nilesclark

[nilesclark]

Uncommon Stroke Penalties in Golf

The sport of golf uses a penalty system to add strokes to a player’s score after they have made an error on the course. A common penalty occurs after a player hits their ball into a water hazard. Unless the player can hit the ball from a very shallow part at the water’s edge, they have no option but to place a new ball on the ground near where the ball went in the water or attempt the shot again. In either case, players must take a hazard penalty, which adds an additional stroke to the scorecard.

Not all penalties are as well known. A player who incorrectly manages their scorecard may be forced to forfeit, depending on the level of competition, or may incur a stroke penalty. USGA Rule 3 of golf states that each player must complete all scheduled holes, accurately record the results of those holes, and then return a correct scorecard. Players who fail to apply hazard strokes or omit scores from one or more holes are required to take a penalty stroke for each error.

A player carrying more than 14 clubs in their golf bag can suffer a hefty penalty. Players should take two penalty strokes for each hole they carried extra clubs. Other actions that result in penalty strokes include teeing off from the wrong area and anchoring the golf club, which involves resting the club, usually the putter, against the body while making a stroke.

[nilesclark]

How Lack of an ND Filter and Pre Flight Plan Affects Drone Filming

Drone filming provides an effective way of capturing high-quality photos and videos from an aerial view. It can capture sceneries and terrain that proved previously challenging to photograph. To optimize drone filming, avoid common mistakes, such as forgetting to use an ND filter or planning.

Forgetting to use an ND filter or neutral density filter, a tiny layer of tinted glass attached to a drone camera can compromise the quality of imagery. The goal is to prevent overexposed footage as ND filters help to block excessive incoming light on a sunny day to guarantee a higher-quality picture. ND filters range from ND2 to ND4 and ND8, among others. The higher the filter value, the less light enters the camera.

Next, failure to conduct pre-flight planning increases the chances of risks and errors during the filming process. A pre-flight checklist is necessary to review the entire process and should include analyzing the filming location, airspace regulations, equipment readiness, and weather conditions. Pre-flight planning also includes acquiring the necessary permits and clearance from local authorities, relevant governing bodies, and property owners. Failure to obtain the required clearance often leads to legal issues that compromise the project and cause disruptions.

[nilesclark]

A Brief Overview of Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is a fundamental skill essential for professional and personal success. It involves systematically processing information to make informed decisions and gain a deeper understanding of various subjects. Instead of accepting information at face value, critical thinkers analyze, evaluate, and make connections between ideas.

In dynamic work environments, many organizations highly value critical thinking as it leads to better decision-making, fosters innovation, and enhances problem-solving abilities. Critical thinking empowers individuals to form their own opinions, develop confidence in their beliefs, and engage meaningfully with colleagues and superiors. It also enables self-assessment, allowing individuals to identify areas for improvement and enhance overall efficiency.

To improve critical thinking skills, individuals can adopt key habits, including asking basic questions to gain clarity and insight, gathering and organizing information from diverse sources, critically analyzing data and sources for credibility and reliability, and practicing active listening with empathy to understand others' viewpoints. Ongoing learning and self-reflection are also valuable for enhancing critical thinking skills.

[nilesclark]

Flying a Drone for the First Time

Drones are rapidly gaining popularity in both photography and videography, becoming indispensable equipment for professional photographers, filmmakers, and other professionals. If you’re just getting started, there are several important steps to take before flying a drone for the first time.

First and foremost, it’s critical to carefully read the manual. While many may overlook this step, familiarizing yourself with the drone’s instructions is essential to avoid crashing it during the initial flight. The manual provides valuable information on controlling the drone and handling any potential emergencies that may arise.

Another vital pre-flight task is ensuring the drone is fully charged. A fully charged battery is essential for an uninterrupted flight experience. Consider keeping spare batteries close at hand, ensuring they are compatible with your drone to prevent damage. Additionally, be aware of the drone’s battery life to avoid emergency landings mid-flight.

In the United States, it’s mandatory to register drones weighing over 250 grams with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Registration typically costs around $5 and is valid for three years. Additionally, familiarize yourself with federal as well as any local drone regulations, including maximum flying altitudes, minimum allowed distance from people, and other guidelines to ensure compliance with all laws.

[nilesclark]

How Students Benefit from NSLS Membership

Founded in 2001 by Gary Tuerack to motivate and better prepare students for success upon graduation, the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) has since expanded to all 50 states and has reached more than 1.5 million students. There are more than 800 chapters at post-secondary institutions throughout the United States, each of which provides students with the tools and resources to establish real-world skills and become leaders in their chosen fields.

The NSLS believes in the power of experiential leadership education and offers programs that help members build resiliency, think critically, be empathetic to others, and develop a core purpose. Through its Foundations of Leadership five-step curriculum, students learn valuable problem-solving and communication skills, as well as how to foster personal responsibility and collaborate with others. The NSLS also offers Advanced and Executive Leadership Certification.

The curriculum for Advanced Leadership Certification focuses on the value of effective communication in mutual relationships. Students must complete advanced online leadership modules, attend Speaker Broadcast events, perform community service, and lead a Success Networking Team. As part of the Executive Leadership Certification program, students must apply their leadership knowledge in real-world situations, including through the Better World capstone project, in which they have to leverage their training to improve their community.

Mentorship is among the key benefits for NSLS members. Students can enhance their communication and leadership skills via one-on-one mentorship with professional success coaches and become more comfortable setting and achieving goals while being held accountable by NSLS peers and mentors. They can also learn their own and other leadership styles by completing a communication assessment tool.

NSLS membership also looks good on a resume, helping students stand out from their peers and perhaps gain access to exclusive jobs and internships. Members receive a personalized letter of recommendation that they can forward to admissions offices and prospective employers, and they have access to an online interview series with insight from career experts. They can also expand upon their skills by working in various leadership positions with local, regional, and national NSLS offices.

The NSLS Speaker Broadcasts are among the most valuable resources to members. Every year, several guest speakers, usually leaders in various fields, share personal insight into their leadership efforts in business and society. Students can submit questions in advance. Each interactive session includes trivia and live polls and is recorded so members can watch at a later date. Actor, bodybuilder, and former politician Arnold Schwarzenegger, organizational psychologist Adam Grant, and behavioral scientist Emily Balcetis were featured guests during the 2023-24 school year. Past guests include presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and entertainers and personalities Kevin Hart, Kelly Ripa, Gabrielle Union, and Jamie Foxx.

NSLS members also have access to a variety of scholarships and awards, the largest of which are $7,500. The organization distributes more than $400,000 in scholarships and awards each year for tuition, educational assistance, and community service.

NSLS membership is invitation-only. Prospective undergraduate members must have completed at least 36 credit hours and have a GPA of 3.2, while graduate students have to complete at least 18 credits and have a GPA of at least 3.5. Invitations are mailed early in the fall and winter semesters.

[nilesclark]

Golf Digest's Top Six Courses in Illinois

Golf Digest, one of the world's leading golf publications, has scored and ranked the top courses in the United States every year since 1966. For its 2023 list of America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses, the publication sought input from more than 1,800 panelists, who played and evaluated each course based on criteria such as conditioning and character, shot options, and aesthetics. In compiling this list, Golf Digest also creates rankings of the best courses in each state.

Illinois is among the premier states in the country for golf, with six courses ranked in Golf Digest's 2023 America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses list. It also has two courses in the Second 100 Greatest list. According to Golf Digest, the state’s 11th-best course, Beverly Country Club in Chicago, is superior to the top golf courses in major cities including San Diego, Miami, and Houston.

The Chicago Golf Club (CGC) in Wheaton is the state's best course and the 13th best in the country, according to Golf Digest. The club is home to the first 18-hole course in the United States, built by renowned course architect C.B. Macdonald and opened in 1893. CGC has been first in Golf Digest's state rankings every year since 2011 and has been included on America's 100 Greatest list every year since 1971. It has remained relatively unchanged since Seth Raynor, a former surveyor and engineer under Macdonald, redesigned the course in 1923.

The Chicago Golf Club has hosted several notable tournaments since its inception, including the U.S. Open in 1987, 1900, and 1911. More recently, it hosted the Walker Cup, an amateur competition involving teams of American and United Kingdom players, in 2005. It also hosted the 2018 U.S. Senior Women's Open and is slated to host the U.S. Women's Open in 2033 and the Walker Cup in 2036.

Previously ranked as the third-best course in the state, Shoreacres Golf Club in Lake Bluff moved up to No. 2 in Golf Digest's 2023 rankings. Also designed by Raynor, the course features fascinating topography and perhaps the most unique stretch of three holes (11, 12, and 13) on any golf course in the 100 Greatest list. The private course opened in 1921 and has been among the top-five courses in the state since 2017.

Butler National Golf Club in Oak Brook dropped back one spot to No. 3 in the statewide rankings. Created by former PGA Tour player George Fazio, the course features 10 holes with forced carries over water. It was once the permanent host site of the Western Open, but it relinquished its hosting duties in 1990 after refusing to change its men-only policy. Butler National is one of four clubs in the Chicago area that still doesn't offer membership to women.

Canyata Golf Club, Medinah Country Club Course 3, and the Olympia Fields Country Club’s North course are the other three Illinois courses on America's 100 Greatest list. Canyata, in Marshall, was created by developer and energy executive Jerry Forsythe, who wanted to transform 300 acres of his family property into a three-hole golf course. Over time, with the help of architect Bob Lohmann, he built the area into an 18-hole course with artificial creeks, waterscaped ponds, and sophisticated bunkers.

Medinah Country Club Course 3 has hosted several major tournaments since 1949. These include the 2012 Ryder Cup, 2006 PGA Championship, and 1990 U.S. Open. It is slated to host the Presidents Cup in 2026. Olympia Fields Country Club’s North course, meanwhile, hosted the 2023 BMW Championship, 2017 KPMG Women's PGA Championship, and 2003 U.S. Open, among other notable events.