Tremblant Express

CommentAprès-ski: a must!

Current Mont Gabriel hosts World Championships Jasey-Jay promotes skiing in Québec Tremblant landmark burns down Washington Week in Tremblant Toronto/NewYork flights going well Lots happening in Sainte-Adèle! Major investments on the plateau

XPRESS Economy A good time to buy M-T real estate Mortgage rates lowest ever CLD: a path to an entrepreneur’s...Young entrepreneurs lent a hand Québec gives American ski centres...COMPAGNY PROFILES

Municipal affairs Adopting Mont-Tremblant Mont-Tremblant Youth Policy Garbage & recycling bins: directions

Sports | Events New slopestyle competition Winter follies in the Old Village Skiing heritage Caroline Calvé makes snowboard...Erik: then and now New cross-country trail

Calendar

What's new? Did you know? Sport Culture corner

Art & culture

Advertise

Autumn golf

Playing in cold, rain and wind is like going back in time and playing under the same conditions golfers used to experience when the game started many centuries ago in Scotland. To succeed in playing golf under difficult weather conditions, you must prepare mentally, physically and technically. First, accept that it will be difficult. See it as a challenge, and make it fun! Get the proper gear to stay warm and dry. Don’t hesitate to wear your wet-weather gear, cashmeres, tuque and mittens, and drink plenty of water: it keeps you from losing your energy and concentration.

Less is more!
In a stressful environment, golfers tighten up simply because they are trying to achieve the same score with the same set-up and swing, and by hitting at the same distance with the same club and same ball flight as usual. Go against your instinct and do the opposite. Eliminate excessive tension by re-setting your expectations and actions. In tough conditions, you want to hit the ball solidly, low, with less spin. Finding the sweet spot on all shots is a must, so do less, not more.

Set-up and swing for the Scottish (knockdown) shot!
Your priorities are more toward “stability” than “mobility”, so adopt a wider stance to promote good balance and a shorter backswing. Choke down on your club and play the ball back in your stance (as far as to the right of the centre of your chest) to assure a downward blow, a steeper angle of attack, and a shallower angle of approach to keep the ball down and with less backspin. Move your weight to your left so your chest is more centred over the ball, and aim your feet and hips to the left to promote a forward shaft lean at impact for clean and crisp contact with the ball. Relax both arms, (especially the right) to promote a two-side swing and a nice, even tempo. The smoother you swing, the better tempo and contact you’ll get.

Because of the conditions, the ball won’t travel as far (less air and ground time). And because your set-up and swing will get you a more compact and connected swing back and through, take one or even two more clubs than you would normally (even for chip and pitch shots). To get a sense of how far the ball is traveling, go with the common rule that says that for every 10 mph of wind, add (or deduct) a club.