At Hawkswood Country Estate, we cater to many golf trips every year.
After all, we’re located just 10 minutes drive from St Andrews – the home of golf.
But before you take on the famously challenging courses in St Andrews, you’ll want to make sure you’re at the top of your game.
These golf training tips can help you prepare for the toughest golf courses in St Andrews.
Work on your short game
If you can’t putt well, you’ll never reach your potential as a golfer.
While a good drive is important, most shots are wasted on the green.
At Hawkswood House and The Roundel, we have short game areas where you can perfect your approach play and putting.
Each area gives you the chance to practice a wide range of shots and lies, until you’re ready to take on the most challenging holes in golf courses in St Andrews and around Fife.
Learn to drive
Not because you need to use a golf buggy, but a good drive is the foundation of a good round of golf.
All Hawkswood Country Estate, all our guests have access to our 270-yard driving range.
Here you can work out any issues with your swing and build up the power needed for the perfect drive.
Get professional coaching
While working at our short game areas and driving range can help you work on your golf game, a professional coach can help you see issues you may not have recognised.
At Hawkswood Country Estate, we can arrange coaching with Peter Whiteford, a former European Tour professional, who has coached players of all levels.
As well as being the coaching professional at Hawkswood Country Estate, Peter is the coach of the Fife men’s golf team.
He’ll help you identify and improve any problems with your golf game.
Take the stress out of golf trips
When you plan a golf trip, you no doubt want to focus on the games, and let someone else do the admin.
At Hawkswood Country Estate, our golf concierge service can handle everything for you.
We will help you book tee times at some of the most iconic golf courses in Scotland.
We can also transport you to many of Fife’s celebrated golf courses in our luxury 16-seater mini coach.
We can help you arrange golf club hire through www.golfgearhire.com.
So all you need to think about is playing the perfect round.
Work on posture
Your stance will affect your swing, so the correct posture is very important.
To make sure you’re in the right stance, stand with the club pressed against your thighs, bend forward from the hips, and slightly bend your knees.
Your arms should hang straight down. Grip the handle and check the club is at a 45-degree angle to your forearm.
This is the perfect setup stance.
Align your clubface
Shots often go astray because the clubface is misaligned.
To deal with this, place an alignment stick just outside the ball, so it creates a 90-degree angle with the target line.
Align the leading edge of the club with the stick.
Improve putting accuracy
A simple but effective way to improve putting accuracy is to put something in the hole that is slightly smaller (such as a soft drink bottle).
You should then aim for the bottle. Once you can hit it consistently, remove it.
The hole will seem to be a much larger target.
Practice, practice, practice
The most effective way to improve your golf game is to play as much as you can.
Regular golf trips to Hawkswood Country Estate will give you the chance to play some of the most challenging golf courses in Scotland.