A date for your diary
With the Olympic golf behind us, our attention now turns to the Ryder Cup. Before that first tee shot on September 30, however, come the wild card selections on August 30. This is when Darren Clarke will name his three players who will join those who have already qualified (see below).
So, how is Team Europe shaping up? The following names are guaranteed their spot on the plane to Minnesota:
Rory McIlroy, Danny Willett, Henrik Stenson, Chris Wood, Sergio Garcia, Justin Rose, Rafael Cabrera-Bello, Andy Sullivan and Matt Fitzpatrick.
Yes, some big names are set to miss out! However, the favourites for the wild card spots are Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer and Russell Knox. You have to say, it's a strong side given the likes of Graeme McDowell, Luke Donald and Shane Lowry are looking like missing out… maybe.
As the saying goes, 'One man's loss is another man's gain'. Fitzpatrick qualified at the weekend and his reaction was superb - well done that man.
Now I can't promise you'll be on the Ryder Cup team in two years but if you'd like to make some changes to help you move from a golfer who sits at home and thinks...'if only' to a golfer that enjoys their game more and has a chance to compete, click here to request a lesson or lesson package today.
Let the countdown begin…
With the sun now shining, we here in the pro shop want to make you aware of the importance of staying hydrated out on that golf course.
Hydration
According to experts, dehydration symptoms occur when the body is 1 percent dehydrated. Once these symptoms occur, mental and physical performance has already been compromised. "Mental fog, anxiety, irritability, muscle fatigue, headaches, muscle cramps, chills, and dry mouth are few symptoms of dehydration," DeBoer says. When you feel thirsty, it could potentially be too late.
During a round of golf, the average golfer can lose 2-5 pounds. Every pound lost equates to a 0.45 of a litre loss of water. At a minimum, you should be consuming approximately 1.7 litres of water per round, if not more. Due to climate and different body types, the amount of water loss can vary. In order to figure out how much you should drink, the best thing is to weigh yourself before a round, play 9-18 holes without drinking any water, followed by another weigh in. The scale will tell you the number of pounds you have lost, thus giving you a benchmark for how much water to drink.
A good rule of thumb is to drink plenty of water before your round followed by around ½ litres of water every 3-5 holes. This will provide you with enough water to keep you hydrated during a normal round. Late in rounds, you may substitute in a sports drink, which contains some essential electrolytes, but due to the ingredients (mostly sugar) sports drinks should be consumed sparingly. Any beverage consumed containing alcohol or caffeine does not count toward the ounces goal, as these beverages are diuretics and cause the body to lose more water that it gains.
These recommendations are a minimum and you should adjust based on the climate. Most people will need more than this on any given day.
We have plenty of fluids available in the pro shop so please don't hesitate in buying some for your round!
