Golf Instruction Gifts

Wow, the holidays are here already!  Today, I was playing golf with the Medal Tee ladies and one player had a terrific new Garmin wristwatch (sold at Marshwood) that shows yardage without having to point and shoot the range finder. 

It made me think of some fun thoughts for holiday gift ideas, so here is my Top 10 List of Golf Instruction Gifts that might help you find the perfect gift for a family golfer!

10.  Skill Assessment (an hour of swing, short game, putting and sand assessment to help guide golfers in their development)

9.  "Easier Said than Done" by Dr. Rick Jensen (awesome book by our former guest speaker on how to get the shots on the range to hold up on the course)

8.  Ball of Steel (great putting aid to help center contact and acceleration)

7.  Tour Tempo (terrific metronome I use a lot with students for swing, short game and putting, as well as

developing swing speed for more distance off the tee)

6.  Course Assessment (an hour of course play to observe technique, strategy and other golf areas to help with ideas to lower scores)

5.  The Light Refresher Program (either 4 half hour or 4 hour lessons that include 1 session each of putting, short game, swing and course)

4.  Orange Whip Trainer (great training tool to help develop tempo, speed, lag and more)

3.  Lessons with a Friend (2011 individual rate and 2nd person is still just $10 extra... split the cost for great savings!)

2.  Practice Series (attend Nicole Weller's Practice with a Purpose session Tuesday afternoons... learn effective drills and get feedback on skill areas)

1.  Series of Lessons (Buy 5 up front, 6th Lesson Free... either half-hours or hours)

2011 LPGA Teaching & Club Professional Summit Wrap-Up

Just back in from the LPGA T&CP (Teaching and Club Professional) National 2011 Summit and WOW, what an experience.  Held at Grand Cypress in Orlando, we had two day chock-full of seminars while the LPGA Tour was prepping for the CME Titleholders.  How fun to be in class and also see Lexi Thompson practicing in the background and Michelle Wie passing our room in her practice round with no one else around.  Very cool to be up close with the players!

The summit was sold out with 200 professionals and also 280 attendees at the Hall of Fame Induction for Kay McMahon, Jane Read, Carol Johnson and Patti Benson.  Huge dinner, great evening.  The daily sessions included Nancy Quarcelino, the famous Pia Nilsson & Lynn Marriott, Dr. Rick Jensen, Stack & Tilt's Andy Plummer & Mike Bennett, Cindy Miller, speeches by LPGA T&CP President Dana Rader and LPGA Commissioner Michael Whan, as well as Todd Anderson, Cheryl Anderson and more.  What a great two days of exchanging ideas, networking, catching up with colleagues and learning new concepts. Check out these pictures from the summit.

Golf Gurus Pia Nilsson & Lynn Marriott

Dr. Rick Jensen

LPGA T&CP Attendees Watching a Session

Stack & Tilt Session

Cindy Miller Session

My Mentor, Nancy Quarcelino

Golf Fitness Speech Recap

We recently held a complimentary Golf Fitness Speech highlighting the importance of warming up for better golf and health. 

It was well attended with nearly 80 people and I really enjoyed teaching with Brigitte and Jennifer from the fitness center. Also in attendance were our two special guest speakers, Tommy Schaff and Tim O'Neil from Savannah, both of whom play on mini-tours such as the Nationwide, Hooters and Etour. They gave great ideas on how to get the muscles warmed (cardio) and stretched (various key body parts) before AND after the round as well as ways to loosen up the swing at the range. 

Participants even stretched with the instructors near the end of the session. I plan on revamping our TPI (Titleist Fitness) program in the near future - please keep an eye out for news on TPI!  

Please click here to see images from our speech.

Exciting Golf Clinic for Big Brothers Big Sisters

I hope you all will come out and support a special golf clinic for the local chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters! Here is the press release to give you more information. I hope to see everyone there!

SAVANNAH, Ga., November 1, 2011 – Continuing its outreach and support for local community organizations, The Landings Club has created a special afternoon of golf instruction just for participants in the Savannah-based Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Coastal Empire, to be held Saturday, Dec. 3, at Deer Creek Golf Course. 

The clinic is scheduled from 1-3:30 p.m. at Deer Creek’s state-of-the-art practice area, which was developed as part of the 2009 renovation of the Tom Fazio-designed golf course and this year celebrated its 20^th anniversary.  A variety of instructional stations are to be set up at the facility, each featuring a member of The Landings Club's PGA Professional Teaching Staff, focusing on individual parts of the golf swing. 

The Big Brothers Big Sisters clinic represents one of many events coordinated by the members and staff of The Landings Club.  The generous Club members consistently raise funds and provide resources for organizations such as the American Cancer Society, the Hoskins Center at Memorial Health University Hospital and America’s Second Harvest food program. 

“We are looking forward to passing along some of our passion for the game of golf to our friends at Big Brothers Big Sisters,” said Steven Freund, executive director of The Landings Club.  “Golf has a way of making a positive influence on the lives of children, which goes together with the objectives of Big Brothers Big Sisters.” 

For more than a century, Big Brothers Big Sisters has worked to improve the general health, lives and future of thousands of children. Big Brothers Big Sisters is a donor and volunteer supported mentoring program for youth, providing needed support to children in communities across the nation through professionally supported one-to-one relationships.  Its mission includes promoting self-esteem in youngsters, expanding their awareness of life’s opportunities and providing guidance and support through long-term, one-to-one mentoring with caring adults. 

For more details about the Big Brothers Big Sisters event at The Landings Club, contact Nicole Weller, head golf teaching professional, at 912.695.5211.

Transfer-Oriented Drill

I just had a great experience with a new drill I thought I'd share with golfers... it's a very 'transfer-oriented' drill, which means it helps you practice by doing it in a more realistic play setting, not just hitting balls. 

1. Take a club and hit 3 shots in a row to your target (I would highly suggest at least a 15 yard wide fairway between two flags or objects).
2. Take the same club and hit 3 GOOD shots in a row to your target.  Good is up to you.  What is good enough to play... mediocre?  Make them as good as you'd be happy with on the course.
3. Take 3 different clubs and hit 3 GOOD shots in a row to 3 different targets. 
4. Take 3 different clubs and hit 3 GOOD shots in a row to 3 different targets for various natural lies (not placed nicely on a tuft of grass... unrealistic!). 

Don't cheat yourself on the rules!  They're designed to make sure you achieve what you want to achieve.  If you give yourself leniency at the range, will that be acceptable on the course?  It's a fun drill that will keep you focused and transferring your skills from just hitting balls to actually playing and expecting good shots at the range!

Ready, set, stretch!

I see great potential for better golf by players who actually go through proper stretching methods before ever hitting shots at the range.  It's important to start with some cardio to get the blood flowing into the muscles (ride a stationary bike, walk or jog on a treadmill or outside, do jumping jacks or just step from side to side while swinging your arms).  

Stretching a cold muscle is like taking a rubber band out of the freezer and expecting it to perform at full potential immediately. I foresee injuries! Proceed to dynamically stretching various main body parts (neck, shoulders, forearms, back, legs). Those who stand still and hold stretches (static) may not perform as well as a movement-oriented stretch (dynamic). 

Together with the Oakridge Fitness Center, we've just partnered up to create a complimentary Golf Fitness speech on Thursday, November 10 from 4:15-5:00pm for the first 100 people who sign up at Oakridge. The bonus surprise will be two local mini-tour professionals who will be our guests speakers to discuss what they see on tour and how they prepare as well. Don't miss out on meeting some fine players! 

Participants will also be able to learn why and how to warm-up properly, plus try some of the stretches led by myself and fitness staff (Brigitte and Jennifer).  Hope to see you at the Stretch Speech!

Upcoming Fall Events

It's been a lot of fun creating new and exciting venues for our Landings membership. For juniors and families, please save these exciting upcoming dates:

• Haunted Halloween Putting (10/29)
• Family Glow Golf (11/5)
• 1st Annual Landings Sports Fest (11/6).

More details will be listed on the Landings Club website. We know fall can be very busy for families between sports, school and weekend activities, but we encourage all members to get out into the fresh air and play sports. Some help tips to remember for a healthy and fun time: 

• Drink eight ounces of water every 30 minutes during an activity
• Start each day with a healthy breakfast for energy that will last throughout the day

We look forward to seeing you out at the events... enjoy the start of fall!