What is fling golf? That is the most common question I hear working behind the counter at the American Classic Golf Club as golfers check in and notice the unique New Swarm Sports FlingSticks hanging near the counter. When asked that question, I enjoy explaining what fling golf is and encouraging people to give it a try. It is always great to see people interested and excited to give it a try sometime. I also get a laugh seeing just how shocked people are to find out you only use one club, the FlingStick, when playing and can avoid the full set of regular golf clubs.
FlingGolf, created by Alex Van Alen, is an innovative sport which combines aspects of lacrosse, baseball, and hockey with golf. The game can be played on any golf cours 
e, and to play FlingGolf all you need is a FlingStick and some golf balls. Your FlingStick will act as your driver, irons, woods, wedges, and putter, so there is no need to lug around a full set when playing this sport. To fling the golf ball, simply load the ball up into the channel at the end of the stick and throw the ball from the tee to the green. Around the greens, there are many chipping techniques and putting is done with the striker pad on the head of the stick. There are also many different styles that can be used to fling the ball, and you will find the shot that works best for you as you play more often.
Here at the American Classic, we offer FlingGolf and have rental FlingSticks in which you can rent out for your round. FlingSticks can also be purchased at flinggolf.com if you want your own stick. Since FlingGolf can be played alongside regular golfers, I feel that this is a great way for non-golfers to get out onto the course and have fun with their golfer friends. The fact that fling golfers will only use the FlingStick and not a full set of clubs allows for pace of play to be kept up with anybody.
I love regular golf and will always play as much as I can, but I also truly enjoy FlingGolf. FlingGolf is a nice way to get out onto the course and chuck some balls around, and I have fun trying to improve and increase my fling distances off the tee. Sometimes I like to bring a FlingStick out onto the course with me during my regular golf rounds to throw a few for fun (or when my regular golf game is lacking). Bringing out the FlingStick can be a great way to find a fairway and change things up on the course.
The last few summers here at the American Classic we have organized a laid back summer fling league on Friday evenings, and it was nice to see many new people out on the golf course for the first time who wanted to get out but struggled to pick up regular golf. We will be bringing the league back this year and I cannot wait to see everyone out flinging again! We are also very excited to announce that we will have fun food and drink specials, making the fling evenings even better!
Before the FlingGolf Fridays return, we will also be hosting a great FlingGolf fundraiser event to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society on May 14that 6:00 PM. No FlingGolf experience is required, and $15 dollars will cover the cost of your round and rental stick. All greens fees purchased will go to LLS! Sign up HERE
Hope to see you all flinging this year!
– Sam Cresta, Assistant Golf Professional at American Classic Golf Club
Are you harder on yourself than anyone else? Do you consider yourself to be a very inconsistent golfer? Have you thought, “Why do I keep doing this to myself?” Well luckily for you, so is everyone else!
One of the most enjoyable aspects of golf is when you finally connect perfectly on a shot that shows you what you are capable of. On the flip side, it can also be frustrating to know what you can do, but wonder why you can’t do it every time. I’m here to tell you that every.. single.. golfer.. goes through this rollercoaster of emotions that you are on. However, I want to tell you why you need to play golf through a lens of seeing the glass as half full.
Did you know that the average score for an 18 hole round in the United States is 102? Yes, that means that if you shoot a 101 you are an above average golfer. See, doesn’t that make you feel better already?!? For a 9 hole round, this would mean that the average score is around 51 for those of you who love to play your rounds here with us at American Classic.
From a mental state though, it’s so important to play golf with confidence. Now we all can agree that this is the most humbling sport on the planet, but it’s extremely important to go into every shot with the confidence that you are going to hit it exactly where you want to. Instead of getting mad though when you miss your line, try to find the positive in the swing and build off of it.
For instance, when you blade one off the tee and it rolls for 50 yards, be happy that it stayed on the fairway and at least was heading towards your target. More times than not, this means that you were set up correctly but maybe you rushed your swing or got a little antsy and looked up before connecting with the ball. When it’s a minor swing fault like that, there’s zero reason to beat yourself up about it and instead, use it as a learning experience to adjust for the next swing.
If you are unsure of what you did that caused you to miss your line and target, don’t be afraid to take a golf lesson. When someone inquires about lessons, their number one request is to be more consistent. Of course you can watch endless videos and read several articles, but every swing is different and having someone physically present to teach you about your swing can make all the difference. If you feel and know that you have it in you to play golf, there’s so much knowledge and experience to gain by scheduling a lesson to help your ball striking.
Now that we gave you our sales pitch on why you should take a lesson with one of our golf pros, we want to stress the importance again of playing golf as the glass is half full. In the history of golf, no one has ever mastered how to hit the ball perfectly straight every time and if you watch the tour players, they too have their share of chip shots out of the bushes and trees (Thank you Phil). That is why it’s important to learn from every shot, and allow them to help those bad swings be fewer and far between. Plus, golf is much more fun to play when you aren’t afraid to fail and learn. Learn from every shot, play with confidence, and always look for the positives in your round.
-Austin Ebersole, Head Golf Professional at American Classic GC
Last week in our blog, Austin wrote about how it is fun to golf with others. While it is very fun to golf with others and is something I enjoy very much, I have empathy with those who would rather not be paired up with strangers at the golf course. Sometimes, we all just want a relaxing solo round to ourselves or a nice round with the one friend we brought with us. Evening twilight rounds or really early morning tee times can still allow for this type of round, but most rounds played at busy times will likely not give you that luxury.
Golf courses have to pair people up to achieve a steady pace of play and to also ensure the maximum number of golfers can use the course on a given day. Since this is something you will likely experience at many golf courses you may play, I wanted to talk about some tips to help make your paired up round stress-free and fun!
Tip #1: Maintain Pace of Play
I think one of the biggest misconceptions I have seen related to pairing up is that people may not enjoy playing with you based on skill level. Many people do not want to play with strangers because they feel they are not good and do not want to interfere with a stranger’s round. From what I have seen working at the American Classic Golf Club and playing many other golf courses, people do not care how good you are. What they care about is how fast you play. It does not matter what you score and shooting a 110+ can still be enjoyable with any person, regardless of skill level, if you do not hinder pace of play and pick up when necessary. So, play fast and have a great round with players of all skill levels!
Tip #2: Play the Tee Boxes for Your Game
A good way to keep pace with any player is to play the tees that best fit your game. If you are paired with experienced golfers who decide to play from the back tees, do not feel like you have to play back there with them. Playing from forward tees will not only make your round more enjoyable but will also help keep your group moving.
Tip #3: Play One Ball
It can certainly be annoying getting grouped with somebody who constantly drops 2-3 balls onto the tee after their first tee shot. This not only slows the pace of play within your group and the course, but it can also hinder your playing partners rounds. Some people might not know they are not supposed to do that, so if you happen to get paired up with somebody who is constantly doing this, politely asking them to play one ball will likely get them to stop. If the course is not too busy and your group is on board, then by all means play an extra shot or two here and there but avoid doing this right out of the gate.
Tip #4: Don’t Show Off
For more experienced golfers, I think the easiest way to ruin a golf round with strangers is to show off. Constantly talking about how good you are and always looking to one-up you’re playing partners can make for an annoying round. Many people you may be paired up with are not looking for competition and did not show up to the course to watch how good you are. Play your game as you want to the best of your ability but avoid showing off to your playing partners!
Tip #5: Be Friendly
This is a good way to be in anything you do, but this is especially true in golf. Even if you are unhappy to be paired, there is no reason to be rude to your playing partners. There is no need to be ultra-social and outgoing, and it is totally fine to do your own thing on the course by yourself or with your one friend you came to the course with. Regardless, being friendly and somewhat social with your playing partners will make for a great round no matter who you are paired with.
I understand the pressures that can come with playing with strangers. I used to dread being paired up with strangers too, but now I enjoy it. Stick to these tips and keep an open mind, and who knows you may just meet some great people in the process!
-Sam Cresta, Assistant Golf Professional at American Classic GC