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St. Andrews, Scotland

Peninsula Golf Journal               July 2011 - Vol 1, Issue 4  

IN THIS ISSUE
NOTIFICATIONS OF EVENTS...
A SLICE YOU SAY
EIGHT SIMPLE IDEAS
WELCOME MR. PRESIDENT
LESSON INFORMATION

OLD GOLF LORE 

There is an old saying; "a poor putt is sometimes better than a good chip".  In my opinion I think most recreational golfers would be well served to putt anytime they are on the apron of the green.


GET A HANDICAP

bcga

If you want to improve your game there is no better encouragement than getting a handicap.  The handicap allows you to monitor your scores and gives you a measure as to how you are progressing with your game.  So let's do it!  Google in to British Columbia Golf, and key into their, "Join the Players Club"; from there follow the easy instructions.   It's the smartest $39.95 you'll spend on your game!

JACK NICKLAUS SAYS..

 

bear

Besides working towards a definite goal when you practice, always shoot to a defined target - a practice bag, or a yardage marker.

This not only builds correct

alignment habits, but gives you a clear perspective of the

distance you are hitting the ball relative to your target.

 

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THE EDITOR'S TEE-TIME 

Open Logo

Next week will mark the 151st playing of the British Open, otherwise referred to as the Open Championship; one of golf's four major championships.  The winner's purse will be $1.43 million.  The event is being held at The Royal St. George's Golf Club, in Sandwich, England.   This will be the 13th occasion the event has been held at Royal St. George's.  The coastal links setting combined with a (hopeful) variety of unpredictable British weather should make for a great contest.  Some interesting facts regarding the event are:

  1. The tournament first started in 1860 @ Prestwick Golf Club, Scotland.  
  2. The first winner was Willie Park Sr.
  3. Oldest winner was Tom Morris Sr. @ 46 years.
  4. Youngest winner was Tom Morris Jr. @ 17 years.
  5. Three amateurs have won the event: John Ball, Harold Hilton x 2, Bobby Jones x 3.
  6. Most Victories...Harry Vardon won 6.  (The creator of the famous Vardon Grip)
  7. Lowest score...Greg Norman 267. Rounds of 66, 68, 69, 64 @ Royal St. Georges in 1993.  Winner's purse $154,000., a far cry from this weeks $1.43 million.  
  8. Notables re multiple victories:  Tom Watson 5, Nicklaus 3, Tiger 3, Ballesteros 3, Palmer 2,  Trevino 2, Norman 2, Faldo 3.

For an excellent preview of the course and it's most fascinating old world layout, google Royal
St. Georges Golf Club and click on the sub index, The Course.  I think the rough looks particularly NASTY!

 

Scott

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

 

You don't know what pressure is until you play for five bucks with only two bucks in your pocket.

Lee Trevino

REMINDER!!!

canadian open

The Canadian Open will be held this July 18-24th at the Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club in Vancouver.   Definitely worth a trip across the pond to check out "simply the best"!  Google RBC Canadian Open for further details.

NOTIFICATIONS OF EVENTS... A RATHER FORMAL APPROACH 

 

1897...Royal Montreal Golf Club
POSTCARD 2  

1909...Winnipeg Golf Club

POSTCARD 3 

1922...Estevan, Saskatchewan

POSTCARD 1 

1931...Hamilton Golf & Country Club

POSTCARD 4 

I think these cards clearly illustrate the formality of the game in the early 1900's.  Cards such as these were sent out to members informing them of upcoming events.  I suspect it must have been part of a protocol or instructional book on how to operate an event. 

A SLICE YOU SAY 

 

slice

Here are three interesting ideas you might try to settle that slice down. 

  1. Your grip.  Make sure you can see two knuckles of the left hand when gripping the club as a right hand player.  Many slicers have a weak upper hand.  
  2. Most slices are cause because the downswing is initiated with the upper body or shoulders rather than with the hips.  In most cases the golfer is trying to hit the ball too hard which allows the upper body and arms to dominate.   We call this over the top!  Rather, try to lead the downswing with the hips; to do this try on your downswing to return your belt buckle to look at the ball first.  This will allow the club to return to the ball on a more inside approach.  To conclude, allow the hips to lead the downswing rather than the shoulders.  
  3. Close your stance.  I have had excellent results by getting my slicing students (on full shots) to close their stance at address.  To do it correctly take your regular stance; imagine the ball is positioned at 12:00 on the dial, this would put your feet on a 9:00-3:00 line, also (the line of the feet) parallel with the direction of the head of the club.  At this point adjust your feet to a 10:00-4:00 line.  Do not simply pull back your right foot, everything must turn including your body, like you are on a turntable.  Be certain the club head has not changed position from the original set-up.  So to summarize, at the final address position, the club head is aimed at the target; your feet, hips and shoulders are lined up on a 10:00-4:00 position.  Give it a try.  It does work!


Good luck! 

EIGHT SIMPLE IDEAS TO IMPROVING YOUR PUTTING...

putting

1.       When putting be certain your legs are not moving.  The more moving parts the greater chance of changing the blade angle.  Think pendulum with your arms.

2.      Is your eye over the ball?  Place a ball between your eyes at address.  When you drop the ball it should hit the ball below.   The best and most productive angles are the tightest!

3.       Draw a line on the ball like Tiger.  When placing the ball, aim the ball line on your target line.  This line should also be consistent with the target line on your putter (if your putter has one).  Great stuff for short putts.

4.      As a right hander your leading left wrist cannot collapse at contact.  If it does we call this "pulling" the putt, thereby hitting it left of the target line.

5.      Do not be afraid to try different grips with your putter.  Most touring professionals use a grip called a reverse overlap.  Go to YouTube, check it out ...reverse overlap putting grip!

6.        Allow the putter to pass below you before lifting your head.  If your head lifts prematurely you will most often open the face of the putter and push the ball to the right of target.  Think steady head!

7.       Do you like your putter?  This is a big deal!  Find one you really like...it will work better.  There are some really cool putters out there...get a cover for your beauty too!  Care for it!

8.      If you are unclear as to how the break of a putt works, practice on a green with dew on it.  You can easily see the track of the ball.  Remember, the slower the ball moves the greater the effect of gravity.


If you would like to see the real deal.... YouTube... Lorne Roberts, Ben Crenshaw putting.  These two professionals in my opinion are the two modern maestros of the short grass.   Tiger Woods ain't bad either.  Check it out!

  

WELCOME MR. PRESIDENT 

harding 7 

On July 26 & 27th 1923 (88 years ago), the 29th President of the United States, Warren G. Harding , (a Republican) visited Vancouver.  The prime purpose of the trip was to visit Alaska, then simply a territory of the United States.  Alaska achieved statehood in 1959.  Harding would be the first U.S. President to visit Canada during a presidential tenure in office.  As the story goes, Harding and his entourage, aboard the U.S.S. Henderson were returning to the U.S. from Alaska with a scheduled stop in Vancouver.  During his visit to Vancouver,  Harding's activities would include a fellowship speech (to 50,000 Vancouverites) in Stanley Park, a civic luncheon and state banquet at the Vancouver Hotel, and more to the point a round of golf at Shaughnessy Heights Golf Club in the afternoon .  Harding was a huge golf enthusiast.  The two postcards show Harding on the tee, plus putting on a Shaughnessy Heights green (with the RCMP headquarters in the background on 37th Avenue).  Also included are images of his parade up Granville Street, inspection of Canadian troops, plus his podium speech.  What made the whole story most fascinating was a few days later, on August 2nd Harding would die in the Palace Hotel in San Francisco, just two years into his presidency.  Many Presidential historians believe Harding was perhaps the worst president in American history.  Calvin Coolidge, would become the 30th U.S. President.   

 

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LESSON INFORMATION

pamphlet

 

 

 

For more information on lessons
with Scott Keenlyside
please click here

Wishing good golf to all!