Club and Putter

Indonesia is a popular travel destination for many of the world’s outdoor sports enthusiasts, from surfers to rock climbers and scuba divers. Golfers are no exception. Boasting some of the world’s most scenic settings, Indonesia has become a world-class golf travel destination. Following is a brief description of some of Indonesia’s best.

Bintan Lagoon’s Ocean View course mixes jungle surroundings on the front nine with spectacular views of the South China Sea on the back-nine. The Baker-Finch course doesn’t have the diversity of environment as found on the Ocean View, but is tougher, tighter and even more undulating.

Indah Puri doesn’t have the high reputation of Bintan, but it is definitely one of the most scenic courses in Batam. The course runs parallel to the ocean one moment, then meanders between scenic lakes and bunkers the next.

Laguna Bintan offers scenic golf along the South China Sea. On the front nine, twice you come down to the palm-fringed beach. The first occasion, the tough par-3 8th, requires a shot across the beach, over a rocky shore and onto a secluded green lined by trees. Though this hole looks intimidating, the stress is minimized by the beautiful ocean view, with Malaysia in the distance and the Banyan Tree villas situated on a jungled hill across the bay. The second beach encounter happens on the other side of the resort. Here you will find the short and palm-fringed par-3 12th.

Next on the list is the beautiful Ria Bintan Golf Club, and its spectacular Ocean course. The impressive par-4 5th and 6th holes take you through scenic natural jungle. Then on the award-winning par-5 7th, you tee-off in the jungle and arrive at a green with a small pond on the front-right, and the South China Sea beyond. The next two holes are even more spectacular. The par-4 8th features a green which appears to sit out in the ocean, while the tough par-3 9th is played across the ocean to another stunningly framed green, this time situated above the ocean on a rocky platform.

Although golf at the Tering Bay G&CC does not have the excellent reputation of neighboring Bintan, with poorer maintenance standards often cited, it does have a reputation as another of Batam’s best courses. Set among green hills, tropical jungle, and luscious lakes, the scenery alone would be worth the visit.

For those wishing to combine tropical paradise with world-class golfing, Indonesia is becoming a must-visit for traveling golfers.

Using a golf training club is one of the most effective ways to increase golf swing speed and power. You can’t get anymore golf -specific than using a golf training club.

There are many golf training clubs on the market and new ones coming out every year; but the one I’m talking about is a weighted golf training club. When you can literally mimic your athletic movement with resistance, you stand the make the biggest improvement…and quickly.

The goal of most strength coaches and trainers is to come up with exercises that closely resemble that particular athletic movement, but with some form of resistance. It could be handweights (dumbbells), medicine balls, tubing, or even a stability ball.

The direct impact on a golfers swing using a golf training club is an almost immediate increase in driving distance. This is because you are training your golf muscles during the movement, through the same (or even bigger) range of motion, with many repetitions.

A secondary benefit of using a golf training club that’s weighted is promoting an increase in backswing and follow through range of motion. This equates in more power at impact. Golfers are always trying to find ways to improve golf flexibility and power; and this is one way to do it.

Using a golf training club won’t be the cure to all your physical ailments and limitations, but will give you a head start on swinging with higher clubhead speed.

Just think about it! Swinging a weighted golf training club won’t improve hamstring flexibility, nor will it strengthen your lower back. There are many specific areas of the body that don’t get worked when swinging a golf training club.

This is where you would do a specific golf exercise, stretch, or drills to isolate those weak areas to greatly improve your overall golf performance and prevent future injuries.

Another benefit of a golf training club that’s weighted is a quick warm up before you hit balls at the range or even play. Swinging it 20-30 times will quickly get your golf muscles prepared to hit balls more effectively.

Just beware! When you swing it before practicing or playing, you’ve got to swing your regular clubs, and hit balls with them, to make sure your sequence of motion is correct, before you hit the course.

As you can see, there are many benefits of using a golf training club; so go out and get one. They are a great training aid as part of your ‘off-season’ training program.