My PGA Golf Coach

I will never forget a ruling I made about 10 years ago in a major amateur event to a young man on the putting green. I had volunteered as a PGA rules official and was assigned to a medium length island green par three hole. This young man hit a great iron shot to the green and had left himself about a 20 footer for birdie. He marked the ball and tossed it to his caddy who missed it and the ball rolled off the edge of the green and into the water. They could not retrieve the ball from the lake and substituted another ball, then the young man made the putt for what he thought was a birdie. I had to be the bearer of bad news and inform the young man that rule16-1b does not permit substitution of another ball, accordingly there is a penalty of 2 strokes and his 2 is now a 4. Sometimes the rules don’t work in your favor.

For those of us who have spent the winter up north we’re looking out the window dreaming about hitting golf balls in the beautiful sunshine. If you didn’t have an exercise regime set up over the winter it’s not to late. Pre-season and ongoing conditioning utilizing core strengthening exercises are vital for strength, endurance and injury prevention. Abdominal crunches, back extensions, side lifts, and fast walking are a few that can help.

Many injuries are caused by tightened and inelastic muscles. You need to increase elasticity to allow them to respond to physical demands without injury. Increased elasticity in your muscles increases the force of recoil contraction which improves your downswing. Stretching is mandatory to playing golf well and staying healthy. Make an appointment with your provider to customize a program that’s right for you.  Personally I use Dr. Greg Chappell who runs a wellness center in Acme. He can be contacted at this link for help.

http://www.chappellhealth.com/

People have been asking me why I end my videos telling people to let it rip.  I always talk to  my students about being aggressive through the hitting area, deceleration through the hitting area has destroyed many a golf swing.You can’t steer a golf ball or wish it next to the hole it just doesn’t work. Get the club into the proper position during the backswing  then as I like to say,  let it rip .

Sometimes when I am feeling low, I remember a little poem I heard when I was a boy. Harvey Penick said this many years ago and from a teachers standpoint it makes me smile to this day.

When your time comes to

Pass on someday

The only things you can keep

Are what you gave away.

Teaching kids how to play golf is one of the most satisfying things I get to do in my job as a PGA Teaching Professional. When you  introduce your child or grandchild  to the game of golf keep it simple and fun. Work on the basics of grip, stance , posture and alignment and start them off with water balloons not golf balls. Water balloons are much bigger and easy to hit, they have fun you have fun and everybody gets wet. Like I said, you have to make their experience with golf fun, let them play.

For more help on getting your children started, click on the word video