St. Andrews, Scotland |
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Peninsula Golf Journal August 2011 - Vol 1, Issue 5 |
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Click on the image above to visit the BCGA website and learn how to establish a registered handicap. It will help make you a better player!
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| JACK SAYS... | |
It may be stating the obvious, but I can't overstress the physical fitness as a condition for good golf. In my experience the better shape you're in, especially the legs, the better you'll play.
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THE EDITOR'S TEE-TIME
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This year marks the 93rd edition of the United States PGA Championship. As always it should be a great event. Some interesting facts:
a. The event will be held at the Atlanta Athletic Club in Atlanta, Georgia. The course will measure 7467 yards par 70.
b. The PGA Championship is the 4th and final major of the year. The event started in 1916, with the winner being Jim Barnes of England. For his win Barnes earned $500. and a gold bracelet.
c. This year the champ will receive $1.4 million and the coveted Wanamaker Trophy. Wanamaker was a founding wealthy patron of the event.
d. Last years winner was Martin Kaymer of Germany.
e. The most PGA victories were won by Walter Hagen 5, Jack Nicklaus 5, Tiger Woods 4, Gene Sarazen 3 &
Sam Snead 3.
f. The Atlanta Athletic Club was Bobby Jones' home club.
As was the case this past week at Firestone, all eyes will be on Tiger. Will he return to his previous form, can he win again? If you will recall, Tiger played super at the Masters...a great surprise to me. Nevertheless he has recently been fighting injuries, plus all the rest of the stuff in his complicated life. I think he is a long shot at best! How about all those Irish guys, and the rest of the Europeans. Maybe down-under Adam Scott, if you believe in streaks, won handily at Firestone this past week. Of course the media will be making a big deal about caddy Steve Williams leaving Tiger's bag for Adam Scott. Should make for good print and drama.
My guess is the cup will find it's home overseas again.
Scott
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QUOTE OF THE MONTH
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Golf is an ineffectual attempt to put an elusive ball into an
obscure hole with implements ill-adapted to the purpose.
Woodrow Wilson
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THE COST OF MEMBERSHIP
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I thought this card reminding the recipient of a late dues notice was particularly interesting. Dated 1898 from Lennoxville Golf Club in Quebec. I wonder if their annual fee of $2.00 seemed pricey?
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LIMIT THE DAMAGE
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During the Canadian Open at Shaughnessy I was listening to Peter Kostis (the famous instructor) relate a conversation he had with John Daly regarding the rough at Shaughnessy. Was it tough or what? Anyhow, Daly said it was all about "limiting the damage". I believe this to be a very powerful and far reaching statement, and one which all recreational golfers should take note of during their game. In my twenty five years as a professional I have heard many stories of great rounds falling victim to what I call round buster hole(s). In many cases these are situations where a player is attempting either a shot far beyond his talent level, or a shot with low to minimal odds of success. Golf is a game of SCORE! Take heed my fellow golfers, "limit the damage"!
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A GREAT READ!
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The book is called "Tiger Woods, How I Play Golf".
I would recommend it to all golfers as an excellent read. Tiger reviews his overall technique, and there are some great pictures of his grip, stance, and swing. I find the swing sequences especially interesting. As a fun exercise, I would recommend any golfer to take some simple digital camera shots
of the various positions in your golf swing, and compare them with Tiger. As a golf instructor, I see lots of folks struggling with the game needlessly, due to poor grips, uncomfortable posture, or major swing flaws. Be your own instructor or even better see your local CPGA professional and hook onto a lesson or two. For those folks just starting, getting some
early help will shorten the learning curve, and ultimately make the game more fun.
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IT WASN'T THAT LONG AGO
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The game of Golf, just like everything else in life has changed dramatically over the past few decades. It would seem it wasn't that long ago when:
I remember in the early 70's (when I was the assistant at Royal Colwood) a salesman came down to the shop selling an ugly metal driver and telling me about the future. I thought it a little weird and didn't take much notice of it. The head was really small..I did hit it though on the range at Colwood and in fact bombed the drive onto the 8th green. Wow! Was he right or what!
When I was a kid the big names in golf were Spalding, Wilson, Macgregor, Campbell of Canada and Slazenger. Where did all those guys go!
In the 60's graphite shafts were just coming into golf. The big innovator was Diawa in shaft production. Diawa was of course the fishing rod folks.
It wasn't that long ago when the woods in a golfers bag were 1,2,3 & 4 wood. Now you can go to the teen's in woods, or better yet how about the hybrid. One cool club!
Perhaps one of the biggest changes in golf are golf bags. Nowadays golf bags have copious amount of pockets, everything departmentalized and how can I forget the double straps. Personally I hate double strapes..much too complicated for this traditionalist!
I recall when I was a young buck I would hit perhaps 500-1500 balls a day. There were very few driving ranges in the lower mainland in the 60's, maybe 2 or 3. Nobody could afford it. So, me just like all other up and comers picked up our own. Believe me hitting it straight was essential. By the by, all the balls I hit I found (ball hunting) at my club! Don't see too much of that stuff today.
Is the game any better today? Who knows, or maybe it's all about what you make it!!!!!
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NEXT ISSUE SNEAK PEEK
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The September issue will discuss the history of the beautiful Banff Springs Golf Club.
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Wishing good golf to all! |
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