingefficiently on the course.5. When using a cart on a cart-path-only day, walk from the cart to the ball withseveral clubs appropriate for either side of the estimated distance.6. Carry a few extra tees, ball marks and a spare ball in your pockets7. When you think your shot might have landed out of bounds or be lost, immediatelyhit a provisional ball. Avoid having to return to the original spot to replay ashot.8. Limit your search for lost balls. If it close, look, if it long gone…It's just agolf.9. Begin lining up your putt when you reach the green, be prepared to step rightup and take the stroke when it’s your turn. Write down scores on the way or on thenext tee not on the green.10. Leave your bags or golf carts to the side or back of the green, and in the directionof the next tee, never in front of the green.11. If all else fails, try playing "ready golf," which simply means that order ofplay is based on who's ready, not who's away.Pace of play can be boiled downto two simple phrases:“Be prepared and be ready to play”….Speed can make your golf game more fun.22 - CAROLINA GOLF JOURNAL - SUMMER 2010 _____________________________________________________________________________