Blaine561's Sports and Travel Portal

Minnesota golf courses come in many varieties, from 9-hole mom and pop operations to 54-hole resort complexes. We have been discussing golf vacation destinations in Minnesota during this series of articles. Today we will highlight Dacotah Ridge in Morton, Minnesota.

Dacotah Ridge is located approximately 110 miles southwest of the Twin Cities. From other regional centers it would be approximately 235 miles from La Crosse, Wisconsin, 310 miles from Des Moines, Iowa or 144 miles from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Dacotah Ridge is an enterprise of The Lower Sioux Indian Community.

Native American run casinos have been in operation in the United States for the better part of twenty years and over the past ten years some of these facilities have been adding golf to the variety of entertainment being offered to the patrons. Being astute business people, the leadership of The Lower Sioux Indian Community recognized an opportunity when it was presented. In July 2000 the Rees Jones designed course opened for play. A Grand Opening celebration followed in August 2000 with the likes of Notah Begay III, Michelle Redman, and Lanny Wadkins along with Rees Jones officially opening this course to the golfing public.

Dacotah Ridge is situated on 240 acres of rolling prairie. Wabasha Creek runs through eight of the holes on the course and five holes wrap around a 14-acre lake. If the water hazards are not enough of a challenge for you there are 42 bunkers scattered around the course. Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security because the fairways are not lined with 70-foot elm or pine trees, Rees Jones used what nature provided on this course. The elevation changes as well as the use of Fescues, Blue Stem and Native Prairie grasses, some of which is knee high, in the rough along with the wind sweeping across the prairie bring trouble on poorly struck shots. For the golfer that plays down the middle there are plenty of rewards. The tee boxes, fairways and greens are seeded in bent grass. The primary rough is thick Bluegrass and Fescue. The secondary rough is where the really tall Native Prairie grasses lie. The greens are multi-tiered with sloping and undulation playing an important role in strategy. Make sure you are selecting the proper club to get the ball to the pin as well as to hold the green.

Dacotah Ridge offers four sets of tee markers. The Tournament tees play at 7,109 with a course rating of 75.1 and a slope index of 144. The Regular tees play at 6,217 yards with a course rating of 71.1 and a slope index of 131.There is plenty of variety and challenge for golfers of all abilities in your group. There is a nice virtual tour of the golf course with hole by hole descriptions on their website, which is www.dacotahridge.com

There is a dress code at Dacotah Ridge and appropriate golf attire is required. Non-metal spikes are also required at Dacotah Ridge.

The green fees to play at Dacotah Ridge during the summer season are $64.00 and cart fee is $16.00. Walking is allowed at Dacotah Ridge. There is also play and stay package rates offered through the hotel at the casino that is 4 miles away from the golf course. There are also reduced rates to golf in the spring and fall season.

There is a complete restaurant and bar facility along with a completely stocked Pro Shop for you to enjoy at Dacotah Ridge.

The Lower Sioux Indian Community has done a great job of putting together a complete entertainment experience featuring the Jackpot Junction Casino with it’s gaming, live on-stage entertainment with many national acts, hotel accommodations as well as numerous restaurant choices. Add to this the golf at Dacotah Ridge or any of the neighboring communities of Redwood Falls, Renville, Springfield, Fairfax or Buffalo Lake all within 30 miles and the combination of activities for your Minnesota rural golf vacation are endless. Call Dacotah Ridge for tee times at 1-507-644-5050 or the reservation desk at 1-800-946-2274 extention: 4700.

The correct grip is a key fundamental component of a golfer’s game and is required to have a consistently good straight game, giving you the ability to shoot low scores with ease.

When the grip is faulty, poor shots often result along with an inconsistent and unreliable game. Therefore it is essential for your game that your grip is correct if you want to take your golf to the next level.

Firstly place the club in your left (opposite for lefthanders) hand, close your left hand around the grip as if you were shaking somebody’s hand. Your thumb should be pointing down the grip, slightly to the right of centre.

Then bring in the right hand, firstly interlock the little finger of your right hand with the forefinger of your left hand. The underside of the grip should be placed on the joints of the second and third fingers of the right hand. Your right thumb should also be pointing down the grip, while your right palm should be facing towards the target with your left hand facing away from the target.

Two V’s should be formed by the thumb and forefinger of each hand, these should both point somewhere between your right shoulder and eyes.

When holding the club, the club must be held firmly but with the minimum of effort. Having the correct grip allows your hands to work freely with the utmost control while a poor grip leads to a lack of club head control.

Key Points:

• Your arms and hands are relaxed.

• Your left forefinger is linked with the little finger of right hand, 2 or 3 knuckles should be visible.

• The V’s created by the forefinger and thumb on each hand should point be to between your right shoulder and eyes. These V’s should be pretty much parallel to each other.

• The grip should be comfortable yet held firmly with little effort, it is vital that the club head does not open or close on impact.

To test that you have a good grip, it should feel as though both your hands work together as if one. When you lift the club and move it, your hands should feel comfortable and secure.

Problems and cures for slightly faulty grips: You may find that you are slicing the ball; this could be due to a problem with your grip, (although it may be due to other reasons mentioned in my other article that aims to solve the slice) try rotating your grip slightly clockwise around the grip; also try holding the club more in the palm of your left hand.

If you have problems with hooking the ball, make a conscious effort to feel the ends of the fingers on your right hand pushing upwards through impact with the ball. This should help prevent you from closing the clubface on impact and so helps prevent you from hooking the ball.

In all sports, it is essential that you warm up properly to attain the best performance. If you go to any professional or even amateur sporting event, you will see competing athletes doing pre-game warm-ups. Golfers, especially those in the professional level, are not different from them. When tour professionals are about to begin their first tee, they would have made full warm-ups to be able to make their best swings.

However, most amateurs have their “warm-ups” done by racing from their autos to the shop and check in, then dashing to their first tee, in just about five minutes. Most of the time, this is followed by an unsteady and inconsistent play for the first holes, ending up with another lackluster round. The result: Disappointing golf scores.

Here are some tips for you for improving your golf score.

• First, go to the golf course as early as possible. You need time in taking care of your matters in the shop, in using the restroom, changing clothes and shoes, among others. It is crucial that you do not feel pressured or rushed, allowing you to get warmed up at a relaxed pace. Remember that your warm-up time sets your mood and tempo throughout the day, so just relax and move slowly. A minimum of an hour or two before you begin hitting your first tee would probably help you get a nice and relaxed warm-up.

• Start your warm-up routine at the putting green. By spending some time on warming up on the green, you will be ready for the speed of the greens. More importantly, you will start up your day with a nice, deliberate, and smooth tempo.

• Spend about 10 minutes or so trying to hit the chips around the green using a tee as your target. First test the greens’ firmness to see how much or less the golf ball will roll. In general, the ball tends to move more on hard greens than the soft greens. In addition, there are various kinds of rough which make the ball move differently when it touches the green. Spending some time around the green helps you to have some thoughts on choosing the great greenside shots during your round, and also, the spots where you are landing the golf ball on the putting surface.

Remember: If you do not get enough warm-up, you should not expect to have an optimal performance, and consequently, a good golf score.

You have bought some clubs, a few new golf shirts and have even been to the driving range. Maybe you have played a few rounds, but you did not do very well. Your friends Tried to give you pointers and tips, but it only confused you.

If you really want to play and enjoy the game, then do yourself a big favor.

Take Some Lessons!

You have several choices when it comes to lessons.

A.You can find a friend who is really good, and go out for some one on one help.

B.Find a local Pro and spend a few dollars. Most of them will video your swing. And help you adjust it so you can play without being embarrassed.

C.Read all the golf magazines and watch the golf channel. Buy some videos.

D.Plunk down the cash and go to a golf school for some serious training.

Whichever option you choose to pursue, the most important thing is to learn from your lesson, especially if you are paying someone. Pay attention to what you taught. As soon as possible you need to go to a driving range and practice your new swing or stance. Even the pros that you watch on TV spend a lot of time at the practice tee.

Your golf experience will be more enjoyable when you can go down the fairway not side to side. The more you practice and play the better you will get at the game.

Golf is having a hard time naming those clubs that used to be made of wood–they’re called fairway-metals, fairway metal-woods, just plain woods, or, the most ridiculous, “iron-wood.” So Guru, make history, coin a name to take the sport by storm. Russ Barker, Fort Erie, Ontario How many golfers have irons made of iron? How many tins are made of tin? How many nickels are made of nickel? It doesn’t matter what the club is made of–wood, steel, graphite, titanium, xenon, ytterbium or zirconium. Woods are woods, irons are irons.

I read that it is legal to use the logo on a ball for alignment when putting. I draw a line around the entire ball for lineup as well as ball identification. Is this legal?

Chuck Thomas, Moreno Valley, Calif.

Assuming you don’t alter the ball’s size or weight, there is no restriction on what you draw on it. Dots, lines and scribbles are fine, as are images of ex-wives, fanatical politicians or Barney the Dinosaur. Channeled anger can add 20 yards to your tee shots.

While my brother and I were playing, we noted that we never see tour pros reach across the hole to tap in a putt like we amateurs do. They walk around to their ball before tapping in. Does reaching across the hole violate a rule? Pete Leseberg, Eagle, Idaho

You’re not allowed to putt “from a stance astride, or with either foot touching, the line of putt.” No croquet shots allowed. But the “line of putt” doesn’t extend beyond the hole, so the reach across tap-in is fine. The pros, however, can’t be too careful. Who can forget Hale Irwin whiffing a tap-in at the 1983 British Open at Royal Birkdale (14th hole, third round)? He finished a stroke behind the winner, Tom Watson.

Guru update: In the May issue, I made a passing reference to “the one about Arnold Palmer and the pope.” A lot of people wrote to say they want to hear the joke. Here it is:

A summit is held to decide once and for all which of the world’s religions is right. After many days of good-natured talk, no progress has been made. A Muslim delegate suggests a golf match to settle the issue: Each religion puts forward its best player, and a knockout match ensues. The Catholics and the Jews reach the final. The pope, determined to win, calls his old friend Arnold Palmer and explains that he’d like him to represent the Catholic church in the all-important final.

“I’d love to, Your Holiness,” says Arnie. “But I’m not a Catholic.”

“Don’t worry about that,” replies the pontiff.

“I’ll make you a cardinal.” Arnie is ordained. On the big day, the pope anxiously awaits word of the outcome at the Vatican. The phone rings. The news is bad.

“Arnold,” he says, “how could you lose?”

“I’m sorry, sir,” replies Arnie. “I played well. But you should have seen my opponent.”

“Who was your opponent?”

“Rabbi Tiger Woods.”

Golf swing weight training is as specific as you can get in regards to golf training to improve power, distance and iron yardages with every club. Wouldn’t you love to add 10 yards to every iron? Instead of a 150 6 iron, you’re hitting a consistent 7 iron the same distance.

This alone will greatly improve your “greens in regulation” and getting more shots closer to the pin. The end result is a much lower score.

Golf swing weight training shouldn’t be new to you. You’ve heard all the pros train for their game. So why shouldn’t you? Here’s one secret that can add a quick 20 yards to your driver in less than a week or so.

Swing a weighted club!

This is not revelating stuff, but I’m here to tell you it’s one of the quickest and most effective ways to increase your distances with all clubs.

The benefit is developing the exact golf swing muscles from a strength and flexibility standpoint within your golf swing. You’ll improve your backswing and follow through range of motion, as well as your power through the hitting zone.

In all my dvds, books and websites I preach the importance of a balanced routine of both golf stretching and strengthening exercises for all your golfing muscles. This is critical for your long term success.

I am an advocate of this approach, and strongly suggest you be too. There are many muscles swing the weighted club don’t hit that can be affecting your game. Like the hamstrings, lower back and even abs.

But how about a little shortcut along the way?

Golf swing weight training is something I’ve personally been doing for over 10 years and I’m fortunate enough to say I can consistently drive the ball over 300 yards. I don’t say that to brag, but to say this type of training and approach is effective and works!

Because I’m not a big guy like all those long drive competitors, golfers are surprised when they see me hit a drive. They all seem to ask how can I do that? Immediately I go into my golf trainer mode and precede to tell them the importance golf swing weight training and working on the “machine” to hit longer drives.

Within a couple of holes they are hitting me with a ton of questions they want answered. By the time I’m done, I wished I hadn’t told them what I do for a living.

No I’m just kidding.

By doing a golf swing weight training program that incorporates strength, flexibility and weighted clubs you will see the quickest results that last long term.

Your golfing buddies might think your crazy, but you’ll get the last laugh.

The winning combination is swing technique and golf swing weight training!

Golf swing flexibility exercises that are the most effective are not what you read in all the “so-called” fitness for golf books. I make this bold statement because I bought every golf fitness book and was so disappointed I wrote my own Ultimate Golf Fitness Manual.

What I didn’t see in most of these books was dynamic (movement) stretches, especially for core flexibility. The golf swing is a rotation, therefore it only makes sense to incorporate as many core rotational movements, stretches and exercises into your routine as possible.

This is more prevalent in the senior golfer. He/she has lost a large amount of core rotation and in return massive yards off the tee. That’s the biggest complaint I hear among senior golfers is their lack of distance off the tee.

But, what’s frustrating for me is that same golfer will buy more equipment, take more lessons and hit more balls and not see improvement. This is because the “root cause” has still not been approached.

Until you fix the “machine”, you will not see improvement. Your body’s physical capabilities dictate your golf swing efficiency and power. Until you realize this and make the commitment to improve this, you’ll continue to be a very frustrated golfer.

The great thing about golf swing flexibility exercises are they don’t require any equipment and can be done anywhere. In your office…at your home…even on the golf course. There is no reason (excuse) not to participate in a golf swing flexibility exercise program.

If time is a valuable commodity you don’t have a lot of, then doing just 3-4 rotational stretches daily and you’ll see a huge difference in your power and distance.

There is only an “upside” to doing it.

How about adding 30 yards to your drives? No more back pain? Feeling like your 20 years younger and playing like it too?

I could go on and on about the benefits, but you’ve got to believe it and do it.

Just remember the golf swing is a rotational movement, so you should train your body from a rotational strength and flexibility standpoint. Taking this concise and yet effective approach will give you the quickest results from your golf swing flexibility exercises.

Probably the question that first comes to your mind when you read this title is: what is S.A.I.D. and how does it help my golf game? The reality is that S.A.I.D. is very connected to your golf swing and is a very important principle if you want to hit the ball farther and lower your scores.

Before introducing S.A.I.D. let us discuss improvement in the game of golf. Improving your golf game requires developing several disciplines. Generally speaking you must develop proper swing mechanics, practice every aspect of the game (putting, short game, chipping, pitching, short irons, long irons, fairway woods, and driver), develop your course management skills, play practice rounds, create understanding for the nuances of the game, develop confidence, and finally develop your body.

Understand that the entire list of golf disciplines works as a unit to improve your golf game. No one facet can be eliminated from this list without having an effect on your overall improvement. For example, if I were never to practice putting, how well would I play? I may play great from tee to green, but when it comes to putting, look for my scores to go through the roof.

The last discipline mentioned was your body. Quite often this is the forgotten aspect of improving your golf game, but it is equally important. Let me ask you a question. What swings your driver? Some answers may be your swing. In reality, your body swings the club. Yes, your body swings the club, not the other way around. Developing your body in relation to the swing allows for a foundation to be created. This foundation is where you are able to develop the proper mechanics of the swing.

If your body does not have the needed flexibility, balance, coordination, or power to swing a club, how well are you going to swing a driver? Not very well. If your body is weak and inflexible developing an optimal swing will be next to impossible.

The development of the body in relation to the swing is where S.A.I.D. comes into play. S.A.I.D. refers to the principle of “specific adaptation to imposed demands.” This principle states that the body will adapt to the demands of the training stimulus but will not adapt beyond the scope of that training stimulus (NSCA Strength and Conditioning Journal, pg. 18, August, 2005).

Did I loose you in that last paragraph?

Let me explain. This principle pertains to developing the body’s level of fitness in relation to any sport or activity. For example, if I were to perform a bicep curl with a 25-pound dumbbell 15 times the curl could be difficult in the beginning, but over time it would get easier and eventually I could crank out 15 repetitions with no problem. This is a result of my body adapting (muscles getting stronger) to the resistance placed on my body by the dumbbell.

Now here is the kicker, if I continued to only lift a 25-pound dumbbell over the period of a year what do you think would happen? I like to use the phrase “diminishing returns” to explain this situation. Once the body adapts to a resistance, the body plateaus and does not get stronger. At this point it can even get weaker!

Now how does this pertain to golf? Think about it for a moment. Greater distance off the tee is always a desire of every amateur playing the sport. Amateurs go to great length to hit the ball 20, 10, or even 5 yards farther. They will buy new drivers, new golf balls, new anything! Now if an amateur’s clubhead speed is somewhere around 85 mph, how is that clubhead speed going to improve with a new driver or new ball? The answer is it will not.

Hypothetically, let’s assume you have fairly efficient swing mechanics. How are you going to increase your clubhead speed? (Remember clubhead speed stays the same even if you buy a new driver.) Someway or somehow you are going to have to generate greater clubhead speed.

Increasing the efficiency with which you swing the club is one way. But the efficiency with which you swing a club has an end point, and once that end point is reached it won’t go any farther. What is the other way by which you can increase your clubhead speed? Implementing a golf fitness program into your routine can help.

A golf fitness program will develop the “foundation” to improve your swing mechanics. This type of program will develop your flexibility, balance, coordination, strength, and endurance capacities to improve your swing.

Additionally, it can develop greater clubhead speed. Clubhead speed is a result of power development. Power development is contingent upon your swing mechanics and body. Improving the power outputs of your body will enhance your clubhead speed. And greater clubhead speed equates to greater distance on your drives.

If you have never developed a level of golf fitness, your body is set at a certain level of power-generating capabilities. Until you force the body to increase its power-generating capabilities through the S.A.I.D. principle, your club head speed will stay the same. A golf fitness program will place resistance on your body forcing it to adapt and improve its power capabilities. The end result will be greater clubhead speed, and that can equate to longer drives.

Looking for a golf-specific fitness program to improve your clubhead speed? Look no further than my manual Your Body & Your Swing. This program is filled with golf-specific flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power exercises to enhance your golf swing. My program implements the S.A.I.D. principle with the goal of improving your scores and your driving distances.

A stretching exercise for golf is capable of revolutionizing the quality of any golfers’ game. In fact there is no single genuine golf exercise program that does not include stretching exercises. That is how critical stretching exercises for golf are.

Actually there are many types of stretching exercises for golf. Some of them can comfortably be done in the office while you are still seated on your chair in your workstation. And probably when you have a few minutes to spare or you need to spend a moment or two thinking about something, maybe a decision you have to make. You can easily do your thinking as you execute the simple stretch exercises.

One of the exercises that can be done in this situation is twisting your upper body to reach and touch as far back on one side of the chair as you can. This stretching exercise for golf should be repeated reaching out for the other side of your chair.

There are also stretching exercises for golf that should be done with dumbbells. Others are done using a medicine ball. Most of them are described in my other golf exercise articles.

The reason why stretching exercises for golf are so effective in improving the golf swing is because they tone the muscles and strengthen them in such a way that the abnormal and unnatural movement of the golf swing feels as comfortable and as natural as possible to the body. The more natural a golf swing feels, the better your golf swing will be and by extension the results will also improve dramatically.

Even after your game shows improvement, it is a good idea to continue with your stretching exercise for golf so as to keep your body and muscles in tip-top condition for golfing and especially the golf swing. Stretching exercises for golf are the real key to improving your golf game.