Nicklaus builds a golf town, will Tiger Woods erect a city? Also, playing in the zone.

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Don't tell Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods that the country is in a recession and that the rest of the world is suffering as well because neither will believe you. Both golfers have moved forward with plans to build high-end communities in spite of the downward trend perhaps hoping that the number of "haves" will be enough to pave the way for future development.

Nicklaus, for example, has just entered into an agreement with Grupo Viveros to create a private town complete with two hotels, marina, airstrip, hangars, two hundred fifty high-end villas as well as a Jack Nicklaus signature golf course on a currently uninhabited island off the coast of Panama. Oceanfront lot prices start at $530,000.

Tiger Woods, is working on courses in Dubai, Punta Brava and in the high Carolina area where two of Jack Nicklaus' Signature golf courses are already situated alongside of courses designed by Gary Player and Tom Fazio.

Woods mentioned recently during his tour of the Punta Brava site, "My goal is to design a collection of amazing golf courses around the world." Following in Nicklaus' footsteps as he has chosen to do will be a lifelong venture as the Golden Bear currently has 337 courses open for play in 33 countries with 55 golf courses and projects under construction in 45 different countries.

Will Tiger Woods find filling the shoes of Jack Nicklaus an easy feat and will he be able to conquer all of Nicklaus' accomplishments both on and off the golf course? Nicklaus recently stated that he doesn't want Tiger to break his records. Do you blame him? Just ask kids today if they ever heard of the Beatles and about their contribution to music. Nicklaus just doesn't want to fade into obscurity.

As for the race for "best golfer ever", Woods may well be on his way to beating Nicklaus' record but, with a recurring bum knee thrown into the equation, only time will tell.

In this week's Golf for Beginners broadcast, we discuss "King" Nicklaus atop his huge empire and Tiger Woods' need to build equally large scale private communities for the wealthy. With the assistance of Joan King we also identify "the Zone" and discuss ways that the average golfer can use the mental game to their advantage.

Don’t forget to check out our Holiday golf gift-giving guide!




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Spider-man Camilo Villegas putting strategy, using your brain to defeat the brawn and two bits for better putting

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"Spider-Man", "Trendsetter" and even "Rock-Star" are some the monikers which come to mind when branding 26-year-old Camilo Villegas. Magazines are targeting him, with People voting Villegas one of its hottest bachelors and Golf Digest naming him one of the most ripped golfers on tour.

His flexible signature maneuver on the green is memorable. And ladies are attracted to his retro look from international clothier J. Lindeberg, who has been hailed as the most influential fashion designer in Sweden, claiming to have "reinvented the wheel" when creating golf fashion.

Villegas seems a bit overwhelmed by the attention thrust upon him and prefers to talk about golf, not girls.

"If people like the way you play, the way you dress, the way you look, that’s all good. But the bottom line is my goal is to play good golf," Camilo stated in a Golfweek interview.

Take a tip from Natalie Gulbis, Camilo, and expand your horizons. Calendars and reality shows make plenty of money too and can turn Camilo Villegas the golfer into Camilo Villegas "business entrepreneur".

Camilo's ability to stay focused on his golf game is one reason why we have chosen a putting tip from the up-and-coming Columbian player. Another reason for our selection is that Villegas' positive putting stats on the PGA Tour don't lie.

Golf for Beginners also takes a look at the mental game, honing in on how to outthink and outplay the competition. This week's putting drill uses quarters as an incentive to make your view of the golf hole bigger and easier to hit. Click for more golf drills...


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Photo Credit:Radio Santa Fe.

Soccer star Upson looks to Tiger for mental toughness, learn Leadbetter's strategic tee placement, Tiger Woods putting drill and more!

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Records are set "in the books" with the express consequence of beating them. This weekend, Tiger Woods implanted his name firmly among the greatest golfers of all time, tying Arnold Palmer in number of career victories achieved.

Next golf legend to overcome? Ben Hogan, whose record is at 64 wins. That too will be achieved as Tiger Woods is most certainly focused decisively on his hero, Jack Nicklaus, who stands at 73 victories.

Nicklaus was five years older than Woods when he won his 62nd tournament, finishing his winning streak at 46 years of age. Woods should be on his way to his 100th victory by that time. But is Tiger thinking about his place in "the record books" and the eventual toppling of Sam Snead's 82 professional wins?

"My career is not done yet," Woods said. "Hopefully, my good years are still ahead of me."

With Hank Haney's swing change assistance taking effect, Tiger's short-term goal is to achieve the elusive single-season Grand Slam. And, if Woods wins another seven events this year, his name will probably be just under Snead's name next year!

In honor of his exciting victory at the Buick Invitational, this week's Golf for Beginners offers an easy putting drill used by Tiger Woods. We also discuss how an English soccer star uses Tiger's "brain-training" techniques to improve his own focus on the field.

A "tee-tip" from David Leadbetter is also featured on our popular golf podcast as well as a drill designed to help you to get to know your clubface.

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Michelle Wie "Dancing with the Stars" at the Samsung, hybrid tip and an email asks lefty or righty?

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Will Michelle Wie accept an invitation to the Samsung World Championship in October, "Dancing with the Stars" of the LPGA's finest?

The PGA Tour's John Deere Classic is also awaiting a response from Wie, B.J. Wie that is, to confirm her status in yet another PGA Tour event. In the interim, swing coach David Leadbetter is probably wishing that he hadn't mentioned Wie's possibility to "commit herself" to the women's tour.

She has the right stuff and everyone, including Golf for Beginners, wish that she would take the step from competitor to winner. We offer Wie a mental game tip from Dr. Robert K. Winters, a sports psychologist whose tip we found on the David Leadbetter website.

We follow up with a discussion of the hybrid, how efficient it is compared to long irons and how to use ball position and proper setup to maximize each shot you take with it. You may never use a three-iron again!

Finally, a beginner asks what golf clubs she should purchase, left or right-handed?

Continue sending your golf questions and comments to golfforbeginners@aol.com.

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Podcast: Mickelson hires Butch Harmon, 4-in-One Golf Club System review and tempo/balance

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Butch Harmon, a top golf teaching professional and Phil Mickelson's new swing coach, helps us (and our listeners) with the short game this week. Although it is reported that Mickelson hired Harmon to help him with his erratic driver after an unimpressive Masters, I'm betting that Lefty will also receive help with his wedges.

We have discussed pre-season exercise routines to get you stretched and ready for the spring season. We have talked about the mental game and how slowing down your breathing and allowing your heart to guide your head can lower your scores. This week, in honor of our first twilight golf game together, we relate the importance of tempo and balance.

The 4-in-One Golf Club System is reviewed this week, an interesting choice for golfers who travel but don't seem to find the time to practice their short game. Now there is no excuse!

Continue sending your golf questions and comments to golfforbeginners@aol.com.

Subscribe to our weekly podcast through this RSS feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/golfforbeginners or through iTunes. Nextel/Sprint cell customers type http://www.mymbn.com/podcast/ in your browser and click on "sports casts". Our station number is 1955.

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Golf Podcast: Davis Love III needs more Suunto G6 practice, country club golf versus publinks and you've got to have heart!

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Davis Love III is winless so far this year, but still has two top ten's to his credit. Still, could the former five-time winner of the Verizon Heritage use a bit more time on the driving range with his Suunto G6 "Wristop Launch Monitor"?

Love, a spokesman for the Suunto G6, claims this training aid, "quantifies the feeling of a good swing."

Our review of the Suunto G6 confirms Davis' statement although being "tech saavy" helps as it is confusing in both it's initial setup and while reading the manual. Suunto G6 functionality improves as it's used: press it's buttons and learn as you go. We found this golf swing training aid to be a perfect fit for use on the driving range, teaching consistent rhythm and tempo from takeaway through impact so that you can improve your consistency with every session. The "test" feature really interested Barry and he's waiting impatiently to get out and play golf so that he can put the "Game" function to more practical use, downloading the information from the "watch" to the available computer software.

We also talk about the function of the heart in relation to the mental game after reading an article in Golf Digest Magazine. Heart versus head? For the tinman in the Wizard of Oz it was an easy decision!

A listener's email about joining a country club prompts us to discuss the benefits, and deterrents, of joining the "elite" on manicured greens and sumptuous fairways. Could this "Life of Reilly" be calling you too?

Continue sending your golf questions and comments to golfforbeginners@aol.com.

Subscribe to our weekly podcast through this RSS feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/golfforbeginners or through iTunes. Nextel/Sprint cell customers type http://www.mymbn.com/podcast/ in your browser and click on "sports casts". Our station number is 1955.

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This podcast is supported by Pioneer Golf and Florida Golf Travel.

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Golf for Beginners Podcast: Woods put a Tiger in his bag and so can you. Also, how to keep fit during golf's off-season

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What sets professional golfers like Tiger Woods apart from amateurs like us? Okay, so our swing speed hasn't been measured at 125 m.p.h. but it's not all in the physical aspects of our golf game. Amateurs sometimes fall into a comfort zone, expecting no more than what they know they can achieve as opposed to setting goals which can improve skills and change habits ingrained through improper practice.

Where the mental game is extremely important to a golfer's success, don't forget the physical aspect of the game either! It's easy to sit around and watch the New York Jets struggle for Super Bowl supremacy but it takes effort to get off your duff and exercise!

Improve your chipping with Umbrella Plus or start hitting your impact bag!

Barry and I discuss the importance of keeping limber during golf's off-season and how remaining physically charged can ready you for your first swing in the spring.

What better time to discuss setting both physical and mental goals to achieve a more consistent score than on New Year's Eve!

Happy New Year to all of our readers and listeners!

Continue sending your golf questions and comments to golfforbeginners@aol.com.

Subscribe to our weekly podcast through this RSS feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/golfforbeginners or through iTunes. Nextel/Sprint cell customers type http://www.mymbn.com/podcast/ in your browser and click on "sports casts". Our station number is 1955.

You can also download our previous Golf for Beginners episodes by clicking here.