Golfing Getaway

Fazio added mounds in the fairways and nearly 100 bunkers to give the course the feel of a Scottish links course. Comprised of a well-balanced mix of par-three, par-four and par-five holes, the Gateway course also features numerous water hazards, so you must think your way to lower scores.

Fazio provides five sets of tees for golfers to play from, including the short red tees and the gold markers that stretch the course out to 6,974 yards. Whatever tees you choose, you will get numerous shot-making options as you play this wonderful track that meanders through pine and cypress trees. Just remember Fazio's philosophy when going from one hole to the next: You will be rewarded for hitting good shots along a daring route, and punished for gambling and not hitting shots as well as planned.

Gateway is in magnificent condition, so you'll have no excuse for not hitting a crisp iron shot off the fairway or sinking a putt on one of 18 beautifully manicured greens.

I can see why the par-three 14th hole, bordered by bunkers and grass moguls, is considered the signature hole. However, there are many holes that stand out at Gateway. The 580-yard par-five 18th is a super finishing hole, especially since you have to negotiate a long water hazard that runs down the left side of this dogleg right hole. Another good thing about Gateway is that it has a wonderful practice area, inclusive of two warm-up holes. This mini-course amenity is rare at country clubs, and I wish that more would follow Gateway's example.

The Gateway membership roster, open to residents and non-residents, is nearly full. The good news: Until the club reaches the cap of 375 members (31 to go), the public can play the course. To play, call two days in advance. The price for greens fee and cart is $80 before 2 p.m. and $60 after.

If you need help with your game, book a lesson with Peter Galvano, the son of renowned swing genius, the late Phil Galvano. Phil was a superior swing analyst and author of five books, most notably Secrets of the Perfect Golf Swing. Needless to say, Peter, having learned so much about the total game from his dad, will be able to provide you with tips guaranteed to head you toward the Gateway to better golf.

The Lingo

Savvy golfers, pros and amateurs alike, know golfspeak, the language of the links. You should, too. Here are a few words and definitions to help you sharpen your vocabulary.

Backspin: Reverse-spin imparted to the ball to make it stop quickly on the green.

Block: A wild shot that flies right of the intended target, when the player's natural release of the club is blocked by the body.

Dormie: Situation when the opponent must win every remaining hole to tie the match.

Fat: The club digs into the fairway turf behind the ball, producing a very weakly hit fat shot.

Flier: A shot that flies 10 to 20 yards farther than normal, owing to thick blades of grass or moisture intervening between the ball and the clubface at impact.

Waggle: The preliminary movement of the club prior to the start of the swing.

Stargazing

Should you be born under the sign of Taurus (April 21 to May 20)the same sign as Captiva Island resident Jerry Heard, a former PGA Tour player and five-time winner-consider the following advice on driving from Mark Oman, author of Golf Astrology.

"Do not be so stuck in the mud of middle-of-the-fairway thinking that you lose out on the thrills and surprises only found on golf's fairways less traveled.

"Let the shaft out and swing from the heels. It will do your heart and soul good."

The Rules

Want to win more matches without changing your swing? Learn the rules of golf, set down by the United States Golf Association. To get off to a good start, know when and how to clean your golf ball.

Situation: Player A's approach shot lands on a bank guarding the front of the green. When he arrives at the spot where his ball lies, he notices so much mud on it that he's not sure it's his.

Common Mistake: Player A marks the ball, lifts it to identify it, cleans off all the mud, then replaces it in its original position.

Correct Procedure: According to Rule 21, in this situation Player A is permitted to clean only enough mud off the ball to identify it. The penalty for this breach is one stroke in both stroke and match play.

Tips

One of the highlights of my career as a golf writer has been working with former U.S. Open champion Ken Venturi.

On one occasion, at the Eagle Creek Country Club in Naples, Venturi showed me what to do when your second shot to a par-four hole lands approximately 10 yards beyond the green and you're confronted with an uphill pitch to a putting surface that slopes away from you. This is one of golf's most difficult situations, for there is very little margin for error. Rather than attempting to lob the ball delicately onto the green so that it stops quickly, you should play the percentage shot-a bump-into the bank, just like Venturi.

In assessing this shot, determine how the ball is going to react by studying the texture and length of grass that covers the bank. If the ground is soft and grass thick, hit the ball farther up the bank, because it won't bounce as high and as far. The ideal club is a pitching wedge.

If the ground is medium-firm and the grass pretty soft, select a five iron. Your strategy is to carry the ball three-fourths of the way up the bank so it takes about two bounces before hitting the green.

If the bank's grass is sparse and the ground hard, play a five iron to a spot fairly low down the bank and figure on the ball skipping most of the way to the green.

You'll want any of these bank shots to fly low. So play the ball back in your stance with your hands a couple of inches ahead of the clubhead.

Most critical in playing a successful bank shot is to employ a short, all-arms swing. If you exaggerate wrist action and employ a loose swing, you'll tend to chop down on the ball, which will send it flying over the bank (and maybe over the green). So try gripping the club's handle more firmly and keep the clubhead low to the ground while swinging back, then through.

Fun and Games

If your regular foursome is bored with playing a weekend Nassau team match, give Flag Golf a try. Here's how to play:

Each player is given a small flag. When a player takes a number of strokes that represents the par score for the course plus his or her handicap, he or she sticks a flag in the ground. For example, if the course-par is 72 and your handicap 10, you should stick a flag in the ground in the spot where your 82nd shot landed. The winner is the player whose flag finishes in front of the others in the foursome.

New Products

California-based teacher John Anselmo, the man who taught Tiger Woods from the ages of 10 to 18, has just launched a new video series called A-Game Golf. "I have been teaching golf for 50-plus years and have chosen not to put myself in the limelight, and to keep many of the secrets I taught Tiger close to my vest," says Anselmo, who's planning to move to Southwest Florida in the coming year. "Now, in my new video series, I share with golfers all of the most vital tips I taught Tiger."

The instructional video series includes an introductory tape, followed by four others: The Fundamentals, Practice Drills, Tips for Kids and Playing Lessons.

Suggested retail: $89.99. For more information, call LinksWalker at (800) 816-2716 or visit wwwlinkswalker.com.

Southwest Florida's John Andrisani is the former senior editor of instruction at GOLF Magazine and the author of more than 25 books, including The Tiger Woods Way and Think Like Tiger. Send questions and comments to John at JAGOLF3238@aol.com