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“Phil Mickelson: Secrets of the Short Game” Reviewed(DVD)

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After a recent round with two chip-ins for birdies and several other up-and-downs for pars, my playing partners were asking me, “Hey, what’s going on with your short game?”

I had to confess, “I watched a Phil Mickelson DVD and it gave me a system.”

Over the years I’ve often found immediate success in a particular part of my game whenever I picked up a helpful instructional article or video. My theory is that a good instructional article or video concentrates the player’s mind and lends a positive and assertive element into shot-making. In other words, having confidence in the method is as important as the method itself.

'Hinge and hold' is the key tenet of Mickelson's chipping method

Such was the case with this DVD, produced by Jastrow Productions, and running just over an hour. There are two DVDs in the set. One focuses on putting and chipping while the other provides tips on flop shots, bunker play, and specialty shots. The meat of the instruction is found in the first DVD.

I found the most helpful section to be one devoted to chipping. Mickelson espouses the “hinge and hold” method. Essentially, he recommends a slight wrist cock, or hinge, in the takeaway—allowing for a steeper descent—and then a crucial “holding” of that wrist angle through and pass impact.

What’s particularly refreshing about this section is how Mickelson quickly and unequivocally dismisses alternative chipping methods, such as the stiff or rigid wrist method. He says “run away as fast as you can” from any teacher suggesting such poppycock. Both elements of the “hinge and hold” method are equally important. “Hinging” makes sure the player is hitting down at the ball and it also imparts backspin on the ball which lends more speed control once on the green. “Holding” ensures the player accelerates through the shot, an absolute must-do tenet of good chipping or putting. In fact, acceleration or having the hands “continue to the target” remains a constant for putting, chipping and bunker play.

The putting section offers effective advice as well and its theories, as noted, dovetail nicely with the chipping section. There are several good tips imparted by Mickelson in this section. One is a full explanation of his “three foot circle drill.” Citing Dave Pelz research, Mickelson says “we can make 97 to 100 percent of our putts” within a three foot distance. But if you move back only one foot, that percentage drops below 90 percent. So consistent and successful lag putting is vital for reducing three putts. Mickelson creates a three foot circle and then practices getting his long putts inside that target. For me, it brought back junior golf memories where my dad told me to visualize a bushel basket around the cup and challenged me to get my approach putt inside it.

Mickelson also reveals a tip from former Masters champ Jackie Burke Jr. Burke suggested the 25/75 rule, meaning taking his stroke back 25 percent and through 75 percent. Over the past few years, Mickelson’s once long pendulum stroke has been made more compact and crisper thus reducing deceleration. I only wish Mickelson would have commented on the elements of maintaining ‘tempo’ with the 25/75 method. The compact stroke has a tendency to get too quick at times.

The production values of the DVD are first rate. Lighting, sound and editing elements are what would be expected from someone like Terry Jastrow who for years was the executive producer for ABC-TV golf. The only distracting element was when Mickelson would be looking at a new camera angle and there would be a slight delay in the camera switch. But this was a minor irritant.

Best of all, the DVD set comes with a handy 10-page booklet that can be taken out on the range and provides a synopsis of all the good advice and reminders found on the DVD.

For more information, visit https://www.philmickelson.com/dvdlanding.aspx?id=147

 

 

 

 


Patti Butcher Named the 2010 Golf Professional of the Year by LPGA T & CP

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This past month Patti Butcher, Director of Golf and Club Operations for Blythefield Country Club in Belmont, Mich., was named Golf Professional of the Year by the LPGA’s Teaching and Club Professional organization. This prestigious award was established in 1980 and it’s awarded annually to an outstanding female golf professional involved directly in the entire golf operation. Before joining Blythefield, Butcher owned a very successful golf instruction company and was recognized as a Top 50 Teacher by Golf for Women magazine. Twice she was named the LPGA Midwest Section Teacher of the Year. Recently, Butcher spoke with me at Blythefield CC. Here are edited excerpts of our conversation.

What are the key factors for being a successful golf professional in this challenging economy?

It’s all about relationships. Golf professionals must strive to offer an experience at their club or course so golfers feel at home and welcomed. If golfers and members feel a sense of community, if they feel valued and engaged, then they will stay involved and committed to their club. And in this challenging economy, golf is never more relevant as it today. Golf engenders relationships and business –especially small business — relies on relationships.

What about golf and the family?

In this fast-pace world, it’s important to have a haven like a golf course, a place where one can slow down and enjoy the game as well as one another. When families play golf together they’re away from the computer, away from cell phones, away from texting, and better appreciate their time and experience together.

How did your teaching and golf career begin?

 

It all started at Oak Hill Country Club in New York where I worked as an associate professional under Craig Harmon. It was there that I really began my teaching career and I was so fortunate to be surrounded by quality people who loved teaching. For many golf pros, the next step would have been a head golf professional position but for me it was the Director of Instruction at The Meadows at Grand Valley State University. That was also a tremendous opportunity. And of course, I’m so appreciative being at Blythefield which gave me the opportunity to be the head golf professional. Not a lot of private clubs were ready to have a female as a head pro. It’s been an incredible journey.

What about communication skills in teaching.

I have definitely become a better listener in my teaching career. I’ve worked with so many interesting people over the years. And I’ve learned so much from my students who have been champions in business as well. They have counseled me and given me tremendous advice on the business of golf and teaching. I think it’s important for golf instructors to be succinct, to focus on one thing that will click with their students. It starts with listening and asking a lot of questions of your students. Good teachers are obsessive about helping their students reach their goals. It all comes down to teachers caring about their students.

How do you use video?

Video is a very useful tool but it’s overused at times. For example, I don’t think you teach a gymnastics student how to do a back flip off a parallel beam by showing them video of an Olympic gymnast going through her routine. It’s more complicated than that. It’s more important for students to understand the cause and effect of ball flight and what’s going in their swing and with their bodies. Video should be a communication tool, a means toward understanding swing aspects but not an end in itself. Students need a sense of purpose, a sensation through rehearsal, and an objective in their practice so as to know what they’re trying to accomplish. If you could hit your golf ball with your brain, you wouldn’t need a teacher.

Over the years, you’ve had a number of prominent students including Muskegon’s Brendan Gielow, the Wake Forest All-America who was named to the Walker Cup team last year.

 

Brendan Gielow was special from the day I first met him. He was ten years old at the time and he came out to see me when I was teaching at The Meadows. He aimed at a tree on the practice range and said, “Okay, I’m going to start this ball left of the tree and bring it back to the right edge of the tree. And he did it.” He epitomized at an early age that every shot has a purpose. I was fortunate to work with him for six years. He’s destined for more great things in golf. I’m also very proud of Melissa Sneller who played at Grand Valley and was the individual champion at the NCAA Division II golf finals. She was a hard-worker and a tremendous competitor. But I’ve also been very blessed to work with everyday golfers trying to get better not only in their games but also in their lives and careers. I’ve received so much satisfaction from these individuals.

What are the fundamentals that you stress as a teacher?

 

I don’t think the average golfer realizes the swing gurus and instructors who accompany Tour players and are out on the range are largely working on set-up, alignment and fundamentals. They may be quoted about swing plane but generally speaking they’re working on fundamentals. It’s important to know you can’t just tell your body what to do. Correct fundamentals come about through rehearsal and repetition.

And what about the all-important short game? Why don’t more golfers practice putting and chipping in spite of all of the evidence it’s the path toward lower scores?

 

It’s just not as much fun for many people to work on their short games. It’s more fun to hit a long drive or hybrid. But to your point, if a Tour player is in the top ten in putting and scrambling statistics he or she will have a great year. The statistics bear it out.

But we’ve done short game schools here at Blythefield and they fill up fast. We’ve developed a road map on how to practice the short game and it’s been effective for them.

Award winners usually thank others for their support and encouragement. To whom do you want to thank?

 

First, I must thank my mentors in the golf business. People like Craig Harmon, Pat Lange and Annette Thompson. They’re all nationally recognized golf professionals and they have supported me throughout my career. They have freely given me valuable advice over the years on how I could be a better golf professional and teacher. I wouldn’t be a golf pro without them. Anything I know I have been taught and everything I’ve taught has been given to me. It’s my obligation to pass it on.

The Best Highlights of 2010

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With my clubs now stored in the basement, it’s the time of year when I reflect on some of the highlights and personal favorites of the past golf year.

Best bounce back: You know about “bounce back.” It’s a stat used on the PGA Tour that tracks the success of a player coming back from a bogey or worse with a birdie on the next hole. Well, it will be hard to beat the bounce back of McKenzie Rupp, a senior from Essexville Garber H.S. at Oct.’s Michigan High School Girls Golf Finals at The Meadows at GVSU. Competing in some tough windy conditions, she incurred a horrendous 16-over par 21 on the par-five ninth hole (her second hole of the day.) But to her credit, MacKenzie composed herself and birdied the next hole, the par-four 10th hole—a unparallel bounce back of 18 shots!

The US Junior at Egypt Valley was the best event of the season.

Best Michigan tournament:

My pick is the USGA Junior Amateur held at Egypt Valley in July. The caliber of play of these budding Tour stars was remarkable. I watched phenom Jordan Spieth, 16, shoot an effortless 5-under 67 in his first round over a stretched to the tips Egypt Valley CC, not an easy track. Later, Gavin Hall,15, set a new course and USGA Jr. record by firing a 10-under 62. Then Jimmy Liu, 14, erased Tiger Woods’ name from the record books when he became the youngest USGA champion by besting Justin Thomas 4 & 2 in the finals. It was an amazing week of exceptional play and a historic week for West Michigan as it hosted its first ever USGA national championship. It was worth the wait.

Best drive: No, it’s not Steve Stricker’s 424-yard blast at Kapalua’s Plantation course at the opening Tournament of Champions. Instead, the best drive of the year goes to ’10 Michigan Senior Amateur champion Bill Zylstra. You see, Zylstra claimed his trophy at Barton Hills at around 6 P.M. one evening and then promptly drove alone and straight through to Charleston, SC in order to defend his title at another senior event beginning at noon the next day. He safely made the13-hour drive and carded a 71 in his first round, two shots off the lead.

Best retort to a player’s complaint: Loved how USGA Executive Director David Fay handled Tiger Woods whining about the greens at Pebble Beach. “Someone is entitled to his opinions, but he’s not entitled to his facts,” said Fay echoing a favorite line of the late Senator Patrick Moynihan. Fay went on to explain that although the poa annua greens at Pebble may have appeared in poor condition, they in fact rolled fine and probably better than any tournament ever held there in June. In contrast, Phil Mickelson didn’t make any excuses for his poor putting over those same greens.

Most gut-wrenching loss: Goes to Robert Garrigus who, mimicking Jan Van de Velde at Carnoustie at the Open Championship, blew a three shot lead at Memphis in June by triple bogeying the final hole, costing him his first PGA Tour title.  Readily admitting the pressure got to him, Garrigus vowed afterwards to learn from his travails. The next day, Tony Kornheiser on ESPN’s PTL show predicted Garrigus would never win a tournament.

Most gratifying win: Goes to Robert Garrigus who wins his first ever PGA victory by firing a final round 64 at the Children’s Miracle Network Classic in Nov. at DisneyWorld. Afterwards in a TV interview, Garrigus dedicates the win to “Tony Kornheiser.” Touché!

Most under-reported golf achievement: Goes to 59-year-old Paul Simson from Raleigh, N.C. who won the Senior “triple crown” this year, taking home titles in the British, Canadian and USGA Senior Amateur championships.

These lightweight Bushnell binoculars are a must for both golf and gridiron viewing

Best item for tournament viewing: A pocket-size pair of binoculars. I used Bushnell’s lightweight PowerView model at Whistling Straits for the PGA and they worked beautifully. Handy too for watching college football action at The Big House in Ann Arbor. I used them to zero in on several missed field goals!

Best lines by an agronomist: Goes to Dr. Greg Lyman, Director of Environmental Programs for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America for: “This summer’s been great for corn—a hot weather grass—but not for Michigan golf courses.” Lyman succinctly explained that bent grasses found on courses are ‘cool weather’ grasses and can’t withstand long stretches of hot humid weather as we experienced this summer. Lyman ended by saying, “Remember, we’re playing this game on top of a plant.”

Best 19th hole outside Michigan: Goes to Palm Springs’ Indian Wells Golf Resort whose expansive clubhouse includes a second floor outdoor patio area overlooking the golf course and the scenic mountain ranges. With a gas fire pit as a conversational centerpiece, one couldn’t find a better spot to marvel at the surroundings while rehashing the scorecard and sipping a cold one.

Best post-event Press conference: No press conference offered more compelling theatre than did the losing USA team at the Ryder Cup. The emotion displayed by dejected Hunter Mahan followed by the stellar support given him by his team mates spoke volumes about camaraderie and the Ryder Cup itself. Can’t wait for Medinah in 2012!

"Hinge and hold" is the key maxim for Mickelson's excellent short game DVD

Best Instructional DVD: Goes to Phil Mickelson’s Secrets of the Short Game. Excellent production values, lively and smart advice, and a ready maxim for better chips, “hinge and hold.”

Best golf flap resolution: Goes to PING’s John Solheim who wisely stepped in over the controversial squared groove wedge flap brought unwisely to the forefront by Phil Mickelson’s use of it earlier this year. It was an unnecessary distraction for golf already reeling from a stagnant economy and Tiger Woods’ downfall. Kudos to Solheim for putting out the fire by allowing the PGA Tour to finally ban the club.

Best use of golf for economic development: Goes to the Golf Club at Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor. The Jack Nicklaus-designed layout is the centerpiece of an ambitious and community-minded development project aimed at revitalizing the area through the combined efforts of three non-profits: Whirlpool Foundation, Cornerstone Alliance and the Consortium of Community Development. Three cheers! By the way, the exhibition in August by Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and Johnny Miller was a first-class opener.

Golf and Life Lessons from Vision54

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 “Get a notebook!”

According to VISION54 founders Lynn Marriott and Pia Nilsson, heeding that simple piece of advice is at the heart of playing better golf and enjoying the game more, especially among competitive players. Presenters at the recent PGA Teaching & Coaching Summit in Orlando, Marriott and Nilsson—both rated in the Top 50 list of teachers by Golf Digest provided a fast-moving and insightful overview of their holistic approach to coaching and teaching golf. They urge their students to write down their thoughts to this basic question: What do I do to play great golf? “We want our students to be curious and alert about how they play the game, said Marriott, “and they need to keep track of it and write it down.”

Fortunately, I had my own notebook when listening to Marriott and Nilsson and I readily jotted down a host of Vision54 (the name is derived from the goal or vision of 18 birdies in a round) tips and life lessons. Here they are:

  • Vision54 aims at addressing all the pieces of a player’s game—physical, technical, mental, emotional, social and the spirit of the game.
  •  “We’re game and performance coaches,” said Nilsson. “Our scorecard is the student’s scorecard—it’s all about success on the course.”
  • “Technically speaking, we’re agnostic when it comes to swing theories,” said Marriott. “Since most of our players already have sound fundamentals, we focus more on playing skills.”
  • The emotional side of competitive players is also evaluated in Vision54. “Managing emotions during competition is so crucial,” said Marriott. “We’ve known some players who can’t even read their putts because they’re too hyper and excited.”
  • Vision54 even drills down to some bedrock social issues surrounding players’ games such as interaction with caddies, parents and even sponsors. Marriott recounted the story of then junior phenom Annika Sorenstam being so fearful of giving a winning acceptance speech that she would subconsciously sabotage her final round performance.
  • Key principles of the “think box” and the “play box” were defined. Marriott and Nilsson want their players to develop a routine where they assess and execute each shot in a precise way. Assessing or thinking about a given shot is one side of a “decision line” called the “Think Box.” Crossing over that line to execute and be fully “present” to execute the shot is the “Play Box.” Nilsson added: “We coach players to show up and be in the present for every shot.”
  • A quick but not hurried pre-shot routine inside the “Play Box” is another tenet of Vision54. “Four or five seconds at most is the optimum time inside the Play Box,” said Marriott. “Longer than that and the brain will wander and lose focus.” Nilsson added this axiom: “The quicker the players’ minds, the less time should be spent inside the Play Box.
  • Managing “self-talk” is another precept. Said Nilsson: “The little voices in a player’s head (during a tournament) must be managed.”
  • “All peak performance is a first person experience,” said Marriott. “And it’s being present through your senses.” She related a story about PGA golf pro and Oklahoma Air National Guard Major Dan Rooney, founder of the Folds of Honor foundation, telling her flying an F-16 jet in combat with myriad controls for both the pilot’s hands is akin to being in the “zone” where feel, intuition and trained instinct transcends cognition. “Whether flying a jet or hitting a pivotal shot in competition, it’s the same dynamic—being totally present,” said Rooney.

 Notebook in hand, Vision54 also challenges the competitive players to ask themselves this question: “Why do I play golf?”   Intrinsic passion for the game drives not only success on the course but enjoyment off of it. When a player’s enthusiasm for the game wanes, poor results and performance often follow.

Lynn Marriott & Pia Nilsson

Listening to the core values of Vision54, I recalled how world-class player Rory McIlroy was in an early season funk last year on the PGA Tour. Then he decided to fly home to his native Northern Ireland and play several rounds with his father at the storied links of Royal Country Down. Batteries recharged by the essence of links golf and the game itself, McIlroy returned to the U.S. and promptly won the Quail Hollow Championship in Charlotte, N.C., punctuated by a course record and a sensational final round of 62, ten-under par.

Bet it felt like a 54.

Images courtesy of Vision54.

Masters Notebook

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  • University of Michigan’s Lion Kim didn’t make the cut in the Master after firing rounds of 76-72 but he had a memorable week. Earning a spot in the field due to last summer’s U.S. Public Links title, Kim was joined by family and friends as well as his U-M coaches in Augusta. I happened to chat with him briefly on Wednesday when he cut short his practice round to compete early in the Par 3 Contest where Assistant U-M coach Chris Whitten caddied for him. Along side playing partners Bubba Watson and Aaron Baddeley, Kim shot an even par 27 for the fan-and-family favorite event. The Augusta Chronicle also reported that Kim had papers and exams waiting for him back in Ann Arbor and where his American Culture professor had never heard of the Masters when told of it by Kim last month.

 

  • OK, some Tiger Woods comments. Certainly at times he was the Tiger of lore, most notably during his second round 66 and his final round on Sunday of 67 which was highlighted by a riveting five-under par front nine of 31. But I’m still scratching my head over why he again switched putters (from a Scotty Cameron Titleist Newport 2 to a Nike Method mini-mallet) earlier this year and also has allowed teacher Sean Foley to fiddle with his short game. 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.

 

  • What happened to Phil? After his breezy, wise-crackin’ and confident press conference on Tuesday, it seemed Mickelson was firing on all cylinders and it was his Masters to lose. Given the vagaries of the game and major championships, that was a ridiculous presumption. In short, Mickelson’s putter and driver turned cold and balky after his impressive win at Houston. In driving accuracy, he was dead last for players making the cut, hitting only 30 of 56 fairways. In putting, he was T-39th.

 

  • Mindful of Augusta National’s co-founder Clifford Roberts credo that “no public event ever stands still, but gets either better or worse,” Masters chairman Billy Payne has marshaled in a new era of “constant improvements” for the tournament. Payne has introduced such innovations as the Junior Patron program, the Asian Amateur Championship which guarantees its winner a coveted spot in the field, televising the Par Three Contest, a redesigned website, apps for the Android-based phones and iPhones and the new Masters video game, to mention only a few. But I was most impressed with the new permanent seating structure with upgraded seats for the Tournament’s expansive and quintessential practice area. Atop the back row of the seating structure I observed a long metal rail where standing patrons might rest drinks and personal items while viewing the action. In a neat little touch, the designer even punched out the iconic Masters logos in the steel rail to allow for water to drain through and not puddle up. Priceless.

 

  • Speaking of the practice area, 2010 PGA Teacher of the Year and recent West Michigan Golf Show headliner Todd Anderson, a Michigan native now at Sea Island, GA, was busy inside the ropes working with longtime pupil Brandt Snedeker. Snedeker had a strong tournament finishing T-15th thus automatically qualifying for next year’s Masters.

 

  • “For the first time in many, many years,” Payne also announced for the 2012 Masters a “limited number of daily tournament round tickets” will be made available via an online application process. When asked by a reporter what kind of a response he expects for ticket applications and adding (like the famous scene in the movie Dumb and Dumber) if it’s one-in-million odds to land a ticket, Payne quipped: “It’s not a good chance, but it’s a chance.”

 

 

Snedeker wins The Heritage with assist from PGA Teacher of the Year

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Easter Sunday was notable not only for The Heritage winner Brandt Snedeker but also for his instructor, former Michigan resident Todd Anderson, the current PGA National Teacher of the Year from Sea Island, Ga. A headliner at this winter’s West Michigan Golf Show in Grand Rapids, Anderson has been Snedeker’s teacher in recent years. He worked with him at the Masters where Snedeker contended and finished T-15, automatically qualifying him for next year’s event. Snedeker also played well and finished fourth in Texas.

Todd Anderson

Driving up the coast from Sea Island, Anderson rejoined Snedeker at Harbour Town last week and it proved pivotal. After a disappointing third round of one-over par 72 which placed him six shots behind the leader, Snedeker returned to the range under the watchful eye of Anderson. Anderson emailed me this week saying the duo “worked on sequencing Brandt’s backswing to eliminate excess arm swing at the top. Basically we tried to shorten his arm swing while maintaining a full turn.”

And basically it clicked for Snedeker. He went out on Sunday and fired the low round of the day, a seven-under par 64 which vaulted him into a playoff victory over Luke Donald and for his second Tour win. Incidentally, Snedeker has come back from two separate physical setbacks over the last two years. In 2009, he missed eight weeks on Tour due to a rib injury and late last year he had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left hip.

A final note about Anderson who was born in Grand Rapids and graduated from Rockford High School before attending the University of Alabama on a golf scholarship: he’ll be featured on May 1 at 2 pm, along with several other PGA teaching professionals, on a CBS Sports Special called “Sunrise to Sunset: A PGA Professional’s Life” which will kick off PGA Free Lesson Month and the 95th anniversary of The PGA of America.

Remembering Seve Ballesteros

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My first brush with Seve Ballesteros, the legendary Spanish golfer and five-time major champion who passed away on May 7,  occurred during a practice round at the 1985 U.S. Open at Oakland Hills CC. When I arrived at course on Tuesday the first player I sought out was the charismatic Ballesteros. Enthralled by his sand play wizardry, I was hoping to catch him working his magic in a bunker. Walking the course in reverse order, I immediately found Seve playing the difficult par-four 18th hole with Tom Seickmann, a young American pro he had befriended on the European Tour. After hitting their second shots from the fairway to the elevated green, the duo went over to the devilish fairway bunker hugging the left side of hole. (It’s the same bunker that 11 years hence would catch and spell doom for Tom Lehman, leading to a bogey on the 72nd hole and costing him the championship.)

After dropping several balls into the middle of the high-lip bunker, Seve stepped into the sand carrying a fairway wood, possibly a four-wood, and began chatting with Seickmann about what he was about to do. Crouching more than normal and leaning back in his stance, Seve opened up the face of the fairway wood and hovered it over the ball. I thought: ‘Just getting it out of the bunker would be some sort of shot—especially with a fairway wood.’

But this was Seve in his prime. Not once, not twice, but three times Seve hit the green from the bunker to the awestruck delight of Seickmann and a small gallery which fortunately included me. To this day, I’ve never witnessed a more amazing display of shotmaking. It was quintessential Seve, the self-taught sorcerer of the game.

Best golf advice I’ve ever received

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Glenn Johnson: five-time Michigan Amateur champion

It was something shared by five-time Michigan Amateur Glenn Johnson that has stuck with me through the years. I don’t even recall how the subject came up but Johnson, a Michigan Golf Hall of Fame member, was talking about hard-earned lessons from playing match play competition. In so many words, Johnson said when you’re in competition and happen to see your opponent engage in some rules-violating behavior, you must immediately take charge of the situation and voice your concern, even if you’re not exactly certain of the rule or even what you saw. “Otherwise what you observed will gnaw at you and affect your game and possibly even the match,” said Johnson. “You must reverse the situation and place the situation’s mental burden on your opponent.”

I only followed Johnson’s wise and golf-savvy advice once. Later that night and still going over our round while trying to sleep on the couch, I wondered: “Why in the hell did I ever bring that up to my wife?”


Q & A with Dave Stockton, Part I

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My pick for the best golf instructional book of 2011 is Unconscious Putting: Dave Stockton’s Guide to Unlocking Your Signature Stroke (Gotham Books.) Two autumns ago, I said Stockton, a two-time PGA champion and former Ryder Cup captain, was the game’s teacher of the year after successfully re-tooling the putting routines of Phil Mickelson (who wrote the book’s foreword) and Michelle Wie, both of whom highly praised Stockton for working with them. This year, Stockton and his sons Ron and Dave Jr. (the nucleus of Stockton Golf) are again in the news for helping more than two dozen tour players including Rory McIlroy, Martin Laird, Justin Rose, Yani Tseng, Morgan Pressel and Suzann Pettersen. The winner of 11 tournaments on the PGA Tour and 14 wins on the Champions Tour, Stockton remains one of the game’s true gentlemen and ambassadors as well as one of its most insightful instructors. Recently, he spoke at length with me by phone. Here is Part I of our conversation.

What’s your assessment process for evaluating your students’ putting?

Well, it usually doesn’t have anything to do with their physical stroke. I study how they approach and walk up to the putt. I can tell right away from how they step up to a putt if they have a good chance of making it consistently. Rory McIlroy was one of the very few players who was too fast in his routine. He walked up to the putt too fast and I knew he didn’t have a clear view of what he was trying to do. The only drill I had him do was practice putts with just back of his left hand and then have him hit the end of the club I placed in front of his left hand. I also wanted him to have better visualization: walking up to the putt, seeing the line, expecting to make it and just let it go. So when you watched Rory in the U.S. Open it was as if he didn’t have any pressure with his putts.

You also worked with Suzann Pettersen, the star of the recent Solheim Cup, right?

Yes, Suzann flew up to see me in Savannah where I was playing in the Champions Tour’s Legends event in late April. The session we had took about an hour and a half. I sized up her problem within 20 minutes or so and then gave her some guidelines and tips. I also spent some time on chipping because I’m a believer that chipping—like the putting stroke– is dominated by the left hand. In putting, the left hand doesn’t break down or flip; it’s the same stroke with the low chip shot. They’re both controlled by the left hand. That’s why I think so many people have trouble teaching golf because they’re trying to make the short game a miniature full swing. I don’t believe that; the full swing is completely different than putting. Anyway, the next week Pettersen finished third in a LPGA event and then two weeks later she beat Cristie Kerr in the match play.

The reason why some of our players really do well right off the bat—say the next week at a tournament—is that they get into their putting subconscious and not “try” so hard.

Talk about the importance of simplifying your thoughts when putting.

Let me relate a story. One year at the Masters, I had lunch with Byron Nelson and I asked him what swing thoughts he had in 1945 when he won 11 straight tournaments and 18 overall. He told me with a big smile on his face, “You know, Dave, I was in west Texas practicing for the West Coast swing and I found something in my swing that felt good to me and that was my swing thought for the year.” I said, “Byron, you’re kidding me—just that one thought all year?” And he said right back, “Yes, I used to go to the range and loosen my shoulders and legs and hit a few balls and then I just went out to play with that single thought.” Heck, that year at the Masters I had a good tournament finishing in the top five but I had to keep track of six or seven swing thoughts for the round whereas Byron used the same one thought for the entire incredible year!

But to me, that’s what good putting comes down to—it’s simplifying the process where you see the line and then roll the ball down that line. No practice strokes, no trying, just putt the ball. What happened to Ed Sneed and Scott Hoch at the Masters, infamous victims of missing short crucial putts? Both got out of their routines on short putts. Under pressure, you must stay in your routine and do what you’ve been doing.

What’s the advantage of focusing on a spot one inch in front of ball during the stroke?

Too many players are so ball-fixated that when they stroke the putt they instantly recoil after hitting it. Instead, you want to focus on putting through the ball. Visualizing a spot one inch in front of the ball will train you to putt over that spot and complete your stroke. This method also helps players not to watch their putter in their stroke.

You don’t need these giant check lists that some people have in their putting routines. I watched Phil Mickelson go through his routine and before putting he was looking at his hands and at his putter and I said to him, Phil, what are you doing?” And he said, “I’m making sure my grip is square to the face of the putter.” So I shot back, “Doesn’t Callaway put your grips on right?” And he laughed because he knew what I was getting at. If I place my thumbs down the shaft of the putter, I know my grip is square and I could putt in the dark with it.

Speaking of Phil, what was your reaction to him going to the belly putter?

I was shocked. I didn’t know he was going to it. In fact, I went to TaylorMade and asked them to make me a belly putter so I could work with Phil on it. I wanted to get an idea of what Phil was doing. He’s adept with it up to about ten or 12 feet. He doesn’t like missing the short ones and that’s what drove him to try it. I can’t blame him for that. No one wants to miss short putts. But the belly putter’s been more of a challenge for him on the longer putts. I think he’s going to stay with it the rest of the year. My question is will the USGA revisit the issue of making the long or belly putter illegal. I don’t think they will but the discussion will come up again now. I’m in the camp that I don’t how you can anchor your arm to your body in the putting stroke. Gee, I’m from the era when they outlawed Sam Snead’s croquet stroke and that was more of true stroke than ones taken with the belly or long putter. I do think if someone has the yips, the belly putter is a great way to go. And some of the younger players are using it not because of nerves but because they like how they can roll the ball. PGA Champion Keegan Bradley, who uses one, had a lot to do with Phil using it now. I did try the belly putter myself and had to make an adjustment as where I anchored it but once I found it I putted well with it. I picked it up pretty darn quick.

Talk about your father, Gail Stockton, and how he was such a major influence on your game and putting.

Yes, my dad was a major influence. Funny thing, my dad never allowed me to read golf magazines or golf books. But in doing this book with Matt Rudy (Golf Digest writer), I discovered my dad largely learned the game from Alex Morrison who wrote a book in 1940 called Better Golf Without Practice. Morrison taught Masters champion Henry Picard and also helped Ben Hogan and Sam Snead. I started re-reading Morrison’s book when we began “Unconscious Putting.” Even now 71 years later it holds up very well especially in the short game area. In fact, some of the drills talked about by Morrison still work today.  Years ago, I collaborated on the Sybervision golf series, featuring Al Geiberger’s swing, and I did the putting section. And all I did was putt and let people see and hear me sink putts. It was more about instilling positive images and visualization than technique. I feel the same way about putting instruction. I just don’t believe there’s one method for everyone. All of my putting tips and philosophy came from my dad and I never really changed anything over the years.

 

 

 

Q & A with Dave Stockton, Part II

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Dave Stockton

My pick for the best golf instructional book of 2011 is Unconscious Putting: Dave Stockton’s Guide to Unlocking Your Signature Stroke (Gotham Books.) Two autumns ago, I said Stockton, a two-time PGA champion and former Ryder Cup captain, was the game’s teacher of the year after successfully re-tooling the putting routines of Phil Mickelson (who wrote the book’s foreword) and Michelle Wie, both of whom highly praised Stockton for working with them. This year, Stockton and his sons Ron and Dave Jr. (the nucleus of Stockton Golf) are again in the news for helping more than two dozen tour players including Rory McIlroy, Martin Laird, Justin Rose, Yani Tseng, Morgan Pressel and Suzann Pettersen. The winner of 11 tournaments on the PGA Tour and 14 wins on the Champions Tour, Stockton remains one of the game’s true gentlemen and ambassadors as well as one of its most insightful instructors. Recently, he spoke at length with me by phone. Here is the concluding Part II of our conversation.

In the book, you draw a comparison between shooting pool and putting. Please explain.

Playing pool and putting are very similar. They’re both hand-eye coordinated strokes. In pool, you don’t take the cue stick and practice strokes next to the cue ball looking at another ball. No, you take practice strokes right behind the cue ball. The putting regimen I recommend is coming in from behind it and then you letting it go. I don’t take a practice stroke next to the ball because it would distract me from focusing on the line. Too many golfers take practice strokes next to the ball while looking at the hole, then place the putter behind the ball and then jerk it back. It doesn’t make sense.

When players line up putts with their eyes, their feet should be pointed along that line. If they start out mechanically, their feet will be too square to the cup not the line; that’s a big difference in aiming properly. The feet should follow the line, not the cup.

In the book, you also talk about how players must get themselves out of negative self-talk. How do golfers break out of it?

Well, the way to break out of it is to have a good game plan. For example, when you’re faced with a chip, you have to decide first whether you’re going low or high at the pin. Now Mickelson may say it would be 80% high and 20% low but my approach would be just the opposite, 80% low and 20% high. To me, it’s easier to visualize and hit a low shot. So the first question is really: what kind of shot do you want to hit? Not necessarily what club you are going to use but what kind of shot are you going to hit? And in terms of a chip shot, you have to visualize where you’re going to land it on the green and then how it will roll to the hole. Most people miss the simple fact of visualizing first where to land the chip. It’s the same with putting. You have to visualize the putt going in first and foremost by studying its projected path.

What players do you like to watch putt and why?

Steve Stricker. He just rolls the ball perfectly with such a soft touch. He stands close to the ball, as I do, and he looks very, very comfortable. And I admire Brad Faxon’s stroke. His game was lot like mine; we both had to putt well to make it out there because the other parts of our game were not as strong. I believe Rory’s (McIlroy) putting is right there with those guys in terms of putting. That’s why I enjoy what we do here at Stockton Golf. We know that if we work successfully with such players as McIlroy, Suzann Pettersen or Yani Tseng and if their short games improve it can lead to tremendous results because the rest of their game is so good.

You probably read that during the recent Senior Amateur championship competitor Vinny Giles, a long putter user and former champion, called the USGA “gutless” for not banning anchored putters. Your reaction?

Yes, it caught my attention knowing how close Vinny is to the USGA. But again I don’t see the USGA banning them. Can you really see it telling Freddie Couples or Bernhard Langer they can no longer putt with them? But regardless of how the USGA rules or doesn’t rule, putting is still all about routine. Can you read the green? Do you have a routine that relaxes you to stroke the putt and just let it happen? The physical act of putting is less important than the process of putting and that’s what I’ve tried to describe in my book.

Recently, I read where you helped LPGA star Yani Tseng with not only her putting but also with her post-round speeches. Please elaborate.

I thought it was important for Yani, a wonderful young lady, to be better at her acceptance speeches. So I literally would stand in front of her and fire questions at her as if she were standing at a podium. She was very nervous at first but it was a good learning experience for her. I wanted her to realize that when she won these tournaments it was important for her to express herself and be able to thank the right people in the right way. So Yani and I worked on her speeches for over a year and a half. She’s taking English classes and her English has improved tremendously. Of course, when you’re winning as much as she is you get pretty good at speaking in public because you’re doing it more often. She’s now a great interview and always smiling. I take a lot of pride to see how far Yani has come. She realizes how much her remarks can mean to tournament officials and volunteers who may have spent over a year on a tournament. She knows you should leave something positive for these people and let them know you appreciated all their efforts.

Why do many Tour players struggle with this aspect of winning?

There are a lot of people in the golf business that when they get good can’t handle the pressure of all of the attention. That’s why I’m also proud of how well Rory handled the media and the attention he received after his final round 80 at the Masters. He dealt with it with so much class. On a scale of one to ten, it was a twelve whereas Tiger Woods’ remarks afterwards—who shouldn’t have been upset about anything–were like a minus four. And so when Rory won the Open he turned out to be a fan favorite because of the way he handled himself at the Masters as well as how he treated the gallery and press at Congressional. I mean, the Open gallery almost saw him as an American.

What’s your advice on working with junior golfers?

First, have fun. They should practice with just one or two balls on the putting green and putt them all over the green. Don’t have them putt to just one hole and don’t get them into a lot of drills. Have them learn to putt by feel.

 

 

Photo of Dave Stockton courtesy of J.D. Cuban.  Contact Stockton Golf at www.davestockton.com

 

 

 

Book review: Moe & Me by Lorne Rubenstein

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In Moe & Me: Encounters with Moe Norman, Golf’s Mysterious Genius, author Lorne Rubenstein expertly explores the life and times of one of golf’s most eccentric figures and certainly one of its finest ball-strikers. I first heard about Norman through the writings of Rubenstein, the long time and esteemed golf writer for Toronto’s Globe and Mail newspaper. In fact, in the ‘80s Michigan Golfer reprinted a Rubenstein column about Norman which recounted some of his more zany exploits. One of my favorites was when Moe played a course for the first time and asked his playing partner how to play a certain hole. Norman was told it was simply “driver and a wedge.” True to his quirky personality, Norman teed off with a wedge and then hit his second shot onto the green with a driver.

The curious case of Moe Norman is deftly told

There couldn’t be a better writer to relate the story of Moe Norman than Rubenstein, a member of Canada’s Golf Hall of Fame. The author first met Norman at 13 years of age when he and his father used to hit balls at the De Haviland Golf Centre in north Toronto. At the time, Norman gave lessons and sold golf equipment there. The Rubensteins were captivated by Norman’s amazing golf swing not only because it was so unique but because it was so effective. Norman would address the ball with his feet wide apart, his arms outstretched and with his hands much higher than normal. With no bend in his elbows, he then set his clubhead nearly a foot behind the ball. Although unorthodox, Norman’s swing was repeatable and possessed laser-like accuracy. And it held up during the heat of competition as Norman became a force in Canadian golf, winning consecutive Canadian Amateur championships and 55 career Canadian Tour events.

In the book, Rubenstein traces the arc of Norman’s life, his personality and his golf game. Looking back on his long and friendly relationship with Norman, Rubenstein says he “would chase the truth of the man” as a college student, as a caddie and as a writer. Moe was five when he was in a sledding accident where he was hit by a car. Soon after, he started exhibiting some strange behavior, speaking quickly and repeating himself which became a trademark personality trait for the rest of his life. Rubenstein cites one physician who felt Moe had Asperger’s syndrome, a spectrum of autism which includes repetitive speech patterns. But the youngster found a sanctuary in golf when he became a caddie at 10 at Westmount Golf & Country Club and where two years later a member gave him a five-iron. Golf quickly became the center of his small world especially after dropping out of high school at 14 and leaving home at 17. He was a loner and lived mainly in motels, hitchhiking from tournament to tournament and finally not owning a car until his late twenties. Observed Rubenstein, “Golf gives loners the freedom to express themselves. Moe expressed himself through golf.”

With an acute sensitivity to his subject, Rubenstein organizes a review of Norman’s life in telling chapters about his upbringing, his mind, his swing and reflections about him from friends and contacts in golf. A fine golfer and student of the game, Rubenstein dissects Norman’s game from public comments and solicited opinions from a number of teaching and Touring professionals. The most enlightening is the analysis provided by Craig Shankland, a noted PGA teaching pro, who conducted clinics with Norman for 18 years. Amazingly, all of Norman’s swing oddities coalesced to deliver a powerful and precise strike. For example, Shankland studied unique Norman’s set-up where at address his clubhead sat a foot behind the ball. This set-up, according to the teacher, prevented him from taking the clubhead inside, prevented him from lifting the clubhead, and thus encouraged a wide, on plane backswing. Shankland would marvel at Norman’s instinctive shotmaking. “We need these players. It’s necessary to allow individuality. I think we’re over-instructing players.”

But even Moe himself knew his swing was not for everyone. “Be yourself, be yourself. Don’t try to be me. You can’t be me.” And when offering advice, he often boiled it down in the simplest terms: “Two things you got to finish in this game, your backswing and your follow through.”

There’s much to relish in this deftly told narrative. Rubenstein probes the circumstances surrounding Norman’s two Masters appearances in ’56 and ’57 and reveals how Sam Snead possibly played a sinister role one year in Moe missing the cut. I also like the passages digging into Titleist CEO Wally Uihlein’s remarkable sponsorship of Norman beginning in 1995 which paid him $5000 per month for life with no strings attached. When the author asked him why he made such a decision, Uihlein said: “We just wanted to make sure that what doesn’t happen thirty years from now is that Moe is forgotten about when people talk about the best players.”

In a similar fashion, Rubenstein ensures the story and genius of Moe Norman will not be forgotten by future generations. And for that, readers and observers of the game should be thankful, should be thankful.

 

Moe & Me is published by ECW Press.

A golf lesson with Charlie Sorrell, Master PGA Professional

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This past winter when my wife and I spent some time in Florida we drove across the lower middle of the state, starting west from Naples to Port St. Lucie. It was a pleasant drive and we saw parts of the state we’ve never seen before. Along the way, we saw this sign: “Talk less, say more.” Darn if the message didn’t sum up later the captivating teaching philosophy of Charlie Sorrell, the former National PGA Teacher of the Year and two-time headliner at the West Michigan Golf Show. Now this doesn’t mean Charlie is a quiet sort. Quite the contrary. Rather he’s a jovial, talkative personality but when he’s giving a lesson his words are carefully chosen.

Charlie Sorrell, Master PGA Professional

A long time industry friend whom I first met when he won his national award in 1990, Sorrell, 71, is staying young by teaching at the PGA Center for Golf Learning and Performance in Port St. Lucie, FL. “My job is take on the overflow,” says Sorrell. “I’m the on-call doctor.” Sorrell and his beloved wife Joyce retired to Port St. Lucie in 2007 after selling their home and property which housed his Golf Meadows teaching academy in Stockbridge, GA. He’s compiled a laudable teaching career that emphasizes a non-jargon, simple and fun approach to giving golf lessons. He’s also known for his clever rhymes to stress certain swing fundamentals, such as: “Wrists that are tight/destroy ball flight” and “When you’re balanced throughout the swing/A repeatable motion is a sure thing.”

A long time ago, Deb and I visited the always affable and self-effacing Charlie at his teaching academy in Georgia and he provided Deb with the most effective lesson she’s ever had—then or now. Basically, he encouraged her to generate more clubhead speed while remaining on plane by this simple adage: “Hinge and sling.” He got Deb to correctly hinge her wrists, creating a powerful and correct angle, and then for her to swing through the shot. The results were immediate and remarkable. As Charlie more fully explained, “The hands are made to hold, the wrists are made to hinge, the arms are made to fold and the arms are made to swing.”

Sorrell’s golf career was influenced by his first boss in the business, Virgil Morey, head professional at Riverside CC in Lanette, Alabama. “He gave me two very important lessons about teaching golf. Number one: kill them with kindness; and number two: learn how to cure a slice or a hook quickly.” In over forty years teaching the game he loves, Sorrell has added a third bedrock tenet. “I also stress MYFI—which stands for Making You Feel Important.”

Over the winter, Sorrell was part of a panel presentation that talked about “blending the old styles of teaching of modern technology.” He said today’s teachers have excellent tools, particularly with video, to identify and correct swing maladies. “But the human element of teaching can’t be underestimated,” says Sorrell, “because everything still must be communicated properly.” When asked about Tour Tempo and its recent research findings on tempo for Tour player swings, Sorrell brought up the story of how in winning the 1937 Masters Byron Nelson reminded himself to compare his swing tempo to dancing a waltz. “Most of what we know about the game and the swing is not new; but we’re seeing it in a new light with the help of technology.”

Charlie teaches Deb on the proper impact position

Sorrell, a PGA Master Golf Professional, is a joy to be around because he loves what he does, helping to put a “smile back on a golfers’ faces as they play the game of a lifetime.” And it’s the everyday golfer getting better that remains the focus of his attention and astute eye. Sorrell said: “I always remember something Bob Toski once told me, ‘Anyone can teach a Tour player. That’s easy compared to working with beginners or struggling average golfers.’ ”

Deb Moore was one such struggling golfer. But after another lesson with Charlie Sorrell, she was hinging, swinging and smiling.

 

For more information about the PGA Center for Golf Learning and Performance visit www.pgavillage.com

Drew Preston: self-reliant and self-taught Michigan Amateur champion

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Drew Preston

This season there’s been chatter about players “owning their swing.” In Lorne Rubenstein’s excellent new book about Canada’s Moe Norman, Moe & Me, the author quotes Tiger Woods as saying, “Only two players have ever truly owned their swings: Moe Norman and Ben Hogan.” The more I thought about this observation, which is largely true, I found other examples. Surely, Jim Furyk owns his swing despite its confounding loop and so does Masters champion Bubba Watson who prides himself on never having taken formal golf instruction. In an era of over-glorified swing doctors, psychologists, trainers, and nutritionists, it’s refreshing to see such players trusting themselves and their innate talents.

On the state golf scene, a similar example is Drew Preston, the recent Michigan Amateur champion. I’ve followed Preston since he competed at Forest Hills Central High School and later at various Grand Rapids-area tournaments. Unlike most of his contemporaries, Preston’s swing is short and quite fast. It reminds me of a combination of Dana Quigley and Doug Sanders, Tour players known for abbreviated but powerful backswings. In local circles during the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, celebrated junior player and later Michigan State golfer John VanderMeiden, of Grand Haven, was known for his short but repeatable backswing.

Anyway, Preston’s story of golf achievement is especially noteworthy given the fact he’s been largely self-taught, a rarity these days for aspiring junior and prep golfers. “I’ve only had one lesson my entire life,” said Preston. “My parents don’t golf and so I’ve learned the game on my own.”

Preston didn’t pick up the game until his parents gave him a set of junior clubs at age ten. Before then, he was an avid hockey player. Not members at any private club, his parents had a cottage in north Muskegon where Preston played his summer golf. “I didn’t play my first junior tourney until I was 13 or 14 when I started breaking 80,” said Preston.

So how did he learn the game and its many intricacies? “Besides just watching other players and tournament golf on television, I read all the golf magazines and explored the philosophy of the great players and teachers,” said Preston. “I know my swing is a little unorthodox but I’ve always focused on the six to ten inches around the impact zone. That’s how I get the ball around the course.”

As his game developed and became successful in competition, Preston realized his swing delivered consistent results. “I stepped back and evaluated my swing and said, ‘OK, I have a short swing but I have less room for error.’ ”

Preston says too many college players get trapped into rigid swing mechanics. “I feel some of my friends struggle at times because they don’t focus on playing the game and get too caught up with swing mechanics. Basically a feel player, I rely on myself and try to figure it as I go around the course.”

Self-reliance was a Preston strength as he handled the big stage of the Michigan Amateur. In fact, Preston carried his clubs without use of a caddie for all nine rounds (including a practice round) at Oakland Hills North. “I thought about getting a caddie and three or four people even offered to caddie for me for free but I said, ‘thanks and no offense, but I’ll go it alone.’ My plan was to keep my head down, trust myself and keep my focus on each match.”

Early in the week, Preston sensed his game was in synch. “All players want that feel where they’re in the slot and can just hit it. And that’s what I felt all week. In my first match, I birdied four out of the first six holes and in the second match I birdied the first two.”

In the final match, Preston bested fellow Grand Rapids golfer and the 2009 Amateur Champion Tom Werkmeister, 2 up. “Tom is such a solid player and competitor; I knew it would be close.” A key shot occurred on the 18th hole when Preston’s drive found the hillside in the left rough. “I had 104 yards to the hole and 91 yards to just carry the bunker,” recalled Preston.” I decided to go with a 60 degree wedge, put it in the back of my stance and just hit it hard. Fortunately, it came out perfectly to within 15 feet.” From there and after Werkmeister made par from the bunker, Preston claimed the title by rolling in his birdie.

In terms of the rest of the summer, Preston will try to qualify for his third U.S. Amateur at Muskegon CC on July 30 while also competing as an exempt player in the GAM Championship at Point O’Woods in August. In the interim, he’s taking 12 credits both this summer and fall at Bowling Green in order to finish up his Business degree in December.

Even a successful self-taught golfer and now Michigan Amateur champion knows the future is brighter with an old-fashioned diploma.

 

Image courtesy of the Golf Association of Michigan

Quotes and tidbits from Friday’s matches

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A few favorite quotes and tidbits from Friday’s competition:

A baiting British writer asked Phil Mickelson, who won both of his matches with Keegan Bradley, to comment on BBC commentators wondering how he “got such a suntan after spending so much time in the trees?” Phil bit his tongue and shot back: “You know, we won, right? I’m not sure you saw the result. Okay.”

Mickelson about partner Bradley: “The more pressure the situation, the better he plays; the better he sees the shot; the better he focuses; and the better the result. And there’s no more pressure situation, no higher-pressure situation than the Ryder Cup.”

Nicolas Colsaerts on putting instructor Dave Stockton: “Well, I started working with Dave Stockton close to two years ago now. On top of being a fantastic putting teacher, he’s a fantastic guy as well. I’ve had a wonderful time perfecting my putting skills with him and it brought me a lot of confidence, especially on those slick greens that we get to play in America.” Stockton also has worked with Rory McIlroy. See my review of Stockton’s book, “Unconscious Putting” at http://theaposition.com/teemoore/golf/golf/instruction/591/q-a-with-dave-stockton-part-i

When asked by playing partner and red-hot putter Colsaerts how long was his momentous birdie putt at the 17th hole, a deadpan Lee Westwood quipped, “I wasn’t watching.”

When asked if Tiger Woods had said anything to him during his sensational round (8 birdies and an eagle), Colsaerts replied: “No, except on 18 when somebody like Tiger Woods looks at you and goes, ‘Great playing, man,’ you understand you’ve done something pretty good.”

On sitting down Tiger Woods for the first time in his Ryder Cup career, Captain Davis Love III said: “We just felt like we didn’t want anybody to have to play five matches on this golf course…We just don’t want guys to be worn out. We need Tiger and Steve in the afternoon… and on Sunday.”

European Captain Jose Maria Olazabal: “There are no secrets about this game. You have to make more birdies than your opponent. And if you don’t do that, you’re going to struggle.”

The Best of 2012

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Looking back on 2012, here’s an assortment of “bests” from travels near and far.

Traverse City G & CC

Best in-state golf experience: A threesome of golf cronies played Traverse City Golf & Country Club and we all loved it. Excellent playing conditions, a walkable and friendly design, and agreeable weather all added up to a memorable day.

Best out-of-state golf experience: It’s hard to beat Naples, Florida, in the winter for exceptional golf. One of the premier clubs is Grey Oaks where I’ve had the privilege of playing in its Men’s Invitational the last few years. Everything is expertly handled at Grey Oaks and the golf over its three distinct courses is top-notch. My sleeper course in Naples this past year was the rebranded Talis Park, a marvelous collaboration of Pete Dye and Greg Norman, formerly known as Tuscany Reserve.

Best hotel accommodations: Santa Barbara’s Bacara Resort and Spa overlooking the Pacific Ocean is superb for service and spectacular views. As a bonus, it was terrific by-passing LAX and flying directly into Santa Barbara Airport, only minutes away from Bacara.

Best historic golf tidbit: In an interview with legendary designer Pete Dye, he observed: “When Ben Hogan won the ’53 U.S. Open at Oakmont those greens rolled only at a six—if they had a stimpmeter.”

Best unsung senior amateur event: Never having played in Battle Creek’s 36-hole City Senior Championship, I was floored by the turnout of over a 100+ golfers of various handicaps and ages competing in a fun event. Hats off to PGA Pro Ron Osborne and company for all of their efforts.

Mediterra's Beach Club

Mediterra's Beach Club

Best grandchild club amenity: Easily goes to Mediterra in Naples. Besides two outstanding Fazio courses, Mediterra offers a member-only Beach Club with swimming pool overlooking the Gulf. When it comes to beach-happy grandchildren, Mediterra is one-up on the competition.

Best day watching golf: Watching Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson team up and win 4 & 3 in their Friday morning Ryder Cup match against Luke Donald and Sergio Garcia was as good as it gets. Stationing myself later at the drive-able 15th hole at Medinah, I patiently waited for the foursome and was richly rewarded with Bradley’s clinching and ear-splitting putt for birdie.

Best golf lesson: PGA teaching pro Mike Sullivan at The Meadows in Allendale got my swing fundamentals in good shape early in the year when he espoused a proper spine angle at address. Runner-up: Tour Tempo’s breakthrough research demonstrated at the West Michigan Golf Show was enlightening on optimum swing tempo. Most golfers swing too slow.

Best golf book: In a close race, Lorne Rubenstein’s Moe & Me noses out Dave Stockton’s Unconscious Scoring. Rubenstein deftly tells the story of the eccentric genius of Canada’s Moe Norman and how he developed into one of the game’s best ball-strikers. Incidentally, my best new reading accessory is the Buglit LED Micro Flashlight—a nifty and versatile reading lamp. Check it out at www.niteize.com

Best new golf quip: This occurred after one of my weekend golf pals hit a shot right at the flag on a par-three and started complaining before it even hits the green. Thinking it was not enough club, his shot ended up 15 feet dead short of the flag. Hence, we dubbed him “Moan Norman.”


A few suggestions for Father’s Day

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So Father’s Day is approaching and you’ve yet to come up with a gift. Well, as the old joke goes about the federal government, I’m here to help.

Here are a few considerations:

01_131504-01007_mainECCO Golf Shoes: These are the most comfortable golf shoes I’ve ever worn. Earlier this year when I was in Florida, I tried out ECCO’s BIOM Golf Hybrid shoe and I was hooked right out of the box. They’re comfortable, stylish, lightweight, and have a snug but not tight fit. When I returned to Michigan and started playing again in our wet spring, I was leery about wearing them, given the small molded nubs on the soles. Silly me, they performed just fine. Looking at the soles more closely, ECCO ingeniously designed these gripping nubs with hundreds of traction angles. I also like the breathable and soft Yak leather that’s Hydromax-treated and thus water repellant. If I had to nitpick about the BIOM, the leather seems to stain easily but that’s also a downside on selecting the white model. On the plus side, I love how the shoes came with an extra set of laces, of another color no less. Nice touch.

Founded in 1963 by Denmark’s Karl Toosbuy, ECCO’s core principle is “the shoe must follow the foot.” It may not be as pithy as “form follows function” but it’s in the same league. Such philosophy is also why the company scanned more than 2,500 feet (as in toes, not inches) to arrive at BIOM’s optimum anatomical shape. Such attention to detail and rigorous research is why ECCO is now a worldwide force in the footwear industry and no longer needs a sock-less Fred Couples at the Masters wearing its brand to get noticed. Let’s just say on the company’s behalf, “many customers will follow this shoe.” For more information, visit www.eccousa.com.

Unknown-1Golf books: Books are always a safe and popular choice for the literate golfing dad in one’s life. I would recommend two. One is An American Caddie in St. Andrews by Oliver Horovitz. As an ex-caddie (Mill Creek Park GC in Youngstown, OH) I was a sucker for the subtitle: “Growing Up, Girls, and Looping on the Old Course.”  I also once played in a match at the Old Course at St Andrews and was fortunate to have a terrific caddie who steadied my game and guided me along the storied links to a memorable victory. So I was predisposed to relish this lively, informative and humorous book. In a nutshell, the young author chronicles his year at St. Andrews that includes not only a “gap year” at the famed university—before enrolling at Harvard—but also a season as an official caddie at the Old Course. Along the way, he helps train and school a bevy of attractive young co-eds— the entrepreneurial Model Caddies—on the nuances and precepts of toting a golf bag for hire. Not surprisingly, Horovitz, a standout golfer, becomes smitten in the process. He’s a solid and nimble writer with a genuine talent for sharing comical episodes as well as caddie and golf insights. With an acute gift for dialogue, Horovitz delivers a fast-pace and entertaining read, deserving of a generous tip by the reader. Published by Gotham Books.

The second recommended golf book is The Fundamentals of Putting by Frank Thomas and Valerie Melvin. From their visits and presentations at several West Michigan Golf Shows, I’ve known and admired these knowledgeable people for a long time. I pay attention to what they say and write because it’s backed up by science and research as well as practical experience. An outlier in the golf industry, Thomas spent 26 years with the USGA as its Technical Director while later serving as chief technical advisor to Golf Digest and the Golf Channel. A former editor of Golf Science International, Melvin is a co-founder with Thomas of Frankly Golf and played golf internationally for her native Scotland. If there is ever an audio version of this book, I hope she lends her charming voice to it.

fundamentalscoverBased in part on the authors’ Certified Putting Instructor (CPI) curriculum that’s been adopted by seven PGAs around the world, The Fundamentals of Putting could be compared to taking a fun summer course at one’s local university (St. Andrews?) or library. It’s thorough, well-organized and the lessons are imparted with a minimum of numbing scientific jargon and nomenclature. And although a little thing, I love the larger type. Considering that 40-45 per cent of one’s golf score is made up of putts, it’s imperative that new students to the game—as well as PGA instructors—focus more on putting and less on trying to hit a drive 300 yards. As the authors state, “Putting is a skill we have ignored because it is not promoted by golf instructors nor is it as sexy as driving the ball a long way.” So here’s a book for golfers and teachers alike who want to be more anchored in their understanding of putting and its many facets—fitting, ball position, grip, styles, green reading, practice regimens and much more. In a clear, comfortable style, Thomas and Melvin prescribe some sure-fire principles for more consistent putting that can be best summarized as “Lock and Rock” and “Let it Happen.”  Accordingly, the left brain/right brain dichotomy remains in play on and off the putting surface. To order, visit www.franklygolf.com

Unknown-3Soiree in-bottle wine aerator: Know a golfer who appreciates a decanted glass of wine but doesn’t want to be a snob about it? Well, this nifty, compact and well-designed product is a perfect gift. The Soiree is a glass aerator that fits directly into just about any bottle of wine. Its 5-ring gasket provides an easy, drip-free fit and the handmade glass insures purity in taste and a natural wine treatment. The design of the glass aeration chamber features dimples that gently infuses the wine with oxygen, enhancing its taste and bouquet while saving time and fuss without a full-size decanter. I don’t know how it works, but it does. In fact, I experimented with several different glasses of wine—all in the interest of product testing, of course—by using and not using the Soiree. There was a marked and favorable difference in the aroma and a more mellow taste of the glasses poured with the Soiree. Hey, it’s not Consumers Reports but it convinced me of the product’s mettle. It also comes with a handy drying rack and stand which makes it easy to clean and store. Bonne soiree means “good evening” in French and that’s what I had after using this product. For more information, visit www.soireehome.com

 

 

 

 

 

Q & A with Andrew Chapman, 2013 Michigan Amateur Champion

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Andrew Chapman

Andrew Chapman

With a 20-foot birdie on the 18th green at Muskegon Country Club, Andrew Chapman beat Mike Ignasiak 1-up in the final match of the 102nd Michigan Amateur Championship conducted by the Golf Association of Michigan. The final round was a battle between two former University of Michigan lettermen as Chapman played golf for the Wolverines (1999-2002) while Ignasiak played baseball (1985-88) in Ann Arbor, later spending four seasons as a pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers. A financial planner, Chapman, 33, lives in Traverse City with his wife Brooke and their seven-month-old twin boys, Graeme and Lincoln. A tired but overjoyed Chapman talked by phone with Terry Moore a few days following his climactic win.

Talk about the sheer grind of the Michigan Amateur?

I’ve never come close to playing that much golf in a week. I remember one time in college over a break, I wanted to play 36 holes a day for an entire week. I played 36 holes the first day and then ended up playing maybe 18 the next and that was it. It’s a whole different level at the Amateur. I played 169 holes of golf last week, beginning with ten holes of practice on Sunday afternoon when I arrived. When it ended on Saturday afternoon, I couldn’t have played another single hole. I was exhausted. I was lucky to have my birdie putt fall on the last hole because I didn’t have any more gas left to play extra holes. The fatigue showed itself in the final match with some of my loose ball-striking.

I noticed you didn’t have a caddie, following the lead of last year’s winner Drew Preston.

I had a couple buddies who offered to caddie if I made it to the finals. But since I hadn’t used one before then I didn’t want to screw up my routine. Early in the week I considered getting a local caddie and a few were recommended but it turned out that they were tied up with driver’s education and the like. So I decided to go the pull cart route. And yes I remember seeing Drew Preston last year carrying his own bag. I’m just glad I had a cart!

Talk about playing and beating tourney favorite Tom Werkmeister.

That was the first time I played with Tom. We’ve been on the same team before, say at the Fuller Cup, but we never played in the same group. He’s a terrific player. He had me three down at one point on the front nine and I was reeling. But then I noticed Andy Matthews (2001 Amateur Champion), my old college roommate at U-M, in the gallery and it gave me a boost. I won a couple holes and got back into the match. By just being there, Andy put a little wind in my sails.

Tom is a wonderful player and champion and if I win just half as many titles as he has it would be sensational. I just happened to hit the right shot at the right time to beat him in 21 holes. He easily could have won that match.

In your final match against Ignasiak, talk about the pivotal turning point on the 9th hole, the tricky par-four.

First, I want to say Mike is such a strong player and good friend. I couldn’t have asked for a better guy to spend the last four hours with. Looking back at the 9th, the best shot I hit on that hole was my third shot from behind the green. I couldn’t have hit my chip shot any better but because of the slope of the green it trickled off the green again. So I’m still off the green in three with another chip while Mike is on the green with a par putt. Somehow I managed to hole out for an unbelievable par to win the hole, after Mike missed his putt, and go 1-up in the match. It all comes to short game in these events and I surely leaned on mine the whole week.

How much have you worked on your short game?

It’s been a slog. I’ve worked so many hours on my putting and chipping. My teacher, Scott Hebert at Grand Traverse Resort, actually persuaded me to drop the belly putter I was using earlier in the year. We played together in the State Pro-Am at Boyne and in fact we got beat in an eight-hole playoff for the title by Dave Kendall and Casey Baker. Scott wanted me to go back to a conventional model and so after the Boyne tournament, I started using a new Ping Anser putter I had ordered earlier in the year through Casey. I had to trust the stroke and just go with it.

Elaborate on Scott Hebert’s importance for revamping your game?

We started from scratch. In 2010, I shot 92-80 at a 36-hole U.S. Amateur qualifier and afterwards I was as low as one could be as a competitive player. At the time, I hadn’t played tournament golf in many years and I was looking to get back into events. But I wasn’t feeling good about my swing, my mechanics didn’t hold up under pressure and I was nervous with my short game. Due to youth and some athleticism, I had been getting away with some swing faults but it wasn’t working out for my limited playing time. Essentially, I was lost.

I went to Scott and we first hit the basics: grip, alignment, set-up and my mental approach to the game.

It was a total rebuild of my swing, my mechanics and my confidence out on the course. He taught me how to be more neutral with my golf swing, to be able to cut the ball when I needed it and to have a go-to shot. Scott’s been an exceptional teacher and good friend. I’m really blessed to have such a smart and patient teacher who also lives and works in Traverse City and is available year-round. He’s been a game-changer.

In your final match, can you give some examples where you leaned on the go-to shot?

I played the par-threes really well during the week. I made a handful of birdies and felt very comfortable. Against Mike in the final match, I hit the perfect five-iron on the 15th hole and it ended up just short of the green and below the pin. That was an important shot and it led to me being 2-up. It seemed like most of the par-threes favored my baby fade, my go-to shot under the most pressure I’ve ever played.

Prior to the Amateur, what have been some of your golfing highlights?

Qualifying for match play last year at the USGA Mid-Amateur on two difficult golf courses was a big success. After trying to qualify for over 20 years to make it into a USGA national event, that was a breakthrough. My ball-striking was excellent. Even though I had eight 3-putts during the first two rounds of medal play I still easily advanced into match play. That tournament was key to how I looked at my game going into this year.

The Michigan Junior Amateur at The Quest in 1997 was my first big win. At Michigan in 2001 I won the Wolverine Spring Invitational in South Carolina where I used a putter that looked similar to the putter I used last week. That same putter look gave me positive deja vu flashbacks on those fast Muskegon greens. But nothing compares to winning the Michigan Amateur.

What’s your assessment of Muskegon CC?

I felt at home because I’ve played there before on several fall golf trips with buddies from Traverse City including a late close friend—Mike Teter—who always considered Muskegon CC a special place. I thought about him a lot last week. So winning last week at Muskegon made a special place even better. It’s a wonderful golf course.

Please discuss your upbringing in the game.

My parents got me involved in golf early on with the fabulous Flint Junior Golf program. On Monday mornings, my mom would drive my brother and me to the program and we would play all of the great Flint area courses. I have so many fond memories of that program and learning the game. But the golf bug really bit us when my parents joined Atlas Valley Country Club in Flint. It had a six-hole mini-course we could play all-day, just an ideal place. And there are some similarities between Muskegon and Atlas Valley. Both have undulating, lightning-fast greens and both have holes where it’s tight off the tee.

It was great growing up at Atlas Valley surrounded by people who cared about the game and about nurturing junior golfers. I was the young whippersnapper back then playing in the skins game with older members. Funny but now I see the sons of those same members competing with me now in state events. It’s come full circle.

 

photo courtesy of the GAM

 

Q & A with Craig Harmon, PGA Head Pro at Oak Hill

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Rory McIIroy with Craig Harmon at Oak Hill during Media Day

Rory McIIroy with Craig Harmon at Oak Hill during Media Day

The long-time head professional at Oak Hill talks about his course, as well as growing up in the ultimate golf family.

For the past 40 years, Craig Harmon has been the PGA Head Professional at Oak Hill Country Club, site of this year’s PGA Championship. He grew up in a heralded golf family led by his father Claude, the 1948 Masters champion and long-time Winged Foot GC head professional, and among his three brothers—Butch, Dick and Billy. Like his father and brothers, Harmon, 66, became a highly skilled instructor and today is ranked by Golf Digest as the 22nd best teacher in America. In 2005, he was named Golf Professional of the Year by the PGA of America. He’s also a member of the club’s “Hill of Fame,” joining such luminaries as Walter Hagen, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Nancy Lopez, Bob Hope, and former U.S. Presidents Dwight Eisenhower and Gerald Ford. He spoke with me a few weeks before the PGA Championship.

How intense was the sibling rivalry between the Harmon boys?

It was always very competitive. Butch was the oldest and Billy the youngest while Dick and I were the middle two. No matter the sport—football, baseball, basketball, or golf—we’d pair off against each other with Butch and Billy competing against us. Butch was a great athlete, a rough athlete I may add, and he had no problem protecting his little brother Billy. To say the least, the golf matches between us were quite intense.

Much has been written about your dad and brothers, but what about your mom?

My mom passed away too soon in 1970 so she didn’t get to see what her sons and daughters [Claudia, Allyson] accomplished. But Alice was a wonderful lady and a major influence, always reminding us about the importance of good manners and respect. She was a stickler about writing thank-you cards and how to treat people properly. Thankfully, she lived long enough to see us turn out as ladies and gentleman. She made sure of that.

What are the keystones behind your career as head professional?

There are several factors. Number one is the staff. It’s hard to accomplish anything without a professional staff. I always remember my dad’s advice to me after I told him I was selected as head pro in 1972. He said, “Hire ladies and gentlemen first and then turn them into golf pros and shop staff.” Number two is always trying to stimulate golf at the club. In as many ways as possible, we encourage the playing and enjoyment of the game. And third, we aim to instill a friendly atmosphere. A friendlier atmosphere is better than a business atmosphere for a golf club. We want our staff to be open and personal with members and ask them about their day.

What are the building blocks of a sound swing?

When I think about giving a lesson, I break it down in three categories: Position #1 is what you do with your grip, stance, and ball position; Position #2 what you do with your backswing; and Position #3 is what you do with your through swing. So when you look at it this way, usually something in #1 causes something in #2, which in turns causes something in #3. A teacher should clean up faults so a swing flows together and in good order. Finally, my dad always taught us to be aware of the quality of ball flight and quality of ball contact in every lesson. A teacher then looks backwards at those three key positions to enhance ball flight and contact.

Talk about the East Course and the set-up for the PGA Championship?

The big difference here is that when players miss fairways not only will they have to deal with the rough to get to the green, but they’ll have a tree in the way. However, the PGA’s set-up now calls for an intermediate cut in addition to the first cut off the fairway so it should play easier than in previous championships. For member play, we just have a first cut. In five stroke-play championships held at Oak Hill only 10 players have been under par. Yet it’s considered a fair test. The premium is on driving the ball well. The fairway angles require you to both fade and draw the ball and you have to fit your drive in there. Pardon the expression, but here you have your ass puckering off of the tee for 72 holes. Yet, it’s still a fair test because there’s not an out of bounds stake one inch off the fairway like you find at some courses. Several years ago when I played Merion’s 15th hole, the road was OB. But for this year’s U.S. Open, they moved the stakes more inside the golf course and just off the fairway. That doesn’t seem fair to me.

Talk about a few key holes.

On the front nine, people don’t talk about the par-three 3rd hole. At 220 yards, that’s a hard hole. And numbers 5, 7, and 9 are all tremendous par fours, easy to bogey. On the back nine, the 15th green was redone and now if you miss it left—which is easy to do—you’ll have a difficult time getting up and down. In fact, those missing it left risk chipping it back on and over the green and into the water. The rough is really thick down there. And 15, 17, and 18 are phenomenal holes. Unfortunately, modern golfers are rendering 16 as too easy: It’s just a drive and a wedge now where Jack Nicklaus and Curtis Strange in their day were hitting a drive and a 6-iron.

Name a few special places at the club that a guest should visit.

The Centennial Walk located near our upper putting green is like a mini-museum. It commemorates the champions at Oak Hill including the Ryder Cup. Inside the clubhouse, the Trophy Room is spectacular, with replicas of all the major championship trophies. There’s video playing from the PGA and USGA events played at the club, including video from the 1956 U.S. Open. If you’re a golfer, you want to see this room.

For members, what makes Oak Hill so appealing?

With two courses, we are a very busy club with a thousand people on the handicap list. But we have no starting times. And in spite of being a very prestigious private club, we encourage men, women, and children to just come out and play golf without restrictions. Though we have electric carts and a great caddie program, members can walk and carry their own bag or they can use one of our free pull carts. Of the top 20 clubs in the country, Oak Hill is unique in this regard. This is a working-class club where membership is seen as a luxury item. Members shouldn’t have to incur an added caddie or electric cart fee if they just want to walk and play nine.

 

This interview appears in the Majors Plus EMagazine at www.tourontap.com

Photo courtesy of the PGA of America

Putter grips: Supersize me!

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Who would have ever figured that one of golf’s hottest products this year would be a putting grip? And a fat one at that!

But that’s the case of jumbo and oversized putter grips once Tour players started adopting them. A number of players are using them, most notably Jason Dufner who claimed the 2013 PGA Championship while sporting Super Stroke’s Slim 3.0. And although Dufner is Super Stroke’s only paid staff member, a number of Tour pros  employ the oversized grips. In fact, K.J. Choi won the 2011 Players Championship with the Fatso 5.0 model. Dufner won his first two Tour events in 2012—the Zurich Classic and the Byron Nelson—using a Super Stroke grip.

SuperStroke's colorful grips

SuperStroke’s colorful grips

And in the what-have-you-done-lately category, Thomas Bjorn won the Omega Masters European event  using the SuperStroke Mid Slim 2.0 putter grip. For the week, he was second overall in putting statistics. So what’s going on with these grips and why are they gaining traction?

“Oversized grips minimize hand rotation in putting,” says PGA teaching pro Mike Boogaard, a highly regarded putting instructor in Grand Rapids. “The thicker grip minimizes and lessens the effect of the smaller and twitchier muscles in the hands. Quieter and softer hands lead to better and more consistent strokes,” says Boogaard who works with top amateurs such as Tom Werkmeister and Randy Lewis. But Boogaard also admits that a psychological factor may be involved as well. “If you think something is helping you make a good stroke, then invariably it will. Confidence plays an important role in putting.” Oversized grips also help to minimize grip pressure since the thickness envelops the fingers, making it difficult to squeeze the grip too tightly.

A Michigan-based company located in Wixom, SuperStroke is the current industry leader in oversized putter grips, offering a variety of sizes and colors for consumers. Its basic white color with contrasting bright accent on the top of the grip is distinctive and one widely recognizable on television, thus speeding consumer adoption. SuperStroke offers four different sizes in the traditional line—Ultra Slim 1.0, Mid Slim 2.0, Slim 3.0, and Fatso 5.0. It holds two patents for its non-tapered design.

Nowadays, you’ll walk into a retailer like Golf Galaxy and find the Super Stroke on back order. The Slim 3.0 model costs $24.99 and can be also ordered on the company’s website at www.superstrokeusa.com

Are there other options besides SuperStroke? Yes, there are and probably more will be forthcoming.

Iomic's Absolute Jumbo

Iomic’s Absolute Jumbo

Iomic is touting its Absolute Jumbo Putter Grip as one such alternative. Available in red, blue and black, the Iomic possesses a tapered grip with a flat surface on the top and rounded on the bottom. It offers a soft feel with its plaid textured surface and is 100% water proof which is a good selling point. Also, the composition of the grip—elastomer material—promises a life span two or three times longer than a standard rubber grip.

In the winner’s circle recently using a IOMIC mid-size putter grip was Henrik Stenson who won the Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston. Visit www.iomicusa.com

A company that’s “all in” with oversized grips is JumboMax. It not only touts the advantages of thick grips on putters but espouses them throughout the bag. JumboMax claims its thicker grips promote lighter grip pressure which aids in generating more clubhead speed. The theory, similar to the aforementioned putting benefits, is that a thicker grip on an iron or a wood will lead to a lighter grip thus making it easier to release the hands and square the clubface. JumboMax touts 38% more “turning power” using its grip.

The JumboMax grip

The JumboMax grip

Its putter grip is nicely designed. It has a tapered design with a flat top and a rounded bottom. The top side is black with a company name and logo in lime and white while the underside is the distinctive bright lime green. It has a textured feel and fits comfortably in one’s hands. For more information, visit www.jumbomax.com

So if you’re having trouble keeping the hands out of the stroke, don’t be hesitant to join the growing crowd that’s getting a grip on the problem. It’s definitely cheaper than buying a new putter.

 

 

 

 

 

Product review: Bettinardi’s Kuchar Model 2

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“There’s golf and then there’s tournament golf.”

—Bobby Jones

Competitive players have always identified with Jones’s truism. One’s typical weekend round with its casual atmosphere and generous gimme putts is a much different experience than hole-everything-out medal play. On that note, I would add a caveat to Jones’s adage: “There’s putting and then there’s tournament putting.” Faced with unreliable nerves during competition, golfers have resorted to a variety of measures to get the ball into the hole. Some have gone to the belly putter while others have gone to the long, broomstick putter. Well, beginning in January 2016, those two options—if anchored to the body—will not be permissible within the Rules of Golf. A belly putter, Las Vegas Tour winner Webb Simpson indicated he’ll be experimenting with a different method beginning with the 2014 season.

Kuchar lines up with the Model 2

Kuchar lines up with the Model 2

That’s why I’ve been particularly intrigued with the conforming arm-lock putting method popularized by Matt Kuchar. I mean, here’s a Tour player who was a darn good conventional putter (Top Ten in Tour putting in ’08 & ’09) and then several years ago switched to the locked arm method. As Kuchar said, “I was a good putter but I wanted to be more consistent and that’s why I switched.”

Last month, I went to see PGA Teaching pro Mike Boogaard of The Pines in Grand Rapids. Boogaard specializes in putting instruction and has worked successfully with noted Michigan amateurs Tom Werkmeister and Randy Lewis. Boogaard demonstrated the effectiveness of the lock-arm method. “It’s a system that forces you to rock the shoulders in the putting stroke,” said Boogaard. “Anytime you can take the hands out of the stroke, you’ll minimize the nerves.” As someone who plays competitive senior events, I was all ears on that last note. I’m a decent putter and hole my share of putts, but in competition I’m too inconsistent and uncertain. So with Mike’s advice on a properly fitted putter for me, I committed to giving the arm-lock method an off-season trial run.

For the putter itself, I opted for an obvious choice: the one Matt Kuchar is using and now endorsing. Manufactured by the Illinois-based Bettinardi Company, the Kuchar Model 2 (suggested retail is $375) is a pear-shaped mallet. Boogaard recommended a 39” length and it provided a comfortable fit. It’s important to be fitted and measured for the proper length or otherwise the shaft will be too long or too short for one’s forearm. It also has 7 degree of loft. Why? Because the Model 2 features a double bend shaft with a 2.5 shaft offset. With that much built-in offset, added loft is needed to impart a better roll off the face. Otherwise, with conventional loft the ball would skid off the face.

I’ve used the Kuchar Model 2 for several rounds so far and it’s exceeded all my expectations. First and foremost, its design and appearance are clean and elegant, sporting a soft carbon steel with pewter finish. Second, its feel is solid and well-balanced. I also like how the ball rolls off the face. After using a mallet with a rubber-face insert for years, I was worried this putter would deliver more “hit” to the ball.

Milled to perfection

Milled to perfection

According to Sam Bettinardi, V-P of Sales and Marketing, the Model 2 has a patented F.I.T (feel-impact-technology) Technology that is the key to its softer feel. “In the milling process, we make a second horizontal pass over the face of the putter which removes three grams of weight,” said Bettinardi. “By reducing 55% of the face material, a softer feel is guaranteed.” He also mentioned that when the company first started making putters in 1999 it used a vertical milling process on the face which delivered not only a handsome honeycomb design but also a flatter face than with the typical horizontal face milling.

Kuchar Model 2

Kuchar Model 2

Another classy touch with the Model 2 is the attractive head cover. Made with a quality and durable fabric, it’s embossed with Kuchar’s signature and also the American flag. Bettinardi is proud that its 65-70 employees, based in Tinley Park, Illinois, deliver a finely made product, meeting stringent ISO 9001-2008 standards, and don’t resort to outsourcing. “We have the talent and expertise right here in Tinley to make all the putters we’ll ever need,” said Bettinardi. “Best yet, our offices are only a few steps away from the factory floor.”

Coincidentally, my wife has been putting with a Bettinardi putter since 1999 when a company rep exhibited at the West Michigan Golf Show and she smartly purchased one. Oh no, I can hear her now giving me the needle as she sees me with the Kuchar Model 2:

“You see, there’s putters and then there’s Bettinardi.”

 

 

 

 

 

Top ten Michigan golf stories for 2013

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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

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

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.

meijer logo 188x84

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q & A with Lou Guzzi, 2013 PGA National Teacher of the Year

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unnamedLou Guzzi, owner and PGA Director of Instruction of the Lou Guzzi Golf Academy at Talamore CC in Ambler, Pa., is the 2013 PGA National Teacher of the Year. The PGA of America’s 28th Teacher of the Year, Guzzi, 51, was honored for his overall teaching performance, innovative instruction, media contributions and outstanding golfers under his tutelage. On Feb. 14-16 at DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids, Guzzi will be a headliner for the 26th West Michigan Golf Show, providing free clinics all weekend to golf-starved patrons. He becomes the 11th nationally honored teacher to appear at the Show, joining such names as Todd Anderson, Mike Bender, Hank Haney, Mike Hebron, and the late Jim Flick. Recently, Guzzi chatted with me on a variety of topics.

What can golfers do over the winter to get ready for the spring?

First, they can read books and articles that fit what they’re working on in their swing. Second, they can check their swing in front of a mirror, making sure certain positions are correct. I recommend players in the winter take lots of swings in slow motion to get a feel for where they want the club to be. As always, it helps to be working with a PGA professional but many times books, articles and online sources are valuable resources.

What about putting over the winter?

Very important. I have a putting area in my carpeted basement where I work on making 10-foot putts for twenty minutes a day.  It helps to maintain a putting stroke and feel over the winter, especially if you’re lucky enough to have a sunbelt golf trip coming up.

Speaking of golf books, what should be in every golfer’s library?

Well, number one is Ben Hogan’s Five Lessons. It’s a classic and never gets stale. I also like Tom Watson’s Getting Back to Basics, Ernie Els’s How to Build a Classic Golf Swing, and Nick Faldo’s A Swing for a Life. For the short game, I recommend Tom Watson’s Getting Up and Down—a tremendous book.

In terms of short game, I know you’ve written in Golf Magazine about Phil Mickelson’s wizardry around the greens. What’s his key?

It revolves around Phil’s “hinge and hold” technique for chipping. Phil’s adamant that hinge and hold— as opposed to the often taught rigid wrist method— is the way to go. He wants players to hinge and create an angle with their wedge and then hold that angle through impact. It’s a slightly descending blow that delivers a crisply hit shot with back spin. I’ve also written about Phil’s knockdown shot. For this shot, he never alters his ball position. Instead, depending upon the length of the shot, he merely reduces the backswing and thereby the clubhead speed. He’s a master of it.

Name some of your favorite swings on the PGA and LPGA Tours

I like a trio of Australians: Adam Scott, Stuart Appleby and Steve Elkington. All have great swings. Someone under the radar is Y.E. Yang, the 2009 PGA champion. At the Masters last year on the practice range, I watched a lot of Yang and I was so impressed with his swing. He’s very underrated. And last June just before the U.S. Open at Merion, Jason Dufner and his teacher Chuck Cook were at my Golf Academy working out. So I had an up-close and personal look at Jason’s swing. Great positions throughout and not complicated. On the LPGA Tour, I’ve always admired the simplicity and grace of Patti Sheehan’s and Annika Sorenstam’s swings. In their prime, their swings were hard to beat. Today, I also like the simplicity of Inbee Park’s swing. With a wonderful tempo, it’s beautiful thing to watch.

In your long teaching career, what’s the biggest change you’ve seen?

It’s technology. Nowadays, teachers use launch monitors, Flight Scope and multiple cameras when working with their students. When it comes to video with my students, it’s all about “seeing is believing.” But technology is only a tool that can accelerate learning and understanding. It shouldn’t be an end in itself or be used as a crutch. Technology can’t replace the keen eye of a good instructor.

What about the golf swing? Has it evolved much in the last generation?

To some degree. But in my opinion the golf swing hasn’t changed much in the last 50-60 years. When I go back and watch the swings of Sam Snead, Ben Hogan or even someone like the unheralded Peter Thomson—who won five British Opens—I notice they all have timeless, great swings. What’s to improve? They were swinging back then in a way the best teachers today now espouse. Thomson’s swing was so compact and centered, it’s a model swing for anyone. Same for Sam Snead’s or Ben Hogan’s and a dozen more.

What are your thoughts when watching Tour swings on television and some of the instant analyses by commentators?

The instruction and analysis are all fine. But I don’t think the average person, or even the average teacher, could guess the direction of a Tour player’s golf ball after it’s been struck unless they were standing behind them or had a launch monitor. It’s so difficult for the naked eye to pick up a swing flaw when someone like Phil Mickelson is swinging at 118 mph and has a slightly open or shut clubface. At that speed, it doesn’t take much for a shot to be off-line. Combined with today’s equipment and golf ball advances,  the modern swing is generating so much speed and power.

Lou, name three individuals in your dream foursome.

That would be my dad, who passed away in 2001, Ben Hogan, and Bobby Jones. They would all make for a wonderful day of golf.

Tell us about your dad. 

Unlike most PGA teachers, I actually taught my dad to play golf. When I was twelve or so,  my dad used to take me to the driving range but he really didn’t play golf. Later, I became serious with the game and developed some skills. After dad had a heart attack at age 50, he asked to go out with me to the course to get some exercise. That’s when he started playing for the first time and he became my number one student for the next 22 years. He succumbed to cancer but even during that painful period he was an inspiration to me for how much he loved the game.

 

For more information about Lou Guzzi, visit www.louguzzi.com and www.westmichigangolfshow.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Splitsville: Tiger Woods and Sean Foley. What’s next?

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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

 

 

 

 

 

 

A fitting gift for any occasion

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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

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

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

Masters week begins Sunday with Drive, Chip & Putt Finals

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

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

Mickelson center stage at the FOG

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Phil Mickelson with the Lowerys at the FOG

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

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.

A review of Dan Jenkins’ Unplayable Lies

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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

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.

 

Q & A with Cameron McCormick, Jordan Spieth’s teacher, Part I

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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

Q & A with Cameron McCormick, PGA Teacher of the Year, Part II

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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

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


Masters notebook, 2016

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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

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

Secret Golf: ‘it’s in the (digital) dirt’

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Elk Secret Golf

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 Marks the Spot for Play, Training and Fun

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X-Golf: now with 4 locations in Mich.

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:

The Story of the West Michigan Golf Show

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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

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

‘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.

A return visit to Austin’s Topgolf

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Austin's Topgolf location

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

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.

Wie Love the PGA Jr. League

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Scramble teams squared off at Binder Park

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

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

Miles of Golf: still leading the way in club fitting

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Brent Norton: Club fitting maven at Miles of Golf

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

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!

 

 


Q & A with Chris O’Connell, Matt Kuchar’s teacher

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Chris O'Connell

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

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. 

How Johnny Miller Almost Became a Headliner at the WM Golf Show

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Johnny Miller

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 and me

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Mac O'Grady

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

Golf’s ongoing distance debate

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Preserving the game's dimensions

Preserving the game’s dimensions

Unlike other major sports, golf hasn’t done a good job in regulating the effects of technology on the traditional dimensions of the game. In contrast, Major League Baseball (MLB) has long outlawed the use of an aluminum bat so to as control the velocity of a struck baseball coming off it. If aluminum bats were used in the majors, as they’re commonly used in Little League, high school and college—largely for economic reasons—traditional ball parks and their dimensions would be adversely impacted. MLB also argued that aluminum bats posed a safety risk to players by producing a dangerously fast velocity. 

Recently, I’ve learned how professional tennis nearly 20 years ago made decisions relative to its official tournament ball to preserve some essential aspects of its game. In 2002, the Tennis Federation adopted a new official tournament ball to slow down the power and speed of serves on hard courts, while speeding up the game on slower surfaces such as clay. The slightly larger ball came off the racquet at the same speed as a standard ball, but decelerated during flight to give the receiver about 10 percent more reaction time. The result was more rallies and less of a power serve game.

A study undertaken by London’s South Bank University proved that players could play 35 percent longer when using the new official ball.

83309C94-6EA3-43DF-B8E7-834CB660EB2D

Ian Harris

Michigan’s Ian Harris, the head tennis professional at Southfield’s Franklin Athletic Club and one of the best senior amateur golfers in the state, remembers when tennis made the move. “Although it was past my playing days when it happened, the new ball was an attempt to make the game more interesting,” said Harris. “And it wasn’t just the ball; it was also advances in racquet designs and stringing technology.”

Was it effective?  “Not entirely successful,” insisted Harris who in his prime won professional tennis tournaments on five continents. “You still don’t see anyone using an attacking style—most players remain behind the baseline.” Harris further explained that if a player goes to the net, the improved racquets and stringing allow receivers to impart so much spin and hit such sharp angles that they easily defend against the attacking style. But at least tennis took steps to try to manage the unintended effects of technology on the game.

Meanwhile, golf is dealing with the effects of increased distance by a confluence of factors—technology, player conditioning and technique, and agronomy. These effects are most apparent in the elite player—college players, top amateurs and professionals. When the PGA Tour started keeping statistics in 1980, the average Tour drive was 256.5 yards. Michigan’s Dan Pohl led the tour that year in driving average at 274.1 yards, and again in 1981 with a 280.1 yard average. In 2020, the average driving distance on Tour had risen to 296.4 yards, a 15% increase over the past 20 years.

Kevin Na, the recent winner of the Sony Open, who ranked 186th in driving distance on the PGA Tour in 2020 at 288.2 yards, openly admitted that the dogleg laden Waialae Country Club—designed by Seth Raynor—gave him a chance to compete against the bombers. He said: “I’ve got to take advantage of these golf courses.” 

Brandel Chamblee

Brandel Chamblee

Golf Channel’s Brandel Chamblee this past month wrote a piece about the distance debate in golf. In addition to technological improvements in the ball, shaft and clubhead composition, he also cited certain course set-up standards that have contributed to added distance for elite players. He claimed decreased fairway heights over the last 30 years—going from 3/4 of an inch to now 3/16 of an inch—have also boosted the average driving distance of pros.

And he rightly credited player conditioning in added swing speed—most notably by Bryson DeChambleau—as an accelerant for more length.

But Chamblee really thinks the distance problem in professional golf—with its unsustainable lengthening of courses—could be better combatted by mower height.  “What we need, is not to make golf balls shorter or golf courses longer, but to make the fairway heights, the rough heights and the green heights longer, and almost every single problem in this game will be solved.”

There’s some truth to what Chamblee is arguing. Most Tour courses are set up so that fairways are firm and fast and few allow roughs to go to US Open-type length. In so many words, the PGA Tour has always claimed that’s in the entertainment business where birdies make spectators, sponsors and television network officials all smile.

But Chamblee discounts the effects of improved ball and driver-and-shaft composition that has allowed the carry (and not just the roll and carry) of an average Tour drive to reach unprecedented lengths. 

I remember one Masters more than 10 years ago when Tiger Woods, speaking in a pre-tournament interview, claimed that carrying a drive over a bunker or penalty area 320 yards out was once never seriously considered except for a few golfers. He then admitted “nowadays” dozens of players easily accomplish the feat.

And the ball is a problem. When the ProV1 was introduced it was a game changer. It—along its competitors—remain so today. “I remember in the old days, long hitters would hit it really hard but have a lot of spin on their drives, somewhat offsetting their advantages,” said Chris Mile of Miles of Golf in Ann Arbor. “But the new balls virtually eliminate spin for the elite players.”

So why not just have a tournament ball for golf as in tennis? Jack Nicklaus, a traditionalist in every sense of the word, has called for it in the past. And in fact, the Ohio Golf Association even conducted some of its tournaments with an official golf ball decades ago. So what’s the objection? Because it would result in a bifurcation of the rules of golf. The R & A and the USGA want one set of rules to govern the game, not two.

Ian Harris has an opinion or two on that stance.

“It’s ridiculous to think even good players play the same game as Rory or Tiger,” says Harris, who qualifed for the US Senior Open in 2015.  “When I went into the equipment van at that tournament, I got to see the level of sophistication in terms of equipment and matching that equipment to players. Players at this level are getting the absolute most out of their equipment that far surpasses that of general golfers.”

Like many, Harris sees the pluses of a tournament ball. “The benefits in not lengthening classic courses for a small segment of golfers would be obvious. The tricky part is where to draw the line in the sand for what golfers. Possibly it would need to begin with college players and professional players.”

Mile added another perspective: “There’s already a bifurcation now when it comes to the Rules between amateurs and Tour pros. On Tour, there’s always a stroke and distance penalty for lost balls and out of bounds whereas there’s no distance penalty (but an added shot) as an option for amateur players.”

Frank Thomas

Frank Thomas

Opposing this viewpoint is Frank Thomas, the former Technical Director of the USGA and founder of Frankly Golf, a putter and consulting company.

“One of the lasting appeals of golf is that one set of rules govern everyone, from the weekend player to the major champion. We shouldn’t change the rules for a very minuscule number of players,” said Thomas. “Instead of limiting or rolling back technology, tournament organizers should look at course set-up,” added Thomas, echoing the concerns of Chamblee. “Put the premium back on hitting fairways by making the rough more penal.”

So the debate continues. In the interim, we can only wait for the USGA/R & A’s distance report in March.

 

Images courtesy of Visit Chicago, GAM, Golf Channel, Frankly Golf

What’s it take to make a college golf team?

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Auburn's top ranked men's golf team

Auburn University currently boasts the top ranked men’s golf team

Recently, a friend called me and asked if I’d be willing to talk to a high school student with aspirations for playing college golf. Specifically, she asked me for guidance on what does it take to get noticed by college coaches? Naturally, I was happy to oblige but first I wanted to talk to some college coaches at various NCAA levels. Fortunately, I have some good contacts, especially with coaches at men’s programs.

As an aside, I told these coaches I wouldn’t quote them directly so as to spare them more outside calls and inquiries. 

At the Division III level, a current head coach said the minimum scoring average to get his attention for a high school player is 75 while also showing improvement each year. Although high school scores aren’t overlooked there’s more weight given to deeper tournament competition found with the Golf Association of Michigan (GAM) and Callaway-Meijer Junior Tour. Success in these tournaments as well as in USGA Junior qualifying events will often reveal more than a player’s high school record. Of course, positive results and achievements at the regional and state prep finals levels remain important.

This same coach likes to meet the player in person, review his academic record, and get a sense of his character. A 3.5 GPA is a minimum requirement. Often, if the player is serious about attending his school, the coach will invite him to meet with his team to get a feel about team chemistry. For sure, the coach will have seen the player perform on the course.

Finally, the college coach will speak to a player’s high school coach as well as his swing coach, if available, to get their take on his prospects going forward. All of this normally takes place during the player’s senior year but it helps to start a conversation much sooner.

At the Division II level there are similarities. One coach said the minimum scoring average should be below 74 with priority given to state wide competitions like the GAM and USGA Junior tournaments. Success in the elite American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) is given extra weight. However, due to the higher entry and travel costs associated with the AJGA, coaches understand not everyone can afford this level of play.

A 3.0 GPA is a minimum standard cited by one D-II coach. A high school player with a stellar academic record does merit attention, because college teams are held accountable for their player’s college grades. But one coach told me he focuses more on what a player does on the course. As in the case with the D-III coach, he said personality traits such as a positive demeanor, patience and perseverance are all important.

Division I followed this pattern but with a few added twists. One former D-I coach said the scoring average should be in the low 70s while showing consistency and an upward trajectory, especially in more competitive tournaments. National rankings come more into play at this elite level with a focus on AJGA, the National Junior Golf Scoreboard and the Golfweek Junior rankings.  Not surprisingly, D-I coaches will be looking at players around the country and often overseas.

The coach said the timeline for evaluating junior golf talent has accelerated in recent years. Nowadays, D-I coaches are aware of and keep track of players’ potential in their freshman year or before. It was a not a surprise that Michigan’s standout junior, PJ Maybank, committed to Oklahoma in his junior year. 

D-I coaches usually pare down their recruits to around 20-25 players, often seeing them in action several times. As mentioned previously, the player’s “X-factor,” meaning character, personality and perseverance, is also evaluated and weighed.

Although the bar may seem high to become a college golfer, whatever the level, the coaches agreed there’s usually a program available somewhere for just about every golfer meeting these minimum standards of performance.

And what about being a walk-on and trying out for the team? At most programs, this really isn’t an option. Team rosters and an agreed upon “headcount” are usually set before the season begins on campus.

Let’s just say to make the team, a walk-on will need a lot of the X-factor.

 

Photo courtesy of the NCAA

More on Slow Play at the Masters & Elsewhere

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Patrick Cantlay

Patrick Cantlay

In my Masters wrap-up article last week, I ended my notes section quoting a post-round comment by runner-up Brooks Koepka when asked about the pace of play on Sunday:

“Yeah, the group in front of us [ Patrick Cantlay & Victor Hovland ] was brutally slow. Jon (Rahm) went to the bathroom like seven times during the round, and we were still waiting.”

Cantlay didn’t have a chance to tell his side of the story until last week’s RBC Heritage tournament at Harbour Town GC:

“I mean, we finished the first hole (on Sunday) and the group in front of us was on the second tee when we walked up, and we waited all day on pretty much every shot. We waited in 15 fairway, we waited in 18 fairway. I imagine it was slow for everyone.”

In that same press conference, Cantlay said he was a member of the Player Advisory Council where he had exclusive access to the Tour’s data on pace of play.

That data, according to Cantlay, indicate PGA Tour rounds have taken about the same length of time over the last 10 or 20 years.

Simple peer pressure sometimes helps to speed up a notoriously slow player. In a recent column by Alex Miceli, Jordan Spieth admitted that was his case:

“I didn’t like having that attached to my name. And people did not want to play with me because I was slow. And so I’ve tried to speed up and have sped up quite a bit since then, and I think that that’s something guys should try to do.”

Glen "All" Day

Glen “All” Day

The unkindest cut may be a wicked nickname attached to a slow player. It was probably a caddie that dubbed the ever-plodding Glen Day (now on the Champions Tour) with this terse sobriquet:

“All.”

The other salient factors behind slow play are course type, weather conditions and hole locations. Certainly, the foul weather seen at the Masters on Saturday contributed to slow play. But on Sunday, in sunny conditions with only 57 contestants playing in twosomes?

For sure, Augusta National’s confounding greens and hole locations on Sunday required a more deliberate approach to reading greens.

Has AimPoint contributed to slower play?

Has AimPoint contributed to slower play?

Gary Woodland also pointed out that AimPoint, the green reading technique widely used by players, has possibly contributed to slower play. Also, the USGA and R & A two years ago issued a rule for professional competition in the use of tournament-approved green-reading books.

(By the way, that rule was limited to Tour-level tournaments, not for recreational or local play. Funny, there was no complaint by Tour players then of a bifurcation of the rules.)

On AimPoint, it was almost comical to see some of the young players in the Drive, Chip & Putt finals at Augusta National mimicking the pros and using AimPoint in the putting competition.

Rory McIIroy

Rory McIIroy

Rory McIIroy even commented on it:

“I saw some of them AimPointing, like, oh my goodness.” (Laughter).

The only remedy is enforcing a rule which results in a penalty. This last happened at the Masters in 2013 to 14-year-old Tianlang Guan. The last slow play penalty in a major was in 2021 at the PGA Championship when player John Catlin incurred a one-stroke penalty.

And Golf Digest’s Joel Beall reported the last time a PGA Tour player was assessed a penalty stroke was in 1995!

Instead of penalty shots, the PGA Tour levies fines up to $20,000. The PGA Tour also uses other measures, including a non-published list of slow players, to address pace of play issues.

It should be noted that most if not all amateur golf associations, like the Golf Association of Michigan (GAM), assess penalty strokes to competitive players not meeting defined time requirements. Players are expected to play each nine in 2 hours and 15 minutes. And that’s for threesomes. Enacted several years ago, these rules have been effective in speeding play.

Ken Hartman

Ken Hartman

Ken Hartman, the GAM’s Senior Director of Competitions, said penalties for slow play happened “less than five times” last year. This covers thousands of competitors in scores of GAM tournaments. Impressive.

The Michigan Section of the PGA can also assess a penalty stroke for slow play but first use warnings (as does the GAM) about being out of position before a penalty is made. Executive Director Kevin Helm reported no penalties were assessed last year but there was at least one case in 2021.

But the Masters and the PGA Tour are a different kettle of fish. There’s too much on the line to invoke a penalty stroke, unless blatant, for slow play.

Cantlay said it best last week:

“I think that’s just the nature of playing professional golf where every shot matters so much.”

 

Images courtesy of Goldman Sachs, AimPoint, TaylorMade, GAM

BRG: Taking Golf Instruction to a Different Level

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Brandon Roby

Brandon Roby

The other day I visited one of the most impressive indoor practice and teaching facilities in west Michigan. Located at the busy nexus of 28th St and Breton Road in Grand Rapids, the BRG Performance Center is now open, offering members a state-of-the-art game improvement space. BRG stands for Brandon Roby Golf as it’s led by Roby who’s been recognized by Golf Digest in its Best Teachers in Michigan rankings annually since 2017.

Before sharing Roby’s background, let me give you a verbal peek inside the performance center. Walking in the doors, the first thing one notices are six bays outfitted with Trackman, the industry leader in launch monitors and simulators providing real-time feedback and data on shotmaking. Highly useful for instruction and practice, Trackman also offers virtual golf at more than 280 courses from around the world.

Across from the Trackman’s bays, there’s a long putting green measuring 1,300 square feet designed to allow for practicing putts of not only various lengths but also ones with some break and slope.

Six Trackman bays at BRG

Six Trackman bays at BRG

A real eye-opener is the PuttView putting green, located in a separate area across from the putting green. A first in Michigan, PuttView delivers an augmented reality system that projects every aspect of a putt on the green. The technology delivers the same sort of virtual putting line of a given putt, commonly seen on golf telecasts. An immediate thought: My inner Jordan Spieth sure would love to spend an hour here!

Game improvement amenities include GASP floor plates which measure the direction of force of each foot during a golf swing. Generating more speed—from the ground up—has been a key teaching fundamental in recent years and floor plates provide a learning tool to get there. Not many teaching centers offer them.

And of course, there’s a private teaching bay for Roby, a native of the Grand Rapids area. He’s been in the golf business for over 25 years but found his niche as a teacher in 2004. He credits Gale Peterson, the nationally ranked instructor at Sea Island Resort in Georgia, for lighting the spark for teaching. “Early in my career, I spent several days with Gale watching her teach and interact with her students. She convinced me to follow my passion and pursue that path,” said Roby. “She and other teachers have been very helpful as mentors.”

Following a stint at Kent County Club, Roby found a home at Cascade Hills Country Club with its large and active membership. Starting as an assistant, he later became the club’s Director of Instruction in 2012, the first for a private club in the area. During this time and in concert with the club’s General Manager, he led the construction of a year-round indoor practice facility, another first for a club in Grand Rapids. 

“Its reception was slow in the beginning but steadily gained momentum,” said Roby. “One of the keys was forming a core group of people who wanted to practice and get better over the winter. We started with 12 adults and 14 juniors but it grew to over 100 people in a few years.”

Supported by investors for his ambitious undertaking, Roby is confident a similar timeline for success is on the horizon at BRG. “This model is new to west Michigan but it’s been tried and true in other parts of the country akin to our demographics. Our team is confident there are enough people who want this type of facility and are willing to pay for it.”

The business model for BRG is a subscription plan at various levels and duration. For example, there’s a four-month option, at $1500, which provides unlimited Trackman and PuttView time along with reduced guest fees and for adding a family member. And the Center is open from 6 am to 11 pm seven days a week and allows members easy but secure access with a key card. 

Other options include a four-month plan, at $200 per month, called the Elevate Winter Series, which provide one group lesson per week and one hour of unsupervised practice at the facility.

Until Spring, the center will have open and non-member hours from 12 pm-8 pm Tuesday through Sunday. So prospective members can experience BRG before making a commitment.

Roby is a big proponent of both guided and solo practice. “We teach how to practice so students are not spinning their wheels and instead gain confidence with proper drills and repetition.” To Roby, there’s a market for such a facility.

“Looking at the price of a private club and the limited access to comprehensive practice facilities, joining here should be seen as a good investment,” said Roby.

Ideally, Roby is looking at 200-250 members although the facility could easily handle more. “Bigger is not always better and I want our members to feel at home here as they would at a place like Cascade Hills.”

Recently, there was a day when BRG seemed to embody its promise and potential. Several junior and high school golfers were using the facility, doing Trackman and putting. After a few hours, they broke for lunch and came back later with a few friends, clearing with Roby beforehand, and spent a couple more hours. 

“In all, they were here for over five hours and loved it. Of course, it was a snow day,” admitted Roby with a laugh.

With a number of aspiring and decorated juniors and amateurs among his students, Roby remains poised at this next stage of his career. “Two years from now, I hope the members will say they found a safe and convenient place to work on their games and have fun. Along the way, I’ll be there pushing them to get better.”

For more information, visit www.brandonrobygolf.com

 

About Brandon Roby

Age: 50

Residence: Jenison, MI

Family: Wife Julie; sons Gavin, 21, at Purdue Univ;  Grayson, 15, Jenison HS; and Gryffin, 12, Jenison

Honors: Best Teachers in Michigan by Golf Digest, 2017-present

Certifications: Titleist Performance Institute Levels 1 and 2 as well as Level 2 junior golf: US Kids certified; one of three professionals in Michigan to earn Aimpoint putting certification with founder Mark Sweeney.

Special note: BRG Performance Center is exhibiting at the West Michigan Golf Show in downtown Grand Rapids on Feb. 9-11.

 






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