So what are the ten biggest Michigan golf stories of 2013? Funny you should ask. This is what I’ve come up with, but not in any particular order. And remember: “To err is human; to forgive, divine.”

Andrew Walker

1. Fourteen-year-old qualifies for U.S. Amateur. Battle Creek’s Andrew Walker became the fifth-youngest golfer to ever play in the Amateur after qualifying at Forest Akers West with 71-69. Walker didn’t make match play at famed The Country Club in Brookline, MA, but he endeared himself to the local golf gallery and the national media. He was also the GAM’s Junior Player of the Year.

Tom Werkmeister

2. Tom Werkmeister wins the Michigan Open. Kentwood’s Werkmeister became the first amateur since Bob Ackerman III in 1975 to win the Michigan Open. It was an outstanding year for Werkmeister, winning the GAM Mid-Am for a record fifth time while continuing his dominance of West Michigan amateur golf by winning all four “majors” on the Grand Rapids golf calendar.

3. Brian Stuard finishes second on the PGA Tour. Jackson’s Stuard earned the biggest check in Michigan golf history by taking home $648,000 at the PGA Tour’s OHL Classic Mayakoba in Mexico in November.

4. The LPGA announces a return to Michigan in 2014. Fourteen years after the final Oldsmobile Classic in East Lansing, in November the LPGA announced  plans for the inaugural Meijer LPGA Classic to be held August 7-10 at Blythefield CC outside Grand Rapids.

5. Tom Doak receives Golf Architect of the Year honors. After being inducted into the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame in May, Traverse City’s Doak capped the year by being named the top architect by both Golf Digest and Golf Magazine. His new courses at Dismal River in Nebraska and Streamsong in Florida have drawn wide acclaim. Incidentally, Doak’s Christmas card announced he’ll be doing a new second course at Forest Dunes GC  in Roscommon.

A new home at Ferris State

6. Michigan Golf Hall of Fame finds a new home. After vacating donated office space last fall in Troy, the MGHOF was back in storage until Ferris State University agreed in November to be the new permanent home and relocate it to Katke Golf Course sometime in 2014 or early 2015.

SuperStroke fat grips

7. You can never be too rich or too fat, when it comes to golf grips. The Michigan-based SuperStroke company became the industry leader in the wildly popular oversized putter grip sector, most notably used by Jason Dufner in winning the ’13 PGA Championship.

8. Brian Cairns wins his third Michigan PGA title. A closing 3-under-par 69 for 7-under-par 209 earned Cairns the Gilbert A. Currie Trophy for the third time in his career (1996, 2000 and 2013) and a $6,000 first-place check. In November, Cairns came up short in his bid to claim a card on the PGA’s Champions Tour.

Sherrie Steinhauer

9. Sherrie Steinhauer claims Wendy’s Charity Classic in Jackson. In a LPGA Legends event, Steinhauer takes home $16,000 after shooting a 4-under-par 68 and winning in a playoff against Christa Johnson. During her stint on the LPGA Tour, Steinhauer won eight tournaments, including the 1992 du Maurier Classic and the 2006 Women’s British Open.

Hiestand with the former President

10. Duo garners national senior recognition. In the January issue of Golf Digest out this month, Michigan’s Mary Jane Anderson Hiestand and Bill Zylstra are listed as top ten honorable mentions in its senior amateur women and men U.S. rankings. Zylstra topped Golfweek’s senior amateur rankings in 2013 while Hiestand also competed in the prestigious Senior Women’s Invitation Match in Dallas, rubbing elbows with honorary starter George W. Bush.

Images courtesy of the Golf Association of Michigan, the Michigan PGA, SuperStroke, LPGA, and Mary Jane Hiestand

Bubba Watson: two-time Masters Champion

Next April, it’s possible Masters defending champion Bubba Watson could be asked to impart a few words of wisdom and advice at the Drive, Chip & Putt banquet. It will take place on Saturday evening at Augusta National for players and their parents gathered together on the eve of the 2015 Finals. To his awestruck admirers, Watson might say, “Trust and own your swing, don’t get too technical, work hard and rejoice at being at the Masters.”

OK, let me get back to that envisioned scenario in a moment.

For someone whose towering drives never fly under the radar, Bubba Watson’s game and chances to win his second green jacket did just that last week. In fact, out of the 54 credentialed golf media surveyed on Wednesday by the Augusta Chronicle about their choice to the win the Masters, only one writer (Golf World’s Geoff Shackelford) picked Watson. That’s hard to fathom given the fact that Watson won the Masters only two years ago and that this year leading up to it, he had a win, a pair of T-2s, a T-8, and a T-9—making him the 12th ranked player in the world.

So how did Watson fly under the radar and not get more attention prior to last Thursday? Several factors were at play. One, before his win this year in L.A. (Northern Trust Open) he hadn’t won since his stunning 2012 Masters playoff victory over Louis Oosthuizen. Second, his last tournament start before Augusta was at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill where he shot an opening 83 and then withdrew, citing allergies. WDs are not a popular player recourse with sponsors, fans and the media—as Rory Mcllroy rudely discovered last year after he withdrew after eight holes during the second round of the Honda Classic, citing a toothache. Later, McIlroy apologized for his actions as well as for his less than candid rationale. Likewise, Watson issued this tweet after his Bay Hill sudden departure: “Just wanted to tell my fans I’m sorry I had to withdraw from @APinv this week. My allergies have taken over!” Later he added: “It’s hard to focus when you’re (sic) heads all discombobulated from medicine and pollen #spellcheck.” Fair enough apology but Bubba still lost some PR points.

Watson’s image also took a hit last summer during the final round of the Travelers PGA Tour event in Hartford after his widely televised critical remarks about his longtime caddie, Ted Scott, at the par-three 16th hole. In contention, Watson’s iron shot found the water. Immediately, Watson ripped into Scott about the club selection. CBS-TV caught the incident live and it later went viral with Watson saying to Scott, “So you’re telling me that’s the right club?…There’s no reason for me to show up.” The next day, Scott told  PGATour.com: “I convinced him to hit the wrong club. I 100 percent take responsibility for it. It’s totally my fault. I got in the way of the painter on that one.”

Asked on Sunday by the media about his sometimes emotional (“don’t you knock heads?”) relationship with Watson, Scott put it in the proper perspective: “If you have a brother, you’re going to knock heads with him…The more time you spend with anybody ‑‑ we’re all human beings, we’re all individuals, of course you’re going to knock heads.  Is there anybody that you know that you spend a lot of time with that you don’t knock heads with?  Of course not.”

Scott also shared some revealing insights about his boss, relating how Watson changed his mindset this year after a disappointing 2013. “But this year his attitude’s been great,” said Scott. “It’s been a lot of fun to work for him this year.” The caddie also cited the positive influence of Judah Smith on Watson. A pastor out of Seattle, Smith was described by Scott as Bubba’s “best friend on the PGA TOUR, his best friend in the world, pretty much.” Scott said Smith sat down with Watson before the season and they discussed a particular Bible passage. “It’s Philippians 4:11, I believe,” said Scott. “And it talks about rejoicing in your circumstances.” Smith reminded Watson about how as a kid he dreamed about playing in the Masters. According to Scott, the pastor went on to say, “You’ve won the Masters, you’ve won PGA TOUR events…So why don’t you just go ahead and rejoice?”

And rejoice Watson did after his final round, three-under par 69. In addition to improved and more patient course management, there were several key factors to Watson’s victory last week. Stat mavens will point out his tournament-leading long driving average of 306 yards. Big hitters regularly have an edge at Augusta especially on the par-fives where Watson carded six birdies and one eagle. Watson was also T-5 in the all-important Greens in Regulation stat for the week. The greens are diabolical enough without having to get up and down to save par. But Masters champions are best defined by clutch putting on the final day and Watson was magnificent, registering 11 one-putt greens. On that note, don’t forget those par-saving putts that Watson holed on Saturday at 17 and 18 when his round and scorecard were teetering. Those “makes” allowed him to be in the final pairing for Sunday. For the week, Watson also never had a higher score than a bogey, thus avoiding ruinous and confidence-sapping doubles and the dreaded “other.”

And finally there’s the simple matter of getting a timely and pivotal break on Sunday. Watson’s drive on 13 caromed off of the trees and landed in the fairway, only a wedge distance (for him) from the green. “His drive on 13, I’ll never forget,” said playing partner Jordan Spieth. “I thought it was out of bounds, 70 yards left, and it was perfect. He knew that, too.”  Watson ended up making birdie there while Spieth parred, resulting in a three shot lead he never relinquished.

In his press conference on Sunday night, a green jacket adorned Bubba Watson said, “I play golf because I love it. I love the game, I want to grow the game. The game has brought me everything I’ve ever owned in my life. My parents taught me values through the game of golf.”

Yep, he’s the ideal banquet speaker for next year’s Drive, Chip & Putt.

Image courtesy of PING

The teaching “process” has ended between Tiger Woods and Sean Foley

On Monday, Tiger Woods announced on his website that he and his instructor Sean Foley had parted ways, ending a teaching relationship that began after the 2010 PGA Championship. Previously, Tiger had stints with Butch Harmon (1993-2003) and Hank Haney (2004-2010). Although Tiger had a very successful 2013 season, winning five times including The Players Championship, he failed to gain ground on his holy grail quest of Jack Nicklaus’s career record of 18 major championships. And along the way, he has suffered physical setbacks on his back and knee.

The split up announcement pleased critics of Foley who claimed his work with Tiger was not up to snuff. The Golf Channel’s Brandel Chamblee had been particularly vocal in his criticism of Foley’s teaching methods. In a July 29 telecast, he said, “Watching a guy swing that short and that quick and develop the yips—and there is no other word for it, the yips—with his driver is really sad to see.” Chamblee then added, “he is never, ever going to dominate with this move unless he changes it…”

From a layman’s perspective, it seemed to me that Tiger tended to dip his head and didn’t stay tall when driving. His transition from the backswing to the forward swing was also too abrupt. At other times, he lacked a consistent tempo which resulted in some big misses with his tee-ball which can’t be tolerated. Statistically, Tiger’s driving accuracy was rated at 55.10% this year, admittedly a shorter season due to his injuries. In 2013, it was 62.50% and ranked 69th on Tour. In 2012, he was ranked 53rd. In 2011, his first full season with Foley, his driving accuracy was 48.90%. So there was improvement at first but then a fall-off.

Looking back over the last ten years, Tiger’s was a fickle driver even under Hank Haney. But his misses were better and also mitigated by a rock-solid short game. It’s the decline in his short game prowess that drew my attention. In the PGA Tour’s scrambling stat from 30 yards in, Tiger managed to get up and down 26% of the time this past year. In 2013, it was around 26.5%. In contrast, short game master (although with occasional putting lapses) Phil Mickelson averaged 34%-35% over the last few years in the 30-yard scrambling stat. From 30 yards in, the best (Heath Slocum) averaged 51%. And the overall scrambling leader this year is Jim Furyk, making par or better 71% of the time despite missing the green.

Years ago, I always considered Tiger and Phil to be the top two chippers in the game. They chipped at times almost as good as they putted the ball. But over the last few years, Tiger’s chipping has fallen off. And for this I must fault Foley because his teaching method called for Tiger to change his once formidable chipping style. This is what I wrote after the 2011 Masters, Tiger’s first major under Foley’s tutelage, when he revealed how his short game had been adjusted under his new teacher:

“…Tiger’s putting and chipping over the last few years were never the problem. It was mainly a balky driver. So why he would mess with his once impregnable putting and chipping technique baffles me especially after seeing him miss short critical putts as he did on Sunday at 12 and 15 and with a mediocre chip on 13 which led to a costly par. For the week, Tiger tied with Justin Rose for the most three-putts with six. He also ended his Saturday round with a bogey set up by another poor chip from the back of the green. In his Tuesday press conference, Woods said his game is still undergoing a “process” where “the putting stroke, the short game, the swing, the same release has to mirror throughout the entire bag.”  Sorry, I don’t get it.” (April 2011)

I have no idea who’ll be Tiger’s next swing guru but I’ll be very curious if Tiger returns to his once lofty short game method which provided so much support and strength to his long game.

Photo courtesy of the PGA of America

Even if my golf cronies aren’t listening—and really I can’t blame them for wearing ear plugs—I often repeat one of my trusted sayings: don’t obsess over not having the latest equipment and technology. “Your current driver or set of irons is just fine. Take a lesson with a PGA professional, instead.”

Miles of Golf

And generally speaking, I still believe in this philosophy. Game improvement should start with adhering to and honing proper swing and short game fundamentals. But as I have learned over the years, don’t ignore the advantages of playing with the proper equipment suited to one’s game and physical attributes—especially as one gets older and those physical attributes gradually change. I was reminded of this truism this fall after scheduling a driver fitting at Miles of Golf near Ann Arbor, one of the most respected and acclaimed certified fitting locations in the country. And this is a big country.

I last did a driver fitting four years ago at Miles of Golf and ended up ordering the Titleist 910D3 model with a 8.5 degree loft, stiff shaft. With the club, I saw immediate improvement in both length and accuracy. Of course, the highest compliment about it was when my older brother remarked during a round: “Man, that driver is hot.” Still in my hand, I didn’t see any resemblance to a supermodel. But hey, I appreciated the words while wondering if my swing had anything to do with those well-struck drives. But that’s asking a lot of an older brother—if you know what I mean.

Earlier this fall I decided to get a driver check-up. I had an inkling that spending a session with Mr. TrackMan (launch monitor) and a knowledgeable fitter might be beneficial. Besides, my overall swing was pretty sound and consistent and was delivering solid scores. That’s an opportune time to visit the Cluboratory, Miles of Golf’s award-winning club fitting facility.

Bryan Carpenter

My club fitter was Bryan Carpenter, an experienced, tech-savvy and friendly individual who’s been part of the staff for the past six years and a club fitter for five. A graduate of University of Detroit Mercy with a MA degree in Architectural Design, Carpenter said his education has been relevant and helpful to club fitting. “This stuff makes a lot of sense to me. I have a good math and physics background and that relates really well when it comes to driver and club fitting, especially with the numbers-crunching Trackman,” said Carpenter.

I also like how he’s a competitive golfer and remains active in tournament play when his schedule allows. A frequent qualifier of the Michigan Amateur, Carpenter and Jim Lewis finished runner-up this past year in the GAM Senior/Mid Am team championship. Players/Fitters like him get the nuances and quirks of competitive players and their equipment. Even way-down-the-scoreboard players like me.

After studying my drives under the watchful eye of Trackman, here’s what Carpenter had to say about my Titleist 910D3:

—“Your swing speed doesn’t seem to match up well with this driver and its loft and shaft contribute to a flatter ball flight.”

—“Flatter ball flight leads to decreased carry and overall length.”

Then I continued with my quasi-aerobic fitting exercise, hitting a number of drives (it can be tiresome) with several different brands, lofts and shafts. To cut to the chase, Carpenter recommended the new Titleist 915D3 with a 9.5 loft, stiff Diamana shaft. Here’s why:

—I picked up 4.5 mph of ball speed with the new driver. “Each mph of ball speed represents two or more yards of added distance,” said Carpenter. “So you picked up an added ten yards or so in distance.”

—The added loft and a lighter (only 50 grams) and higher launching shaft increased carry off the drive. “Your trajectory increased by at least five feet in the air,” said Carpenter.

Titleist 915D3

The new attributes and features of the Titleist 915D3 include:

—Active Recoil Channel™ which according to the Titleist website “delivers more distance by actively flexing at impact to launch the ball off the face with higher speed and lower spin.”

—High MOI (moment of inertia) Design: “Reduced thickness up front allows weight to be strategically placed in the back, resulting in a low and deep CG (center of gravity) that provides ball speed while preserving forgiveness.”

On that last forgiving trait, Carpenter added: “With this driver, you not only added length and height but your misses were better, with an acceptable left to right shot—a playable shot.” This was music to my ears as I’ve long subscribed to the adage that “the game is all about the quality of one’s misses.”

Carpenter also enlightened me on the efficacy of the latest technology. “People think there can’t be a huge change in equipment from one year to the next,” he said.  “But the companies always seem to prove us wrong. There are more often than not significant improvements. For example, we’re seeing the lowest spinning drivers nowadays.”

OK, so maybe a re-write is in order for my opening paragraph.

For more information, visit www.milesofgolf.com and www.titleist.com

Five Michigan juniors hope to have their winning photo taken on Sunday

Here’s a regret for which I’ll receive no sympathy: I won’t arrive at the Masters until next Monday. OK, let me explain. Last year I made it to Augusta on Saturday, two days prior to Masters week. It was the earliest I’ve ever arrived. In fact, my friend and distinguished colleague Jack Berry, who’s covered over 40 Masters, told me recently the earliest he’d ever come to the Masters was on a Sunday. He remembers the day well because later that evening while watching television the owner opened the front door along with her beau, fully expecting her home to be empty until the next day. Let’s just say it was an awkward moment and called to mind those famed words of the movie, Cool Hand Luke: “What we have here is a failure to communicate!”

Sorry for the digression. You see, I regret not being at the Masters this Sunday because I’ll miss experiencing the second annual Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals. Last year I was there in person and it was one of the most enjoyable and uplifting days I’ve ever covered.

On a cloudy and overcast day with cool temperatures, 88 juniors competed in four age groups for both boys and girls. The event was a culmination of more than a year’s preparation which included local and regional qualifying events that attracted 17,000 youngsters from around the country. The juniors competed at locations on Augusta National’s massive practice area as well as on its main practice putting green and the famed 18th green itself. Not surprisingly, it was exceptionally planned and executed and exceeded all expectations. Besides marveling at the skill and poise of the young competitors, I relished witnessing the many big and small moments surrounding this laudable “grow the game” initiative. Such as:

Seeing defending champion Adam Scott willingly pose for photos with Tiva Chowary, who competed earlier in the Girls 10-11 age group. Speaking with her mother near the clubhouse after the competition, I learned Tiva joined her father at a driving range at age 3, attended an LPGA event at age 5 and started playing golf shortly thereafter. Now at age 11, she had a memorable photo with a classy Masters champion.

Besides Scott, several Masters players stopped and took in the junior competition over at the practice range. Bubba Watson spent at least 15 minutes watching several of the juniors competing in the long drive event. In fact, he watched Amanda Gartrell,15, rip it 225 yards on her best drive. In her bio, Amanda listed Watson as the “coolest person.” Imagine what a thrill that must’ve been for her.

The Masters attention to detail: Such as the juniors being issued a special player’s pin to wear, identifying them as official and honored competitors. And how Masters officials nicely allocated designated viewing areas and reserved seating for parents and family members who beamed with proud delight when not nervously biting their fingernails.

Youthful candor was best exemplified by junior Patrick Welch who described his winning putt on the 18th green to me in a one-on-one interview. From Providence, R.I., Patrick said, “Because I was leading at the time, I knew I just needed to get it close to win. But then I hit it too hard. Good thing it hit the cup!” Welch also won the 14-15 age group long drive competition with a smash of 253.6 yards. And, shades of the late Senior player Charlie Owens, Welch played cross-handed!

Augusta National member Condoleezza Rice announced the names of the juniors for their final 15-foot putt on the 18th green. But before doing so, she double-checked the pronunciation of certain youngsters’ names, many times inquiring directly of the boy or girl before the introduction. Rice was considerate and careful in her preparation for this simple yet important task. Of course, you don’t become Secretary of State by butchering the names of foreign heads of state.

What it meant to be in this competition was summed up by Natalie Pietromonaco, 13, winner of the Girls 12-13 group: “This was a life-changing experience for me…at the world’s best golf course.”

Life-changing is an apt description when dreams are formed and later realized. It recalled to mind when my parents took my brother and me to the 1960 PGA Championship at Firestone CC in Akron, OH. It was our first professional golf tournament and it left an indelible impression. The experience was more than just attending a tournament; it was as if a whole new world had opened up to us. The players we watched in awe that day—Arnold Palmer, Sam Snead, Mike Souchak, Doug Sanders—were heroes doing extraordinary things and we couldn’t get enough of it. In truth, that experience planted a potent seed into our hearts about the game we love.

Likewise, the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship—thanks to the vision and commitment of the Masters Tournament Foundation, the United States Golf Association and the PGA of America—is growing the game by planting its seeds in the hearts of talented youngsters.

What smart phone, app or digital game could possibly match that?

Michigan will be represented by five juniors at the National Finals on Sunday: Anika Dy, Traverse City (Girls, 12-13); Jordan Jurmu, Marquette (Boys, 12-13); PJ Maybank, Cheboygan (Boys, 7-9); Satchel Pierce, Union (Boys, 10-11); and Coalter Smith, Grosse Pointe Farms (Boys, 14-15).

Image courtesy of the Drive Chip & Putt National Finals

Phil Mickelson with the Lowerys at the FOG

Recently, I played in a fog. I don’t mean facing a low-hanging cloud at the first tee or even trying to overcome a hangover. No, I’m talking about FOG, the celebrated Friends of Golf charity golf tournament held at Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles. At the invite of my generous and good-hearted brother-in-law, John Lowery, I played in the 36th Annual FOG in April along with his father, brother and one of John’s long time business colleagues.

We had an absolute blast even though our final team score was relegated to the lower rungs of the leaderboard. So what. We were gladly part of an event that raises funds for scholarships and golf programs for area high schools and colleges. Byron Nelson once described the FOG as “the best one day event on its kind in the U.S.”

Along with playing golf at exclusive Bel-Air CC, a gem designed by George C. Thomas Jr. who also did Rivieria and LA Country Club (North & South), we were also entertained by the honored guest of this year’s event, Phil Mickelson. Mickelson did a clinic, played golf and later spoke at the dinner that evening. Before sharing some snippets from that dinner let me provide a brief background on FOG.

The tournament started in 1979 as a way to help support the neighboring UCLA golf team coached by Eddie Merrins, the esteemed head golf professional at Bel-Air. At the time, Merrins had a total golf team budget of $6000 which included his coaching stipend. A few years later, the tournament’s mission evolved to support not only UCLA but other college, high school and junior golf programs in the southern California area. In 36 years, FOG has raised over $7 million dollars to support aspiring golfers at a grass-roots level. As Bel-Air member and CBS Golf’s Jim Nantz remarked at the podium, “This little event was twenty-five years ahead of other grow-the-game initiatives. It’s pretty amazing.”

“Pretty amazing” was also a good description of the dinner program presented in Bel-Air’s main dining room with its spectacular views of the course and Westwood’s skyscrapers. In a nice touch, tournament organizers arranged to have a junior golfer, Shani—who’s been supported by FOG’s programs—conduct a brief interview of Mickelson prior to his remarks with Nantz.

Shani, a junior golfer in LA, was invited to do a Q & A with the honored guest

Here are some excerpts of both of those entertaining and enlightening exchanges.

When asked by Shani about his most memorable junior golf tournament, Mickelson said:

When I was seven years old, my dad told me if I ever won a trophy at a junior tournament he’d buy me a full set of clubs. In those tournaments, trophies were given out for the first three places and then ribbons from fourth to tenth place. At the time, my bag consisted of a three-wood, 7-iron, 9-iron and putter. So I entered this junior event in La Jolla, shot 29 on a par 27 course and ended up finishing second, winning a trophy. I asked him about getting that full set of clubs. But my dad, being a little tight, got me a used set of women’s clubs. (laughter) But those clubs were the still greatest clubs ever.

When asked what’s the best advice he’s received from his teacher Butch Harmon:

You gotta learn how to drive a golf ball, he told me. We’ve been working on that for eight years and we’re still working on it. Butch’s gotten me to view par fours as par-threes. So on the tee at a par-four, he has me thinking where do I want to hit the par-three after my drive, from the fairway or from the rough or trees? Obviously, I’ve been choosing the rough, option B (laughter.)

When asked what advice he’d lend to an aspiring college golfer:

There’s no substitute for speed. You’ve got to swing the club fast. So that means you have to be fit, strong, and you have to swing the club with authority. Don’t let the club swing you. With speed, you’ll be able to create spin on the golf ball, hit it higher, softer, and control it better…You can’t dominate in the game without speed…So strength and speed first; work on control later. At 44, I’m still working on control (laughter.)

Jim Nantz, a prior FOG honoree, came up next and shared some thoughts and memories from anchoring 30 Masters (and counting) which he described as “the deepest and most important of my life.” Along with Jack Nicklaus’ victory in 1986 and former University of Houston roommate and friend Fred Couples’ win in 1992, Nantz said Mickelson’s breakthrough Masters win in 2004 was an extra special thrill. Describing Mickelson’s final winning birdie as it rolled toward the 72nd hole, Nantz recalled: “Is it his time? With inner joy, I added, ‘Yes, at long last!’ Nantz called Mickelson, a close personal friend, “one of the iconic golfers of all time—he’s on golf’s Mount Rushmore.”

Seated on two stools, Nantz and Mickelson commenced to have a lively, insightful and often hilarious conversation about Phil’s career and game. Here are some excerpts:

Mickelson sharing some early memories about getting started in the game:

At eight years of age, I went down to my local muni, Navajo Canyon GC in San Diego (now called Missions Trail) and asked to work there to have playing privileges. Rick Thompson, the local pro, told me, “Well, we normally don’t give jobs to 8-year-olds.” But Rick went out on a limb and allowed me to show up and be responsible. I picked up trash, drove the cart to pick up pins at night, picked the range—all so that I could play there for free and practice. When I was 12, that course was bought by American Golf Corp. and they fired everyone under 16. But I went to another course, Stardust, and they gave me an opportunity to work and play golf and practice.

It all goes back to Rick Thompson, giving me a chance, keeping an eye on me, setting up games with other players and allowing me to do what I love…It ultimately led to a hall of fame career. It’s those people that see the potential in kids like we saw at the clinic today. No one wants a handout, no one wants something for free; but rather these kids are looking for the opportunity to succeed.  FOG is about giving opportunities to kids who otherwise wouldn’t have them…That’s why this is such a special event here at Bel-Air…I’m an indirect beneficiary of programs like FOG.

When asked about golf’s direction and current state of affairs:

It’s headed in a very good direction and golf has a more welcoming environment nowadays. People say golf is in trouble because it’s too slow. But I say it’s not about speeding up play. Golf is not for everybody. If you love the inner challenge of testing yourself against a course. If you love going to course with buddies, the social aspect, if you love the head to head competition—with a handicap system or straight up—golf can fulfill all those desires. I want to go to the course and spend all day there, playing with friends and practicing…We need courses where juniors and young golfers can do the same—with par-3 courses as well as practice facilities and a video game room in the clubhouse…All these things will make juniors want to spend time at the course. At the six courses we own in Arizona, our play is up 180% in a year. We simply created an environment where you want to spend more time at a golf course, not less.

Commenting on the 2015 Masters:

It was so close for me. Before that week, I’d been throwing away shots and I finally put it together at the Masters. The 270 (final score) by Jordan (Spieth) didn’t surprise me. The course was set up so differently than in previous years: the greens were softer than any tournament we played on Tour and were slower than they’d ever been. Because of that the scores are set-up to be extremely low. Over the last five years at Augusta, that’s been the trend. You can get away with a lot more mistakes now. Angles aren’t as important when you can fly the ball to the hole and stop it. Angles are critical when the greens are firm and you can’t stop the ball and you have to play for 60 feet of run…With the greens soft and wet, you can get away with a lot of mistakes.

Commenting on Rory McIlroy’ s and Jordan Spieth’s ascendance in the game:

They’re both tremendous players but neither of them have approached what I saw in Tiger in 2000. That year I saw a level of play I never thought I’d see in the game of golf. I saw a ball-striking performance, a driving distance performance, accuracy, iron and distance control, and ball flight control. And his short game, chipping and putting, were at a high level. Tiger could win tournaments even if he struck it bad due to his short game; and he could win tournaments even if he putted it bad because of his incredible ball-striking. He put them together and won the U.S. Open by 15 shots. I knew then that something needed to happen for me to be able to compete…And something did happen: Tiger left Butch Harmon. (laughter)

For more information about FOG, visit www.friendsofgolf.org

Photos courtesy of Paul Lester Photography and the FOG.

If you’re looking for a good golf book for Father’s Day you might consider Dan Jenkins’ Unplayable Lies (Doubleday, $25.95.) One of the foremost golf writers of our time, Jenkins has compiled a tome of thirty-eight essays on a variety of golf subjects, many of which are imparted in Jenkins’ wickedly funny and sardonic manner. Half of the essays are original while the balance has been reworked based on previously published articles in Golf Digest. Accordingly, if you’re a GD subscriber many of these essays will be familiar.

What I found most entertaining and surprising about this book was its insight and studied reflection on the history of the game. Yes, there’s plenty of Jenkins patented wit and sharp one-liners at play here. But there’s also a wealth of golf history and appreciation for the game’s most revered figures and milestones. Given Jenkins’ admitted idolization of Ben Hogan, there are also a number of references and mentions about Hogan throughout the book. As it’s been said, these Texans really stick together.

Walter Hagen’s record is admired by Jenkins

For those in Michigan who count Walter Hagen as an adopted favorite son, Jenkins rightfully elevates his stature by a thoughtful review of his distinguished career. For one, he quotes Gene Sarazen saying, “We owe a greater debt to Walter Hagen than we do to anything else that’s happened in this game. Walter took the club pro out of the kitchen and the repair shop and put us on the map.” Later in an essay titled “The Match of the Century” he reports on the head-to-head matches in 1926 between Hagen and Bobby Jones. Hagen got the better of Jones while also donating $5,000, half of the purse, to a local hospital. The Haig was “giving back” before it became a corporate branding tactic.

I also appreciated Jenkins re-examination of what constitutes a “major” from a historical perspective. As he writes, “First you have to go with me and acknowledge there were majors before there were majors.” In this vein, the Masters as a major was preceded by a number of other tournaments, including the Western Open, North and South Open and the Metropolitan Open. As such, Jenkins establishes a “new count of the all-time multiple winners of golf’s major championships.” For would-be golf historians or those who love to regale buddies at the 19th hole, this chapter alone is reward enough for purchasing the book. It’s no revelation that Jack Nicklaus still tops the list with 23 “majors” but many will be enlightened to see Hagen in second place with 22. Jenkins goes on for six pages, listing the majors of past and current players (male.)

But those who relish Jenkins for his wit and biting humor won’t be disappointed. As in, “take the sports agent. Please.” Or his recalling a locker room incident between two angry players when one of them accused the other of having an affair with his wife. According to Jenkins, the player retorted, “I thought about it, but the line was too long.” Similarly in an essay titled “Letter of Resignation” he has a devilish nickname for a philandering tennis pro at a club.

Along the way, Jenkins shares his special memories and anecdotes, in individual chapters, for the Masters, the U.S. Open, the British Open and the PGA. Along with Michigan’s Jack Berry, Jenkins was presented the Masters Majors Achievement Award for having covered over 40 Masters (now 65!) and like Berry was issued a reserved parking spot in the Media lot. In that chapter, he nicely credits the much maligned Hootie Johnson by saying he “stood up to the media heat. Refused to be intimidated by howling ladies and other protesters.” At the time, the Augusta National (and thus the Masters by association) was mischaracterized as being a “stag club” (see Pine Valley) and categorically banning female members. Current Masters Chairman Billy Payne receives a favorable nod by Jenkins for being smart enough to defuse the situation and wisely admitting female members Condi Rice and Darla Moore.

Jenkins does have an old school prejudice against wearing shorts on the golf course. This in spite of recalling that at the 1996 PGA at Valhalla the caddies rebelled and refused to wear pants in the insufferable Louisville heat that caused several of their brethren to incur heat stroke. “Now it’s shorts everywhere. Caddies, sportswriters—everywhere but on me.”

Guess one could say after reading admirable Unplayable Lies, Jenkins’ writing definitely has legs even if he doesn’t.

It figures that someone who had his first golf lesson with a pro named Nicklaus might go on to greater heights. Even though it’s not that Nicklaus (Jack), Cameron McCormick holds the distinction as the PGA Teacher of the Year for 2015 as announced this summer by the PGA of America. Best known as Jordan Spieth’s longtime teacher, McCormick is a PGA Professional and Director of Instruction at Brook Hollow Golf Club in Dallas. Next year, he’ll be the Director of Instruction at Trinity Forest GC, a new Coore-Crenshaw design in Dallas.

A native of Australia, McCormick’s golf career in the U.S. began in 2000 at the Lakes of Castle Hills GC outside Dallas followed by successful teaching stints as an Assistant PGA pro at Dallas CC and as Director of Instruction at Brook Hollow GC, also in Dallas. In this time, he built up a client base of more than 350 students, including a number of top-notch junior, college, amateur and professional players, while averaging 1800 hours of instruction annually. Six of the current top 75 ranked juniors in the United States work with McCormick, including 2015 U.S. Junior Amateur Champion Philip Barbaree.

About him, Spieth was quoted by the PGA of America as saying: “I have complete trust in anything he says, he’s my swing coach, putting coach, short game coach, mental coach, everything,” said Spieth. “He’s a very special teacher, somebody who I think is just going to get bigger and bigger, and you’re going to see him with a lot of Tour players in the future.”

The PGA of America recognized McCormick for his various teaching initiatives at Brook Hollow. McCormick runs a junior development program “that cultivates skill development from basic-to-advanced levels with a long-term outlook toward fostering the growth of the game’s next generation of competitive elite.” Also, McCormick co-founded Birdies for Kids, a program that promotes golf to a diverse group of youth in North Texas. Since its founding in 2004, Birdies for Kids has raised $1.42 million for children charities with McCormick serving as the leading fundraiser in 10 of the 11 years.

McCormick, 42, has been married 15 years to his wife Somer whom he met at Texas Tech University. They have two children, a 7-year-old girl named Bella and a 5-year-old boy named Callan. Thoughtful and articulate on a wide range of golf topics including learning theory, McCormick was currently reading, at the time of this interview, Getting Unstuck by Tim Butler, a life performance book, and a book about public speaking titled Resonate by Nancy Duarte. The last tome will come in handy as the affable McCormick accepts his award next month at the PGA of America’s 99th PGA Annual Meeting in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Previous recipients have included such teachers as Gary Wiren, Jim Flick, Harvey Penick, Martin Hall, Mike Bender, Hank Haney, Kathy Gildersleeve-Jensen and Todd Anderson.

McCormick was interviewed by Terry Moore who has written about and interviewed 14 PGA Teachers of the Year.

What are some of your memories of your first formal lessons, both receiving and giving?

The first lesson I gave was with a group of junior golfers at The Lakes at Castle Hills outside Dallas. I was a helper at the Arnold Palmer Golf Academy located at the club and it was first time I was ever paid for instruction. But my origins of golf instruction go back to my days growing up in Australia. I was only 13 or 14 years old when I received several lessons from a golf professional named Gary Nicklaus. At first, I didn’t take to golf at all. I was more into Australian football and tennis. But my parents wanted me to have a diversity of sports experiences so they arranged some lessons with Gary. For my first golf lesson, I showed up wearing my football uniform with short shorts, long socks and a jersey. Gary reminded me that every sport has its appropriate attire and that next time I should be wearing golf clothes. That was my first mistake and my first lesson.

How did you end up in the United States?

I graduated from high school in Australia early for my age so I took a year off and decided to travel, as many young people do. I traveled to southern Africa for three months and then came back to Australia where I joined a golf club, still a year away from college education. I immersed myself in the game and also started caddying in select tournaments. I caddied for one player who graduated from Texas Tech University. I made some contacts and ended up 18 months later on a golf scholarship at a community college in Kansas. I was there for two years and then transferred to Texas Tech in 1994. I was on its golf team and graduated in 1997.

How and when did you decide to be a golf instructor?

It was when I was an Assistant Golf Professional at Dallas Country Club. This was after my time at The Lakes at Castle Hills. A large club with a strong instructional program, Dallas CC is the second oldest golf club west of the Mississippi. I found myself coaching and teaching there and fell in love with it. Candidly, I wasn’t very good at it in the beginning but I learned from my mistakes and kept at it. I gave over 400 hours of lessons in my first 12 months which provided me with a lot of experience.

Who have been the major influencers on your career?

First, I would say it’s my students who have been the greatest influencers on me. Second, it’s my family and peers. And third, it’s a number of prominent teachers who’ve made a positive impact on me, teachers such as Butch Harmon, Rick Jensen, Randy Smith, Chuck Cook and Paul Schempp. When I was 30 years old, I decided to write a letter to some of the Top 100 teachers in the game asking their permission for me to shadow them for a day and watch them give lessons. Actually, it was my wife’s idea to write such a letter. Over the course of the next 18 months, I visited a number of these top teachers after they kindly agreed to my request. They opened up their world to me and it was an invaluable learning experience.

The teachers you mentioned are familiar to me with the exception of Paul Shempp. Who’s he?

Dr. Paul Schempp is an authority in the field of expertise and achieving peak performance. Golf Magazine commissioned him when it first set up its Top 100 teachers list. He’s an expert on learning. I reached out to him and I’m indebted to him and his teaching.

Okay, about a certain well-known student of yours. In spite of many other accomplished players under your wing, does it ever get tiresome being asked about Jordan Spieth?

It never gets tiring talking about Jordan although most of the questions posed to me about him I’ve answered before. But I completely understand the interest and the curiosity.

With that in mind, several of my friends are PGA teaching professionals and they’re curious as to your approach with Jordan and his left hand low putting method? How did that develop?

Jordan first came to me a few weeks shy of his 13th birthday. He arrived putting conventionally but he was extremely idiosyncratic through the bag, whether it be with a putter or a driver in his hand. He had certain tendencies at address but I wanted to take what he wanted to do and marry that with proper fundamentals. For him, his tendency was addressing the ball with open shoulders which would influence his club face path. It was probably six to eight months into our sessions when Jordan came to me and wanted to show me something on the putting green. Right there, he started putting left hand low and he said, “This is what I feel comfortable doing.” As a result, it squared up his shoulders and put his hand and putter in better positions. But I also requested, as I do with all my students when they adopt a new technique, that Jordan give it sufficient time and repetition to believe in it. I tell my students: let’s not jump on this carousel where you try a new putter or technique every few weeks in search of something.

Photo courtesy of the PGA of America

Cameron McCormick

It figures that someone who had his first golf lesson with a pro named Nicklaus might go on to greater heights. Even though it’s not that Nicklaus (Jack), Cameron McCormick holds the distinction as the PGA Teacher of the Year for 2015 as announced this summer by the PGA of America. Best known as Jordan Spieth’s longtime teacher, McCormick is PGA Professional and Director of Instruction at Brook Hollow Golf Club in Dallas. Next year, he’ll be the Director of Instruction at Trinity Forest GC, a new Coore-Crenshaw design in Dallas.

A native of Australia, McCormick began his teaching in the U.S. in 2000 at the Lakes of Castle Hills GC outside Dallas followed by successful stints as an Assistant PGA pro at Dallas CC and as Director of Instruction at Brook Hollow GC, also in Dallas. In this time, he built up a client base of more than 350 students, including a number of top-notch junior, college, amateur and professional players, while averaging 1800 hours of instruction annually. Six of the current top 75 ranked juniors in the United States work with McCormick, including 2015 U.S. Junior Amateur Champion Philip Barbaree.

About him, Spieth was quoted by the PGA of America as saying: “I have complete trust in anything he says, he’s my swing coach, putting coach, short game coach, mental coach, everything,” said Spieth. “He’s a very special teacher, somebody who I think is just going to get bigger and bigger, and you’re going to see him with a lot of Tour players in the future.”

The PGA of America recognized McCormick for his various teaching initiatives at Brook Hollow. McCormick runs a junior development program “that cultivates skill development from basic-to-advanced levels with a long-term outlook toward fostering the growth of the game’s next generation of competitive elite.” Also, McCormick co-founded Birdies for Kids, a program that promotes golf to a diverse group of young people in North Texas. Since its founding in 2004, Birdies for Kids has raised $1.42 million for children charities with McCormick serving as the leading fundraiser in 10 of the 11 years.

McCormick, 42, has been married 15 years to his wife Somer whom he met at Texas Tech University. They have two children, a 7-year-old girl named Bella and a 5-year-old boy named Callan. Thoughtful and articulate on a wide range of golf topics including learning theory, McCormick was currently reading, at the time of this interview, Getting Unstuck by Tim Butler, a life performance book, and a book about public speaking titled Resonate by Nancy Duarte. The last tome will come in handy as the affable McCormick accepts his award next month at the PGA of America’s 99th PGA Annual Meeting in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Previous recipients have included teachers such as Gary Wiren, Jim Flick, Harvey Penick, Martin Hall, Mike Bender, Hank Haney, Kathy Gildersleeve-Jensen and Todd Anderson.

McCormick was interviewed by Terry Moore who has written about and interviewed 14 PGA Teachers of the Year.

Talk about the short game drills you imparted to Jordan?

Over the years, we’ve played many games to hone his short game. In a nutshell, we try to think outside the box in order to source a unique solution for a unique shot or situation. We’ll have a traditional practice session with repetitions to feel a particular shot but it will invariably transition into a game or score of some sort, in order to instill competitive pressure. So it’s both skill and challenge-based. We’ve had some epic challenges in these practice matches with the wedge and putter. In the early years, I would get the better of Jordan. But after a few years, his skill set improved and he jetted past me.

Was there a tipping point when Jordan arrived as a highly skilled and championship player?

There were a few key tournaments that accelerated his growth and confidence as a player. The first occurred when he won his first AJGA All-Star (American Junior Golf Association) tournament in 2007 in Fort Worth, TX. It was against competition that had been beating him quite consistently. As background, that previous winter we had made some significant swing changes so we faced a litmus test of sorts in spring competition. When he won, it was a breakthrough for Jordan seeing himself competing on a bigger stage.

The other significant tournament was at an AJGA Invitational tournament in Houston. The youngest player in the field, Jordan finished in the top ten. On his last hole, a very long par-four, he hit drive, three-wood, and then got up and down to a back pin for a sensational par. Afterwards, he called me and was so excited and happy with how he’d played and finished.

Of course, in 2010 when Jordan made the cut and contended as a 16-year-old in the Byron Nelson Championship, it was another seminal moment. All of them were milestones and represented paradigm shifts.

Jordan Spieth and Cameron McCormick

What’s your definition of confidence and how does a teacher and coach foster it with someone like Jordan?

Coaches and teachers can definitely foster confidence. It’s all about experience and balancing both challenges and success. Confidence is the self-belief in the ability to produce an intended outcome. It’s a function of predictability based on successful experiences. And it’s not being distracted by a wide degree of focus, say by the periphery of the ‘what ifs.’ For someone like Jordan, it could come down to an eight-iron shot to a tight pin, sizing up all of the variables beforehand, and then narrowing his focus to successfully execute the shot.

How has your teaching and coaching changed with him?

With all of my students, it’s ever changing based upon their needs and where they’re at with their game and goals. It’s akin to a sailor being out on the water trying to chart a course from point to point but the wind is changing and shifting. Likewise, a coach and a teacher must also adapt. For example, after Jordan finished second at the Masters in 2014 a lot of our sessions and conversations thereafter were all about psychology. It wasn’t talking about any negativity from that experience; rather it was reinforcing the positive aspects of his performance. Sometimes we’ll spend 45 minutes talking through a pivotal moment or situation in a tournament.

Talk about the importance of communication in your teaching and coaching.

It’s vitally important. I would start off by saying I try to avoid a “data dump” approach with my students. And that’s not saying I’m devaluing technology as a diagnostic tool. But “data dump” to me is saying too much. In my philosophy, less is more when it comes to communication. It’s saying the right thing at the right time and allowing at times for the player to struggle during a teaching session. It’s not rushing in and providing a solution or a remedy for him or her. It’s really a hidden curriculum within teaching for students to self-source and find their own way to their goal.

What does Jordan do with his hands to account for his amazing club face control?

Jordan has a unique club release process. There may be only five or ten other Tour players that resemble Jordan in how he releases the club. And this isn’t to say there’s an advantage to what he or others are doing. It’s something that’s been natural to Jordan ever since he first came to me. He’s always had great face control. But the reason for his ball control is because he has very nuanced and refined awareness. He knows where that club face is, he knows the path at all times. When I first watched Jordan swing a club in our initial session, I was very impressed. He didn’t have a complete skill set, he didn’t have high ball flight and didn’t have a lot of distance. But he could move it right to left very easily while moving it left to right was more of a struggle. He knew what he needed to change and he wasn’t afraid to do it. In simple terms, Jordan and other top players have great control at the bottom of their swings.

In reading a recent interview, Jordan admitted he had a very “short fuse” as a junior golfer, saying he “wasn’t fun to be around on the golf course” when things weren’t going well. Please comment because it’s a side of Jordan that would surprise most of his many fans.

What Jordan went through as a junior golfer is all about human nature and maturity. Even at my age of 42, I certainly hope I display better discretion now than I did at 22. I give people a pass on behavior that’s not conducive to good performance so long as they recognize it and make an honest effort to change. What I like about Jordan is how self-deprecating he can be; he has no problem publicly pointing a finger at himself. He provides an open window to his world and what’s he experiencing in terms of his challenges. It’s really refreshing to see Jordan open himself up in this way. I think it’s preposterous when some people question Jordan’s animation on the golf course. It’s integral to him and a basic part of his personality.

photos courtesy of the PGA of America

A big congratulations to Michigan’s four “champions” in the Drive Chip & Putt National Finals on Sunday: Traverse City’s Anika Dy (Girls 14-15); Traverse City’s Kyla Layman (Girls 7-9); Jackson’s Colin Norton (Boys 7-9); and Grosse Pointe’s Tommy Sullivan. Although none of them finished first in their division, they all walked away as winners. Layman, however, did have a final putt on Augusta National’s famed 18th green that, if she had holed it, would have earned her the top spot. She ended up third, a mere two points behind the winner. Interested juniors may register now for this season’s qualifiers at www.drivechipandputt.com

On Monday, golf’s major organizations—the Masters, R & A, PGA of America and the USGA—held a press conference to announce their respective bodies would grant a one-year exemption into their major championships to golf’s gold medal winner at the ’16 Olympic Games in Rio. Though not present, the LPGA announced a similar invitation for the gold medal winner for its ’16 Evian and ’17 Ana Inspiration championships. As such, all nine majors (four for men and five for women) will be supporting the initiative. Masters chairman Billy Payne, the former CEO of the Atlanta Committee for ’96 Olympic Games in Atlanta, said: “We believe our game’s visibility will be dramatically elevated by the global platform that only the Olympics offer.” Oddly absent and without an official statement was the PGA Tour. Isn’t the Players Championship a fifth major?

The world’s number one player, Jason Day, was poised, humble and humorous in his Tuesday press conference. He mentioned his career path as a player. “I go from a junior and amateur that is, you know, we’re playing for toasters. You’re really playing for nothing other than pride and toasters (laughter)….” And then later after turning pro, Day added: “Everything is based on results. You get nit‑picked in the media. Stats are always saying he doesn’t drive it straight enough or hit enough greens or whatever…you’re thinking about getting rid of caddies and coaches and agents and sometimes wives (laughter) ‑‑ that wasn’t me, trust me….”

A Masters “no-no” is bringing a cell phone onto the course. At the 10th tee on Tuesday, fellow Frenchmen Victor Dubuisson, a Top 50 World player, and Romain Langasque, the British Amateur champion and invitee, posed together for a photo, taken by a cell phone from Dubuisson’s “coach.” An ever-vigilant Masters security person immediately questioned the coach about the forbidden device and was informed it belonged to Dubuisson. As such, the phone wasn’t confiscated but the official promptly reported the breach to his supervisor. I wouldn’t be surprised if Dubuisson was later visited by Inspector Clouseau, dressed in a green jacket.

In his press conference, Jordan Spieth got a chuckle from the media gathering by answering how and when he wore the green jacket in the past year: “Some of my favorite memories were certainly back home, having a bunch of my friends over, and just kind of having the jacket on while you’re grilling out or while you’re doing whatever, that kind of stuff (laughter).”

As usual, Phil Mickelson was “center stage” with the media. He revealed the club renovated the Masters champions locker room this year. “And they spent a lot of money to make that champions locker room twice as big inside and twice as nice,” said the three-time Masters champion. “And that’s what makes this tournament so great is that every little detail is well thought through.” He also mentioned the new patron tunnel under Old Berckmans Road, the free patron parking lot and the state of the art practice facility at the Masters. “Every detail is done to perfection.”

Bryson DeChambeau

U.S. Amateur champion Bryson DeChambeau generated a spate of columns after his Tuesday press conference. In it, he expounded on his use of same-length irons and wedges, all with the same lie angle, shaft and grip. By visiting the club’s Trophy Room and its club display, he learned Bobby Jones played with several irons of the same length. He also shared his unique names for his un-numbered irons. For example, his 46-degree wedge is dubbed “Herman Keiser” for the 1946 Masters winner.

Right place at the right time: On Wednesday I witnessed David Lingmerth’s ace at the Par-3 Contest on hole #7. Also joining me in the gallery was Grand Rapids & Naples resident Gregg DeWitt. Later, DeWitt witnessed another ace on the same hole by 80-years-young Gary Player (his 31st). In all, there were a record nine aces on Wednesday. Several pundits voiced tongue in cheek fear that club officials would now lengthen the Par-3 layout. Jimmy Walker won the Contest in a record-breaking 19 shots, eight-under par, with six birdies and an ace.

Wednesday at the Chairman’s Press Conference: Billy Payne held his cards close to the vest and made no announcements about any specific hole changes including the much-rumored lengthening of the 13th hole. Instead, he said: “We have made no decision whatsoever…Plans are underway…and that is one of many holes we now have under consideration.” Later, he mentioned the 4th and 5th holes are also under study given that Old Berckmans Road is now under club control. “Certainly, that creates options which heretofore did not exist…” And lengthening or realignment of certain holes is only one option. More room on the property may allow for better freedom of movement and corridors for patrons and players alike.

Although Payne didn’t take it off the table as an option, modifying the game’s formal equipment rules—e.g. an official golf ball—is not a likely scenario at the Masters. “We would only resort to equipment [rule modifications] as the last resort because…the governing bodies in golf deal with that very effectively.” Actually, the governing bodies have allowed equipment—ball, shaft and clubhead—to outpace the dimensions of the game and to negatively impact championship courses such as Augusta National with expensive lengthening for elite players. Major League Baseball, in contrast, has carefully regulated its equipment—bat and ball—so that it’s storied venues and time-honored dimensions have been preserved.

Another item from the Chairman’s Press Conference: When asked if the Masters might look at expanding the field in the future, Payne answered, “Unlike certainly any other major what limits the number of participants here is the number of daylight hours.” True enough but why then doesn’t the Masters move up its Sunday teetimes so as to allow for more daylight in the event of a sudden death playoff? As much as I admire all that the Masters does for its patrons and players, it’s been narrowly dodging a Monday finish by a suspended playoff due to darkness. Instead, officials continue to schedule the final Sunday grouping at 2:45 pm. (Note: The final pairing on Sunday holed out at approximately 7:15 pm EST, lending only a brief window for a playoff.) Why not move up teetimes by at least 30 minutes? Given the Masters’ global television audience, let alone the sizable inconveniences of a Monday finish, it’s the right thing to do.

As predicted by local weather forecasters, it began raining in Augusta on Thursday morning at 3 am and doused the course. But the rain subsided by the time tournament gates opened at 8 am. With Sub-Air vacuums embedded below all 18 greens, controlling the moisture on the putting surfaces wasn’t an issue. The major factor was the northwest wind which usually correlates to higher scoring as it means longer play at three of the four par-fives. In 2007, such winds resulted in Zach Johnson laying up on all of the par-fives in two, yet still carding 11-under on them, and winning the Masters with a one-over par 289 total. (Note: After Saturday’s round, Larry Mize was quoted as saying he never recalled three straight days of northwest winds at the Masters.)

Saddest quote from Thursday’s round was from Ernie Els who fell victim again to the putting yips, including an embarrassing six-putt on the first hole for a nine. “It’s unexplainable. A lot of people have stopped playing the game…I couldn’t get the putter back. I was standing there, I’ve got a 3‑footer, I’ve made thousands of 3‑footers and I just couldn’t take it back.”

This was Tom Watson’s final Masters as a competitor. The two-time Masters champion ended a 43-year run (134 rounds) at the tournament, ninth on the career ranking for player starts. He last made the cut in 2010. Opening with an impressive even-par 72, Watson missed the cut by two shots after a six-over par 78. In his own Masters tradition, he left an egg salad sandwich on the 13th tee in honor of his long-time caddie, Bruce Edwards, who finally succumbed to ALS disease on April 4, 2004 while Watson was on the course at the Masters.

photo courtesy of the USGA

Psst! Want to know a secret? Well, let me introduce you to Secret Golf, a possible last minute Christmas gift suggestion for the serious, competitive and/or passionate golfer on your list. Available by digital subscription only, Secret Golf is an ad-free streaming portal to access exclusive golf, entertainment, and instructional content through dedicated Player Channels. And until Jan. 1, 2017, it’s offered at nearly a 50% savings. More on that later.

The calibre of the players currently offering content in this innovative manner is impressive: Major winners such as Steve Elkington, Jackie Burke, Jr., and Stacy Lewis; recent PGA Tour tournament winner Pat Perez; current Tour players Colt Knost and Jason Kokrak; and teaching professional Bradley Hughes of Australia, a former Tour player who was on a President’s Cup. All have a dedicated channel, allowing fans a direct and intimate connection to them and their paths to success.

Other Player Channels to follow in the early part of 2017 include Jason Dufner and Ryan Palmer, both four-time winners on the PGA Tour, Mexico’s Gaby Lopez, an LPGA rookie in 2016, and Jason Gore, the web.com Tour’s Player of the Year in 2005 and a winner of 12 professional titles overall.

Elkington, founding member of Secret Golf and the 1995 PGA champion, compares these Player Channels to “a video book that gives the average player an inside and in-depth look at everything a Tour player really knows. It’s like a backstage pass when you go to a concert. It’s exciting to go behind the curtain and see what is back there.”

Recently, I was given a pass to take a look at Secret Golf and explore some of its content. I expected to spend only a brief period of time because, like many, I’m oversubscribed if not overloaded with golf and instructional material. Sometimes I feel like taking a machete to all the clutter out there. But I must confess that in spite of being a skeptic about these channels, I was drawn into them and got hooked.

Like his mentor Jackie Burke at Champions Club in Houston, Elkington lends a strong and sure-handed presence to Secret Golf. His insight and rapport with Tour players are both authentic and dynamic and he’s adept at drawing out essential swing and playing strengths. As he boldly sums up what the platform offers, “This is not a tip; this is reality.”

I watched a series of on-demand videos where Elkington interacted with fellow team members and liked the following vignettes:

—How Elkington and Burke discuss the origins of the “it’s in the dirt” maxim attributed to Ben Hogan. Back then, players hit shag balls in the caddie yard where blades of grass were rare.

—How Burke talk about and demonstrate the importance of “low and slow” in the putter takeaway. And later the value of Burke’s “old timey” and lost art putting routine of starting the putter in front of the ball and then placing it behind the ball. “It helps to have some motion to trigger the stroke.”

—How Knost, a highly ranked Tour putter inside ten feet, shows why he hovers the putter to start his silky stroke. “Especially on fast greens, hovering the putter helps with my pace.”

—How Lewis, the acclaimed LPGA player, explains her typical practice routine before a tournament start including, “I always hit one six-iron off a tee and hit two drivers as if they were off the first tee, shaping them in different directions.”

—How Lewis and Elkington discuss the keys to her powerful yet graceful swing. “For me, it’s all about synching my hip and shoulder turn and having them stop at the same time on the backswing,” says Lewis.

In all, there’s more than 1,500 vintage vault videos, two seasons of ‘Secret Golf with Elkington,’ 15 hours of instructional videos and the growing content of the Player Channels. In a few cases of the older video content, some shows lacked polish and careful editing. But the newer content, especially the Player Channels, is professionally done and edited.

At $7.95 per month or $69.95 annually (a 25% savings), Secret Golf seems reasonably priced for golf fanatics, coaches, aspiring competitive players and doting parents and grandparents alike. But currently there’s an end-of-the-year holiday special (ending Jan.1, 2017) of $36 for an annual subscription. Now that’s a stocking stuffer!

Heck, Jackie Burke alone is worth the price of admission.

For more information, visit www.secretgolf.com Amazon Prime members may opt for a 7-day free trial.

Image courtesy of Secret Golf

X-Golf: now with four locations in Michigan

Here’s a nice problem to have for a new golf business: figuring out its target audience because its appeal is so broad.

That’s the case with the X-Golf enterprise with its highly attractive mix of technology, entertainment and game improvement, all centered on state-of-the-art golf simulators. “We opened our Novi location a year ago and were packed from October to April,” said Scott Minke, one of the three owners behind the operation. “We soon realized X-Golf was resonating with many different groups—serious golfers, casual golfers, non-golfers and people just looking to get out and have a good time.” Standing inside X-Golf’s newest location in Grand Rapids on busy 28th St., Minke added, “It’s been hard to pinpoint one segment that’s driving our business.”

Not hard to pinpoint is the appeal of the simulators themselves set inside a hip, lively, music-pulsating, sports bar space. Minke and his long time friend and fellow owner Jason Perras were frequent golf simulator enthusiasts for years in the Detroit area. “We both thought it was fun and entertaining but there was an inaccuracy to it, especially in the short game area, that was disappointing,” said Perras who serves as the behind the scene financial officer of the enterprise while Minke oversees advertising and marketing. A third owner is Brendan Hadley, another long time friend. All of the principals are happily employed in other businesses while burning the midnight oil in guiding and nurturing X-Golf.

Nearly two years ago and while on a business trip to Los Angeles, Minke took a detour and visited the headquarters of X-Golf America with its upscale and tech-laden brand of simulators imported from South Korea. Soon after the proverbial light bulb went on.

“I remember Scott calling me from LA saying it only took him four or five swings on this simulator to know it was completely different and far superior to anything we had ever used,” said Perras. “Not only was it amazingly true and accurate in the short game areas but the other proprietary features set it apart from anything we’ve seen.”

Along with its 3-D, high-def renderings of over 90 golf courses, each simulator boasts more than 300 light and laser sensors that track a ball with a high speed camera delivering—within 98% accuracy— metrics for ball speed, ball spin, launch angle, impact, impact angle, club speed, club path, club face and ball direction. Said Perras: “These simulators can spit out valuable data to help a golfer when taking a lesson or when buying a new driver or a set of irons.” As part of its business plan, each X-Golf location has a PGA golf professional offering instruction, club-fitting and equipment sales including being an authorized Callaway Golf retailer.

But beyond these impressive golf-centric “bells and whistles,” there lies the strong social and entertainment pulls of X-Golf itself. “We discovered this past year in Novi that we appeal as much to the non- and infrequent golfer as we do to the traditional golfer,” said Minke, a graduate like Perras of both Novi High School and Grand Valley State University. “We saw a lot of “date night” couples where they didn’t have to be great golfers to have a good time. And we’re also clicking with those who want to get out of the house during the long winter and do something active.”

In Grand Rapids, its ample space of 6,000 square feet sports a full bar with a Class C liquor license and a nice selection of food. Each simulator is equipped with a Direct TV sports package, so users can tune into any game at any time. As seen in Novi, Minke also expects the GR location with its occupancy of 70 persons to be a popular choice for birthday parties, corporate gatherings and charitable events.

Perras and Minke both agreed that X-Golf’s user-friendly features also play a big role in its popularity. Specifically they cited the pluses of the patented X-Ball system that gathers balls after being struck at the simulator screen and then automatically tees them up at the exact height for the user. “Basically, this system is similar to a bowling alley where balls are automatically retrieved and set up, ready to be used again and again,” said Perras. “Best of all, it saves time.”

And time is money at X-Golf. In Grand Rapids, a choice of six simulator bays may be rented by the hour, ranging from $30 to $55 per hour depending upon day and time frame. Up to six players can use and share in the cost of the hourly rental. A variety of game and course option settings, including a Kids Par-3 game popular with families, are available with each unit allowing for multiple players to enjoy a shared virtual reality experience without the usual downsides of a real round of golf outdoors. “If you mishit a shot with X-Golf you’re not looking for it in the woods or in the tall grass,” said Minke. “And you can still play 18 holes in an hour; that’s a huge advantage when people don’t have as much time to play the game with the pressing demands at home and at the office.”

Andrew Mogg, a PGA professional and Director of Instruction in Novi, echoes the time savings element as another reason for X-Golf’s popularity. “People increasingly don’t have the whole day to play golf. And this is a more entertaining and less stressful outing than regular golf,” said Mogg. “Traditional golf will always be around and we need it to be around but X-Golf opens up opportunities for golfers wanting to have fun outside of the regular course.”

And with Michigan’s long winters, Mogg sees more avenues to advance players’ games at his indoor teaching facility. “More and more players are realizing the best time to improve their swings and adopt better habits is over the winter. With this technology, players can work on their games, get accurate feedback and be ready when spring finally comes around,” said Mogg. “Simply put, we can make someone a better golfer.”

Hmmm? Be a better golfer while having a fun and entertaining experience in the dead of winter? Now that’s appealing!

Images courtesy of X-Golf

For more information about X-Golf Michigan with locations in Novi, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor and Shelby Township, visit www.xgolfmichigan.com

For a YouTube video of X-Golf’s patented automatic tee system:

This weekend the 30th West Michigan Golf Show takes place at DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids.

So how did the Golf Show come about?

The germ of the idea was planted after I attended the first Detroit Golf Show in 1988 at the Novi Hilton. Produced by the late Roy Rasmussen who published Michigan Golf Map and Guidebook, the Golf Show was an immediate success in terms of attendance. It was apparent there was an untapped market for such a show. At the time I was editor and part owner of Michigan Golfer magazine, so I had experience and contacts in the resort and public golf sector. As I drove back to Grand Rapids from Novi that day, I knew the opportunity seemed ripe for a West Michigan version of the Detroit Show.

Without any business plan or guidance, I contacted some possible venues for 1989. I called the downtown Grand Rapids exhibition space and learned the only available date was over the Easter weekend. I didn’t know much but I knew that wasn’t a good weekend. Somehow, I called Cascade Ice Arena located in southeast Grand Rapids and learned the weekend of March 4-5, 1989 was not only available but priced affordably. It wasn’t the most attractive space but it had the size and dimensions to hold a golf show. Even with considerable doubts, I booked it and figured, “Well, you gotta start someplace.”

For this first show, I teamed up with a young producer of consumer hot rod shows out of Detroit. My thought was a cooperative effort would be easier and faster for learning the ropes of the “show business” while setting the stage for other golf shows around country. I soon learned that my knowledge of golf and the Michigan golf business were the most valuable assets in staging a show. However, there were some marginal benefits in partnering with the Detroit outfit.

For that inaugural show, there were 62 exhibitors with most of the major golf courses and resorts in attendance. Most of them were already doing business with Michigan Golfer so it wasn’t a particularly hard sell.

In terms of golf equipment, Dick Shaub of the Golfhaus, the area’s first and largest golf retailer, reserved a block of booths. Incidentally, Shaub founded his store after winning $10,000 in the Michigan Lottery.

Of those original exhibitors, a handful have been faithful and constant exhibitors ever since— Boyne USA, Crystal Mountain, Golf Association of Michigan, Grand Traverse Resort, Petoskey Area Visitors Bureau, Shanty Creek/Schuss Mountain and Treetops Resort. A number of other exhibitors have missed only a few shows such as Michigan Golfer and selected resorts.

Along with Michigan Golfer, 1989 sponsors included WWMT-TV 3 in Kalamazoo which was the CBS affiliate for the market and the Dan Pfeiffer Lincoln-Mercury dealership.

The one aspect of the Detroit show I wanted to improve upon was in its activities and attractions which were centered on booths and selling and not much else. As an editor, I wanted more content for the show. So I developed a line up of seminars and clinics.

Hank Haney in 1989

With the Aldila shaft company being a current advertiser of Michigan Golfer, I contacted the principals there and discussed the possibility of the company sponsoring an appearance of nationally known instructor Hank Haney, an Aldila staff member. Lo and behold they agreed and the celebrated instructor for Mark O’Meara was inked for Grand Rapids. I made a similar deal with Garland who sponsored an appearance of Evan “Big Cat” Williams, a two-time National Long Driving Champion who represented the Gaylord resort.

‘Big Cat’ Williams

As someone who has long admired PGA golf professionals for their skill and prowess in golf instruction, I arranged for Mike Hebron, a Master PGA Professional and author of the highly regarded book, “See and Feel the Inside Move the Outside” to come from New York to Grand Rapids and give clinics on both Saturday and Friday. Hebron ended up being the PGA National Teacher of the Year in 1991.

In addition to these “headliners,” other speakers included Jeff Rivard of the GAM talking about rules, Bruce Fossum, the golf coach at Michigan State, and Ed Ripmaster of the West Michigan Junior Tour. With the exception of the headliners, some of these seminars were sparsely attended. For example, I soon discovered “learning the rules” is a lauded goal but it’s a tough sell for the average golfer.

The other quick lesson I learned about consumer shows is that you can’t control the weather. After months of planning, the Golf Show opened on Saturday, March 4 and was a met by a crippling ice storm. In fact, it was so bad local radio announcers advised listeners to stay home and off the roads. In desperation, I got on the phone and told a few radio stations that the inaugural WMGS was still being held and the doors were opened. Luckily, temperatures began to rise and the ice slowly melted. Nearing noon, the crowd started to pick up and people slowly entered the show. I had hired a pair of high school students to direct parking and some of the lot was so icy that they could literally push the cars into spaces. As I later cracked, “I put on Golf Show and a hockey game broke out in the parking lot.”

After an inauspicious start, the Golf Show ended its first day on a strong note. Exhibitors were understanding about how the weather affected the morning turnout and were bolstered by the afternoon’s better attendance. The general comments from patrons and exhibitors alike were very favorable.

Sunday’s attendance got off to strong start, thanks to better weather and the attraction of “Big Cat” Williams. A cameraman from TV-3 showed up and asked me when Big Cat was driving that golf ball through a phone booth. I said, “Phone booth? No, he’s driving a golf ball through a phone book!” The cameraman then showed me my press release. “Hey, it says right here phone booth.” I looked at the section and I could see how my basic Apple printer made the word “book” appear like “booth.”

I told Big Cat about the incident and he got a big laugh about it. “I’m good but not that good!” he said. He did take a large Grand Rapids telephone directory (remember those?) and placed it in front of his teed up ball. With a mighty swing, that ball penetrated the phone book and landed safely in the hitting net. It got a big ovation from the crowd in attendance.

The show ended on a high note and exhibitors were pleased with the attendance. Almost all of them said they’d be back next year. I breathed a sigh of relief and was very happy the show was a success. I had lost 12 pounds working and worrying about the show and it took me a while to recuperate. But a month later, I contacted Grand Rapids Community College and rented space at its Ford Fieldhouse for the second annual West Michigan Golf Show. There was no turning back.

ShowSpan Inc., based in Grand Rapids, took over the show in 2002 and continued to make it grow and prosper. I’ve fortunate to be part of every show since its inception. I’m particularly indebted to Carolyn Alt and Mike Wilbraham, ShowSpan’s expert and tireless producers, for having me be a part of their team. It’s been a great run.

Austin’s Topgolf location

This week is one of my favorite weeks to watch golf on television. It’s the week of the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club in Texas. I relish it for several reasons: 1) I love watching match play and its inevitable surprises, twists and turns; 2) I love watching it being played at Austin CC, a tough but fair Pete Dye design that I’ve been fortunate to have played on several occasions. (Yes, it lowered its guest criteria); and 3) I love seeing Austin, a thriving and busy city widely known for its music, food, art and varied outdoors recreational outlets. And yes, it’s the state capital, home to the University of Texas and a host of high tech companies like Dell and Apple and HP.

Over the last several winters, I’ve traveled to Austin to escape the Michigan winter and visit family that’s wisely relocated there. Along with the joys of playing some golf and hitting the practice range, I’ve also visited Austin’s Topgolf facility. As most of you know, Topgolf is a phenomenal success as a business and as a golf outlet. Fortunately, Michigan will have its first full-fledged location open later this season in Auburn Hills. I’m confident it will be a big hit if it’s run and managed like the one in Austin. And for those few poor souls unfamiliar with Topgolf, the best way to describe it is a hip, cool driving range and entertainment center on steroids for the 21st century. And definitely, the emphasis is on entertainment.

In 2017, Topgolf’s 40 locations nationally attracted over 13 million guests and over 671 million golf balls were hit. Although figures for the Austin outlet were not available, it’s safe to say it’s one of Topgolf’s busiest locations.

The targets nicely collect shots

Last year, I experienced Topgolf for the first time. Joined by my family— which included my six-year-old granddaughter—we all had a grand time. The facility was efficiently run and customer service was spot on. As noted last year, I especially admired how the target greens were designed to collect shots hit near them so even my granddaughter’s mishits “scored” some points on our monitor. The hour or so we spent flew by and as we left we talked about a return visit, including our youngest fan of Topgolf.

Last month, we paid that eagerly awaited return visit. We went on a Sunday afternoon and the place was bustling with each of the 100 bays booked. Last year, we were on the second deck above the main floor and it offered a nice view of the expansive range. However, we were somewhat skittish whenever my granddaughter had her turn to hit. Although there’s safety netting in front of the teeing area, wary adults still think about the drop off. This year our bay was on the main floor and it provided no such parental angst.

As I did last year, I took special note of the clientele. There’s definitely a diverse group of golfers enjoying themselves as seen by their nice swings and sound fundamentals. But once again, Topgolf’s sizable entertainment assets attract a high percentage of non-golfers. Paraphrasing Cyndi Lauper, they just wanna have fun. In fact, Topgolf reported that over a third of its customers are non-golfers.

Wylie Manson, the marketing manager at Austin’s Topgolf, says “Topgolf is evolving from a place to a lifestyle.” He says the facility is being used “to celebrate everything from life-changing moments that matter to just another Wednesday.” Or in our case, just another Sunday.

Our experience lasted a little over an hour and included some beverages and appetizers savored between our respective turns hitting shots. My granddaughter liked how her drives resulted in points being automatically calculated under her name on the monitor. She also liked her french fries just as much.

The Topgolf experience and success story always beg the question of whether or not it will lead to increased business and rounds at regular golf courses or will it supplant regular golf for this high-tech, entertaining version. Industry observer Jim Dunlap argues that traditional golf has too many barriers for new and existing customers. He talks about the “total time commitment” posed by traditional golf—the time invested traveling to and from a course, the playing time, and the 19th hole. Dunlap says an 18-hole golf outing may require a total time commitment of six to seven hours. Such an allotment of time might be readily available to seniors and retirees but not young adults and those with families.

There’s definitely some valid concerns with Dunlap’s time analysis. However, the renewed interest in playing nine holes (or less) is always an option. Nine-hole golf leagues remain attractive because they require less time while being highly social. And travel will always be part of any recreational or social event—whether it be going to a park or to a movie. However, Topgolf’s attractive food and beverage offerings and its sports bar atmosphere—that can be partaken rain or shine—are competitive advantages. Its technology gives it an important edge, too.

Manson says “technology enables us to continuously refresh how we engage and connect fans in personal, innovative and surprising new ways – both inside and outside the venue.” He adds: “Toptracer is a great example. This revolutionary ball tracking technology is being integrated not only into venues but golf courses throughout the United States.” Toptracer is the re-branded name of Protracer, the Swedish company Topgolf acquired in 2016 after it became such a big hit on golf telecasts capturing and tracking ball flights in PGA Tour tournaments.

Suffice to say Topgolf is not a passing fad like those elaborate miniature golf courses that popped up in the ‘80s. It’s taken the best aspects of golf—the experience of watching a well-struck ball in flight—and added its refreshing slants on driving ranges, bowling alleys, video games, all in a sports bar setting.

No matter what your thoughts on the enterprise and how it effects traditional golf, one can’t argue about its success or its drawing power for millennials.

And as my granddaughter will attest, the french fries are delicious.

Scramble teams squared off at Binder Park

A few weeks ago I traveled to Binder Park GC in Battle Creek to check out the PGA Jr. State League Championship. My grand nephew was competing on a team from Grand Rapids and I wanted to see him in action. Over the past few years, he’s been bitten by the golf bug and he absolutely loves the game. His parents and grandparents have helped him along the way but also junior programs such as The First Tee, Youth on Course, the Drive, Chip & Putt Championship and the PGA Jr. League. All of these initiatives are playing an important role in engaging juniors to embrace a life-long game.

At Binder Park, 230 junior golfers from all over Michigan gathered with their coaches, families and friends to crown a state PGA Jr. League champion. It was a most impressive, colorful, and fun competitive event. As background, the PGA Jr. League first began as a concept—borrowing the team appeal and uniforms of Little League baseball— in 2011 with teams from Atlanta, Tampa, Dallas, and San Diego. 

Since then, it has grown exponentially with 42,000 participants in 2017 and promoted by such Ambassadors as Rory McIlroy, Michelle Wie, Rickie Fowler and Lexi Thompson. The PGA of America and its Sections across the country, including Michigan, have done remarkable work with this program.

With matching golf shirts and hats, three-person teams squared off at Binder Park in the popular two-person 9-hole scramble format. Coaches also substituted players every three holes, so that all the golfers on each team participated. There were written guidelines for the tournament that clearly outlined the responsibilities of players, coaches, walking scorers and parents. 

Coaches refrained from offering any advice once play began other than for a player’s safety, pace of play, rules or conditions of play. Thus juniors were forced to be accountable for their game. Parents (and great uncles!) Likewise kept their distance and refrained from offering any advice in keeping with the rules of the game. They did look for errant shots!

On my phone, I took down some notes as I was observing Owen, my grand nephew, play on his “Golf Warriors” All-Star team from the First Tee of West Michigan. Such notes as “slow down, hands closer together on chips, don’t hold the club during a long wait between shots, and decide as a team about what’s a better putt to take on a green.” 

On that last note, Owen dismissed the advice of his two playing partners to take an uphill putt on the 18th green and instead opted for his putt which was a tricky and fast downhill putt of equal length. A life and golf lesson were at play here. It was the riskier putt to take especially given the urgings of his teammates. (Hold on, Owen, I’m thinking.) But lo and behold, he stepped up and holed the 30-foot downhill putt! Bombs away!  Life and golf lesson now had an asterisk.

Winning Team: “Dude, Where’s My Par” from Warwick Hills

After two days of spirited competition which saw every parking place at Binder Park taken on pavement and grass, the winning team of “Dude, Where’s My Par,” captained by Doug Brody of Warwick Hills, came out on top over “Traverse City,” captained by Scott Wilson of Bay Meadows.

By the way, other fitting and clever team names included “Casually Legendary,” “Wie Love Golf,” “Angry Birdies,” “Birdie Bandits,”  “May the Course Be With You,” and “Hear Me Rory.”

Host PGA head professional Ron Osborne, a past president of the Michigan PGA and twice a Youth Player Development honoree, shared his thoughts about what makes the PGA Jr. League such a popular and appealing program.  

“What I like about it the most is how parents and relatives come out to watch these juniors. It reminds me of the days when I was a Little League baseball player,” said Osborne.

“The parent involvement is awesome. And it happens with every PGA Junior match we ever have here. In fact, the whole extended family is often out here watching sons, daughters, grandchildren, sisters and brothers. 

“It helps to start a connection to a game that can last a lifetime.”

Nailed it, dude.

Image (lower) courtesy of the Michigan PGA

Brent Norton: Club fitting specialist at Miles of Golf

So a guy walks into a bar that also doubles as a club fitting center and says, “Give me a beer and a driver that I can hit straighter than mine.”

Although Miles of Golf in Ann Arbor now boasts Pat’s Tavern offering adult brews on its heated Upper Deck with golf simulators, it’s a line rarely heard there. About the driver, not the beer.

“Everyone wants distance; we can’t sell straight,” said Brent Norton, Vice-President of Golf Shop Operations and a highly regarded club fitting authority. “Consumers never walk in here and say they need to hit it straighter. No, they want it to hit it longer.”

Include me in this bunch. Every few years, I make my way to Miles of Golf and its vaunted Cluboratory with its state of the art technology and expert fitters—like Norton—in search of an optimum launch angle and more distance off the tee. 

Case in point was a few weeks ago when I made an appointment with Norton after hearing many favorable reports and anecdotes about the new Titleist TS drivers. This past season and last, I also witnessed increased yardage by several of my senior golf buddies after purchasing new Callaway, TaylorMade and Ping drivers. Dang, my four-year-old Titleist 915 D3 driver seemed to be lagging.

Norton said it was a fair and common observation. “We had a meeting with Titleist at the PGA Merchandise Show last January and we candidly shared our feedback that compared to its major competitors, its driver wasn’t up to snuff.” Instead of being defensive, Norton says Titleist listened to their concerns while reassuring them that help was on its way.

“They told us, ‘Don’t worry. What’s coming will compete with anything in the marketplace.’”

Titleist TS drivers

In September, Titleist introduced its new TS drivers and Miles of Golf promptly began using them with its first wave of Titleist players and customers.

“Simply put, this driver has done everything they (Titleist reps) said it would do,” said Norton who has led the Cluboratory staff for more than 12 years. “Speed wise, it’s as fast as anything out there and the launch condition is really, really good.” To sharpen the point, he said in over 50 driver fittings so far, the TS driver has outperformed the customer’s current driver. Every time.

Again, include me in the bunch. Under the keen eye of Norton and the all-knowing Trackman, I hit dozens of balls testing both Titleist models with various shafts and lofts. The TS2 is aimed at providing maximum forgiveness across its face while the TS3 offers an adjustable sweet spot for speed-tuned performance.

We tried both models but the TS3 proved the best for me after Norton made a few slight yet important adjustments in shaft, length and loft. The biggest benefit gained was the increase in the launch angle. My old driver delivered a launch angle of 9.2 but with the new one it shot up to 13.2. As a result, I picked up over 20 yards in carry, a significant improvement. I also increased my ball speed by three mph. 

“Speed and the launch angle of a driver are huge factors in gaining distance,” said Norton. “And especially in Michigan when courses are often wet in the spring and fall, how far one carries a drive in the air is a major advantage.” He was also kind (good parenting, I imagine) to mention that seniors like me invariably lose ball speed and swing flexibility but that today’s equipment can mitigate against the dreaded effects of aging. 

Though I knew the answer, I asked Norton what’s been the ingredients of Miles of Golf’s success—founded in 1996 by President Chris Mile and VP Doug Davis—when so many retail competitors are now offering club fitting and Trackman, benefits largely pioneered in Michigan by Miles. 

“It’s being honest with our customers. If a player doesn’t need something to improve their game, we don’t sell it to them,” said Norton. “Our job is to find 14 clubs that work for players and help them enjoy the game more and be the best they can be. It’s much more than just selling equipment.”

With that as a mission statement of sorts, it’s not surprising that word of mouth and a large group of loyal customers sustain the heart of Miles of Golf’s marketing message and appeal.

Meanwhile, and thanks to Pat’s Tavern, it never hurts to marvel at picking up 20 yards off the tee while enjoying a tasty beverage. Cheers all around!

Chris O’Connell

Chris O’Connell has been Matt Kuchar’s teacher since 2006. Given Kuchar’s lofty status on the PGA Tour which includes two wins already this season, that in itself is a testimony to his teaching excellence. But in Dallas, TX, where he resides, he’s known as an instructor who can elevate anyone’s game including the recreational, weekend player. A Top 100 Teacher in America by GOLF magazine, O’Connell is co-founder and Director of Golf at the Plane Truth Golf Institute at The Courses at Watters Creek. He’s been mentored by Jim Hardy, the acclaimed teacher and recipient of 2007 PGA Teacher of the Year Award. O’Connell will be headliner of the 2019 West Michigan Golf Show in Grand Rapids on Feb. 8-10. Recently, he spoke with Terry Moore. Here are excerpts of their conversation.

How did you get started in golf?

I really can’t remember when I started. My family were golfers so it was part of my life early on. My dad was an All-American player at Notre Dame and became one of the best amateurs around Quincy, IL where I grew up. And my mother played as well. My older brother was an excellent player and one of the best in Illinois. I remember playing in the Pepsi Little People’s golf tournament—one of the best junior events in the country— when I was only four years old. Golf always seemed a part of my life.

How did you meet Jim Hardy, the celebrated teacher and your mentor?

I met Jim in 1998 when I began caddying for Peter Jacobsen on the PGA Tour. I was still playing at that time and trying to become a Tour player. But Peter came to Dallas for the Bryon Nelson Classic and through mutual friends, I began caddying for him. In fact, I caddied for him for three years. Peter was in the mid-40s period of his career which is a tough time to compete with the younger set. But he remained competitive and in the process I got to know and admire Hardy and his teaching methods.

What do you consider Hardy’s major contributions to golf instruction?

Well, I’m biased but to me he’s had more original ideas about teaching than anyone. One of his tenets is that there’s not one set of fundamentals but two. People can swing upright or they can swing around their bodies. The swing is a collection of angles, some steep and some shallow, and one has to learn to net them out to neutral at impact. Think about Jim Furyk. He has an upright swing and creates a steep angle but at impact it’s perfect. Hardy also talks about the “pluses and minuses” of students swings. They can be too sweepy or too steep in their angle of attack. The teacher must work with the students to see how they impact ball flight.

How and when did you meet Matt Kuchar and become his teacher?

In was 2006 when Matt was competing on the Nationwide Tour and I was working with Matt Weibring, DA’s son, at the time. Kuchar liked how Matt was hitting it and Matt suggested Kuchar contact me. So he came to Dallas to see me.

O’Connell and Matt Kuchar (r) at Shinnecock

What did you work on?

At that time, Matt was a good driver of the ball but not a good iron player. He was too sweepy. He wanted to fade the ball and people wanted him to be more upright in his backswing. I didn’t want to touch his backswing. It was fine. Instead, I wanted him to swing more around his body after impact. To swing more down and through his body and keep going left. I wanted him to be flat on both sides of the ball. There’s nothing wrong with a flat backswing, as Ben Hogan and Lee Trevino proved, so long as you remain flat on the follow through. It has to be a mirror image.

How would you describe your relationship with Matt?

We’re very close. Our families are close. Our kids are friends. Sometimes, teaching can be strictly a business relationship and there’s not much contact outside the range. That’s not the case with Matt and me. Besides, if you can’t have fun and be friends with a guy like Matt, you have big problems. 

What did you make of Matt’s winning performance at the Sony? What was he doing well?

Waialae is a course that sets up well for Matt, rewarding accuracy off the tee.  Do that and you have a number of short irons where you can attack.  From the rough you lose control of your golf ball and pars become challenging.  I like Matt’s chances when it becomes a short iron contest.

Did you and Matt work on anything in particular in the last year to get him back in the winner’s circle?

I feel the most important area of the golf swing is the downswing which is the area that actually presents the club to the ball.  The majority of our work is always in this club delivery area and we have continued to improve, thereby directly affecting the flight of his ball and its repetitiveness.

What are key aspects of Matt’s dependable fade?

Most people think a fade is weak because they believe a fade is an open club face.  A correct, powerful fade is actually a closed club face relative to the target with the club path further left than the face.  If people can hit fades by getting the path left of the face rather than the face right of the path they can hit fades that are released and powerful.

When students come to you and say they want to get over the hump and start breaking 80 or 90 consistently, what are your thoughts?

Contrary to popular opinion, I believe the full swing is more important than the short game. And  Mark Brodie in his book, Every Shot Counts, proved it. His data showed that two-thirds of the strokes gained were from shots outside of 100 yards and only one-third from inside 100 yards. In other words, how you get off the tee and get on the green is far more important for your score. So to lower your handicap, you have to be a better hitter. And you have to learn how to avoid the big number. That means having a better and more dependable swing.

Talk about the Plane Truth Institute which you co-founded with Hardy?

It all starts with ball flight. When Hardy began teaching he actually went and studied the best teachers in the game. He came away quite confused with their methods. He then took a speed reading course in order to devour all the well-known instructional books. Again, he was confused. But then he came upon John Jacobs, a prominent teacher in England. Jacobs emphasized the key information taken from ball flight. To him, it was the ultimate judge if a student is hitting the ball well or not. You can change your swing but not fix your ball flight. Jacobs wanted to work backwards from the player’s ball flight to find the best swing. Jacobs was the greatest two plane teacher of all time. Jacobs was Hardy’s mentor and Hardy became mine. 

Johnny Miller

With the news that this Saturday will mark the end of Johnny Miller’s celebrated career as a TV analyst and announcer for NBC, I remember when he almost became a headliner for the West Michigan Golf Show which I owned and managed at the time. Here’s the story.

After the success of the first West Michigan Golf Show in March, 1989, I rested up and began pondering what to do for the second annual edition. First, I reserved space at the Ford Fieldhouse in downtown Grand Rapids on the campus of GR Community College. Second, I mulled over headliners for the Show. The debut show had a strong collection of talent which featured National Long Driving Champion Big Cat Williams, PGA Teacher of the Year Mike Hebron from NY and celebrated teacher Hank Haney, known for his work with Mark O’Meara.

In my mind, I wanted to equal if not top that roster for the 1990 Show. I picked up the phone and called Johnny Miller in late fall of 1989. At that time, Miller was playing sparingly and doing exhibitions. Miller answered  his phone at his home office. I introduced myself, told him I was a long time admirer, and started pitching him on being the featured headliner at the West Michigan Golf Show. Miller listened politely and said, “I’m opened to doing it, Terry, and I’ll even give you a break on the price.”

Miller proposed a sum that was still far in excess of what I had budgeted but then he added, “Take off 20% and deal directly with me instead of my agent. That’s the best I can offer, but I’ll do it.”

I gulped at the amount but said, “Johnny, that’s fair, but give me a few more days to get back to you.” He readily agreed.

After that conversation, I commiserated with my spouse and we listed the pros and cons of contracting with Miller as a headliner. The pros still outweighed the cons and I decided the money issue could be handled by adding some new sponsors to help with the costs. I hadn’t made any final sponsor proposals yet but I was confident about their prospects. The Golf Show was the new kid on the block and had attracted widespread attention.

Mustering up some courage, I called Miller back and once again he answered his phone. “Johnny, let’s do it. I’m happy to pay your appearance fee.”

I waited for Miller to say yes and ask for more follow up details.

“Well, Terry, that’s very nice of you but I have unexpected news on my end. Yesterday, my agent informed me that I’ll be the new analyst for NBC golf and my first tournament will be at the Bob Hope Classic. I’m sorry, but it just won’t work now.”

Crestfallen, I thanked Miller for his kind consideration and being open originally to my invitation. 

So, in January 1990, Miller made his debut at the Bob Hope Classic in Palm Springs, In fact, he immediately gained a certain notoriety for describing a shot during a final round by Peter Jacobsen as “the kind of shot—a downhill lie over water—you can choke on.” Vintage Johnny.

Miller said that Jacobsen didn’t speak to him for six months afterwards. Nowadays, they’re trusted colleagues and friends on the NBC golf team.

Anyway, that’s how Johnny Miller almost was a headliner for the West Michigan Golf Show.

Oh yes, the headliners that year at the Golf Show were teacher Wally Armstrong and Muskegon native Jack Hamm, World Record holder for the longest drive at 437 yards. They were great guys and did a fine job on stage. 

But they weren’t Johnny Miller.

photo courtesy of NBC Sports

Mac O’Grady

As some of my golf buddies will attest, I had a brief but memorable encounter with the legendary Mac O’Grady, the former PGA Tour player of the ‘80s best known for attending qualifying (Q) school 17 times before earning his Tour card in November 1982. He won twice on the Tour, swinging right-handed while putting left-handed.

An eccentric character who was ambidextrous with his full golf swing, O’Grady was once affectionately called “Wacko Grady” by TV commentator Gary McCord, who has known him since their teenager days together in Southern California. It takes one to know one. 

How “wacko?” Well, O’Grady once tried to enter the Chrysler Team Championship as both halves of the same team. He planned to play one ball left-handed and the other right-handed. Another time, according to Los Angeles Times golf writer Tom Bonk, Mac tried to enter the B.C.Open under the name Mac O’Grady II and was going to do it left-handed. As Bonk wrote, “He wanted to play with Mac O’Grady I, who could get in [with his PGA Tour past champion status]. O’Grady played as a right hander, but wanted to enter under the second name as a left hander.”

When covering the Buick Open in the ‘80s at Warwick Hills in Grand Blanc, I would regularly follow O’Grady and marvel at his flawless swing. Even so, he rarely made the cut and his best finish was a T-47th in 1984. Still, I was fascinated by him and his colorful and controversial ways.

Forced to retire in 1990 from the Tour due to a spine disorder, O’Grady gained new fame as a sought after golf instructor schooled in and mentored by the esoteric swing principles of Homer Kelley’s The Golfing Machine. (Even this past February, his name was mentioned as influencing the teaching of elite player instructor Drew Steckel who counts among his students Kevin Na, Pat Perez, and Jason Kokrak.)

When I founded the West Michigan Golf Show in 1989, my goal was to complement exhibitors’ booths and displays with a stage area where some of the game’s best teachers would provide free clinics and seminars. As a golf magazine editor, I knew providing credible and attractive golf “content” in terms of expert instruction would be vital for a paid admission show. 

That first year, the WMGS teachers were: Hank Haney, celebrated then as Mark O’Meara’s teacher; Mike Hebron, a PGA Master Professional and author from NY; and Michigan’s very own Evan “Big Cat” Williams, a two-time National Long Driving champion. They were all popular with the attendees and I knew top teachers had to remain a staple of the show. (Thankfully, ShowSpan Inc.—the new owner of the WMGS beginning in 2002—has carried on that tradition.)

In the early ‘90s, I had the bright idea of inviting O’Grady to be part of the Show as a headliner. His name recognition was high and his golf school in Palm Springs, CA had a cult-like following, especially among fellow teachers.  But how was I going to contact him in a direct and personal way, given his reclusive and wary personality? I needed to pin down his telephone number.

It might have been Jack Berry, good friend and mentor, who suggested I contact a certain West Coast media colleague of ours with the idea that person likely knew Mac and had his number.

And he did!

But this was the strict condition under which it was given:

“Terry, under no conditions do you tell Mac how and from whom you got his home number. Before you pick up the phone to call him, have a white lie story in mind or simply tell him ‘it’s confidential.’ But I’ll tell you now, if you try the latter it won’t fly with Mac. One more thing, Mac won’t answer the phone. His wife Fumiko screens all his calls.”

Mindful of the journalist’s credo to protect and honor one’s confidential sources, I devised a story about how I got his number.

I then called O’Grady’s home number.

As predicted, Fumiko answered and quietly said hello. After I asked for O’Grady she politely inquired who I was and the purpose of my call. Upon listening to an abbreviated spiel about myself as a golf writer from Michigan who used to cover her husband at the Buick Open, she told me to wait while she spoke to him.

A few tense minutes passed before Mac came to phone and said, “Who is this?”

I went into my best Irish charming self, expounding on my credentials as a golf writer and the Buick Open while also sharing my admiration for Mac’s Tour career and his excellent reputation as a golf instructor and teacher. Taking a few breaths, I next explained the reason for my call—about the West Michigan Golf Show and how it would be an honor to have him as a headliner at the next year’s show. “And of course, Mr. O’Grady, I would pay you an appearance fee and all travel expenses.”

During my pitch, he never said a word, which seemed encouraging. 

When I finished, and after another long pause, he said:

“Look, before we started talking about this Golf Show of yours in Grand Rapids, I have one big question to ask first: ‘How the *&$#%!# did you get this number?’”

Heat and fire seemed to pour like lava through the receiver.

“Well, Mr. O’Grady, a Tour caddie at last summer’s Buick Open gave it to me.”

“Give me the name of that caddie!”

More heat, fire and lava.

“I really don’t remember his name,” as my nose suddenly grew more in length.

“Until you give me that caddie’s name I won’t have anything more to say to you or about your &%$#!! Golf Show!”

Call abruptly ended. Dial tone.

No surprise, I never called him back.

But I’ll always appreciate the quote he made to The New York Times sports columnist Dave Anderson in 1983 about how he’d celebrate if he ever won a Tour event.

“I’m going to go back to the Q-school and tell all those guys that your happiness in life is measured by how deep sorrow has cut within you.”

True to your words, Mac, the call cut deep. Guess I deserved it.

But I finally got over it…just last week.

photo courtesy of the PGA TOUR