Sign-Ups are Now Open for Newport National’s 9-Hole Singles League
This is a great opportunity to get in some excellent practice and meet new people that love the game of golf.
Enjoy a non-stressful 8 week golf league Sunday afternoons on the “#1 Course You Can Play in New England” 2 Person Teams established by handicaps, playing “Best Ball” format.
Session Starts: June 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th thru July 7th, 21st and 28th
- This 9 Hole League is $40 per week, paid in advance
- Golf Carts are included in fees
- Tee Times Start at 3:00pm
- No rain checks will be issued unless the course is closed
- Alternates Okay
Winners will receive a gift certificate redeemable for pro-shop merchandise
All participants welcome for a cookout on the deck hosted by Newport National on the 28th after golf.
**All ages and skill levels are welcome**
To sign up or get more information contact the pro-shop at 401-848-9690
Newport National members place 1st Net at Agawam Tournament
Tina, MaryAnne, Cheryl and Susan doing Newport National Golf Course proud!
Staying Sharp after the Golf Season
With the golfing season coming to an abrupt end, what are we supposed to do when we get the itch to play? Well there are a few options. You can put a few extra articles of clothing on and attempt to play, or spend $400 and buy an in-home golf simulator. How about a few small drills, or a few small purchases to make your winter golfing dreams a reality.
The $400 Opti-Shot is a great way to go if you have the extra cash, but if you can’t, here are a few small tips. Get to a mirror and simulate your swing by watching closely the movements you make at these three key points in your swing. Make sure your takeaway is correct. Make sure that the face is not shut nor open. Slow the back swing down because that puts emphasis on the downswing where you actually need some more club head speed to hit the ball further. Then look at the top of your back swing and hold the club in place. Look at the club head, if it is not pointed directly down the target line, you are in trouble. Adjust accordingly because this is key to having a square face through impact. Lastly focus on your wrist position at impact. If your wrists are directly above the ball at impact that is not necessarily right. You want your hand to be slightly ahead of the ball when you are at impact. this promotes proper ball striking and actually helps the ball go straighter.
Another great tool is using the Internet. Go to your favorite streaming video website and search “Slow Motion Golf Swings”. Look at Tiger, Rory and especially Ernie Ells. Look at their specific moves in slow motion during their swings and see the subtle moves they have throughout their swings. Look at the position of the actually club at the three main points; takeaway, top of back swing and then impact. Look at their grips, how they align and their mannerisms. The pros are doing something right because they are on tour, why not copy the moves they make to improve your own game!
The most important part of golf is putting. The winter is a perfect time to work on the stroke. All you need to do is just work on what feels comfortable. Maybe its even time for a change. Maybe a fat grip? Maybe a new putter. What ever you do, just keep the putter by your bed and before you hit the sheets, make a few simulated strokes. You will be pleasantly surprised at the significant difference in “feel” you will have come spring time.
Importance of Stretching & Warming Up
Here at Newport National we are without the luxury of a driving
range, and loosening up on hole 1 for that crucial first tee shot can be
quite difficult. Players should seek out the knowledge of how to properly
stretch out and warm-up their muscles, which in turn will produce a more
accurate and more consistent first tee shot.
Today will talk about the torso stretch. We begin this stretch by sitting on
the floor with legs extended straight in front of you. Then, cross your left
leg over your right. Now lock your right elbow against your knee and slowly
turn your upper body to the left as far as you can and hold for several
seconds. Then, reverse positions and stretch in the opposite direction. The
player should repeat the stretch three times in each direction. With proper
stretching, you can increase your flexibility and range of motion to enable
your body to rotate through a golf swing to produce longer and more
consistent drives.
“When I step out onto the first tee at Newport National I am always thinking
birdie, but that requires a good tee shot to set yourself up in the best
position. I took two balls to the first tee to put the stretching method to
the test. I hit my first drive ice cold, then allowed Marc to stretch me out
properly, then hit my second drive. When I drove out to the two tee shots,
my second drive was about 20 yards further and in prime position to reach
the green in 2, at that point I was sold on the stretching technique. I am
certain it would be a great help to anyone playing at Newport National
without the ability to properly warm up.”
Andrew Farrea
PGA Professional
Newport National GC
Why is the Ryder Cup as good as it gets?
One of the hardest and strangest things you can do to a golfer is put them on a team, let me explain. Golf is you against your competitor, you against the course, you against the field, you against a number, see where I am going with this. Introduce a teammate to a golfer and it is something very foreign. This is what makes the Ryder Cup so great.
One of the featured formats this weekend is alternate shot which could be one of the most interesting of the weekend. How this works is you have two golfers who are on the same team, take Steve Stricker and Tiger Woods, who might be paired in this exact alternate shot format. Steve Stricker will tee off from all odd number holes, and Tiger would tee off from the even numbers. Stricker tees off, Tiger then hits the next shot and they alternate until the ball is holed. They do the same on the next hole, just having Tiger tee off instead. This creates some unbelievable drama because you do not want to put your teammate in a tough situation by hitting a less than acceptable shot. This also is a great way to show off some of each player strong suits. If you have a player who is very good with his short irons, the other teammate may try to set him up so he has a great opportunity to go pin hunting.
The Ryder Cup is also every two years, alternating on European soil, or United States, like it is this weekend! Wear your colors proudly and remember to choose Newport National to host your next Ryder Cup event!
Charitable Golf
24 Sep
posted by NewportNational.comCategories: Blog, Events, Members Area, Newport National News
Comments: 0
One of the under rated aspects about the game of golf is how you are able to bring people together for a great cause, and still be able to play the game. Everyone who is reading this at one point has played in a golf tournament where the money not only covers your greens fee, but also goes a lot further than any of us could ever imagine. At Newport National, we are proud of our accolades as the number one public access in New England, but what we are most proud of is how we are able to help so many great charitable outlets. Last week, Newport National hosted a group from United Natural Food Inc. in conjunction with Capital City Community Centers, they raised close to (80k) for the organization. Here is a small write up from Capital City Communities explaining a little more about what phenomenal work they do:
“Capital City Community Centers has a 67 year history of helping the most disadvantaged members of our community. The organization was founded in 1945 as the Smith Hill Girls Club, but ten years later the club became co-ed and expanded its services. The agency continued to grow, adding its first childcare program in 1959, a senior program a
decade later and eventually, a fully licensed childcare program that is still in operation today.
Our programs are designed to meet diverse needs of the people we serve and include:
• An exceptional licensed early childhood learning center serving toddlers and preschoolers ages 18 months to five
years;
• The Capital City Senior Program engaging senior citizens in social services and health and social activities.
• The Capital City Senior Program engaging senior citizens in social services and health and social activities.
Capital City Community Centers’ ability to provide services depends upon the support of an active and engaged donor community. We could never express the magnitude of our gratitude to United Natural Foods, Inc. and its employees for their generosity and involvement. Thanks to all who have helped to make today’s event possible.”
–Taken from Capital City Community Center
Think about it, why try anything else when you see the continued success a golf tournament brings. For more information, call Newport National to discuss a date for your next event!
Congratulations to the 2012 Club Champions!
John Nunes backed up all of the big talk and took back the trophy as 2012 Newport National Net Division Club Champion! John defeated Tom Tasca 5 and 3, who was bidding for a repeat performance.
Congratulations John on some great playing and enjoy the fame! Dr. Kristen Kennedy still has it! With Archie along her side, she repeats as 2012 Women’s Club Champion! Dr. Kennedy continues to wow fellow members with her consistent play and calm demeanor on the course en route to her third straight championship!
Rob Goldman does it again! Rob was able to top Eric Dow for a second straight year in the finals of the Championship Flight. Rob defeated Eric 4 and 3 in their 36 hole final match, where it was very close until the end! Congratulations Rob for his third straight Championship!
Cheers to all!
What is wind and why does it affect every aspect of golf?
What is wind and why does it affect every aspect of golf? Well ask any member at Newport National and you will be sure to receive a thorough explanation of what the true definition of wind is. Take for instance our back to back par 3’s, hole numbers three and four. From the black tees, the length of hole number three is 198 yards to an elevated green protected by sand on the left hand side, and heavy rough on the right. This hole will predominantly play down wind to a green which may not look it but is a lot more undulating than it appears. Par is a phenomenal score here; bogey is probably what you are going to have to settle with. A birdie you ask, frame the golf ball because those are few and far between. Then you proceed to the fourth, another par three which is listed at 179 from the tips. 179 yards, not a chance! This tee shot is almost always directly into the wind. If you do not put a good swing on the ball you are either looking at a bunker shot if you are left off the tee or a fescue ridden, “You have got to be kidding me” type of lie on the right hand side. Getting out of these two holes even or plus one is what you are aiming for, but don’t be surprised if you have to card a double bogey or two.
Newport National Spring & Summer 2012 Update
With the fourth and final major upon us this weekend we can’t help but see some of the similarities between Kiawah’s Ocean Course and the Orchard Course at Newport National. While the cameras pan out for a beautiful shot of the landscape, take a peek at the swaying fescue and lush green fairways and rough along the Carolina coast. This course, which also was the feature course in the big budget Hollywood movie “The Legend of Bagger Vance”, starring Will Smith, is one of the more difficult tracks on the PGA schedule. Early predictions before the tournament started had a non-red number being the winning score. Fortunately for the participants at the 93rd PGA Championship, the winds were sleeping Thursday morning which lead to some low scores. But once the wind began to whip around, the Pete Dye course became a grind-it-out, take your par and move on type of day. Take a look at the day two scores. Ohh wait why does that sound so familiar?
If you have played Newport National this season, you have seen the course play its best in recent memory. As spring begins to heat up and summer starts to show its form, the course becomes a bear. You better hope that you find the fairway off the tee box or you are in some “rough stuff”, no pun intended. Club up, maybe two, or how about just take your punishment and take a wedge back into the fairway just to save your sanity! Well the players on the PGA tour will have to answer the same questions on a shot by shot basis over the weekend. These “links” style courses are what the game was invented on and grew up on, they are a much more natural looking style of golf course which is what we pride ourselves on here at Newport National. Hope to see you out soon!
Newport National Golf Course Voted #1 Public Course in New England for Fourth Year
Newport National Golf Course, located on the shores of beautiful Aquidneck Island, has been named the Number One Public Course in New England for the fourth consecutive time. As voted on by the readers of the regions top golf magazine, New England Golf Monthly, the Arthur Hills designed course continues to claim the number one spot for public facilities in New England. It’s no surprise considering the dramatic setting located near the Sakonnet River coastline. With sweeping panoramic views, the course remains a top favorite for many golfers. “I love the course because, as a modern links course, it reminds me every time I play it, of being in Ireland. NNGC provides an experience that is unique to this side of the pond,” says Matt Adams, celebrity golf professional and President/GM of Newport National Golf Course. Matt goes on to say “the response we have had to the course has been incredible. I don’t think there is another premium golf course that is available for play in this area. There isn’t anything that compares to the challenge, beauty and experience at Newport National.”
The Orchard Course, initially opened as a private facility but under new leadership, the course switched to semi-private, creating a unique opportunity for anyone to play on a 74.4 rated course with a 138 SLOPE rating. The course has also won accolades from national magazines, and has been the only public venue on Golf Digest’s list of Top 10 courses in RI. It has also been named the “Best Course You Can Play in Rhode Island” by Golf Digest, Golf Magazine, Golfweek and Golfing Magazine, the “Best Course You Can Play in New England” by New England Golf Monthly, and the “Best Conditioned Golf Course” by Northeast Golf Magazine.
Located just six miles from downtown Newport, Rhode Island, visitors to the course have an opportunity to play some of the best 18 holes of golf in the region, and then enjoy the area’s top-notch seafood dining, go on a sunset sail a board one of the areas historic schooners, or just relax and enjoy the breathtaking natural beauty of Newport. GoNewport.com says: “Home to spectacular coastal scenery, awe-inspiring architecture, a thriving waterfront downtown, and welcoming hospitality, Newport is considered by many to be a shining gem in the coastal crown of New England.”
For more information about hosting a private function, please contact Robin Hyson at 401-848-9690. For information on Tee Time booking please Click Here.
