USGTF Monthly Newsletter Archives - Page 49 of 137 - United States Golf Teachers Federation

1 May 2020 admin

EDITORIAL – Clubs Do Make a Difference

In addition to my teaching position at a major golf retailer and as the teaching professional at Southbridge Savannah Golf Club in – where else? – Savannah, Georgia, I am tasked with club fitting at the golf store. This has given me an appreciation for the improvement in golf equipment over the years, although since the clubs can’t swing themselves, there will always be a demand for qualified golf teachers.

But equipment can and does make a difference. I’ve had more than a few students show up with clubs that are either a bad fit for them or so old that my students are just doing themselves no favors by employing such implements. In this day and age, there really is no excuse for golfers to not have clubs that give them the best chance for success.

This doesn’t mean dropping $3,000 or more on a set of clubs, although I’ve seen people do that. But it does mean getting the right shaft flex, flex point and weight, and getting clubheads that will provide both forgiveness and more distance. Lie angles are a major consideration in the irons. Oh, and let’s not forget the grip. Standard-sized grips are really too small for most male golfers, who need either a couple of extra wraps of tape under a standard-sized grip or a midside (or even a jumbo) grip.

Set makeup is a critical component. Retired PGA Tour Champions player Dana Quigley did not have any iron longer than a 7-iron in his bag for many years, and it’s common for LPGA players to carry several hybrid clubs.

Give your students’ equipment a thorough evaluation to make sure they’re using clubs that not only help them perform their best, but also give them maximum enjoyment out of hitting them.

By Mark Harman, USGTF National Course Director

Staying Safe on the Course

During the current COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, our world has certainly been turned upside-down, and golf is no exception. Professional golf has halted play, and courses – at least those that are allowed to stay open – are taking all or some the following measures to make playing the game as safe as possible:

Removing rakes and water coolers from the course

Raising the cup so the ball bounces off it on the putting green, or putting a pool noodle into the hole

Removing the flagstick entirely

One rider per golf cart

No shaking hands after the round

No food and beverage except for takeout

No congregating in the pro shop

Closing the clubhouse

While a number of infectious disease experts have weighed in that it is difficult to get sick from playing golf in normal conditions, the severity of the COVID-19 coronavirus in some people mandates that these extra precautions be taken. The USGA has also made some changes to allow scores played under these circumstances to be posted for handicap purposes. For example, in the case of raised cups so the ball bounces off them, the USGA has said that “the most likely score” can be recorded for that hole. Competitions that are still being held at various clubs are not required to use the traditional method of scorekeeping, where scorecards are exchanged and attested at the end of a round. And it’s okay to smooth a bunker and place your ball if that bunker has no rakes. Again, all scores played under these conditions are acceptable for handicap posting.

It remains to be seen when things can return to normal when it comes to playing golf, not to mention returning to our normal way of living. Estimates range from mid-April all the way to next year. Obviously, we all hope for sooner rather than later. The game provides a healthy outlet in these most trying of times.

The “MATCH” and “The REMATCH”

In days of yore, it was common for touring professionals to barnstorm the country between events, playing exhibition matches against their fellow competitors or the local hotshots. These matches often drew large galleries to see the best players in the world compete on their home course.

In 2018, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson staged “The Match,” a would-be pay-per-view match with the winner taking home the entire $9 million “purse.” A technical snafu resulted in The Match being made available free for everyone. Mickelson wound up prevailing in extra holes.

With the COVID-19 coronavirus sidelining all professional sports for the moment, A Twitter follower of Mickelson tweeted, “Do you think there is a chance you two go play a round mic’d up with one camera guy and just put it out there on a stream for people to watch?? We need live sports.” Mickelson tweeted back that they were working on it and to stay tuned.

Speculation is that such a match could raise funds for much-needed medical equipment, for first responders and those on the front lines. Mickelson seemed confident that such a match will be held, and as he said, stay tuned.