Editorial

18 Jan 2013 Corina Pelloni

Teach your students to make every course be thier favorite course

There’s an old saying in golf: “Different horses for different courses.” Some players just think and play better on certain courses.  This mental game principle fits Steve Stricker to a tee. Defending his crown, Stricker raced to a strong second-place finish at the 2013 Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Hawaii.  Stricker stated, “This is a special place to start the year.” Clearly, his enjoyment for the Plantation Course at Kapalua has propelled his play to great heights. Even with a pain racing down his left leg due to a pinched nerve, Steve proceeded to shoot a 69 on Sunday, and impressively, hit every green in regulation. But Steve Stricker is not unique in having a playing affair with a certain course.  Ben Hogan played so well at the Riviera Country Club that it has been dubbed “Hogan’s Alley.”  Pebble Beach holds the same magic for Mark O’Meara, who won the U.S. Amateur and five PGA Tour events there. Many factors influence why a certain course provides great play for a particular player. One is that the layout of the holes just fits a player’s eye.  If most of the holes go left to right, and your bread-and-butter shot pattern is a fade (for a righty), then this would make you feel very comfortable over every tee shot. Another factor is that some courses get the juices flowing more than others. I heard “Bones” (Phil Mickelson’s long time caddy) say how much his player loves Augusta National and gets amped up to play there. Perhaps that is a big reason why Phil has worn the “Green Jacket” three times (once at a fast food drive-thru with his family, but that is a different story). On the flip side, consider all-time great Lee Trevino, who’s won every major except the Masters. Trevino has stated that Augusta National and he were not a good fit. If he felt the love as Phil does for that “old nursery,” then he may have won there (and at least finished higher than a T10). What about your students? Do they talk themselves out of playing well on certain golf courses? Do they talk themselves into playing poorly on certain holes? It is really that simple. Self-talk has immense influence over the outcome of our efforts. You must convince you students to like every course, and every difficult hole. Remind them to enjoy the course with its wonderful layout and great greens. In that case, they will enjoy the course even more because they played so well. When they make every course their favorite, they will find their scores improve in return. Bio: Dr. Gregg Steinberg is a tenured professor of sports and has been the official sports psychologist for the United States Golf Teachers Federation for the past 15 years. Dr. Gregg has been the mental coach for many golf teams including the University of Florida 1993 NCAA Men’s Championship team. He also enjoys helping young golfers to “think better scores.” Golf Digest ranked him as one of the best golf psychologists. Dr. Gregg is the author of “Mental rules for Golf” and has appeared many times on Golf Channel.  You can see more about him at www.drgreggsteinberg.com and if you have any questions about the mental game, please e-mail him at mentalrules24@msn.com.

18 Jan 2013 Corina Pelloni

Play the front tees to go low

All players have a comfort zone when playing the game.  However, when you stray from the zone, say when you’re on pace to break 100 for the first time, or when you’re several under par early during a round, it’s easy to get nervous.  These emotions are natural, and it takes visualization and training to keep them under control.  There are several ways to do this when playing great golf.  One very successful drill I use with my students, to ensure a sense of calmness when entering the zone, is to play a few rounds from the front tees. When students play from closer tees, it helps them hit more greens in regulation, getting to par-5s in two and maybe driving some par-4 greens.  I want my students to have opportunities to get up and down for birdie, not par.  I want them to feel the excitement of draining a lot of putts inside 10 feet for birdie, not lagging from 40 feet.  The excitement which comes from consistent putting, translating into a low round, introduces positive nerves, which cements the experiences into memory recall.  Rather than reverting to the negative mindset of “don’t blow it,” the student can draw upon those positive memories and welcome an attitude of “how low can I go” to experience the thrill that only a great round provides. This aggressive behavior is beneficial in many ways.  The student won’t focus on the milestone that they are close to achieving.  It helps them focus solely on going lower, and not maintaining their current level of performance.  How many students have told you, “If I knew I could have made par on the last two holes, then I would have broken 100 for the first time”?  We want our students to think about making another birdie, making another par, not, “How much longer can I keep this up?” By playing more forward tees in practice rounds, your students will learn to shoot lower scores, and thus, you are training them to go low.  This will help keep your students calm when they are in the “zone,” allowing them to finish good rounds strong and turning great rounds into their best rounds!

7 Jan 2013 Corina Pelloni

Who is really to blame for slow play?

An issue that comes up constantly when the talking heads discuss the state of the game is slow play. I can understand when two professionals playing for millions of dollars take their time to complete a round of golf, but five to six hours for the rest of us seems a bit extreme. When I was a young lad caddying for my dad’s group, we always finished in 3 ½ hours. The last round I played with my regulars took 5 ½ hours. I’m not talking about guys who score in the 100s, either. The highest score was 83. So, what’s happened and who’s to blame? The knee-jerk reaction from most is always people are imitating the pros, taking numerous practice swings, or standing over a two-foot putt forever. In my observation over the years, however, rarely do I find the fault of slow play being caused by the players. When I play my local municipal course that has been in operation for close to 100 years, the 19^th hole is always less than four hours away. The number one culprit responsible for slow play these days is course design. My local muni length is 6,214 yards. The average newer course now stretches well over 7,000. That right there probably adds half an hour. Add in the eight or ten bunkers each hole seems to have, green speeds of 12 on the Stimpmeter, and another hour can easily be go by. Don’t forget the 300-yard cart drive often from one green to the next tee and several more minutes will ensue. Don’t just blame golfers for slow play. Sure, there are always some that are the cause, but for the most part lay it squarely on the shoulders of an industry that got out of control and an organization (the USGA) that failed to do a good job regulating the issue.

17 Dec 2012 Corina Pelloni

Golf…the team game

After 40 years of playing and watching golf, I am not fazed by much of what I see. But, the recent Ryder Cup was amazing. Watching talented athletes that were programmed to be independent from childhood become so emotional about a team competition was fascinating. They may have been playing for their country, but I think just as much or more they were playing for each other. These guys play against each other intensely all year, battling every week. Here they are, pulling so hard for each other, you could feel the tension and drama through the TV. It may not have turned out the way you wanted, depending on your nationality, but the competition was something to savor and appreciate. Most all of us that play or played the game seriously were drawn to golf because we were wired to think and react very independently to a greater extent than the average person. We rely solely on ourselves: Very disciplined, very self-motivated, answering to no one but ourselves. I have found most very good golfers are comfortable being alone, and can function well when left to rely on themselves. So, you have to ask yourself, why would these independent millionaires want to win so badly as a team?   They were jumping, hugging, completely exuberant, real and very genuine. Some of the European players that are so stoic on the tour turned into little kids on Christmas morning. I believe we are naturally drawn to community. No matter what you accomplish in life on your own, feeling part of a team that pulls together and wins together is a special feeling. Think about your most enjoyable rounds of golf. For a lot us, myself included, the rounds in which we had a partner and won were the most enjoyable and rewarding experiences the game could offer. I don’t think the nature of the game is that natural to most of us, simply because we are born to be part of a community. There is no doubt accomplishing something completely on your own is great, but being a part of a winning team can definitely be more satisfying. One of the most enjoyable memories of my life is a great example. Many years ago I worked at and managed a facility that had a lot of high school-age female athletes working in the restaurant. We had a natural rivalry with another facility not far away. At some point, the challenge of a softball game between the two facilities became a reality. The problem was this: They had eight guys and one girl. We had one guy – me – and eight girls. You most likely guessed the ending by now. We played great and my team of eight girls and I beat the almost-all-boy team. It was an incredible day. The rush of adrenaline during the game was exhilarating. The feeling of euphoria at the end of the game beat any feeling I ever had accomplishing something on my own. I could live to be 100 years old and I will never forget that feeling. Recently, I got paired in a competition with another golf professional. It was a better-ball match. I didn’t know this person well before we played, just a very recent acquaintance. The bond we created that day was remarkable. After just four hours on the course, I felt like I had known him for years. He calls me now occasionally for business reasons and we relive the round a little every time we talk. Yes, we mostly play golf for ourselves, but don’t ever underestimate the value and satisfaction of being part of a team.

17 Dec 2012 Corina Pelloni

To anchor or not…

We have come to the point that has been building for almost two years regarding whether belly or long putters will remain legal, or to be more specific, what constitutes a stroke according to the rules of golf. As has been the case with other rules changes, this is a reactionary change. It could be Sam Snead dropping putts from everywhere while straddling his putting line, or Johnny Miller going on and on during a broadcast about how much spin the tour players are getting out of the rough with the old grooves. Because of the recent success of a few tour players that use the longer putters anchored to the body, once again the USGA and the R&A have responded to the publicity. After over 120 years of golf in the modern era (post 1890), we are still defining what constitutes a stroke. Personally, I agree that tour players should not be allowed to anchor the club. My disagreement comes with the rules organizations not allowing for different rules for the average golfer. In a publicly released statement, the PGA of America has taken a strong position against the change based on the premise that we should not do anything to make the game more difficult because of the shrinking number of new golfers. My question is, why do the most talented players in the world, the elite few, have to play the same rules as Joe Hacker just trying to have fun playing the game? Every sport adjusts their rules to the competition. College football rules are different than NFL rules. Amateur baseball was different than Major League Baseball for decades because of the allowance of aluminum bats. Length of games, equipment, and many other differences exist depending upon the level of competition and talent in every sport. Why not pressure the tour into making the change on their own instead of rewriting the rule book for everyone? Or, write a separate rule book for competitive golf? The precedent was set already with the groove rule being implemented with different timetables between the competitive versus the non-competitive golfer. I have seen research done citing the lack of difference in putting stats with conventional versus anchored on the tour. The flaw in this research is that it only looks at stats on tour as a whole, lumping together all players. In other words, yes, maybe the percentage of missed 8-foot putts is the same, or the number of putts per greens in regulation is the same. But, what the research didn’t cite was the difference between a tour player that switched from conventional to anchored. In those cases, there are some dramatic improvements. Therefore, my contention is that it does make a difference. This is great for the average golfer who struggles to putt well, but it’s not a fair advantage for the millionaire tour player. To purists, the club should be controlled from both ends, grip and butt. The club should be swung as an extension of the arms freely away from the body. I completely agree with this argument for the tour player or high-level competitive golfer. But, I also agree with the PGA and others who say, why change something that might discourage participation among the masses? So, should we continue to teach juniors who have professional aspirations the conventional method? Of course. But, I am very confident there are not a lot of 40-year-old new golfers that will become tour players. Unfortunately, the average golfer will junk his belly putter and the image presented to the non-golfer is the same as it has always been – a bunch of stubborn old guys unable to see that we need to make the game easier for the average person, not harder. Although this may not be reality, perception is reality. So, the perception will still exist among the general public. When the image of the game is changed to be more inclusive and less stringent, maybe we will see growth in the game. In the meantime, let’s continue to make the game as difficult as possible for Joe Hacker. Why make it easy for him…golf is supposed to be hard, right?

28 Nov 2012 Corina Pelloni

Golf and the PGA tour are alive and well!

I remember at the start of this year that many sportswriters were saying that we need Tiger Woods back on his game, because golf has taken a big hit since he fell from his perch atop the golfing world.  Just take a look, however, at what has emerged in the last nine months or so. We’ve had two very solid golfers (Luke Donald and Rory McIlroy) from the UK that have dueled it out for the top ranking this entire year.  McIlroy has pretty much established himself as the best golfer on the planet now, and has in fact proven that his top ranking is something that he can handle, as he has played extremely well since becoming number one in the world. Except for Woods, there have been times in years gone by in which that ranking has caused its owner to get so distracted that his game would suffer to the point that we would see him go into hibernation and lose his top ranking in short order.  David Duval and Tom Lehman come to mind, but not so with Rory! We have the re-emergence of former top players like Ernie Els, Lee Westwood, Steve Stricker, and Zach Johnson.  There are young guns such as Ricky Fowler, Kyle Stanley, and Keegan Bradley, who are quickly showing that they figure into the mix.  Jim Furyk and Vijay Singh are too competitive to just let these young guns take over, though! Phil Mickelson has some huge distractions currently, but even when he is distracted, he is still a threat to win any tournament he enters.  Woods has learned to deal with what he created, and is definitely showing signs of getting his old game back. Additionally, we have several tour journeymen who are starting to come into their own.  Players like Hunter Mahan, Jason Dufner, Bubba Watson, Dustin Johnson, Carl Petterson, Justin Rose, Matt Kuchar, Louis Oosthuizen, and Webb Simpson.  Adam Scott and Sergio Garcia aren’t going to just sit back and watch these guys have all the fun! Although he is not what I would call flashy or exciting, Brandt Snedeker is now shaking up the golfing world, because he is not only a great putter, but also a very good ball striker.  The fact that he drove the ball as accurately as he did in the Tour Championship speaks volumes about his maturing process.  Snedeker seems to me to be the type of player that will be solid for many years to come. I submit to you that the PGA Tour is as competitive as it has ever been, and it is also replete with players who not only have the talent, but actually know how to win, even when the best players in the world are breathing down their neck. The PGA Tour next year should be a lot of fun! Good golfing!

19 Nov 2012 Thomas Wartelle, USGTF Level IV Member

Helpful tips for students… continued

To finish the series “Helpful Tips for Students,” we conclude with trouble shots.

Trouble Shots

Stand tall when the ball is above your feet: Stand taller than normal when the ball is above your feet and expect the ball to draw. Because the ball is above your feet, you have to adjust your stance accordingly. Standing tall helps you sweep the ball. It also helps to imagine hitting a baseball off of a tee.

Sit down when the ball is below your feet: Feel as if you are sitting down more when the ball is below your feet and expect the ball to fade. Try to lower yourself until you imagine you have a level stance. If the ball is three inches below your feet, then sit down three inches lower by flexing your knees more.

On downhill lies, swing with the slope: Follow the slope on downhill lies with your set-up and swing. Use more a more-lofted club than normal and swing down and through the ball. You should put slightly more weight towards the target foot in the set-up. The more lofted club helps the ball get into the air. Remember to make the club swing down and through the ball to insure a slightly steeper angle of attack.

On uphill lies, swing with the slope and resist the urge to fall back: On uphill lies, follow the slope and use a less-lofted club than normal. Try to make a good balanced finish and resist falling back.

Use a hybrid or fairway wood for awkward bump and run shots: When faced with an uneven lie around the green, simply set up similar to as you would for a chip shot. As you address the ball, find your grip position by letting the shaft slide up or down the same amount that you adjust your stance for the awkward lie.

Be more aggressive when you don’t find the fairway: Try using a high-lofted fairway wood or hybrid the next time you are faced with a long shot off of a brushy lie. Be aggressive and don’t be afraid to remove some material with your swing!

A high-lofted fairway wood or hybrid clubhead passes through the rough easier than an iron. It gives you the opportunity to gain some distance and do more than just chip out. As long as you keep the clubhead moving, the mass and center of gravity of the club will do the work.

19 Nov 2012 Corina Pelloni

In Middle Tennessee

In Middle Tennessee, we are now in the season of transition. The leaves are bright orange and yellow. and all will soon leave their branches and fall to the earth. Nature is making its transition into winter.

Transition is a desirable state for many in the workforce. Many individuals are unhappy in their current state. They would like a higher paying job or just a more gratifying job. Some are fortunate enough to make that leap, while others have too many obligations to even think about making a change, despite being miserable at work.

Joe Moglia was one of the fortunate ones. He began his career as an assistant college football coach. He loved his job. But, he was only making $33,000 at the time and needed to feed his growing family, and that salary was not enough. He left the coaching business to join the financial advising business. With his skills and great charisma, he rose to the top of his game. Eventually, he became CEO of TD Ameritrade and a very wealthy man. Wealth did not motivate Joe. Football did.

Because he was then financially secure, he transitioned his way back into coaching. A few years ago, he started as a volunteer assistant coach for Nebraska. Currently, he is head football coach at Coastal Carolina University. Joe now does what he always wanted to do for a living – coach football.

However, most stories are not as happy as Joe’s. Perhaps you and want to make a leap into being a full-time golf instructor, but are fearful to make the transition. You don’t think you can swing it financially. You have a mortgage and children who need college tuition. You feel stuck. Transition to a happier place does not seem fiscally possible.

Career transition coach Kevin McNulty (and a friend of mine) has a plan for you. He recommends having a split personality in your dream job pursuits. In actuality, Kevin says that you must put food on the table, so one personality needs to act responsibly and hold down the current job.

But, the alter ego needs to actively pursue the dream job – in your case, being a full time golf instructor. Kevin recommends devising a plan to move in your dream job’s direction. Perhaps you need to get a mentor, or join a mastermind group who can give you some great business advice.

The first step is to create a plan with clear strategies that will allow you to make that career leap into being a full-time golf instructor. Kevin advises making a six-month fiscal plan. You need to put enough money away so that when you decide to make a leap, you need not work for almost six months. This is your safety net in case your new direction does not pan out on a full-time basis. It will also reduce your fear of making that jump into the unknown.

As with nature, our life is composed of seasons. With advanced planning, you can make your transition a season of joy and not a season of discontent.

19 Nov 2012 Corina Pelloni

Whatever happened to “for the love of the game”?

Appearance fees…Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy just got a big bunch of change for playing in a tournament overseas. Tiger and Phil, it is said, got a lot of money to appear at the Greenbrier Classic. I understand it, but that does not make me happy about it. On the one hand you want to attract the largest crowd you can, but if there are no marquee players, attendance suffers.

Big-name players don’t necessarily want to play in the middle of nowhere, even if it is an historic course. Golf is big business. Gone are the days when players barnstormed the country in efforts to expose people to the game or raise money for worthy causes like the war effort. Money is what it is all about now. It is the world we live in.

In a way it is a shame, but the tour has no one to blame but itself. Like anything in life, once you give something, it is hard to take it away. Players are treated pretty well on the tour. They get free cars at every stop, free food and drink each day, and huge purses to play for. You would think that would be enough. To think that an individual making millions of dollars would need more just to show up is sad actually. That it is condoned is sadder.

The question, is how do you stop it? Does anyone even want to?

1 Nov 2012 Thomas Wartelle, USGTF Level IV Member

Helpful Tips for Students…continued

In continuation of the series “Helpful Tips for Students”, we move on to” around the green & putting”.

Around the Greens

Distance Control on Pitch Shots:  Control the distance of your wedges by swing speed, shortening the club and length of swing.

The best wedge players rely on their tempo or swing speed when hitting wedge shots under pressure.  Copy the great wedge players such as:  Bobby Jones, Lee Trevino, Chi Chi Rodriguez and Seve Ballesteros.

Soft Lob Shots:  Feel as if there is a quarter on the face of the club through impact.  Don’t let the quarter fall off.  The secret to high soft lob shots is to never let the face turn over through impact.

Sand Shots:  Practice with the club grounded about one inch behind the ball.  Too often I see golfer hover the club to high over the ball in the sand trap.  This is probably due to the fear of being penalized for touching the sand before the shot.  When practicing, don’t worry about touching the sand and get accustomed to where the club should contact the sand.  As you progress then just slightly hover the club over your intended contact point.

Putting

Putting should be broken down to two simple elements:

Mechanics:  When working on mechanics, putt a straight putt one meter from the hole.  Work on grip, alignment, set-up, and path.

Speed control:  When working on speed control, putt to very long holes first then to medium length holes.  Think about feel and distance control and less about mechanics.  Vary the types of “breaking” putts.

Short Putts:  Practice as many 2-foot putts as possible.  I was once asked why I practice so many short putts.  My response:  Unless I chip in or hole a long putt, I expect to have to make at least 15 putts under 3-feet every round.

Long Putts:  When you arrive at the practice green, try to putt the longest holes possible.  This will give you an immediate feedback on green speed.  You will quickly adapt to each golf course’s green speed.