Showing 1 - 10 of 143
Unplayable lies: Know the three relief options
Sports, Brett Brasier, Published on 04/02/2026
» You have basically three options if your golf ball finds itself in an unplayable lie. An unplayable lie allows a golfer to take relief almost anywhere on the course but comes with a one-stroke penalty, excluding penalty areas. The player is the sole judge of whether a ball is unplayable. The 3-options for relief are -- stroke-and-distance, back-on-the-line, or lateral relief within two club-lengths of where the ball is at rest.
One wrong move, two strokes gone
Sports, Brett Brasier, Published on 31/12/2025
» Giving or asking for advice like "What club did you use?" from anyone except your caddie or playing partner results in a penalty of two strokes in stroke play or loss of hole in match play. Unsolicited advice from strangers or spectators is okay, but the player must not encourage it.
What happens when two golf balls collide on the course?
Sports, Brett Brasier, Published on 29/10/2025
» Golf balls do occasionally collide. It doesn't happen too often but it does occur occasionally. If a shot is played from off the putting surface and your ball hits another ball, what should you do?
Golf made simple: Key rules every player should know
Sports, Brett Brasier, Published on 01/10/2025
» Carrying on with some basic 'easy to understand' golf rules that we all need to know well. To correctly drop a golf ball, you must release the ball from your hand at knee height, allowing it to fall straight down without touching your body or equipment before hitting the ground. The ball must then land and come to rest within the defined relief area for that required situation. Should it bounce away from the dropping area you can try two more times. If still unsuccessful -- you can then place the ball. If you drop the ball incorrectly, you simply must re-drop it without penalty, but you incur a penalty if you play the ball from a wrong place after dropping it.
Master the takeaway like Billy
Sports, Brett Brasier, Published on 21/05/2025
» Over the years of teaching many women golfers, I've found that they are unaware of the important positions they should be in during the different stages of their golf swings. One of these positions is when the golf club is at waist height, just after takeaway. And Billy Horschel is a player to watch here, as he has incorporated this position in his pre-shot routine.
Hard work is essential for great swing
Sports, Brett Brasier, Published on 03/04/2025
» Most of us who've been playing for a long time picked up the basics of the game from watching carefully the swings of good players. Imitation has started many of us off in the game but this alone does not allow you to fully understand the swings inner workings. I must be honest here and say that watching only good swings will not make a good player. There is no shortcut, that I'm aware of, that will make a good player other than some hard work on the practice range. Imagining a nice-looking swing whilst hitting balls will help but we're all made differently, and as one well known player once told me 'we all have to work out what works on the course through blood, sweat and tears' so all the many movements required becomes muscle memory.
Perfect your stance in 4 easy steps
Sports, Brett Brasier, Published on 12/03/2025
» Standing correctly to the ball is obviously extremely important for consistency and there's a four-step exercise that will help you to do just that. Firstly, standing upright, hold the club directly out in front of you. Then flex your knees until, when looking down, you can see half of your feet. Carry on the exercise by dropping your arms without bending forward, and then lastly, bend from your hips and stick your bottom out slightly. When the club touches the ground, Hey Presto, you will be in the perfect position from which to start a good swing.
Essential tips to start 2025 on right foot
Sports, Brett Brasier, Published on 15/01/2025
» Before 2025 gets fully underway, checking several basic points in your swing might be beneficial, rather like investing in putting your car in for a service before a long trip. Start with your grip by placing your lead hand on the top of the club with your thumb pointing down the right centre of the grip (for right-handers). Keep the thumb quite short as a long thumb leads to over hinging at the top of your swing.
Master your putting and transform your game in '25
Sports, Brett Brasier, Published on 08/01/2025
» Let's start the New Year off with something very basic 'Putting' -- as whether we like it or not for the average golfer, half of golf is putting. Top players earning their living on Tour only use up around 26, 27 or 28 putts per round. This basically relates to two putts every other hole and just one putt for the hole in between.
Straight talking is the need of the hour in golf
Sports, Brett Brasier, Published on 01/01/2025
» Please allow me once more to indulge in something different than my normal tip, as rather surprisingly my 'tongue in cheek' tip last week created a great response, which has made me think that some 'Roy Keane' straight talking is perhaps warranted within the business of golf at the moment. Particularly disappointing are those who lack the intestinal fortitude of expressing transparent views and honest reflections of the present state of golf. Candid comments would be refreshing to hear, rather than the 'go with the flow' mundane obligatory words they must utter because of their positions and roles within golf.