The Grizzly Golf and Social Lodge

Pro Tips

Pro Tip: Solid Contact Starts with a Solid Foundation

If you want to strike the ball more consistently, it all starts before you even take the club back.

1. Nail Your Posture
Good posture sets the tone for a repeatable swing. Stand tall, then hinge forward slightly from your hips—not your waist—keeping your spine straight and your knees slightly flexed. Imagine an athletic stance that feels balanced and ready, like you’re about to jump straight up.

2. Get Your Stance and Ball Position Right
Your feet should be shoulder-width apart for most full shots, with the ball positioned slightly forward of center (e.g., just inside your lead heel for a driver, and centered for short irons). Too far back or forward, and you’ll catch the ball thin or fat more often than not.

3. Align Like a Pro
Pick a target and set your feet, hips, and shoulders parallel to the target line. A simple alignment stick—or even a club laid on the ground—can help train your eye. Misalignment often causes even good swings to produce poor shots.

4. Stay Connected Through the Swing
Proper swing mechanics mean turning your body, not just swinging your arms. On the backswing, rotate your shoulders while keeping your arms connected to your chest. On the downswing, lead with your lower body, allowing the arms and club to follow naturally. Don’t force it—let your rotation and tempo do the work.

Bottom Line:
Solid contact comes from balance, rhythm, and fundamentals. Take a few minutes to check your setup before each round or practice session, and you’ll start seeing—and feeling—a big difference in your ball striking.

Pro Tip: Find the Sweet Spot with Better Ball Position

If you’ve ever felt like your shots are a little off—thin one hole, chunky the next—it might be time to check your ball position. Where the ball sits in your stance plays a big role in making clean, consistent contact.

For irons and wedges, keep the ball just forward of center. This helps you strike down on the ball, compressing it against the turf for that crisp, satisfying feel.

For fairway woods and hybrids, move the ball up slightly—about two balls forward of center. This promotes a sweeping motion and reduces fat shots.

For drivers, tee it up and place the ball just inside your front heel. That forward position encourages an upward strike, maximizing distance and minimizing spin.

The goal? Match the low point of your swing arc to your club. Small tweaks in ball position can lead to big improvements in consistency—and more smiles on the scorecard.

Try it out next round. Your sweet spot will thank you! 🐻⛳

Pro Tip: Unlock Power with a Stronger Foundation

Looking to add distance off the tee? Start from the ground up. True power in your golf swing comes from a stable base and efficient weight transfer—not just swinging harder.

Here’s how to unlock more power:

  • Widen Your Stance: A slightly wider stance increases stability and helps you load into your trail leg during the backswing.
  • Engage Your Core: Power isn’t all in the arms—activating your core during the transition helps generate speed through impact.
  • Shift, Don’t Slide: Focus on a controlled weight shift to your lead side during the downswing. This builds torque and leads to a more explosive release.

Remember, a balanced and athletic setup is the launchpad for powerful, consistent shots. Want to dial in your swing even more? Book a lesson with our PGA staff and take your game to the next level.

Pro Tip: Course Care 101 – Divots and Ball Marks

Golf is a game of precision and respect—not just for the sport, but for the course itself. One of the easiest ways to keep The Grizzly in top condition is by properly replacing divots and repairing ball marks.

Here’s how you can do your part:

Replace Divots: If your shot takes a chunk out of the fairway, replace the divot whenever possible. Press it back in and step on it to help it re-root. If the divot shatters or is missing, use the sand/seed mix provided on the carts and fill the area evenly.

Repair Ball Marks: Greens are delicate, and an unaddressed ball mark can cause long-term damage. Use a proper ball mark repair tool (or a tee if needed) to gently push the edges of the mark inward—never lift upward, as that can harm the turf. Lightly tap the area with your putter to smooth it out.

A well-maintained course makes for a better playing experience for everyone. Thanks for keeping The Grizzly in great shape!

Pro Tip: Mastering Winter Chipping & Pitching

Cold weather and dormant turf can make short-game shots tricky, but smart adjustments will keep your touch sharp.

  1. Adjust Your Setup – With firmer, tighter lies in winter, play the ball slightly back in your stance and lean your weight forward. This promotes crisp contact and prevents chunked shots.
  2. Use the Bounce – A wedge with more bounce (10-12 degrees) helps prevent digging into the firm ground. Keep your hands neutral to allow the club’s sole to glide rather than dig.
  3. Control Your Trajectory – Lower shots roll out more, so choose a less-lofted club (like a gap wedge) when chipping. For soft pitches, hinge your wrists early and accelerate through impact.
  4. Stay Smooth – Cooler temps can stiffen your swing. Focus on relaxed hands and a steady tempo to maintain feel and distance control.

Stay sharp this winter, and your short game will be dialed in for spring!

Pro Tip: Master Your Swing Indoors

Practicing in a golf simulator during the off-season is a fantastic way to keep your game sharp. Here’s how to make the most of it:

  1. Focus on Fundamentals: Use the winter months to refine your grip, posture, and alignment. These are the building blocks of a solid swing and can often get overlooked during the regular season.
  2. Dial in Your Distances: Simulators provide precise data on your club distances. Work on achieving consistent yardages with each club, especially your wedges, as they’re key to lowering scores.
  3. Test Different Shots: Experiment with trajectory control, such as hitting low punch shots or high flop shots. Simulators allow you to simulate various weather and course conditions, helping you prepare for anything.
  4. Analyze Your Swing: Many simulators offer swing analysis tools. Pay attention to metrics like club path, face angle, and ball spin to identify areas for improvement.
  5. Play Virtual Rounds: Keep your competitive edge by playing virtual rounds on famous courses. It’s a fun way to stay mentally engaged and simulate on-course decision-making.

By putting in quality practice time indoors, you’ll be primed and ready to hit the ground running when spring arrives. Stay warm and keep swinging!

Pro Tip: Getting out of a sandtrap

Bunker shots require a specific technique to escape cleanly and get close to the hole. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Open Your Stance & Clubface: Set up with your feet slightly open to the target line. Open the clubface as well—this increases loft and allows the club to slide under the ball.
  2. Ball Position Forward: Place the ball slightly forward in your stance, closer to your front foot. This promotes a higher, softer shot.
  3. Dig Your Feet In: Shuffle your feet into the sand to create a stable base and lower your center of gravity. This ensures solid footing and helps you hit below the ball.
  4. Focus on the Sand, Not the Ball: Aim to hit 1-2 inches behind the ball, splashing the sand onto the green. The sand will lift the ball out, so don’t try to make direct contact with the ball.
  5. Accelerate Through Impact: Use a full, confident swing with a good follow-through. Accelerating helps ensure the club gets through the sand and propels the ball out of the trap.
  6. Maintain Loft: Keep the clubface open throughout the swing, allowing the bounce to do the work. Closing the face at impact can cause you to dig into the sand too much, resulting in a fat shot.

Practice this technique to boost your confidence and turn sand traps into scoring opportunities!

Pro Tip: Improve pace to beat the setting sun

October is home to the first full month of the fall season. While the weather might be prime for golf, the amount of daylight is certainly not. Here are some tips to improve your pace so you can comfortably finish those late afternoon rounds!

  • Play ready golf: If you’re playing in a group, know who’s hitting and who’s next up. Spending time waiting for a player to get ready is taking time that could be spent by someone else hitting their ball.
  • Track where your ball lands: As the sun sets earlier, it can be tricky to see exactly where the ball lands. Make sure you watch as long as you can and try picking out a landmark that is close to where the ball lands. If you don’t know exactly, a nearby tree or bunker is a good place to start.
  • Don’t spend too much time looking: The USGA has a 3-minute rule when looking for lost balls. The soft conditions and falling leaves can make your ball difficult to locate, even in the fairways. Sometimes, its best to drop a ball where you think it landed and move on.
  • Your cart-mate can be your best friend: Use each other to your advantage. Drop your mate off to hit while you’re looking for a ball. Pick up his wedge off the green if he’s the last to putt out. Get his distance while he’s observing his lie or share a rangefinder if one of you doesn’t have one. A team effort can go a long way.

Work some of these habits into your rounds and they will quickly start to become second nature. Soon enough, you’ll be playing much faster without feeling rushed. Happy playing!

Pro Tip: Master your Short Game with the Bump-and-Run Shot

Performance around the greens is an important factor for a successful round. To improve your game, there’s one shot that stands out above the rest: the bump and run. By mastering this shot, you can transform your short game.

The bump-and-run is a game changer because a low shot trajectory increases your chances of getting the ball close to the hole by reducing the margin for error. And, by utilizing the ground for propulsion, you gain better control over shot distance, which is perfect for navigating obstacles and varying green lengths with precision.

Step-by-Step Guide to the Bump and Run:

  • Club Selection: Choose a club with less loft, like a pitching wedge or 9-iron, to achieve a lower trajectory.
  • Ball Position: Position the ball slightly back in your stance, closer to your right foot (for right-handed golfers), with a narrower stance.
  • Hand Placement: Place your hands ahead of the ball at address to promote a downward strike, ensuring you compress the ball against the turf.
  • Swing Control: Focus on a shorter backswing and follow-through for a controlled and compact swing, keeping the shot low.
  • Smooth Tempo: Execute the shot with a steady, smooth tempo, maintaining a consistent rhythm throughout.
  • Practice: Spend time practicing these low shots, adjusting your technique as needed to perfect your trajectory and distance control.

Why It Works:

Getting the ball on the ground quickly with the bump and run promotes a reliable and efficient approach to short-game shots. By mastering these steps, you take control of your game and elevate your performance around the greens.

Pro Tip: Iron Play After Aerification

One challenge during September will be navigating greens during aerification. Good iron play will become more important since putting and chipping will be more difficult than normal. Here are some tips to hit more greens and have closer birdie putts.

Keep the takeaway on plane: The takeaway sets up the path in the downswing. A neutral takeback will give you a great starting point to deliver the club into contact and will be easier to shape the shot how you want.

Focus on solid contact and a comfortable swing speed: These will help reduce variance in carry distance. Consistent contact will maximize distance while a comfortable swing speed will help timing and reduce fatigue throughout the round.

Keep the body in sync: Proper rotation is important for power and timing. Make sure you’re turning your body and the club together and finish with your chest facing the target. A good drill for this is half swings while the grip of the club is rested on your belly button.

Stick to a familiar ball: Every golf ball has its own playability characteristics. Choose the ball that matches your game style and use it every time you play. Trusting your equipment will lead to confidence!

If you need any assistance with your swing or finding the proper equipment, please contact our golf professionals for expert instruction and recommendations. Good luck and happy playing!