Have you ever been practising your golf in your front yard, down the park or in the office and thought hang on, maybe I’m having more fun trying to hone in on the base of that tree over again than I was last time I was on the course? I recently came across some golfers in Australia who have taken this small idea to a whole new level.

Urban Golfing as they call is consists of taking your favourite wedge, grabbing an off course safe ball and hitting the streets with no aim other than having a good time. According to Urban Golfers they have stripped away a lot of the things that scare people away from the real game of golf such as rules, green fees, dress codes, scoring and the frustration which creeps into a bad game of golf.

After a little research I found that Urban Golfing is being played all over the world with grassroots organisations all over Europe and the Americas. Every year the countries all get together and hold an international event to raise money for charity and awareness for the sport.

Could a skill shot based approach to the game be the new craze that brings a wave of fresh new faces into the golf, or is it a brand new subculture just waiting to be explored. Either way the next time I’m thinking about walking down to the park to practise my chipping, I might just make my first shot from the front yard and see where the journey leads.

These days Urban Golf has become an international sport played in over 30 countries and known as many names such as Street Golf, Cross Golf and even Punk Golf. There are literally hundreds of Urban Golfing websites on the internet from around the world but a great place to start is www.australianurbangolf.com

One of the many joys of  Golf is getting out there and enjoying the great outdoors, particularly this time of year when the spring sun is low in the sky and the air is still crisp. While being a club member has it advantages; course management during the round and familiarity in the clubhouse afterwards, there is also a world of exciting new courses waiting to be discovered.

One of the easiest way to do this is to book golf course tee times online to give you access to Golf Courses you may not have considered, or were simply unaware of. This way you can discover some of the finest Golf Courses in your area and is literally the easiest way to get a round.

A booking portal can also be a useful resource if you are travelling out of the area on business or downtime while on holiday either at home or abroad. Due to the large volume of transactions that these sites process, there can also be some great discounts to take advantage of.

So next time, before you throw the clubs in the back of the car, think about being a bit more adventurous, or…..’YOLO’ as my daughter keeps telling me – You Only Live Once!

If you’re looking for the best golfing holidays and all inclusive golf resorts then you might like to consider planning ahead with an iPhone App called, ‘Golf’s Great Destinations’. This handy little App lets you search for golfing trips and provides categories to help you narrow down the choices, including ‘best for the family’ and ‘best for buddy trips’ There is plenty of information on each course as well as pictures to help you make up your mind. The plan is to add exciting new golf destinations each month so that the App is always up to date and current.

Once you’ve decided on your golfing destination how about acquiring a little local knowledge of the course with Golfshot: Golf GPS? This App claims to be the number one Golf GPS App worldwide with access to over 38,00 courses, and all of this without a subscription or fee. Users claim It is incredibly easy to use, super accurate, and has tons of features to help you improve your game. Depending on your standard of play, just make sure you have plenty of juice in your iPhone battery to last.

For a summary of the best golfing Apps available goto 8 Mobile Apps for Golf Season

Rory McIlroy is going to be under the microscope at the 2012 US Masters after his nightmare at Augusta 12 months ago, but the young star has shown to be a growing force in world golf and he could easily make amends this time around.

The 22-year-old took the lead on day one at the Betfair US Masters  in 2011 and by day four he was four strokes ahead of the rest of the field. But McIlroy self-destructed under the baiting eyes of the world golfing fraternity and finished with a round of 80 and back tied for 15th in the standings.

It would have been easy for him to run, hide and lick his wounds. But McIlroy proved his doubters wrong at the US Open when he broke several tournament records on the way to winning his maiden Major crown with a record score of 16-under-par, and by eight shots.

McIlroy has reached a career-high of number two in the world rankings and is now playing on both the PGA and European Tour. There is no doubting the Northern Irishman is one of the world’s elite but the scrutiny he will be under at the US Masters will probably be trebled after that nightmare last round of 2011 and the golf odds show he has a lot to live up to.

However, McIlroy seems to be relishing the prospect of lining up at Augusta again and he certainly has the talent to banish his demons by winning a green jacket in April.

He recently said: “I can’t wait for the Masters. I can’t wait to get back. I obviously know my way around the golf course and I feel like I’m going back there with a point to prove to myself.

“I’d love to get into contention again.”

McIlroy’s old friend Darren Clarke managed to win the British Open last year at the ripe old age of 42, and he recently revealed he was leading a new healthier lifestyle as he looks to add to his Major wins and it could be a new-look Clarke seen at Augusta in April.

Beginner golfers who have invested their hard-earned cash in golf lessons from a teaching professional will be keen to make the most of their time playing and practising without the assistance of the pro. To this end, there are a number of golf training aids on the market.

SKLZ Rick Smith Refiner Driver
The SKLZ “Refiner” driver, designed by renowned golf coach, Rick Smith features an adjustable hinge in the shaft, designed to “break” if the player`s golf swing is on the wrong plane or its tempo is poor. This makes it relatively easy for a golf improver to identify and correct faults in their swings. Furthermore, the Refiner driver, with its 460cc is designed for hitting balls, rather than merely practice swings. With transparent grip graphics for optimum placement of the hands and a hinge adjustment key, this club is suitable for practice just about anywhere. Reviews have been generally excellent, with reviewers noting better ball striking, leading to longer straighter shots. Whilst several reported that it took some time to swing the Refiner driver without it “breaking,” once this had been mastered, the correct swing plane and tempo carried over to other clubs, leading to overall game improvement. Rated as excellent value-for-money by most and a “must buy” for those serious about golf, by several.

Medicus Men`s Dual Hinged 7-Iron
This club operates on the same principle as the Refiner driver, being designed with a “breaking” hinge that highlights any flaws in the golf swing. Reviews suggest that this is a helpful golf training aid, providing feedback to improve all areas of the golf swing, from a solid, one-piece takeaway to the correct tempo for the downswing and follow-through. Reviewers point out that, whilst it is no substitute for professional tuition, as a straightforward golf training aid, it is very good, developing muscle memory to allow a repeatable swing and consistent, longer, more accurate shots.

Rick Smith Dynamics Swing Glove
This product combines a high-quality leather golf glove with an innovative, lightweight wrist guide for a more stable golf swing. The wrist guide, moulded at an angle to keep the wrist at the proper swing angle, rotates about a strong aluminium rivet, to keep the wrist in the correct position throughout the golf swing. The consensus amongst leading golf coaches and instructors is that a slightly lighter grip on the club aids in delivering power more effectively than a grip that is too firm. The hinged plate of the Swing Glove guides the wrists, reducing excess pressure, leading to a softer grip. Reviews suggest that this glove is a straightforward, helpful golf training aid for correct wrist positioning during the golf swing. Several reviewers noted that having used the glove for just a few rounds, their wrist position / action had improved and had become almost second nature within a very short period. They found that this quickly led to the achievement of a consistent, repeatable swing with all clubs and hence better scoring. Most rated it as good value-for-money and “highly recommended.”

Having honed their games with the above-mentioned training / practice aids, golfers will doubtless be anxious to take advantage of the 2 Fore 1 golf discount scheme, offering 2 rounds of golf on payment of a single green fee, at 1,200+ UK golf courses.

Graeme McDowell says he wants to shake off his inconsistent form of last year in 2012 and is dreaming of another headlining Major win to go alongside his 2010 US Open victory.

‘G-Mac’ shot to prominence a couple of years ago with his US Open success, while he also starred for Europe in the Ryder Cup triumph at Celtic Manor later that year.

But he has struggled somewhat since then to match those exploits and has slipped down to 13th in the world ahead of the Abu Dhabi Championship he is competing in this week alongside Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods and co. People looking at the latest online US Open golf betting odds  need to bear this in mind.

The Northern Irishman had to play second fiddle to fellow countrymen, McIlroy and last year’s Open winner, Darren Clarke, in 2011, but he insists he is now ready to emerge from the shadows and challenge for the Majors once again.

“I would like this year to get back to being consistently giving myself chances week in and week out,” he said.

“I want to shake off the frustrations of 2011 and get back to playing the way I know I can, and competing in the Majors.”

McDowell, who has not won a title for 15 months now, missed the cut in three of the four Majors last year but he is determined to put that record straight and start creating some more positive headlines.

“That is the target I am setting myself this year. I missed the cut in three of the four Majors last year and that’s  not good enough, so I am looking to get my consistency levels back,” he added.

“So if there is a headline in the newspapers I want to see this year it’s ‘G Mac wins a second Major’ or maybe just simply ‘G Mac is back’.”

Officials at YourGolfTravel.com, the largest golf travel retailer in Europe, are celebrating after being named in The Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100 for the third year in a row.

The Fast Track 100 lists the top 100 private fastest-growing companies in Britain in terms of sales growth over three years. It is released every December and yet again YourGolfTravel.com has performed well, finishing an impressive 26^th overall.

Providing Algarve golf packages and breaks to all manner of destinations around the world as well as offering players the chance to book tee times online, YourGolfTravel.com have seen sales rise from £3.3million in 2007/08 to £26.4million in 2010/11, which represents a sales growth annually of 99.28 per cent.

Ross Marshall, chief executive of YourGolfTravel.com, commented: “When we launched the company in 2005 we could only dream of being included in The Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100, and now we are celebrating our third appearance.

“That the company has maintained such strong growth is testament to the fact we are providing a service golfers want and YourGolfTravel.com is now firmly established as Europe’s largest golf travel company.

“Given the tough economic climate and the current doom and gloom in the travel sector, this is fantastic recognition for our whole team that has worked exceptionally hard over the last three years to achieve such great accolades.

“We are absolutely delighted to be recognized once again, but we have no plans to rest on our laurels and we will continue to invest in and grow the company in order to list in the rankings in 2012 and beyond.”

When it comes to taking European golf breaks, Scotland has been a popular choice for years.

Granted, the weather is better in places like Spain and Portugal, but it’s the chance of following in the footsteps of the game’s greats on iconic courses such as Carnoustie, Gleneagles and St Andrews, the home of golf, that makes Scotland such a coveted destination for players of all ages and abilities. 

Image: Longshotgolf.com

Scotland’s golfing profile is set to increase significantly over the coming years as Gleneagles prepares to host the 2014 Ryder Cup, which represents the first time in more than 40 years that the tournament has been held in the country.

It has been reported that staging the event could generate more than £100million into Scotland’s economy.

These are exciting times for golf in Scotland and Lee Derrick, chairman of Golf Tourism Scotland (GTS), said: “Golf in Scotland has been so ingrained in the culture that the economic contribution it makes is often overlooked.

“This is changing, and with a run of high-profile tournaments taking place in Scotland over the next few years, not least of which is the Ryder Cup, I believe the industry’s significance is set to soar.”

Derrick’s comments come after figures released by GTS revealed that 76 per cent of professionals from within the travel, hospitality and golf sectors felt that progress has been made in the golf tourism industry in 2011.

A part of Scotland where progress is definitely being made is Fife, which was named as ‘Golf Destination of the Year – Europe, 2012’ at The International Association of Golf Tour Operators Awards in Turkey last month.

In terms of golf holidays Europe in general has plenty to offer players of all ages and abilities, none more so than Scotland.

Occasionally Aspiring Golfer is invited to review Golf merchandise and this time we were asked to review the Nike Lunar Golf Shoes. We thought it would be nice for someone else to benefit, so we asked one of England’s top junior golfers, George Howard, if he would put the Nike Lunar Golf Shoes through their paces. This is what he had to say….

Age: 18
Handicap: 0
Honours: British Colleges Gold Medalist, Faldo Series World Final Competitor 2009, Lagonda Trophy last 32, Gogs Junior Champion 2010 and 2011, Boys County Champion 2010, Boys County Captain 2011

Current Shoe: Footjoy Icon (White & Black)
Trial Shoe: Nike Lunar (White & Silver) £90-£130
Rounds used: 8-10
Practice hours: >60

The Nike Lunar has an instant appeal from its trainer  look and although not a traditional golf shoe,  it fits in very well with modern golfing attire. The one thing I noticed when I first opened the box was the patterned leather at the front of the shoe which cannot be seen on photos unless they are high detail. When I first put the shoes on there was no feeling that you needed to wear them in, as there is an instant comfort and softness to the shoe. This is provided by Nike technology called Lunarlon Foam which they use in the sole of the shoe and gives this shoe its name.

Although I have the shoes in white and silver, I have found them incredibly easy to clean after a Winter round they are also as waterproof as any other golf shoes I’ve used.  Another great thing about the Lunar is the underside of the shoe; I’ve never seen a golf shoe with so many ways to prevent slipping in the winter months which is provided by soft spikes and little studs almost like molded football boots.

After many hours of use there is still no real sign of wear and tear, and although I find many of my shoes crease above the toes; these remain as they were brand new. The only downside of the shoe which I have encountered is that the shoe strings/laces, seem to loosen and come undone a couple of times during a round.  I have fixed this small problem simply by changing them for another pair of inexpensive laces.

I have never used Nike golf shoes before but I think these shoes are up there with Footjoy, Callaway and Adidas and I will definitely be getting more Nike golf shoes in the future.

Rory McIlroy, a man who became the youngest golfer in history to claim the lead on the opening day of the Masters Tournament, earlier this year, has had his position as favourite for the 2012 instalment of the competition snatched from his grasp by resurgent golfer, Tiger Woods.

On the back of his recent run of form, which saw him help the United States team to victory in the Presidents Cup, Tiger Woods has witnessed his popularity with the bookmakers soar. The fourteen-time Majors winner currently stands at 7/1 in the best Masters golf odds , compared to McIlroy on 9/1, and the States’ Phil Mickelson on 14/1.

Creeping down the odds chart, England’s Luke Donald is tied on 18/1 with his compatriot, Lee Westwood, while Australia’s Adam Scott stands on 33/1. Rounding off the bookies’ top ten are Nick Watney (US), Sergio Garcia (ESP), and Jason Day (AUS), also at 33/1, and Germany’s Martin Kaymer, on 40/1.

It is interesting to note that South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel, who won the Masters in 2011, is ranked at 40/1, making the golfer something of an outsider for next year’s event in Augusta, Georgia. Of course, with the Masters Tournament still five months away, the odds remain in the realm of conjecture.

Rory McIlroy’s position as second-favourite stands in defiance of his record in major tournaments. With the exception of his win at the US Open, earlier this year, McIlroy has only won one other event in 2011, the Shanghai Masters. He tied for fifteenth in the Masters, 25th in the Open Championship, and 64th in the PGA Championship.

Whether the youngster has the chops to defeat a field consisting of Mickelson, who has three Masters titles under his belt; Tiger Woods, with four, and Schwartzel, with one, remains to be seen. However, it would be difficult to deny that McIlroy is one golf’s most exciting prospects, given his age.