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November 2011 - Vol 2 Issue 2 Vancouver Island, British Columbia |
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In an effort to expand the circulation of the Peninsula Golf Journal, we welcome any e-mail addresses of those you think might enjoy receiving the monthly letter. Thanks!
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 Click on the logo 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... | |
I grip the club firmly with all my fingers, but I feel pressure particularly in specific areas of each hand. In the left hand, these pressure points are the last two fingers and the pad or butt of the hand. In the right hand, the pressure points are my thumb and index finger.
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RUB OF THE GREENS ($$$) | |
As most of you are aware next week marks the playing of the11th President's Cup from Melbourne, Australia.
The matches pit an all-star American squad vs the World. The captains for the event are PGA veterans Fred Couples and Greg Norman. There is a huge controversy surrounding the matches because Tiger Woods was chosen as a captain's pick, very early in the culling process. Some believe Tiger should not have been included because of his weak 2011 record. Where the rub comes is the reigning US PGA Champion Keegan Bradley is sitting this one out. Tiger was picked early in the process leaving only one spot available, and the final pick was given to Bill Haas, winner of the Tour Championship and FedEx Cup. Hard to imagine the 2011 PGA Champ on the bench. So what happened...... I think it all went down something like this....
PGA Commissioner Tim Finchem to Fred Couples...
Tim...How is the President's team coming together Fred?
Fred...Great Tim! We will have a strong team. A winning team!
Tim...That's super Fred...By the way, did you talk to Tiger yet?
Fred...Not yet Tim, was I supposed to?
Tim...You had better give him a call Fred, everyone wants Tiger
as a Captain's pick.
Fred...That's a tough one...I like Tiger, but his record this past
year has been a little shaky!
Tim...You need to phone Tiger now Fred.
Fred...Tim, I am the Captain and I believe...
Tim...Just call him Fred! The event sponsors are waiting for the
announcement.
Fred...But...
Tim...Thanks Fred! Good luck! |
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QUOTE OF THE MONTH | |
"Why am I using a new putter? Because the last one didn't float too well."
~Craig Stadler
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CHANGE YOUR SOCKS |
When I was a young buck and could shoot some decent numbers I decided to try and qualify for the U.S. Open. In fact I tried twice! Almost made it too! It's a grueling event, with 36 holes played in a single day, a real marathon. The entry rules were simple, you had to have a handicap of 2 or better. You send away for the entry to the USGA, you mail it back and a confirmation was sent to you to report to a designated golf course on a specific day and time. I have included below a Vancouver Sun news clipping from 1972 regarding the qualifying.
The event is done in two parts, a regional and sectional qualifying, both 36 holes (in one day). If you make it in the first, you are invited to the second. In my event the first regional qualifying (at Sahalee G.C.in Seattle) involved 120 players for 7 spots. The course was set up as an IRONMAN course...7000+ yards of terror on a very wet course. The least I hit into any of the four par 3's was a 2 iron.
In my sectional qualifying there were 36 players (at Portland Country Club). The36 players were qualifiers from 4 regional events. From the 36, only the 2 low 36 hole scores went to the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links in California.
I have inserted also a USGA notification cards from my 1977 attempt. All quite official indeed! My second attempt was played at Inglewood and Overlake G.C.'s in Seattle.
Anyhow, how does changing your socks fit into this story? Well between rounds at the sectional qualifying in Portland, the famous golf instructor Jim McLean (from Doral), a fellow competitor, told me changing socks between 18's will do wonders for your feet. So for you folks who have tired feet and feel fatigued after nine, give it a go, it really works!
www.jimmclean.com
www.sahalee.com |
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SAND TRAP SHOTS MADE EASY: THREE LINES! | |
Click the image above for the video lesson on the 'Sand trap'
This video lesson is part of a series of upcoming videos
and part of a new YouTube Channel
You will notice in the video how I incorporate the three lines. Line 1 is the target line; Line 2 is the right angle line; Line 3 is the line 15% open to the target line. Place your left heel/foot on the outside of the right angle line, and your right toe/foot on the line which is 15% open. Done right, you will find yourself with the ball being positioned off your left heel. Place 55-60% of your weight on the leading foot/leg at address and keep it there throughout the swing. Shuffle your feet into the sand a bit, but nothing excessive. Bend the knees and grip the club 1 inch shorter. Adjust the club face for additional loft if needed. Do not forward press the club with your hands! At this point swing the club freely, try not to control or manipulate the club, just swing it! You want to enter the sand approximately 1-2 inches behind the ball. The final key is to make sure you follow through...accelerate thru the ball and keep the weight forward. You must follow through!
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MADE TO MEASURE | |
It was not that long ago when a golfer simply went into a golf shop or store and bought his/her clubs off the wall. What you saw is what you got. Clubs were designed with standard specs and regardless of the golfers particular physical needs there were simply few options out there. When I first started in the business in the early 70's, we would occasionally run across a set of Kenneth Smith clubs. These unique clubs (founded in 1928) prided themselves on clubs which were customized to the golfer; even your name was engraved on the club. Short, tall,big hands or small, or whatever the dimensions a golfer was, clubs could now be fitted to best suit the player. You filled out a form with your specs and sent it in for production.
  
After Kenneth Smith, a more familiar name, the Ping Corporation introduced their revolutionary colored coded system. It wasn't long when all the rest of the manufacturers offered fitted clubs, but generally not to the degree and extent Ping has achieved. In the early years fitting was all quite basic and still is today to some degree. What has greatly changed is the variety of clubs and all the hardware options available. The nuts and bolts of the exercise are shaft length, shaft flex, shaft composition, grip size and club lie angle. I have to admit, my experience suggests most folks usually measure up quite standard, but for those who do not, custom clubs is a game changer.
Nowadays, the manufacturer provides the merchant with superb customize fitting carts designed entirely to suit any and all golfers. In fact today, shafts are interchangeable (screw in and out) making the whole process quick, interesting and fun. So next time you have a thirst for some new clubs, see your CPGA professional and get fitted with the RIGHT gear. If you really want top cabin, you can visit Ping Corporation in Phoenix, Arizona and they will put you through their super, duper, deluxe, high tech fitting shop. Very cool experience indeed! Do not forget, technology is on your side!
Hey man, get fitted, this game is tough enough!
www.ping.com |
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The Mighty Twelve |
I cannot count how many times I have been asked who is Canada's Greatest Golfer? Well I thought I might take a stab at it and perhaps add a few extra deserved names to round out my mighty twelve. So here we go:
1. Mike Weir...Bright's Grove, ON...8 PGA Tour wins including one Major...
The 2003 Masters. Winning a major separates himself totally from the pack.
The ultimate triumph in golf!
2. George Knudson...Winnipeg, MB...8 Tour wins...plus 3 top ten finishes in the
Masters. Winner 1968 World Cup with Al Balding in Italy. 5 CPGA titles.
3. Stephen Ames...Calgary, AB...4 Tour wins including the 2006 Player's
Championship...some call it the 5th Major; every great player in the
world contends. (TPC at Sawgrass...the famous Island green)
4. Stan Leonard...Van., B.C...Tour wins...3 Tour wins, 8 CPGA Titles, 4 top/10 Masters
5. Al Balding...Toronto, ON...4 Tour wins...World Cup winner. 4 CPGA Titles
6. Pat Fletcher...Victoria, BC...1 Tour win...1954 Canadian Open at Point Grey
7. Dave Barr...Kelowna, BC... 2 Tour wins...2nd/ 1985 U.S. Open. World Cup Winner
8. Dick Zokol...Vancouver, BC...1 Tour win...1992 Greater Milwaukee Open, CPGA Title
9. Ian Leggatt...Cambridge, ON...1 Tour win...2002 Tucson Open
10. Ken Black...Vancouver, BC....1 Tour win...1936 Vancouver Golden Jubilee Open
11. Jules Huot...Laval, QC...1 Tour win...1937 General Brock Open
12. Gary Cowan...Kitchener, ON...1966 & 1971 U.S Amateur Champion, Canadian Am
*It should be noted both Dan Hallderson (86) and Dick Zokol (92) won the Deposit Guaranty Open, a U.S. Tour satellite event.....no easy task indeed!
With the exception of Gary Cowan all the players listed have won on the PGA Tour. In might be added also all of the players above have won multiple events, including National Professional and National Amateur Championships. Agreed, there are many other SUPERB players in Canada, but the PGA Tour in my opinion is the BIG DADDY of them all. If you have won an official event on the PGA tour you are truly in my mind a world class player. I thought it appropriate to round off the 12th spot to Gary Cowan; winning one U.S. Amateur is exceptionally noteworthy, but two...a world class golfing accomplishment.
I was paired with Gary Cowan in 2000 at the Greystone Golf Club in Toronto. It was a fun event organized by Score Golf Magazine for their annual award winners. I remember very clearly every shot Gary hit was like the most important shot of his life....focus extraordinaire!
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CHICKEN IN THE ROUGH
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Combining various marketing themes and stories with the game of golf is a familiar concept. I really like this "Chicken in the Rough" 1956 promotional postcard. It would seem the chicken seems rather pleased with himself with golf club in hand.
Hey! Ain't it all about Struttin' your stuff!
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BC GOLF HISTORY | |
When in Vancouver and looking for a pleasant experience, drop by and visit the B.C. Golf Museum at the corner of Blanca and University Boulevard in Vancouver. The building is the original University Golf Club clubhouse; it hosts a wonderful collection and presentation of B.C. Golf dating back to the beginning of the game in the province.
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Wishing good golf to all!
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