Saturday, September 10, 2011
How Is Your Putt?
We often think our putting isn't as good if we don't make many putts. I found a very interesting link that will shed some light on what the Tour players are probably going to be achieving on the putting greens. Remember, also, that the pros we see on television are the best of the best that week and are probably draining more than the rest of the field. We see the best but forget there are other players that week struggling and missing putts also. I look forward to your thoughts on the following link: http://www.pgatour.com/r/strokes-gained-putting-baseline/index.html!
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Golf Digest Demonstration Video
Check out the new video by Golf Digest that demonstrates one of my putting exercises!
Monday, September 5, 2011
Want to Learn Golf?
We've been working on some neat new programs for all members interested in learning to play golf, whether golf, tennis or social. If this sounds like you, visit our website to see more information about PGA Get Golf Ready (5 classes for $99!) and learn the game with modified 'It's OK Hints' out on the course.
Other ideas to have fun learning golf include various formats like scrambles, alternate shots or Par Strokes Scoring - we use some of these with our Farm Team program. And for juniors, SNAG Golf, U.S. Kids Golf and PGA Sports Academy are really neat to get started. You can see the SNAG equipment, much of what we have, at www.snaggolf.com. There have been some fun ways for new golfers to learn the game that other industry leaders are doing as well.
I just saw an article in which Jack Nicklaus is going to host some 12-hole tournaments and it will include 8" holes (usually just over 4" wide) and a faster pace of play so everyone can have a nice time afterwards - teams will be penalized an extra stroke for every 5 minutes above the 2.5 hour time frame. However you get started in the game, make sure you have FUN and learn all about the skills, as well as the how to's of the game at the range and out on the course!
Other ideas to have fun learning golf include various formats like scrambles, alternate shots or Par Strokes Scoring - we use some of these with our Farm Team program. And for juniors, SNAG Golf, U.S. Kids Golf and PGA Sports Academy are really neat to get started. You can see the SNAG equipment, much of what we have, at www.snaggolf.com. There have been some fun ways for new golfers to learn the game that other industry leaders are doing as well.
I just saw an article in which Jack Nicklaus is going to host some 12-hole tournaments and it will include 8" holes (usually just over 4" wide) and a faster pace of play so everyone can have a nice time afterwards - teams will be penalized an extra stroke for every 5 minutes above the 2.5 hour time frame. However you get started in the game, make sure you have FUN and learn all about the skills, as well as the how to's of the game at the range and out on the course!
Thursday, August 18, 2011
How Do You Learn?
It's always a great quest to explore how a person will best learn an idea that can help with a golf skill or game management key. People either learn through visual, auditory or kinesthetic means and while using all 3 systems, are usually very good at one.
Visual people like colors, video, pictures, demonstrations, visual aids... Auditory people learn by listening to words, instruction, tempo and rhythm and counting / word drills... kinesthetic people learn by touch and feel, hands-on drills, movement drills.
For those who are visual learners, using video in lessons to provide feedback can be important. Many golfers can benefit from seeing where body or club parts actually are (most can't believe where the body/club parts actually are, as they feel different). Remember, what we feel in the golf swing usually isn't' real. Golf professionals should use video to point out the key that is desired, not just point out all the mistakes. That can be discouraging and form a negative impression.
Visit with the golf staff today about seeing how the swing or motion looks and then have the golf professional video a few moves in slow motion or in a certain position to show you the before and after. The staff has the ability to use at least 3 different angles (face on, down the line and from behind), as well as a close up of grip. If taping by yourself with a camera or cell phone app, make sure that the camera on the down the line view is between the target line and hands on the middle of the shaft about hand-height and from the face-on view, near hand height. If not, the views and planed can be distorted and off.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, what is a video worth to you?
Visual people like colors, video, pictures, demonstrations, visual aids... Auditory people learn by listening to words, instruction, tempo and rhythm and counting / word drills... kinesthetic people learn by touch and feel, hands-on drills, movement drills.
For those who are visual learners, using video in lessons to provide feedback can be important. Many golfers can benefit from seeing where body or club parts actually are (most can't believe where the body/club parts actually are, as they feel different). Remember, what we feel in the golf swing usually isn't' real. Golf professionals should use video to point out the key that is desired, not just point out all the mistakes. That can be discouraging and form a negative impression.
Visit with the golf staff today about seeing how the swing or motion looks and then have the golf professional video a few moves in slow motion or in a certain position to show you the before and after. The staff has the ability to use at least 3 different angles (face on, down the line and from behind), as well as a close up of grip. If taping by yourself with a camera or cell phone app, make sure that the camera on the down the line view is between the target line and hands on the middle of the shaft about hand-height and from the face-on view, near hand height. If not, the views and planed can be distorted and off.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, what is a video worth to you?
Monday, August 8, 2011
Golf Wrap-Up
What great golf this summer!
Scott Stallings's win at The Greenbrier, Yani Tseng at the Women's British Open, the upcoming PGA Championship almost right in our backyard in Atlanta... So much amazing golf! With a wave of new faces on the tours, it's been interesting to see who is coming up and who can hold their positions on the leaderboard.
We're seeing a new young side of golf talent on Tour starting to shine - enjoy watching the next few weeks of golf and take time to encourage a youngster to get caught up on the action too. All efforts to continue the game and grow the tradition is applauded!
Scott Stallings's win at The Greenbrier, Yani Tseng at the Women's British Open, the upcoming PGA Championship almost right in our backyard in Atlanta... So much amazing golf! With a wave of new faces on the tours, it's been interesting to see who is coming up and who can hold their positions on the leaderboard.
We're seeing a new young side of golf talent on Tour starting to shine - enjoy watching the next few weeks of golf and take time to encourage a youngster to get caught up on the action too. All efforts to continue the game and grow the tradition is applauded!
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Kudos!
Kudos to former Landings Golf Professional-turned-PGA Tour Professional Kris Blanks for his play this past week at the RBC Canadian Open.
Kris tied for 1st and lost in a playoff but had some great shots during the week. I'm sure he had a few shots that didn't turn out as expected either which leads me to my point that during play, golfers hit all kinds of shots that can still be great for scoring. Great golf doesn't have to have perfect shots.
In my former position, my famous line amongst my students and Girls Golf program was "It's the right shot, it just happened again at the wrong time". Even the best laid plans of mice and men (and golfers!) can go astray. Play golf and get the ball into the hole... it doesn't have to be perfect (hence the title of famed author/sports psychologist Dr. Bob Rotella's book Golf Is Not a Game of Perfect).
See if you can disassociate the quality of the shot from the result of the shot and notice what happens to your score when you are just trying to get it into the hole without any judgment on how it made it there... looking forward to your results. Have a nice time on the links!
Kris tied for 1st and lost in a playoff but had some great shots during the week. I'm sure he had a few shots that didn't turn out as expected either which leads me to my point that during play, golfers hit all kinds of shots that can still be great for scoring. Great golf doesn't have to have perfect shots.
In my former position, my famous line amongst my students and Girls Golf program was "It's the right shot, it just happened again at the wrong time". Even the best laid plans of mice and men (and golfers!) can go astray. Play golf and get the ball into the hole... it doesn't have to be perfect (hence the title of famed author/sports psychologist Dr. Bob Rotella's book Golf Is Not a Game of Perfect).
See if you can disassociate the quality of the shot from the result of the shot and notice what happens to your score when you are just trying to get it into the hole without any judgment on how it made it there... looking forward to your results. Have a nice time on the links!
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Youth Camp Wrap-Up
What a week of junior campers... it was awesome! We had 4 juniors age 3, 18 juniors age 4-6 and 30+ juniors age 7-17. Thank you to all parents and grandparents and the golfing membership for your support of the program!
The key aspect was having fun with the kids... getting them involved, working on developing skill but not demanding perfection. In the hot weather, working towards perfection can be tough! With the younger juniors we even hit marshmellows instead of balls, used SNAG golf balls that stuck to targets and even used rhymes to help them remember some [putting and swing concepts. Most young golfers tend to be cross-handed when swinging of putting and we intermittently and gently reminded them to just switch hands every few shots or so.
We find that reminding them every shot gets frustrating and believe or not, even though it's unconventional, the juniors find a way to make it work, have a good time and they foster an interest in the game. have fun working with your children and grandchildren and they'll amaze you with some unconventional moves that get the ball towards and even in the hole. They'll have time as they get older to work on more detail that they can handle with their attention, for the average youngster... let the FUN begin!
For tips on working with a junior golfer or proper clubs to make the experience more fun, chat with a Landings Golf Professional, use Stick to Sports: Let's Play Golf as a guideline and visit the staff at Oakridge for club fitting ideas. We are here to help!
The key aspect was having fun with the kids... getting them involved, working on developing skill but not demanding perfection. In the hot weather, working towards perfection can be tough! With the younger juniors we even hit marshmellows instead of balls, used SNAG golf balls that stuck to targets and even used rhymes to help them remember some [putting and swing concepts. Most young golfers tend to be cross-handed when swinging of putting and we intermittently and gently reminded them to just switch hands every few shots or so.
We find that reminding them every shot gets frustrating and believe or not, even though it's unconventional, the juniors find a way to make it work, have a good time and they foster an interest in the game. have fun working with your children and grandchildren and they'll amaze you with some unconventional moves that get the ball towards and even in the hole. They'll have time as they get older to work on more detail that they can handle with their attention, for the average youngster... let the FUN begin!
For tips on working with a junior golfer or proper clubs to make the experience more fun, chat with a Landings Golf Professional, use Stick to Sports: Let's Play Golf as a guideline and visit the staff at Oakridge for club fitting ideas. We are here to help!
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