Tuesday, 26 June 2012 11:04
Correct footwear
THIS SUMMER I have been astonished at the number of golfers I have seen playing golf in sandals. Not only does this go against the etiquette of the game but the wearing of this type of footwear is also dangerous.
At this time of the year I fully understand that golfers like all other people want to stay as cool as possible in the soaring temperatures we have seen in the last month or so but to do so at the risk of your own safety is too much for me to accept. Golf shoes are designed to give you support where it is needed in a sport where the feet form the foundation of all of our movements in the golf swing. The support of the correct golf shoes in the area around the ankle is vital if we are to avoid niggling injuries.
The correctly designed and quality golf shoes on offer now are so light and soft that the argument that some offer that sandals are more comfortable does not hold water. These new style golf shoes also offer considerably more stability in the soles so as to avoid slipping on damp ground. This can be a constant problem here in South Eastern Spain during summer months more than winter as we try to keep the grass alive against a sun that is doing its best to roast everything in sight.
The sandal wearer will no doubt point out that their sandal have grips on the bottom as well - that is true but are they specifically designed to withstand the movements of a golf swing or are they even made of a material that will help prevent slipping? I think in the very vast majority of cases we all know that the answer to these questions is a resounding no on both points.
I have written about this subject this week because last week in another area of Spain a golfer wearing sandals on a golf course badly injured her ankle while playing and had to be taken to a local hospital where a dislocation of the ankle was put right with considerable pain and inconvenience.
The matter was reported to the insurance company used by RFEG to deal with this type of injury and the immediate comeback was why was the golfer not wearing the correct type of golf footwear that may well have avoided this injury? A very good question and one that will probably not result in the injury claim for the hospital expenses being dealt with by the insurance company which will no doubt leave the lady concerned bemoaning the service and usefulness of the insurance. In this particular case I feel for the lady concerned but also wonder why she was allowed to wear incorrect footwear and why she was not advised by her playing partners that she was more vulnerable to injury by wearing the incorrect footwear.
I along with a great number of you who have dealt with Spanish insurance companies will have a very good idea indeed of how this claim is going to be fought out and I just hope the family concerned has enough money to pay the hospital bills when the claim is eventually thrown out.
WIN A ROUND OF GOLF FOR 2 INCLUDING BUGGY AT THE BEAUTIFUL EL PLANTIO RESORT IN ALICANTE
Answer the question below correctly to have a chance to win. The winner of this fantastic prize will be picked at random at the end of each month. Send your entries by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . The decision of the editor of RTN will be final in making the winning selection.
QUESTION FOR 29TH JUNE 2012
Where is the home town of Nick Faldo?
A. Welling
B. Welwyn Garden City
C. Worksop
All answers must be received no later than 5pm on 30th June 2012 to be entered into June’s draw, which will be made on July1st. The winner will be announced in RTN on July 6th 2012.
The Professional Scene
THE BMW International in Germany last week started with a little controversy as Jose Manuel Lara was disqualified after he was found to have fifteen clubs in his bag. His opening round of 73 counted for nothing after his caddy was seen trying to hide the extra club in a bush on Hole Two. The matter was reported by Lara’s playing partners and in a serious breach of etiquette the only way was to disqualify the player in the opinion of the Tours referees. The caddy was also asked to leave the tour and never to return.
Danny Willet of England started his 106th event on tour without a victory in a much lower and more correct profile but finished it in the best way possible. After four extra holes against Australian Marcus Fraser he secured his first victory on tour with a par after a spectacular chip from behind the green to a few inches.
This weekend the tour is in Portrush for The Irish Open. The event is the best supported on Tour virtually every year and with so many Major Championship winners teeing up this week’s event sold 130,000 tickets before a ball was even hit. Weather permitting this will be a classic and will be a dress rehearsal for the time when The Open returns to the famous old links in Northern Ireland.
GOLFING TIP OF THE WEEK
Learning the mental side is just as important as learning the physical side so don’t neglect it if you really want to improve.
NOEL EASTWELL GOLF ACADEMY AT EL PLANTIO
Quality coaching at reduced rates for RTN Golf Club members: contact Noel on 639 730 891.
At this time of the year I fully understand that golfers like all other people want to stay as cool as possible in the soaring temperatures we have seen in the last month or so but to do so at the risk of your own safety is too much for me to accept. Golf shoes are designed to give you support where it is needed in a sport where the feet form the foundation of all of our movements in the golf swing. The support of the correct golf shoes in the area around the ankle is vital if we are to avoid niggling injuries.
The correctly designed and quality golf shoes on offer now are so light and soft that the argument that some offer that sandals are more comfortable does not hold water. These new style golf shoes also offer considerably more stability in the soles so as to avoid slipping on damp ground. This can be a constant problem here in South Eastern Spain during summer months more than winter as we try to keep the grass alive against a sun that is doing its best to roast everything in sight.
The sandal wearer will no doubt point out that their sandal have grips on the bottom as well - that is true but are they specifically designed to withstand the movements of a golf swing or are they even made of a material that will help prevent slipping? I think in the very vast majority of cases we all know that the answer to these questions is a resounding no on both points.
I have written about this subject this week because last week in another area of Spain a golfer wearing sandals on a golf course badly injured her ankle while playing and had to be taken to a local hospital where a dislocation of the ankle was put right with considerable pain and inconvenience.
The matter was reported to the insurance company used by RFEG to deal with this type of injury and the immediate comeback was why was the golfer not wearing the correct type of golf footwear that may well have avoided this injury? A very good question and one that will probably not result in the injury claim for the hospital expenses being dealt with by the insurance company which will no doubt leave the lady concerned bemoaning the service and usefulness of the insurance. In this particular case I feel for the lady concerned but also wonder why she was allowed to wear incorrect footwear and why she was not advised by her playing partners that she was more vulnerable to injury by wearing the incorrect footwear.
I along with a great number of you who have dealt with Spanish insurance companies will have a very good idea indeed of how this claim is going to be fought out and I just hope the family concerned has enough money to pay the hospital bills when the claim is eventually thrown out.
WIN A ROUND OF GOLF FOR 2 INCLUDING BUGGY AT THE BEAUTIFUL EL PLANTIO RESORT IN ALICANTE
Answer the question below correctly to have a chance to win. The winner of this fantastic prize will be picked at random at the end of each month. Send your entries by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . The decision of the editor of RTN will be final in making the winning selection.
QUESTION FOR 29TH JUNE 2012
Where is the home town of Nick Faldo?
A. Welling
B. Welwyn Garden City
C. Worksop
All answers must be received no later than 5pm on 30th June 2012 to be entered into June’s draw, which will be made on July1st. The winner will be announced in RTN on July 6th 2012.
The Professional Scene
THE BMW International in Germany last week started with a little controversy as Jose Manuel Lara was disqualified after he was found to have fifteen clubs in his bag. His opening round of 73 counted for nothing after his caddy was seen trying to hide the extra club in a bush on Hole Two. The matter was reported by Lara’s playing partners and in a serious breach of etiquette the only way was to disqualify the player in the opinion of the Tours referees. The caddy was also asked to leave the tour and never to return.
Danny Willet of England started his 106th event on tour without a victory in a much lower and more correct profile but finished it in the best way possible. After four extra holes against Australian Marcus Fraser he secured his first victory on tour with a par after a spectacular chip from behind the green to a few inches.
This weekend the tour is in Portrush for The Irish Open. The event is the best supported on Tour virtually every year and with so many Major Championship winners teeing up this week’s event sold 130,000 tickets before a ball was even hit. Weather permitting this will be a classic and will be a dress rehearsal for the time when The Open returns to the famous old links in Northern Ireland.
GOLFING TIP OF THE WEEK
Learning the mental side is just as important as learning the physical side so don’t neglect it if you really want to improve.
NOEL EASTWELL GOLF ACADEMY AT EL PLANTIO
Quality coaching at reduced rates for RTN Golf Club members: contact Noel on 639 730 891.
Published in
Golf
