TIPS FROM THE TEE - JAMAICA TOURIST ISSUE 12
When you want to play golf in Rose Hall, you do not have to travel very far. Just minutes away, 54 holes of some of the world’s best golf awaits you on three very different and challenging courses. Add the regions’ nicest pros to the mix and you have great golf in a great destination. Here are the golf pro’s tips on how to “tame” Rose Hall’s three courses.
CINNAMON HILL
Cinnamon Hill’s par-72, 6,800 yard course was designed with the resort player in mind.
Hole 17 - 529 Yards from the Blue Tee - Careful it may “Ruin” your score!
ROBERT AMES, DIRECTOR OF GOLF AT CINNAMON HILL GOLF COURSE
ROBERT AMES’ PRO TIP - As you stand on the elevated tee, aim at the fairway bunker, but beware; too far right and the ravine comes into play; too far left and you have a side hill, downhill lie in the rough, which, makes your second shot tough as the ravine runs right thru the fairway again. Now you’re faced with a ravine that guards the last 150 yards on the left side of the fairway, up to a green side bunker of this 45 yard long, skinny three tiered green. If you lay up, be precise to avoid the fairway bunker on the right side of the fairway. A great second shot to a front pin sets up an eagle opportunity, but the back pins are a different story. Call the Cinnamon Hill Golf Shop at 953-2984 or email cinnamonhill@rosehall.com.
THE WHITE WITCH
The White Witch is a spectacular par-71, 6,719 yard golf course that plays through the hills to the panoramic views of the Caribbean Sea.
Hole 10 - Be prepared for what comes after the turn.
MIKE COLE, DIRECTOR OF GOLF AT THE WHITE WITCH
MIKE COLE’S PRO TIP - This par-5, 621 yard 90 degree downhill dogleg left, dares you to cut the corner over the cavernous ravine, a mere 250 yards downhill; play it safe. Your second shot will be one of your toughest of the day; a long iron layup to a fairway that kicks left into a ravine, so stay right. Your third shot into the elevated green is protected by bunkers on the right and left. Aim for the center and be sure to use your Golf Concierge for the proper read on this and every green, they will save you strokes. Par is a great score – take it, smile and move on to # 11. Contact the White Witch for tee times at 518-0174 or www.whitewitchgolf.com.
HALF MOON
Designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., this highly walkable par-72 6,585 yard course has an international reputation.
Reading the Greens and the Grains in Jamaica
EWAN PEEBLES, DIRECTOR OF GOLF, HALF MOON GOLF COURSE
EWAN PEEBLES’ PRO TIP -If the green appears ‘light’ in color you know you are putting into the grain, while if ‘dark’, you are putting with the grain. To determine the direction of the grain, look at the hole and you might see blades of grass growing over the edge in the direction the grain is growing; and the grain tends to grow towards the setting sun. In Jamaica, you will encounter putts which are both down-wind and down-grain, or into the wind and into the grain. Expect down grain putts to run 15 - 20% further than normal, while into the grain around 15 - 20% slower. If in doubt, get a second opinion from your caddie; they have many years of reading these greens. When you’ve decided on your read, trust it and make a confident and positive stroke. Contact the Half Moon Golf Shop at 953-2560 or online atwww.halfmoongolf.com.
CUNNINGHAM GOLF ACADEMIES, KEVYN CUNNINGHAM
Most good swings have the element of “flow” that helps move the weight to the back foot and through to the front. This drill will promote the feeling of the weight flowing through the shot to the front foot in the downswing. With a 7 iron, address the ball, feet 6” apart and the ball opposite the left foot. With a smooth backswing, as you get close to the top of the backswing, move the left foot to the left of the ball. The left foot should move when the club is in the last stages of the swing. As the weight moves forward onto the left foot, fire your right side forward towards the target into a balanced finishing position. Practicing this drill will give you a sense of flow of weight in the golf swing and how it “leads” the arms and club. This drill will also improve rhythm and timing. Remember, the large muscles move the small muscles!!
Contact Kevyn Cunningham at 361-3330 or email at kevyn@cwjamaica.com.
CINNAMON HILL
Cinnamon Hill’s par-72, 6,800 yard course was designed with the resort player in mind.
Hole 17 - 529 Yards from the Blue Tee - Careful it may “Ruin” your score!
ROBERT AMES, DIRECTOR OF GOLF AT CINNAMON HILL GOLF COURSE
ROBERT AMES’ PRO TIP - As you stand on the elevated tee, aim at the fairway bunker, but beware; too far right and the ravine comes into play; too far left and you have a side hill, downhill lie in the rough, which, makes your second shot tough as the ravine runs right thru the fairway again. Now you’re faced with a ravine that guards the last 150 yards on the left side of the fairway, up to a green side bunker of this 45 yard long, skinny three tiered green. If you lay up, be precise to avoid the fairway bunker on the right side of the fairway. A great second shot to a front pin sets up an eagle opportunity, but the back pins are a different story. Call the Cinnamon Hill Golf Shop at 953-2984 or email cinnamonhill@rosehall.com.
THE WHITE WITCH
The White Witch is a spectacular par-71, 6,719 yard golf course that plays through the hills to the panoramic views of the Caribbean Sea.
Hole 10 - Be prepared for what comes after the turn.
MIKE COLE, DIRECTOR OF GOLF AT THE WHITE WITCH
MIKE COLE’S PRO TIP - This par-5, 621 yard 90 degree downhill dogleg left, dares you to cut the corner over the cavernous ravine, a mere 250 yards downhill; play it safe. Your second shot will be one of your toughest of the day; a long iron layup to a fairway that kicks left into a ravine, so stay right. Your third shot into the elevated green is protected by bunkers on the right and left. Aim for the center and be sure to use your Golf Concierge for the proper read on this and every green, they will save you strokes. Par is a great score – take it, smile and move on to # 11. Contact the White Witch for tee times at 518-0174 or www.whitewitchgolf.com.
HALF MOON
Designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., this highly walkable par-72 6,585 yard course has an international reputation.
Reading the Greens and the Grains in Jamaica
EWAN PEEBLES, DIRECTOR OF GOLF, HALF MOON GOLF COURSE
EWAN PEEBLES’ PRO TIP -If the green appears ‘light’ in color you know you are putting into the grain, while if ‘dark’, you are putting with the grain. To determine the direction of the grain, look at the hole and you might see blades of grass growing over the edge in the direction the grain is growing; and the grain tends to grow towards the setting sun. In Jamaica, you will encounter putts which are both down-wind and down-grain, or into the wind and into the grain. Expect down grain putts to run 15 - 20% further than normal, while into the grain around 15 - 20% slower. If in doubt, get a second opinion from your caddie; they have many years of reading these greens. When you’ve decided on your read, trust it and make a confident and positive stroke. Contact the Half Moon Golf Shop at 953-2560 or online atwww.halfmoongolf.com.
CUNNINGHAM GOLF ACADEMIES, KEVYN CUNNINGHAM
Most good swings have the element of “flow” that helps move the weight to the back foot and through to the front. This drill will promote the feeling of the weight flowing through the shot to the front foot in the downswing. With a 7 iron, address the ball, feet 6” apart and the ball opposite the left foot. With a smooth backswing, as you get close to the top of the backswing, move the left foot to the left of the ball. The left foot should move when the club is in the last stages of the swing. As the weight moves forward onto the left foot, fire your right side forward towards the target into a balanced finishing position. Practicing this drill will give you a sense of flow of weight in the golf swing and how it “leads” the arms and club. This drill will also improve rhythm and timing. Remember, the large muscles move the small muscles!!
Contact Kevyn Cunningham at 361-3330 or email at kevyn@cwjamaica.com.
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