HIS YEAR, THE WORLD OF GOLF GOT A LITTLE BIT BETTER — THANKS TO THE EFFORTS OF NEUROLOGISTS, FITNESS INSTRUCTORS, PILOTS, AND ONE VERY TALENTED ARTIST. CUTTING-EDGE ACHIEVEMENTS BY THIS DIVERSE TALENT POOL ARE BENEFITING GOLFERS HEADING TO PEBBLE BEACH RESORTS IN THEIR QUESTS FOR MEMORIES THAT LAST A LIFETIME.

Spasmodic muscular contractions, or yips, prevent about one in five golfers from sinking their putts.

These experts have worked to s-t-r-e-t-c-h hours in getaway weekends, identify the culprits behind jittery chip shots, offer ways to avoid achy muscles with each swing, and create a putter that makes a head-turning statement.

Curious? Read on as we spotlight four ways to make the game of golf even more special for you this year.

Find yourself three-putting far too often? Perplexed by a jerky motion during a key chip shot? You may have the yips, an anxiety-fueled condition that causes some golfers to make less-than-smooth motions in their swings and strokes.

GYROTONIC equipment eliminates the jarring movements associated with more convential exercise machines.

Medically known as focal dystonia, yips drew the interest of physicians, who recently presented research findings at the American Academy of Neurology in Miami Beach, Florida.

Researchers examined the muscle activity in 20 golfers (10 with the yips and 10 without it). Participants were tested while sitting at rest; with arms outstretched; handwriting; standing; holding a putter; and putting distances of three, six, and eight feet.

Using electromyography equipment, researchers discovered that spasmodic muscle contractions in hands and forearms occurred just prior to the impact of the putter with the ball task-specific movement disorders similar to writer's cramp.

They also learned that golfers with the yips tend to have faster heart rates, grip the putter with greater force, and process more activity in the left brain than golfers without the yips.

Laird Small, golf pro and director of Pebble Beach Golf Academy, says that yips are a condition to take seriously and estimates it affects one in every five golfers — even some golfers on the PGA TOUR.

"Yips are basically a fast motion that outpaces a golfer's stroke," Small says. "They usually occur in the trail hand, so for a right-handed player, that's the right hand.

'Yips tend to surface when a golfer is under pressure — when they suddenly realize that they have a chance to make their lowest score ever if they sink a putt," he continues. Their mind-set goes from process- to outcome-oriented, and they end up missing the putt because of the pressure they place on themselves."

Though no proven cure for the yips yet exists, physicians and golf pros offer these techniques to counter the condition:
• Putt with your opposite hand. If you are right-handed, use a left-handed putter.
• Change the time you take to address the ball. If you normally take 10 seconds, cut that time down to two seconds before swinging your elbow.
• Size up the putt and then purposely close your eyes when you putt.
• Take deep, relaxing breaths or visualize a good swing to reduce mental anxiety.

"What you are trying to do is break that motor pattern in your mind," Small explains. When it comes to pressure putts, a lot of players on the PGA TOUR will often close their eyes when they putt to take some of the pressure off. I tell my golf students that your mind can he your ally or your adversary. By changing your point of view, you can really change your performance — for the better:'

Annika Sorenstam values it. So does Tiger Woods. These youthful golf leaders know that a century-old exercise program called Pilates can make a healthy difference on and off the links.

Recognizing the fitness benefits, officials at Pebble Beach Resorts added The Studio, an innovative facility within The Beach and Tennis Club Fitness Center that combines Pilates with the GYROTONIC EXPANSION SYSTEM. They turned to Olava Menczkowska, a certified Pilates and GYROTONIC instructor, to customize a program for golfers.

"Pilates allows you to work and organize the correct muscles, which can make a difference between a comfortable and a painful round of golf," says Menczkowska, who also teaches Pilates and GYROTONIC to non-playing guests at Pebble Beach Resorts. "Our goal is to prepare the body for the sport before, during, and after." GYROTONIC facilitates greater range of motion and muscle-firing ability so your swing has ease and power. Menczkowska is applying her Pilates GYROTONIC and dance training in her first year as a golfer under the tutelage of Small.

"Golf movements are circular and dimensional, very similar to dance," she says. Both require the ability to understand the full circle around the body to rotate off the center axis, and usage of proper breathing to facilitate greater movement potential. Laird and I are helping golfers dismantle body movements that are not working; reorganize functionality with the Pilates/GYROTONIC conditioning; and alongside Laird's coaching and video assessment, bring their game to the next level."

Sentient Jet, named by the Robb Report as Best of the Best 2005, is also the official private jet provider for the PGA TOUR.

Unfortunately, you can't add hours to your weekends, but you can get more out of your getaways. Last fall, Pebble Beach Resorts and Sentient Jet Inc. teamed up to offer charter-jet service to and from Pebble Beach. The result? More time to putt for par or enjoy a stress-dissolving massage at Americas No. 1 golf resort, as ranked by Golf Digest.

"People value leisure time, and this partnership makes it an even more special experience for those wanting to get to wonderful places like Pebble Beach that are not near major commercial airports," says Steven Hankin, chief executive officer of Sentient Jet, based in Weymouth, Mass.

Previously, people seeking to enjoy Pebble Beach had to book flights from San Jose, San Francisco, or Oakland airports all at least 55 miles away. They had to be tied to departure and arrival times, dampening the opportunity for spontaneity or stretching a three day vacation into four or more days.

No more changing planes, long lines at security check-points, and wasting hours waiting at airports,'' says David Stivers, executive vice president of brand management for Pebble Beach Resorts. 'You arrive at Pebble Beach in less time and ready to enjoy our offerings."

By partnering with Sentient Jet, Pebble Beach Resorts can offer special programs for guests from coast to coast.

"You don't have to become a member of Sentient to use its planes coming to Pebble Beach Resorts," Stivers says. "We've created a program so guests can come to Pebble Beach Resorts without making an initial outlay to join a private jet cooperative.

Here are key details:
• Sentient offers more than 900 certified aircraft, ranging from a five-passenger (light) jet to 12-passenger (heavy) jet.
• You can often book or change flights with only 10 hours' notice.
• You can book one-way or round-trip flights.
• You fly in safety; the aircraft operate under standards that exceed stringent FAA rules.
• Flight cost is based on distance and the size of the aircraft. A roundtrip on a light jet starts at $3,300 per hour.
• If you wish to join Sentient, you can activate your membership by placing funds on deposit. This is not a fee. All deposits are used entirely for flight hours.

Interest in private charter jet service is soaring. Membership in 7-year-old Sentient increased 85 percent from 2004 to 2005 Hankin says. "Ten years ago, you would have to own a jet," he notes. "But with membership programs like ours, it's easier for more people to access private-jet service.

"Flexibility is key," Hankin continues. "People want to get up and go tomorrow to a resort like Pebble Beach or arrange to fly a dozen friends the next day. That's why our program is booming."

Adds Hankin, "Everything is taken care of, from departure from your home or office to your arrival at our resort and your return back home. This is worry-free travel that enables you to maximize your enjoyment at Pebble Beach."

To learn more about the program, contact Sentient Jet (www.sentient.com) at (800) 602-0043 or Pebble Beach Resorts at (800) 654-9300.

Scotty Cameron believes the look of the putter plays as large a role in performance as the technical aspects of loft, length, and lie.

The golf world's Michelangelo answers by the name of Scotty Cameron. This renowned artisan of golf clubs has unveiled his latest creation: a limited edition of putters bearing the Pebble Beach name.

"Scotty Cameron has the reputation for being the finest custom putter maker in the world," says Dale Kincaid hard goods buyer for Pebble Beach Company, "Scotty doesn't put his name on anything that he is not truly passionate about; and here at Pebble Beach, we are very passionate about the game of golf. It was a natural marriage, and the sales have proven that out."

Last fall, 200 customized Pebble Beach putters became available. With a black pearl finish, black pearl shaft, and burgundy leather grip, this putter quickly became a hot commodity.

Justin Pfeiffer vice president of operations for a computer and office products company, bought not one, but two of these putters priced at $650 apiece.

"When I first heard about it, I quickly called Pebble Beach Resorts directly amid got my name on the list to buy," says Pfeiffer, a six-handicapper from Houston, Texas, and longtime fan of Cameron's work. "This putter is so beautiful amid stunning. I was on the putting practice green with it and people kept coming over to me and asking to see it. The craftsmanship is the best I've ever seen, and I collect Cameron clubs."

Now, Pfeiffer hopes to fulfill another golfing dream: to play at Pebble Beach sometime this year.

"My wife and I were talking about places to vacation, and this may be the year we line something up at Pebble Beach," he says.

As this publication went to press, a majority of the putters had been purchased, but Kincaid advises avid golfers not to be dismayed.

"My goal is to come out with a new model next year designed by Scotty Cameron," he says. That's what we're hoping to do, and we're hoping he says yes. Scotty currently uses sonic prominent California locales — such as Newport Beach and Del Mar — as the names of his putters; and Pebble Beach, like the putter, is the best of the best."