USGTF Monthly Newsletter Archives - Page 8 of 140 - United States Golf Teachers Federation

1 Sep 2024 admin

EDITORIAL – AN INTRODUCTION TO OLYMPIC GOLF: HISTORY, DIVISIONS, PLAYING STYLES, AND MORE!

Only golf geeks and Olympic aficionados might know that, contrary to popular belief, the first Olympic golf competition did not take place in 2016 but in 1900 in Paris. Charles Sands emerged victorious over the one-day, 36-hole competition and Margaret Abbott captured the 9-hole ladies’ gold medal. In 1904, at the Games in St. Louis, Missouri, only men competed. A team competition was contested followed by five grueling days of 36-hole matches among the 32 who survived — you guessed it — a 36-hole qualifier!

Fortunately, when golf returned in 2016, sanity prevailed and the standard 72-hole tournament format was used. Sixty golfers qualified for both the men’s and women’s competition, with a maximum of two golfers per country (four if they were all ranked in the top 15 in the world). Justin Rose won the gold medal in a tight race over Henrik Stenson, with bronze medalist Matt Kuchar saying he was never so happy to finish third in his entire life. Inbee Park of Korea took home the women’s gold.

There was lukewarm interest in the 2016 golf competition among some of the world’s best, with many opting not to play, and the 2021 competition was marred by COVID-19. However, the 2024 edition proved to be extremely popular among both fans and players. Rory McIlroy noted that the two purest forms of golf they play — the Olympics and the Ryder Cup — do not offer any prize money directly. It goes to show that among even the world’s best players, all of whom are millionaires many times over, the thrill of victory and representing one’s country are still worth pursuing on their own merits

Read more 0

1 Aug 2024 admin

NEWS FROM NEPAL

By Sachin Prasad Bhattarai

Greetings from Nepal. Over the years, the Royal Nepal Golf Club has been dedicated to nurturing junior golf talent. Through a series of tournaments and programs, the club has identified and developed several promising young golfers. I have been entrusted with leading the junior development camp at RNGC due to my experience analyzing and practicing techniques, particularly during my visit to the United States.

Upon my return from participating in the U.S. Golf Teachers Cup, I actively engaged in various golf activities and tournaments. I noticed that the traditional format of junior tournaments, involving chipping, putting, and longest drive, lacked efficiency, having been unchanged for many years. During my time in the U.S., I observed how juniors were taught and how newcomer tournaments were organized, which inspired me to rethink our approach.

Additionally, the GYAN Foundation hosts annual junior tournaments, for which I was tasked with tournament management. I introduced a new format where junior golfers aged 8 and below played a nine-hole round from shorter distances, while those above 8 played from regular junior tee boxes. This innovative approach generated excitement among junior golfers and diversified our tournament categories, resulting in a successful event with 75 participants, including juniors and ladies.

The support of RNGC’s president, captain and development committee has been crucial in implementing these progressive programs and ideas over the years. Recognizing that golf is not widely popular outside the capital city of Nepal, I initiated efforts to promote the sport nationwide. I began by providing basic information about golf through national television broadcasts. These videos, presented in Nepalese, cover fundamental aspects of the game, including rules, techniques and equipment, making golf more accessible and understandable to the Nepalese audience.

The following contains the coverage of golf on national television:

Basic Knowledge of Golf For Begineers | SPORTS INFO | 2081-01-07 (youtube.com)
Uses of 14 Golf Clubs | SPORTS INFO | 2081-01-21 (youtube.com)

Read more 0

1 Aug 2024 admin

“PRO” FILE – USGTF MEMBER HORACE MITCHELL

By Horace Mitchell

My name is Horace Mitchell I have been a resident of Detroit since 1969 and played golf since 1974, at the now-closed Palmer Park Golf Course. Over the years, I’ve been able to produce not only a better-than-average golf game, but in doing so, I was blessed to put it to the test against the best players I have come in contact with no matter what their skill level.

The system that was developed by me over the years has allowed me to compete and win against tour players in my prime and win consistently, against names such as Charles Sifford, Bobby Stroble and Nate Starks. These were a few that had been to the tour. That was fine, but with how I was playing, at times I would assist any of my peers who were making an error or who were having trouble, and it worked to help them. Fast forward…I had always wanted to see if what I had developed was transferable and not just a quick fix or gimmick cure. One day I sat down and put a six-lesson program together, and all I needed now was an opportunity to test it. In 2008, my assistant and I got that chance and went to assist Miss Johnson with her Hollywood Golf junior program. She allowed me to introduce my developed curriculum, along with what they were already doing:

– Attitude
– Aptitude
– Execution

To date, it has worked so well that seven of the young students have gone to the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, enrolled in their PGM program and obtained their PGA cards. These are the same young men and women who began with us as children. I have now written a book, The Mental Guide for the Average Golfer. I wrote the book to help other struggling golfers who have never looked at golf from the “mental” approach and concept. This book will surely assist any level of golfer to nudge their game in the proper direction.

I hope this is something people see, as I do and know, as a “need.” For too long, the mental side of the game has been omitted in the instruction process. It is my quest to fill that void. I was instructed by my father that wherever there is a void, there is a business. Cover that void and you have not only covered a void but also cured the problem. Mentally, the game of golf supersedes any other sport for needing the ability to learn to control “self!” This is the only approach focused on in this publication.

Read more 0

1 Aug 2024 admin

EDITORIAL – THE RULES OF GOLF MOSTLY TALK ABOUT HOW AND WHEN TO TOUCH THE GOLF BALL

The entire essence of the game of golf is to hit the golf ball. Therefore, it only makes sense that most of the USGA and R&A Rules of Golf focus on why and how to touch the golf ball, either with the clubhead or with your hand.

The very first rule deals with the principle that you play the course as you find it and play the ball as it lies. It goes on to say that each hole starts by making a stroke at the ball. Of course, the ball must be handled and placed either on a tee or the ground to start the hole, and the Rules detail this. The Rules also define what constitutes a stroke, the definition of which has remained the same for several decades. And once the ball is on the putting green, the Rules describe how to mark the ball before lifting it and what may be done with the ball.

A frequent, and unfortunate, happening while playing is dealing with a ball that has been hit out of bounds or into a penalty area. There is also ground under repair that must be dealt with. All of this brings up the question of exactly why the Rules speak largely into the how and why of touching the ball. The answer goes back to the first rule, where you play the ball as it lies. Because if you can’t play the ball as it lies, then care must be taken to preserve the integrity of the game by playing the next stroke from the most equitable location and situation.

If you haven’t perused the Rules of Golf recently, they can be found on the USGA’s website at https://www.usga.org/rules/rules-and-clarifications/rules-and-clarifications.html#!ruletype=fr§ion=rule&rulenum=1.

Read more 0