By Bruce Meadows
June 2026
Golf tips, anyone ???
Seems like just about everybody has a suggestion or two about the best advice to offer a new or struggling golfer.
The one I remember most often is something I either thought of myself or heard from somebody whose name I can’t recall: “Take up bowling . . . you don’t lose as many balls!”
That may seem like a simplistic approach to what can be a serious problem for a lot of people, although I maintain that golf should be FUN, no matter what your score may be.
You can’t have a do-over although a lot of golfers I know seem to think it’s OK to take a second shot . . . that’s not golf, nor should it be.
Regardless, I asked a number of local pros that if they could pass on a bit of advice to beginning or struggling golfers, what might that be. Here are some of the responses I received . . . and thanks to all of you thoughtful enough to humor me with your suggestions.
Jess Stimack, former SSU assistant golf coach:
“For beginners, the most important thing is enjoying your time out there, heck this is just as important for competitive golfers , too.
“Early on for beginners, it is very easy to grow frustrated with the struggle and become turned off. Patience, Positivity and Perspective are the three most important things when getting started. Enjoy your time out there, it’s supposed to be fun.
“Once you get on the golf course for 9 holes, play every hole as a par 7, once you break par . . . then play every hole as a par 6 . . . and then you’re shooting around 50 for 9 holes.
“It’s extremely important that you give yourself a margin for error, because there will be plenty. Lastly, identify 1 or 2 clubs in your bag that you have a ton of confidence in, use those whenever possible…if you can hit it and find it…you’re on your way!”
Tom Isaak CourseCo Golf:
“Position in relation to the ball at address!
“Nicklaus said this is of fundamental importance. It is further affirmed by and interesting section in “Search for the Perfect Swing” wherein scientists examine aspects of hitting a golf ball like spin (hitting with groove less clubs) and consistency in addressing the ball.
John Russell, Windsor Golf, etc.
“Chipping, then lag putts from 15 to 20 ft out to start.”
Demian Reddy, Windsor Golf
“I think realizing how much more important distance is than direction, when putting. The average golfer will rarely miss a putt left or right by, say, four feet, however, that same golfer will constantly leave a putt short or hit long by four feet,
“One stat I come back to year after year is that the average distance for a tour player’s 50/50 make percentage is about 7 feet. For the average to below average golfer this number is nowhere near 7 ft. When you show a person how far 7 feet actually is on a green (which doesn’t seem that far), they realize how important it is to leave the first putt close to the hole.
Justin Sweet, Bennett Valley
“Here are a couple tips from my experience.
- Focus on solid contact, not power.
”A smooth swing that hits the center of the clubface will almost always outperform swinging hard. Good rhythm and balance are far more important than trying to crush the ball.
- Keep expectations realistic and enjoy the process.
”Golf is difficult for everyone . . . even professionals hit bad shots. The golfers who improve the fastest are usually the ones who stay patient, keep a positive attitude, and celebrate small improvements.”
Christopher Gay, Foxtail GC
A few simple tips I’d give beginning or struggling golfers:
- Spend more time practicing your short game rather than full swing. Chipping and putting are the fastest ways to lower scores and build confidence.
- Keep the swing simple and balanced. Most golfers try to swing too hard. Good tempo and solid contact beat power almost every time.
- Practice with purpose. Even 20–30 minutes of focused practice is more valuable than beating balls aimlessly for an hour.
- Remember that golf is difficult for everyone. Improvement comes from consistency, patience, and enjoying the process.
Gaylord Schaap, Northwood GC
As a GM, I don’t give too many of our golfers playing tips, but I am not afraid to explain to them how they can make their game better from the perspective of their pace of play.
Here are some tips for speeding up play:
Get Ready for Your Shot Before You Reach Your Ball. Once you are off the tee, think ahead. Determine your yardage and make your club selection before it is your turn to play.
When You Share a Cart, Work Together. While your playing partner hits, get out of the cart and walk to your ball with a few clubs. Be ready to play when it is your turn, and let your partner pick you up. Whenever possible, park your cart ahead of your ball, not behind it. This makes it faster to get to your clubs, hit your shot, and replace your club in your bag.
Be Efficient on the Putting Green. Line up your putt while others are putting. Leave your clubs on the side of the putting green closest to the next tee. Wait until the next tee to record your score.
Play Formats Other Than Stroke Play. Match play, Stableford, best ball, and other formats are easy and fun alternatives to individual stroke play that don’t involve every player holing out on every hole.
I’ve always felt that the easiest way to improve and shave strokes off your game is to focus on the short game. Becoming more efficient around the greens generally leads to lower scores and less frustration. Most golfers we teach want to focus on the full swing, particularly the driver, but consistency with your wedge game and putter will make you a better player. These are “feel” shots and the more time spent practicing good habits will lead to better results.
CJ Snyder, Bennett Valley GC
For me, having success with the staple bump and run shot around the greens comes down to pre-shot fundamentals. Understanding ball positioning, weight distribution, and the relationship between hands and clubhead are the keys to success. To produce a low trajectory chip that runs out like a putt, the fundamentals involve:
Ball back in your stance
- Weight stays forward on your front leg (creating a steeper angle of decent and creating ball first contact). No weight transfer.
- Hands stay forward of the clubhead through the stroke
- Putting stroke motion to stay “connected”
- Low and short follow through.
Kowata wins Sonoma County Am . . .
Quentyn Kowata overcame windy conditions and a challenging field to win the 2026 Sonoma County Amateur at Foxtail GC.
Kowata carded rounds of 74-70—144 to win by four strokes over Edgar Escobar. Four-time champ Luis Diaz was fourth with78-73—151.
Sonoma County Am champ Quentyn Kowata
Renata Young won the women’s championship gross flight, 80-82—162; Bob Niger is the Senior Gross champ with a 72-69—141; Jim Williams is the Super Senior Gross winner, 76-76-152; Ronnie Henderson is the Men’s Net Flight winner, 67-76—143;Kallaiope Kotrys won the Women’s Net Flight, 69-64—133; Rich Rozzi won the Senior Net Flight, 69-69—138; Harry Pearson is the Super Senior Net Flight champ, 76-67—143.
First Green at Foxtail . . .
Foxtail Golf Club was honored to host 74 fifth-grade students from Marguerite Hahn Elementary School as part of The First Green program.
The First Green transforms golf courses into outdoor classrooms, giving students the opportunity to learn about environmental science, water conservation, wildlife habitats, turfgrass management, and the many career opportunities found within the golf industry.
One of the highlights of the day was our Foxtail Golf Flag Design Contest. Students were challenged to create a new golf flag design for Foxtail, and the creativity on display was incredible. We are proud to showcase some of the winning designs and celebrate the imagination and talent of these young artists.
At Foxtail Golf Club, we believe our role in the community extends beyond golf. We are committed to providing opportunities for local youth to learn, explore, and connect with the environment around them. Seeing students ask questions, discover new ideas, and experience the golf course in a completely different way is what programs like this are about.
A huge thank you to the students, teachers, volunteers, and staff who helped make this event such a success. We are proud to partner with our local schools and invest in the future of our community. The future is bright, and we got to see it firsthand.
Coming up . . .
At Foxtail GC . . .
Foxtail Junior Club: Tournament Series
Calling all competitive junior golfers (ages 10–18)
Step up and test your game in 10 full 18-hole stroke play tournaments this season at Foxtail. (Dates listed below).
• Win prizes after every event
• Earn points toward the Player of the Year Trophy
• Compete against players in your age flight
• One low price covers the entire series
$100 includes entry to ALL events
Flights may change based on entries
Flights will based on age of as of 10/24/2026
Not a beginner program. Golfers should be able to play 18 holes walking.
Tournament Dates: 6/13/2026 S, 7/11/2026 N, 8/8/2026 S, 8/22/2026 S, 9/12/2026 S, 9/26/2026 N, 10/10/2026 S, 10/24/2026 N (Bonus Points)
Open to the public. Call 707-584-7766
We’d love to have you join us . . .
GOLF 707 currently has sponsorships available. If you’d like to support our online golf column, we would be able to feature your golf course or business in the column on a regular basis
If you’d like some details, contact Dave Cox at ysn365.com
Thanks . . . Bruce Meadows
We would like to hear from you . . .
Thanks for your comments, questions and suggestions. I appreciate them and would like to get as many as possible.
If you have information about anything golf-related, including upcoming clinics, activities, tournaments or sales, let me know.
And if you have questions, complaints or compliments about golf in our area, let me know and I’ll make some inquiries. Email me at bmeadows4sports@aol.com