national golf

2012 Golf Schedule

One Thing iKnOw AbOuT gOlf

by Kenny Clark

STreTch YOur gAme TO The

nexT level by Matt Evans

SOmeTimeS, gOOd guYS dO

finiSh firSTby Richard Smith

hiT mOre fAirwAYS by Jimmy Winn

Penicillin fOr The YiPS

by Paul Sargent

iT’S All AbOuT TemPOby Adam C. Smith

Vol. 12, Issue 3

Letter From the PubLisherHere at The Turn we celebrate our cherished pros and connect them

with the golf community at large. In fact, if you are reading our

magazine you are more than likely to recognize one of the “authors”

on the cover page. And after all, what is more unique than the

relationship we have with our trusted golf instructors? Who else are

we willing to take so much criticism from this late in life? The fact is I

love golf and would go to any length to improve my game even just a

little bit, maybe by keeping the ball in the fairway a few more times

or curbing those pesky three-putts. Indeed there is something special

about the game that keeps us coming back weekend after weekend.

Some call it an obsession, or as Mark Twain said “a good walk

spoiled.” Personally, when I hit that perfect shot, like the ones I see

from Tiger or Phil, or from my smiling pro, there is no better feeling.

I work in a great industry. I get to work with and pick the brain’s of

some of the top PGA instructors from all around the country. With

all the advice offered, I wish I could actually finish a round without

thinking about the shot or hole that could have been. It is my great

pleasure to present my fellow golf lovers with advice and insight from

some of the best in the country.

All the Best,

T. Reed Smith

3 THE TURN GoLF mAGAZiNe | theturngolf.com

FoUNdER Terrence Reed Smith

EdiToR Will Garcia

diREcToR oF SalES David C. Madrid

aRT diREcToR Edward White

oNliNE coNTENT cooRdiNaToRPeter Rado

PGa mEmbER adviSoRy boaRd

Adam Smith, PGA

PHoNE (304) THE-TURN

Fax (206) 984-9667

Email [email protected] www.theturngolf.com

All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission in writing is strictly prohibited. Publisher is not responsible for any errors in advertising and editorial.

Printed in the uSA

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16 Q & A Interview with Richard Smith, Michael Ferguson, Matt Evans & Kenny Clark

13 Swinkey: The golfer’s Toolbox by Brian Benedictson

18 golf Travel Championships at Pebble Beach Resorts by Brittany Cooley Pebble Beach Tournament Office

26 what’s new The Latest & Greatest In Golf This season’s new toys.

30 games

32 Tennis Anyone? The Forehand Drive

34 2012 golf Schedules PGA, LPGA, & Champion

36 Pro Shop Every Golfers Favorite Section; Look for the products in your Pro Shop!

cont

ents 6 Sometimes,

good guys do finish first by Richard Smith Stonehenge Golf & Country Club

8 hit more fairways by Jimmy Winn Director of Instruction at Ironbridge Sports Park

10 it’s All About Tempo by Adam C. Smith Director of Instruction, Salisbury Country Club

One Thing i Know About golf by Kenny Clark Head Golf Professional, Country Club of Petersburg

22 “Stretch” Your game to the next level by Matt Evans

Director of Instruction, Hermitage Country Club

24 Penicillin for the Yips by Paul Sargent Director of Golf at The First Tee of Chesterfield

3


WHAT An excITInG 2011 Golf SeASon! RISInG STARS lIke RoRy

McIlroy, Webb Simpson, keegan Bradley, and Rickie fowler showed us

there are plenty of dynamic players to fill the Tiger void. Dustin Johnson

continued his climb to join golf’s elite, and several old stalwarts

continued to show that they still have the game to stand atop the

golf world.

one player, only 5’9” in stature, rose to a pinnacle never achieved

before. Luke Donald finished the season as the only man to win the

money title on both the U.S. and european tour. He dominated the

tour week in and week out. never won a major? So what! I know a

major championship is within his reach.

In 2011, Mr. Donald was the PGA Player of the year, the PGA and the

euro Tour leading money winner, the Vardon Trophy winner, the winner

of the Byron nelson Award, the euro Tour Race to Dubai Winner, and

the european Tour Golfer of the year.

But he should have won another award: for his sportsmanship on and

off of the golf course. luke Donald is one of the game’s true gentlemen

and respected by his golf peers and those he deals with personally

and in business. He exemplifies what is cherished and inherently good

about the game…nearly $7 million in winnings this year hasn’t seemed

to taint Mr. Donald’s head game or attitude.

It’s a shame that our media spends so much time focusing in on

incidents or individuals that embarrass the teams or the schools

they represent. Maybe, just maybe, we should focus on the guys

like luke Donald…there are plenty of them throughout the world of

sports to hold up as shining examples of sportsmanship, fair play

and athletic excellence.

Hats off to you, Luke Donald…keep it going in 2012!

Sometimes,First

good guyS do FiniSh

by RiCHARD SMiTHPGA Professional, Stonehenge Golf & Country Club

Luke

Don

ald

If THeRe IS one THInG I knoW ABoUT Golf, IT IS THAT We Do noT

spend enough time on the short game! Most of the shots we take in a

round of golf are from 100 yards or less to the flag. As PGA instructors

in general, we spend too much time on the full swing, and not enough

on the scoring opportunities. As an instructor, I know the quickest

way to lower the score is to improve the short game.

I have spent a great deal of time this winter on and around the practice

green studying, researching and developing what I know to be sound

fundamentals of putting, chipping, and pitching. I became a certified

SeeMore Putting Institute instructor (SPI) during this time, and used

this knowledge to develop a game plan for my students to improve

their game on and around the green.

The SPI believes in neutral angles for best putting results. (fig 1.)

• keep your shoulders level

• Bend at the hips (not the waist)

• Place the ball in the center of your stance

• keep your eyes slightly on the inside of the ball

• let the putter swing on a natural arc (rock your shoulders back and forth)

chipping and pitching has as much to do with imagination as it does

with execution. one of the points I like to make to my students is to

figure out what you want the ball to do before deciding what shot to

hit and what club to use. for example, if I want the ball to land and

run out to the hole I don’t want to use a lofted club. I see so often that

people are “married” to just one club around the green. experiment

and be creative in club selection, and watch your success grow.

Here are some tips on chipping

with roll out:

• Select a flatter faced club

• Play the ball back in your stance

• keep your hands forward throughout the shot

• Hit the shot hard enough to let the ball fly 1/3 and roll 2/3 of the way.

Pitching the ball in the air:

• Select a more lofted club like a 58 or 60 degree wedge

• Play the ball more forward in your stance

• open your stance and the clubface slightly

• Slide the club under the ball ( don’t try to help the ball in the air)

• let the club pass your hands after impact

• fly the ball 2/3 and roll 1/3 of the way

for more information on the short game or to schedule a lesson, contact Kenny Clark , Head Golf Professional at The country club of Petersburg, 804-733-4458. email: [email protected] or go to clark’s Golf on facebook.

(fig 1.)

oneGolf

Thing I Know About

Kenny Clark, Head Golf Professional, Country Club of Petersburg

Using a Carnahan Wedge. (See page 36).


So yoU BoUGHT THAT neW $400 DRIVeR AnD yoU’Re not hitting

any more fairways than you were before. Though the new technology

will help, my suggestion to you is to develop a “go to” shot shape to

increase the number of fairways you hit in a round. The instruction in

this article will be from the right handed golfer’s point of view.

Please flip the information if you are left handed.

Whether you go with a fade or a draw you will be able to aim

accordingly and eliminate one side of the golf course. for example,

if you take a 40 yard wide fairway and you’re hitting a fade, then you

would aim down the left side and have 40 yards of fairway to land it

in. The person who is unsure where their ball is going aims down the

middle and has only 20 yards of fairway on either side to land it in.

HIT More Fairways

by

JImmy WInn

Director of Instruction

Ironbridge Sports Park

theturngolf.com | THE TURN GoLF mAGAZiNe 7

At this point in a lesson a student will ask which shot they should go with.

A fade is a more controlled shot, while a draw has more distance. find out

which of the two is easier for you to hit and go with that one.

In this lesson we will cover how to hit both a fade and a draw. Then you

can take what you have learned here and see which shot makes more

sense for you and your golf game.

We will begin with hitting the fade. your grip on the club should be

neutral or open face (weak) and can be a little firm with grip pressure.

from your set up position you should see 2 or 2.5 knuckles on your top

hand. Pick a target that is a little left of where you want your ball to finish.

your set up position should be open to where you want your ball to finish.

This open set up will encourage you to swing the golf club on a more

upright plane in your backswing. Then in the downswing swing the club

down the same line your toes are on. The more open your stance is the

bigger the fade will be.

now let’s look at the draw. your grip on the club should be neutral or

closed face (strong ) and your grip pressure should be light. from the set

up position you should see 3 to 3 .5 knuckles on your top hand. Pick a

target that is a little right of where you want your ball to finish. your set

up position should be closed to where you want your ball to finish. This

closed set up will encourage you to swing the golf club on a flatter plane

in your backswing. Then in the downswing swing the club down the same

line your toes are on and be sure to release your hands through impact.

The more closed your stance is the bigger the draw will be.

I hope this information will help you play better golf and hit more fairways

in the 2012 season. As always when you decide to work on your golf

game please visit your local PGA professional. Good luck and have a

great year.

Open stance makes

your backswing plane more upright and helps you to

hit a fade.

Strong grip helps you to hit draws.

Weak or neutral grip helps you to

hit fades.

Closed stance makes your

backswing plane flatter and helps you to hit

a draw.


TeMPo In yoUR Golf SWInG IS THe MoST IMPoRTAnT eleMenT

to be able to control in order to play your best golf. Rhythm is something

that we rarely go out to the range to intentionally practice. Timing is

everything! Good tempo, rhythm and timing are all a result of being

relaxed and in control. My advice is for you to “Swing, don’t hit! “

Here’s how to practice the proper swing and avoid being a hitter

during your next practice session.

Pick out a target on the range as soon as you set up to practice.

Take some practice swings toward that target. keep your grip pressure

soft. keep your head still. Swing gracefully and effortlessly going back.

Pause at the top. Start the downswing down with a pull of your left arm

(for right handers). let the speed in your swing build gradually from the

beginning of the downswing to the impact position. Do not force the

club down from the top. let it drop from the top. Build speed on the

way down, gradually. finish your swing aggressively.

once you are finished taking a few practice swings, thinking about

the tips outlined here, simply address a ball and swing at it, using

your practice swing technique. That’s right, swing at the ball with

your practice swing! There is no reason to have a different move at

the ball, just because there is a ball there. When you swing during

a practice swing, you are warming the oven for how you want to feel

as you swing at the ball. I call this a “rehearsal swing.” Use it for

contacting the ball and you will be a swinger, not a hitter. Start out

with your short clubs and work your way up to the long clubs. And,

for the record, swing all your clubs with the same tempo. Do not swing

your long irons or driver harder than your mid and short irons.

In my opinion, there is an excellent device out there to help you train

your tempo! It is called The orange Whip Trainer!

t...e...m...p...oit’S all about

Golf Digest “Best In State” 2011/2012

2008 Middle Atlantic PGA Teacher of the Year

Adam Smith, Director of Instruction, Salisbury Country Club


.. .. ... ... .... .... .. .. ... ... .... ....

All you need to do is swing this device for five minutes a day. your tempo will improve

dramatically! Anyone interested in training their tempo daily should have an orange Whip

of their own. It is rare to find one that suits all students. This one certainly does! In my

opinion, everyone needs to work on their tempo! you can order one of these training aids

online. Visit www.orangewhiptrainer.com. furthermore, you can receive a discount,

as a student of mine! Use PRoMo coDe: adamsmith.

Note from the author:

“Being recognized as a leader in golf instruction and golf club fitting is a great professional

accomplishment! The Ping brand has always made it a priority to educate and equip PGA

professionals with high quality golf products and fitting technologies. As a result, every year,

we are more skilled and successful as clubfitters. My advice to everyone who wants to play

their best golf is to get fit for your next set of clubs from your local PGA professional.”


.. .. ... ... .... ....

Flexibility The shaft is heavy, yet very flexible. The weight on each end

of the shaft provides a low-impact stretch while you swing it.

Strength The orange Whip gives you a good core muscle workout when you

use it during repetitive motion drills. The wrists and forearms get a

good burn when you do various drills and when you wrist hinge

during the swinging motion.

Coordination The orange Whip synchronizes the arms and body.

When this motion is out of sync, you will lose your balance.

tempo As the arms and body work together, a natural rhythm takes over

the swing. As tempo develops, you will always feel in balance and

as if you are swinging with an efficient motion.

If a golfer trains their swing without using a ball, the mind and body will allow the swing to develop naturally. Swing a club every day for 5

minutes, at home, on the days that you don’t get out for golf. A training aid like the orange Whip Trainer can eliminate the “hit” instinct from

your mind. As a result, consistency can be developed.

What you can gain with the orange Whip:


In the below picture (fig. 1) the shaft of the putter is gliding along

the Swinkey. Some would say, “the Swinkey is straight so that is

a straight back-straight through stroke.” We know this is incorrect

because of the ferris wheel example. The shaft is on a 70 degree

angle and the Swinkey will help to keep it there so the putter shaft

travels on plane, while the putter head forms a natural arc. If the

putter in this picture had a 90 degree shaft angle then the putter

would travel straight back, straight through like the ferris wheel.

Here is a rule of thumb for you: the flatter the shaft angle the more the

putter head moves inside the target line. or another way to say it

is, the flatter or less shaft angle the bigger the arc. The opposite of

this is the steeper the shaft angle the smaller the arc. The ferris wheel

in normal upright position equals no arc, while ferris wheel on the

ground equals a big arc.

A good example of this is the cross-handed or claw grip. Most people

who putt cross-handed or with the claw grip tend to have a steeper

shaft angle which will make their stroke appear to be more “straight

back, straight through”. High hands at address will increase shaft

angle while low hands will decrease shaft angle. So once again, the

steeper the shaft angle the less the arc and flatter the shaft angle

the greater the arc.

Playing on the canadian and Mini Tours over last seven years I have

seen many different putting styles with varying degrees of shaft angle.

When I introduced the Swinkey to the players, the putting plane

function was a topic of conversation. I had many players tell

me they don’t putt “straight back, straight through”. After

a quick explanation and comparing the stroke to a ferris

wheel they had a moment of revelation and understanding.

At the end of the day it comes down to plane. keep the

shaft of the putter on plane and the putter head will make an

arc that matches your shaft angle. This is why the Swinkey has

proven to be a great putting aid. It works with the shaft of the

putter, not the putter head. There isn’t a perfect arc, or an ideal

shaft angle. What is important is to keep the shaft on plane.

keep the tilted ferris wheel in mind, let the putter head swing

and you will have a better understanding of what a natural

stroke is and in turn make more putts.

“Straight Back, Straight Through” or “Arc Stroke”. explained and Simplified.

Brian Benedictson, Inventor of Swinkey Canadian Tour Professional

THeRe HAS Been A loT of conVeRSATIon ABoUT “STRAIGHT BAck,

straight through” vs. an “Arc Stroke”. I’d like to give you my

perspective on it and attempt to simplify it for you.

first, let’s talk about what “straight back, straight through” is. This is

when the putter head travels back and through on the target line while

the putter face stays square to the target line. This would be easy

to do if your putter had a 90 degree shaft angle and the golfer stood

behind the ball. Visualize a ferris wheel: it is 90 degrees to the ground

and moves straight back and straight through. This is an efficient

motion, but it is illegal for golf clubs to have a 90 degree shaft angle.

When the putter head travels straight back and through on

the target line while the putter face stays square to that line it is

fighting physics.

on average putters have a 70 degree shaft angle. for visualization

purposes imagine the ferris wheel on a 70 degree angle. It would

now make an arc if observed from above or behind. The motion hasn’t

changed; the plane has just been flattened out. It is on plane, making

an arc that matches the angle, which is how we want to putt. This is

how the path of the putter head should naturally move.

(fig. 1)


Michael Ferguson

richard sMith

The Turn: How did you get into golf? Richard Smith: Started working in a Pro shop when I was 13.

TT: Who is your golf hero and why? RS: While he was playing it was Arnold Palmer...now, Zach Johnson.

TT: What is your most memorable golf moment: RS: first trip to Augusta national.

TT: Tiger or Phil? RS: Phil.

TT: Belly or standard putter? RS: Standard.

TT: How far can you drive the ball in perfect conditions? RS: 295 yards.

TT: What is your favorite part of having a career in golf? RS: Interaction with members and guests.

TT: Advice for golf enthusiasts: RS: Be patient with yourself and focus on enjoyment over score.

The Turn: How did you get into golf? Michael Ferguson: When I was younger, my dad and brother went to the local Par 3 course on Sunday afternoons. one afternoon I decided to tag along for some fun and the rest is history.

TT: What is your most memorable golf moment: MF: My most memorable moment was during a practice round for my PAT. Made a hole-in-one on the fly on the 4th hole, a 136yd pitching wedge.

TT: Tiger or Phil? MF: Phil.

TT: What is your favorite part of having a career in golf? MF: fitting golfers into the correct equipment to help enhance their game and make it more enjoyable.

TT: Advice for golf enthusiasts: MF: It is never how far you hit it, it is how many it takes.

With richard sMith Michael Ferguson Matt evans & Kenny clarK

The Turn: How did you get into golf? Matt Evans: My father is a PGA Professional so its always been part of my life.

TT: Who is your golf hero and why? ME: Dad, He has the best swing and quietest hands I have ever seen.

TT: What is your most memorable golf moment: ME: Winning four consecutive Virginia State High School league AAA State titles.

TT: Tiger or Phil? ME: Phil.

TT: Belly or standard putter? ME: Standard.

TT: How far can you drive the ball in perfect conditions? ME: 290 – 310 yards.

Matt evans

PGA Professional, Stonehenge Golf & Country Club

Assistant Golf Professional, Kinloch Golf Club Director of Instruction, Hermitage Country Club


TT: What is your favorite part of having a career in golf? MF: Teaching and playing.

TT: Advice for golf enthusiasts: Make the game fun not stressful.

The Turn: How did you get into golf? Kenny Clark: My dad got me started. He joined a new public course in our town and I was hooked.

TT: Who is your golf hero and why? KC: Bobby Jones. He played for the love of the game not the money.

TT: What is your most memorable golf moment: KC: The time my sons beat me in a round of golf. They got so much joy and I was very proud of both of them.

TT: Tiger or Phil? KC: Phil.

TT: Belly or standard putter? KC: Both. They can both be used effectively.

TT: How far can you drive the ball in perfect conditions? KC: Around 260 yards. I am not a long hitter.

TT: What is your favorite part of having a career in golf? KC: All of it. I love every thing I do, including teaching, running club events for my membership, retail and playing the game.

TT: Advice for golf enthusiasts: KC: If you are going to get in this business you need to love the game. you have to remember this is a business you are running for your owners or members.

from matt Cardarelli PGA Teaching Professional, The Fort Golf Course, indianapolis, iN: “Who’s in your dream foursome?”

matt ferguson: My dream foursome: Will Ferrell, Jack Nicklaus, and Rory Mcilroy.

Kenny clarKHead Golf Professional, Country Club of Petersburg

Pebble Beach ResortsAT Written by Brittany Cooley

THe SToRIeS of PeBBle BeAcH cHAMPIonS ARe WRITTen InTo

the lore of golf history. They are marked by the memories of five U.S.

championships, including Jack nicklaus’ 1-iron in 1972, Tom Watson’s

1982 chip-in and Tiger Woods’ dominant 12-stoke victory in 2000.

They began with Sam Snead’s consecutive victories to initiate the

crosby clambake and are stapled by Mark o’Meara’s five titles at the

AT&T Pebble Beach national Pro-Am. even lanny Wadkins staked

his claim on the hallowed ground, with an epic sudden-death playoff

victory over Gene littler in the 1977 PGA championship. Many have

traversed what Golf Digest has repeatedly called the greatest public

golf courses in America, but few have the hardware to prove their

titled worth. But what if there was a way for you to become one of

those cherished few? What if you could win your own championship

at Pebble Beach? you can. every year, Pebble Beach Resorts hosts

numerous tournaments in which anyone can participate. With more

than fifteen slated through 2012, each tournament is held on at least

two of the resort’s four courses—Pebble Beach Golf links, Spyglass

Hill Golf course, The links at Spanish Bay and Del Monte Golf

course—and feature different formats and themes. from celebrity

tournaments that let you play alongside world-famous athletes and

ChampionshipsGolf Travel


Photo by: Randy tunnell

entertainers to the annual Pebble Beach new year’s championship,

each event is entirely unique with different course lineups and

scoring arrangements. But because most are net format, you can

enjoy the thrill of competition no matter your handicap. Whether as

an individual or on a team, in a large tournament or a small one, the

Tournament office at Pebble Beach Resorts can meet all your needs.

each course at Pebble Beach Resorts has its own distinct environment,

style and character, and is designed to challenge and thrill every

tournament participant. Since 1919, the exquisite beauty and

unmatched history of Pebble Beach Golf links has made the site a

pinnacle for all tournaments at the Resorts. Ranked the no. 1 public

course in the United States by Golf Digest, this storied tract boasts

stunning ocean views, wide-open vistas and cliff-side fairways along

the Pacific’s rugged coastline. Spyglass Hill Golf course, rated

as one the toughest courses in the world, features two distinctly

different kinds of terrain that influence the way the holes look and

play, with the first five holes rolling through sandy, seaside dunes

and the following 13 cutting through majestic pines with elevated

greens and strategically placed bunkers. The links at Spanish Bay,

designed after the historical european courses, are so authentic that



Photo by JOANN DOST

Photo by RANDy TUNNEll

Photo by JOANN DOST

even the Monterey coastline mirrors the rugged, natural beauty of

Scotland. Here, the golf course provides you with the choice of using

your regular shot or a low, running shot to play the firm turf while

keeping the ball under the steady ocean breezes. finally, Del Monte

Golf course boasts a meandering layout that has challenged golfers

for more than a century. A favorite among Monterey Peninsula locals,

this old-style course rewards tournament players for risky shots and

punishes those with errant placements.

Playing in a tournament on courses that have provided some of the

game’s most dramatic moments is enough to make any golfer feel

special. That feeling is only enhanced with the way the tournament

office takes care of every detail—welcome receptions featuring gift

packages, post-round catered functions and award ceremonies.

They can even set up personalized events for you across Pebble Beach

Resorts, whether it’s cigars overlooking the 18th green behind The

lodge at Pebble Beach or special tastings by the fire pits at

The Inn at Spanish Bay.


Photo by JOANN DOST

your options are just beginning, as the highly acclaimed instructors

at Pebble Beach Golf Academy provide wholly personalized learning

experiences in which you can hone your skills inside world-class

facilities. led by laird Small, one of Golf Digest’s “50 Greatest

Teachers,” the Academy offers individualized or group lessons for

those looking to work on their game before, during and even after

the tournament.

Take the experience to the next level and coordinate a custom Pebble

Beach championship just for you. for friends, family or even business

partners, the tournament office will create your ideal tournament from

top to bottom, from the moment you step foot onto this amazing corner of

the world to the last winning putt on no. 18. The options for building your

ideal championship moment at Pebble Beach Resorts are truly endless.

Walk in the footsteps of those immortalized legends, and make plans to

hoist your trophy today.

for more information, visit www.PebbleBeach.com or contact Brittany Cooley at the Pebble Beach Resorts Tournament Office at 877-853-5864 or [email protected].


I WoUlD lIke To TAke THIS oPPoRTUnITy To SHARe WITH yoU An

experience I had recently that was an eye opener for me, both as golf

professional and human being.

first, I need to share a little background information with you. I have

been playing golf for as long as I can remember. As a kid, I played many

sports, seasonally of course. Golf was a no-brainer because my

father, a long time PGA Professional, and I played it all the time. I would

call it love of the game but if you were to ask my mother, she would

have called it an opportunity for her to take a break from hauling me

around sport to sport.

I was your typical “limber-back” kid, left-handed unfortunately, but

with as many sports as I was involved with my dexterity and motor

skills were good. My golf swing was long, loose and plagued with lots

of hands, according to my father of course. As I developed through

my teenage years, I never wavered from my lengthy swing. It provided

power and I liked power. I was maybe 145 pounds soaking wet, with

rocks in my pockets, but my ability to rotate my core back and through

and apply such great force to the golf ball enabled me to hit the golf

ball a considerable distance, despite my small frame. Directional

control undoubtedly remained an issue because of those pesky hands,

indeed compensation for my lack of muscular strength. My father

always said that as I grew and got stronger my swing would continue to

improve. He still tells me to this day in order to maintain power and gain

better accuracy I need to sustain good flexibility, especially in my core

(abdominals, shoulders and back) and learn that the golf swing is not

driven by the arms and hands.

I recently was evaluated by the fitness staff here at my facility using the

Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) testing regimen and was blown away

by the results I received. I tested below average in almost every area.

The only areas I tested average or better were shoulder flexibility and

joint strength and stability. This news was truly shocking to me.

I never thought the day would come when I was behind the eight-ball

in being able to complete a golf swing. My balance, my power - and my

pride- have all taken a big hit and I have to refocus my attention to areas

of physical fitness that ten years ago I would have been sure that they

would never be of concern.

flexibility is one of the most overlooked and underappreciated areas

of golf. I have been teaching golf professionally for 10 years now and

if I had to quantify the number of golf swings I have observed that

have swing flaws directly related to flexibility I would say it is close to

99%. Most players with flexibility issues use a motion with lifting arms

and hands to compensate for a lack of rotation in the core muscles to

complete the back swing. In other words, shoulder, hips and abdominal

rotation is not sufficient. This lifting motion often goes unnoticed

because the swing starts and finishes in a blink of an eye. feeling such

restrictions is difficult for anyone, even the pros. Remember, the only

relationship a player has with the club is through his or her hands so if

a player has limited flexibility their swing will always travel the path of

least resistance, meaning the path of the arms and the hands. elasticity

in the muscles is what allows power to be generated and stored when

making a backswing. It is then applied in the downswing to exert that

potential energy to the golf ball. Without adequate flexibility a

player’s static balance (balance at rest) and dynamic balance (balance in

motion) will breakdown and the player will find it extremely difficult to

maintain any control in the completion of the swing, often resulting in a

bad golf shot. Remember, I am speaking from a teaching and personal

playing perspective. My recommendation to all of you is to stretch as

often as you can. Start small, don’t injure yourself. It could be as simple

as standing in front of a mirror and rotating your shoulders back and

through and holding these positions three seconds at a time and up.

When you go to the range, take five minutes to stretch your hamstrings

and core muscles (abdominals, hips and back) well. I am lucky to get

to mid-shin when I reach for my toes but I know that if I slowly work to

stretch a little each day I can condition them to be ready, so when I hit

a golf shot they can respond with consistency and control. Whether it

is golf season or not you can begin your stretching regimen. your golf

game and your body will thank you when it comes time to perform at

your best on the course. Good luck to all of you out there and remember

to enjoy yourself on the course and love the game.

“Stretch” Your Game to the Next Level

by Matt Evans, Director of Instruction, Hermitage Country Club


THIS ARTIcle IS foR Anyone WHo HAS eVeR STRUGGleD WITH THAT

inexplicable scourge known in golf circles as “The yips”. Actually,

what I will discuss below will help anyone who struggles with their

short putting, even if they would not label their problem with a term

that implies such chronic longevity. I truly believe that putting is

10% technique and 90% belief. Most top putters have no mechanical

thought in mind when they roll their balls, just a vision of what the ball

will look like falling into the cup. Their confidence in their ability to get

the ball started on the line on which they intend is unshakeable.

let’s say that one misses a couple of makeable putts early in his or

her round. The average player will take that as a sign that he or she is

about to have a pretty miserable putting day. The truly great putter

looks at the situation differently. This person refuses to believe that

he or she will miss putts all day just because the first few do not hit

the bottom of the cup. on the contrary, this player believes that he

or she has filled his or her “miss quota” and now it is only more likely

that the next one will drop due to the law of averages!

I’m not saying that mechanics has no place in putting. The ability to

maintain firm wrists and a soft touch will certainly put you on the right

path. However, I maintain that on the putting green, a player with

perfect technique and no confidence will lose to a player with abysmal

mechanics and rock solid poise every time. This leads me to my

solution for problems in short putting.

Answer the following question: If you hit 100 putts from six inches

out, how many would you make? If you answered any less than 100,

you must have blacked out during the test! In fact, all but a couple of

them would probably go over the middle of the cup as they go in. now,

imagine that you were preparing to hit another 100 six-inch tap-ins, but

as you hit your first one, the hole disappeared. The ball would probably

roll some three to four feet past where the cup used to be (it’s not often

that we baby a putt from tap-in range because our confidence is very

high). What does this say about what our approach to short putting

should be?

With our first 100 putts, we determined that we are basically perfect at

getting the ball on line from six inches. The second scenario illustrated

that the energy applied to the average six-inch tap-in is sufficient

to send the ball an appreciable distance past what is necessary. By

transitive logic, we are all currently capable of nearly perfect direction

on putts in the three to four foot range! Why, then, do we miss so many?

The answer is that we create far too much tension and inconsistency in

our strokes by placing too much blame on ourselves for the outcome.

If we strike a three to four-foot putt on exactly the line we want with

exactly the speed we intend, does that guarantee that it will drop?

no, because each read is inherently a guess…and don’t even get me

started on spike marks! So, if we can do everything in our power to

make a putt and still miss, shouldn’t we let go of our illusion of control

and focus our energy on that which we have proven we can rely…

the six-inch tap-in?

My short answer for short putting is this: Stop worrying about factors

beyond your control, such as, ultimately, whether the putt will drop or

not. It is not really up to you in the first place! Visualize every short

putt as a six-inch tap-in and strike the putt with as much conviction and

freedom as you would from that range. let fate do the rest. you will be

amazed at how many times “luck” will be on your side.

Paul Sargent, Director of Golf at The First Tee Chesterfield

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Hyundai Tournament of Champions . . . $5.6mSony-Hawaii Open. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5.5mHumana Challenge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5.6m Farmers insurance Open. . . . . . . . . . . . $6m

Waste Management Phoenix Open. . . . $6.1mAT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am . . . . . . . . . $6.4mNorthern Trust Open . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6.6mWGC-Accenture Match Play . . . . . . . . . $8.5mMayakoba Classic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3.7m

Honda Classic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5.7mPuerto Rico Open . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3.5mWorld Golf Championships. . . . . . . . . . . . . .$3.5mTransitions Championship. . . . . . . . . . . $5.5mTavistock Cup. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2.1mArnold Palmer invitational . . . . . . . . . . . $2.1mShell Houston Open . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6m

The Masters Tournament . . . . . . . . . . . . $8mRBC Heritage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5.7mValero Texas Open. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6.2mZurich-New Orleans Open. . . . . . . . . . . $6.4m

Wells Fargo Championship . . . . . . . . . . $6.5mTHE PlAyERS Championship. . . . . . . . $9.5mHP Byron Nelson Championship . . . . . $6.5mCrowne Plaza invitational at Colonial . . $6.4mThe Memorial Tournament. . . . . . . . . . . $6.2m

FedEx St. Jude Classic . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5.6mU.S. Open. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6.8mCVS Caremark Charity Classic . . . . . . . $1.3mTravelers Championship . . . . . . . . . . . . $6mAT&T National . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6.5m

The Greenbrier Classic . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6.1mJohn Deere Classic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4.6mTrue South Classic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3mThe Open Championship . . . . . . . . . . . $8mRBC Canadian Open . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5.1m

Reno-Tahoe Open . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3mWGC-Bridgestone invitational . . . . . . . . $8.5mPGA Championship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8mWyndham-Greensboro Open . . . . . . . . $5.2m

PGA Grand Slam of Golf . . . . . . . . . . . . $1.3m

Wendy’s 3-Tour Challenge. . . . . . . . . . . $1mADT Skills Challenge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8mPGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament . . . $1mChevron World Challenge . . . . . . . . . . $5m

Franklin Templeton Shootout . . . . . . . . $3m

official 2012PGA Tour Schedule

Jan. 6-9Jan. 12-15Jan. 19-22Jan. 27-30

Feb. 2-5Feb. 9-12Feb. 16-19Feb. 22-26Feb. 23-26

Mar. 1-4Mar. 8-11Mar. 8-11Mar. 15-18Mar. 19-20Mar. 22-25Mar. 29-April 1

Apr. 5-8Apr. 12-15Apr. 19-22Apr. 26-29

May 3-6May 10-13May 17-20May 24-27May 31-Jun. 3

Jun. 7-10Jun. 14-12Jun. 18-19Jun. 21-24Jun. 28-Jul. 1

Jul. 5-8Jul. 12-15Jul. 19-22Jul. 19-22Jul. 26-29

Aug. 2-5Aug. 2-5Aug. 09-12Aug. 16-19

Oct. 22-24

Nov. 05-06Nov. 12-14Nov. 28- Dec. 3Nov. 29-Dec. 2

Dec. 7-9

official 2012champions Tour Schedule

Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,800,000Allianz Championship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,800,000ACE Group Classic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,600,000Toshiba Classic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,750,000 Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,600,000Tampa Bay Pro-Am . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,700,000 liberty Mutual legends of Golf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,700,000 insperity Championship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,200,000 Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,000,000 Principal Charity Classic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,750,000 Regions Tradition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,200,000Montreal Championship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,800,000Constellation Senior Players Championship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,700,000 Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,700,000U.S. Senior Open Championship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,600,000 The Senior Open Championship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,000,000 3M Championship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,750,000 Dick’s Sporting Goods Open . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,800,000 Boeing Classic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,000,000SAS Championship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,100,000 Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,600,000 AT&T Championship. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,850,000 Charles Schwab Cup Championship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,500,000Champions Tour Q-School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 200,000

Jan. 20-22Feb. 10-12Feb. 17-19Mar. 16-18Mar. 23-25Apr. 13-15Apr. 20-22May 04-06May 24-27Jun. 01-03Jun. 07-10Jun. 22-24Jun. 28-Jul. 01Jul. 06-08Jul. 12-15Jul. 26-29Aug. 03-05Aug. 17-19Aug. 24-26Oct. 05-07Oct. 12-14Oct. 26-28Nov. 01-04Nov. 13-16


official 20122012 lPGA Tour Schedule

iSPS Handa Women’s Australian OpenHonda lPGA Thailand 2012HSBC Women’s Champions 2012

RR Donnelley lPGA Founders CupKia ClassicKraft Nabisco Championship

lPGA lOTTE Championship by J GolfMobile Bay lPGA Classic

HSBC lPGA Brasil Cup 2012Sybase Match Play Championship

ShopRite lPGA ClassicWegmans lPGA ChampionshipManulife Financial lPGA ClassicWalmart NW Arkansas Championship by P&G

U.S. Women’s OpenEvian Masters Presented by Société Générale

Jamie Farr Toledo ClassicSafeway Classic Presented by Coca-ColaCN Canadian Women’s Open

Kingsmill ChampionshipRiCOH Women’s British OpenNavistar lPGA Classic

Sime Darby lPGA MalaysialPGA HanaBank ChampionshipSunrise lPGA Taiwan Championship 2012

Mizuno Classiclorena Ochoa invitational CME Group Titleholders

Wendy’s 3-Tour Challenge

Feb. 09-12Feb. 16-19Feb. 23-26

Mar. 15-18Mar. 22-25Mar. 29-April 01

Apr. 18-21Apr. 26-29

May 05-06May 17-20

Jun. 01-03Jun. 07-10Jun. 21-24Jun. 29- July 01

Jul. 05-08Jul. 26-29

Aug. 1Aug. 9Aug. 23-26

Sept. 6-9Sept. 13-16Sept. 20-23

Oct. 11-14Oct. 19-21Oct. 25-28

Nov. 02-04Nov. 08-11Nov. 15-18

Dec. 09

official 20122012 nationwide Tour Schedule

Panama Claro ChampionshipChile Classic Presented by Pacific RubialesChitimacha louisiana Open

Soboba Golf ClassicTPC Stonebrae ChampionshipSouth Georgia Classic

Stadion Classic at UGA BMW Charity Pro-AmThe Rex Hospital Open

Mexico Open Preferred Health Systems Wichita Open United leasing Championship

Utah Championship PresentedNationwide Children’s Hospital invitational

Cox ClassicPrice Cutter Charity ChampionshipMidwest Classic PresentedNews Sentinel Open Mylan Classic

Albertsons Boise Open WNB Golf ClassicChiquita Classic

Neediest Kids ChampionshipMiccosukee ChampionshipWinn-Dixie Jacksonville OpenNationwide Tour Championship

Mar. 01-04Mar. 08-11Mar.22-25

Apr. 05-08Apr. 12-15Apr. 26-29

May 03-06May 24-27May 31 June 03

Jun. 07-10Jun. 21-24Jun. 28-Jul. 01

Jul. 12-15Jul. 26-29

Aug. 02-05Aug. 09-12Aug. 16-19Aug. 23-26Aug. 30 -Sept. 02

Sept. 13-16Sept. 20-23Sept. 27-30

Oct. 04-07Oct. 11-14Oct. 18-21Oct. 25-28


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