My Fitness Caddy

101 Fitness Tips for Golf now available in Ireland

My recent book - 101 Fitness Tips for Golf is now available in Ireland. 

The Golf Department in Castletroy just outside of Limerick is the first golf store to carry the book in Ireland.  It is also available on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk but seems to be selling out all the time.

The best way still remains to visit www.myFitnessCaddy.com and order the book direct.  To celebrate, the next 100 orders on the website can use coupon code SHAMROCK at checkout for a 20% discount.

In the news…

A loud THANK YOU to the Armchair Golfer for the nice article on his blog about 101 Fitness Tips for Golf.  His blog is one of the better ones keeping tabs on the PGA tour.  Great post today about John Daly and his possible playing on the European Tour next year - I sure hope he does while I am living in Ireland!

Tiger not 100% until 2010?

Tiger Woods says he won’t be fully healed until 2010. This comes as no surprise to me.  The type of knee surgery Tiger had a few months ago usually takes 2 years for an athlete to fully recover.

Imagine if Tiger was not in as good physical condition as he currently is - this injury would linger even longer.  It is hard to picture him spending even more time in the gym, but you can bet the Ryder Cup that his physical condition is his #1 priority for the foreseeable future.

How do I play without getting nervous?

Guest Blogger - Randy Friedman

First of all even Tiger gets nervous. He has said, if he didn’t get nervous going to the first tee, he’d be worried. The difference is, he perceives at it as excitement nerves and has learned how to use it as positive energy. We are not born with this knowledge, we learn it. It’s a choice what to think… you have that choice too.

You must learn to breathe deeply and rhythmically. When we get nervous, are fearful or become frightened, our breathing becomes labored and changes. I’ve witnessed many 2 foot putts lip out because the golfer felt extra pressure and held their breath during the stroke. Next time you are on the putting green practice a couple of things:

1) Create a pre-shot routine that’s consistent - (If you can speak it or write it down, you have a pre-shot routine)

2) Gratitude makes breathing easier!

Breathing will always relax your nerves. Golf courses have a lot to breathe deeply about. Look around, appreciate where you are and breathe in deeply everything you are grateful for.

Want to know more on how to play your best business golf?

Check out my book, Your Inner Swing - 7 lessons in golf and life.

If you’ve read it, leave your comments on Amazon or my website at www.yourinnerswing.com so others can learn about it too.

Remember … “Keep Swinging!”

Randy - randy@yourinnerswing.com

Randy Friedman - Speaker, Golf Professional, Mind Coach and Author

As a speaker and sports hypnotist, Randy Friedman is an expert on the power of the mind.  She teach people how to get out of their own way, in golf and life.

myFitnessCaddy Announces International Expansion

European Office to be opened in Limerick Ireland

VIENNA, VA – September 26, 2008 —FitWell LLC (parent company of myFitnessCaddy.com), a premier fitness management consulting company, today announced a major global expansion with its first international office to be opened in Limerick, Ireland, in September 2008.

As the former fitness management company at the White House Athletic Center under the Bush, Clinton and Bush administrations, FitWell applies innovative design and management in an integrated, comprehensive approach to fitness and wellness centers.

With its initial focus on fitness management and consulting services to US based corporate, government and golf and country club clients, FitWell is strategically positioned for rapid expansion in the global marketplace.

“The expansion to Europe is an important step forward for our company,” said Ted Vickey, President and CEO of FitWell LLC.  “Demand for our services in Europe has grown rapidly in recent years, and the time is right to offer an expanded set of capabilities.

The newly expanded FitWell Europe will deliver a full range of fitness management and consulting services to European-based clients, and will also serve the European interests of clients based in North America.

FitWell’s North American clients have included the White House, Department of Commerce, Osram Sylvania, Fruit of the Loom, USAA, Securities and Exchange Commission and other blue chip organizations.

Vickey will oversee the European expansion as well as the continued North American operations

About FitWell LLC

Founded in 1995, FitWell is the industry’s independent and trusted provider of fitness management, consulting and facility design. Major corporations, government agencies and country clubs look to FitWell for fitness management solutions including fitness facility design, fitness management outsourcing, master planning and consulting services.  For more information, visit the FitWell web site at www.fitwellinc.com or www.myFitnessCaddy.com.

Try trying less

Guest Blogger - Randy Friedman

If you’ve read Bob Rotella’s book, “Putting out of your mind”, you may remember that term, “try trying less”. It’s a great thought… if you understand what it means.

Did you know the word “try” implies failure. No two ways about it! What happens when you say, “I’ll try and hit the ball over the water” or “I’ll try and sink this putt” and then the ball lands in the water or your ball lips out of the hole? You just gave yourself an out. You then say something like, “See, I tried!” When you try trying less, it’s almost like a double negative (which is a good thing) that cancels out the thought of trying in the first place. It’s a beautiful thing!

Here’s an even better word than “try”. Instead of “try” use “going to” or “will”. “I will make this putt” or I’m going to hit the ball on the green.” There is no “try” only “do”!

Want to know more on how to play your best business golf?

Check out my book, Your Inner Swing - 7 lessons in golf and life.

If you’ve read it, leave your comments on Amazon or my website at www.yourinnerswing.com so others can learn about it too.

Remember … “Keep Swinging!”

Randy - randy@yourinnerswing.com

Randy Friedman - Speaker, Golf Professional, Mind Coach and Author

As a speaker and sports hypnotist, Randy Friedman is an expert on the power of the mind.  She teach people how to get out of their own way, in golf and life.

Take a Zagat golf survey, get prizes

The America’s Top Golf Courses Survey is now underway!

If you are like me, the first thing you look for when walking into a restaurant is the Zagat sticker in the window. If it is there, you know the food and service will be good.

Zagat is now bringing that same “stamp of approval” to the golf industry and they need our help. Visit their survey website and give your honest assessment of the courses you play.

Share your ratings and witty reviews on golf courses you’ve visited in the past year across the nation. Complete the online survey by September 28, 2008 and receive a FREE copy of the 2009/10 America’s Top Golf Courses guide when it’s published. As an added bonus, you will receive a 15% discount on my book 101 Fitness Tips for Golf. Click here to order and use discount code ZAGAT in your checkout.

Thanks for sharing your opinions, and feel free to pass this along to your friends.

Training with Tempo

During my last golf lesson, my PGA instructor suggested that I work on my swing tempo.  I tend to swing too fast when I want to hit that perfect shot - and we all know what the result is when that happens.

I created a neat little audio file that helps my tempo.

How did I do it? - I googled the web and found a free metronome software program, installed on my computer and listened to the different tempos.  After a few speeds, I was able to determine that my normal swing tempo is 70 beats per minute.

I exported the one minute file to my iPod in its own playlist called GOLF.  Now when I go to the practice range, I take my iPod and headphones, set the iPod to loop continuously in the GOLF playlist as I swing away.  My swing tempo has never been better.

I have uploaded two of the files; feel free to download for your personal use.

Swing speed - 70 BPM

Swing speed - 85 BPM

I want to play more golf for business, but how?

Guest blogger - Randy Friedman 

Golfers want to use golf to prospect new clients and schmooze the business they already have, but they don’t know how to, and don’t know if it’s okay to.

Did you know that billions (with a “B”) are spent on golf each year within corporations? It’s true… and it’s in the budget! Just look on Tour. Go to any PGA or LPGA Tour event on a Wednesday and you’ll see what I mean. Players must participate in a required number of pro/am’s. Why? Because the corporate sponsors pay a lot money to be there. It’s business… and it’s very legit!

So whether you belong to a club or not, you should be bringing your business to the golf course. Make it a day they won’t forget. Most of the time actual business is not conducted while you are on the golf course. Relationships are developed. The deals are done after the round, if you play your cards right.

Remember a few things for business golf. “Etiquette and Attitude.”

1) Never… EVER, step on the players line on the putting green. Step around or over, never on. That includes you own! It’s very amateurish. When they see you know that unwritten rule, they’ll respect you and think you know even more.

2) Dress like you belong. Wear a collared shirt tucked in and clean shorts or pants. Perception is everything! We are judged in the first 7 seconds. What do you want to convey? Your presence should say “I care about myself.”

3) Never, never, never… throw your club. I don’t care how poorly you missed the shot - throw the club and you may as well go home. No one wants to do business with a hot-head! Leave your attitude in the parking lot. When you miss a shot, say the best word in golf… “Oops.” It’s not good, it’s not bad… it’s just “Oops”.

Want to know more on how to play your best business golf?

Check out my book, Your Inner Swing - 7 lessons in golf and life.

If you’ve read it, leave your comments on Amazon or my website at www.yourinnerswing.com so others can learn about it too.

Remember … “Keep Swinging!”

Randy

randy@yourinnerswing.com

Randy Friedman - Speaker, Golf Professional, Mind Coach and Author

As a speaker and sports hypnotist, Randy Friedman is an expert on the power of the mind.  She teach people how to get out of their own way, in golf and life.