LOGO FINAL
June 2013  - Vol 5  Issue 3                                                                                                                                                   Vancouver Island, British Columbia  
IN THIS ISSUE
Greatest Golf Instructors
Trivia
One of Canada's very best...Al Balding
Watch that left knee
The Hybrid Club
They don't make them like that anymore
The Hybrid Club
Downswing Analysis...Jason Day
Golf Instruction with Scott
Previous Editions

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There are 5 topics: 

 

~Sand Play

~Simple Alignment 

~The Fairway Trap Shot

~Putting Basics

~Sticky Lies...Chipping

 

Check out these easy to follow golf videos.  Give it a try...a path to better golf!  

 

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Golf...the game of a lifetime!  

EDITOR'S TEE TIME

 

us open merion  

 

2013 U.S. Open


June 13 -16th

 

Merion Golf Club
 

Established in 1896...  Ardmore, Pennsylvania

 

This is the fifth U.S. Open to be played at Merion

 

merion 1   

 

1934 Open - Olin Dutra by one stroke over Gene Sarazen

 

1950 Open - Ben Hogan def. Lloyd Mangrum & G. Fazio

 

1971 U.S. Open - Lee Trevino def. Jack Nicklaus

 

1981 U.S. Open - David Graham won by three strokes over Bill Rogers & George Burns

 

Defending Champion:  Webb Simpson @ Olympic Club, San Francisco

  

The Course...6996 yds., Par 70

 

merion 2

 

What makes "the look of Merion" rather unique is the baskets atop the flag poles; the baskets were implemented in 1915. Golf Magazine rates Merion Golf Club the

10th greatest golf course in the world.   

  • Four Open wins...Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan & Willie Anderson 
  • Three Open wins...Hale Irwin & Tiger Woods 
  • First U.S. Open event...1895   Winner Horace Rawlins (England)
  • Field...156 players... Purse...$8,000,000

merion 3  

 

The extra perks the Champion receives:

 

The real "treasure chest".... 

 

A U.S. Open exemption for the next 10 years
An invitation to the next five Masters Tournaments
An invitation to the next five British Open 
An invitation to the next five PGA Championships
An invitation to the next five Players Championships
Exempt status on the PGA Tour for five years
 
Plus a plethora of $$$ endorsements!

 

AMERICA'S 10 + 2 GREATEST GOLF INSTRUCTORS

...rated by Golf Digest Magazine 

 

 

butch harmon  

"Top Gun"... Butch Harmon

  1. Butch Harmon/ Las Vegas, Nevada...  $1,000 per hour
  2. David Leadbetter/ Orlando, Florida... $3,500 three hours
  3. Jim McLean/ Miami, Florida... $2,500 half day
  4. Mike Bender/ Lake Mary, Florida... $250 per hour
  5. Hank Haney/ Lewisville, Texas... $10,000 per day
  6. Chuck Cook/ Dallas, Texas... $300 per hour
  7. Martin Hall/ West Palm Beach. Florida... $170 per hour
  8. Jim Hardy/ Houston, Texas... $750 per hour
  9. Stan Utley/ Scottsdale, Arizona... $1500 three hours
  10. Jim Flick/ Carlsbad, California... $300 per hour

Perhaps you are interested in a little short game guidance...

 

Ranked 13th... Dave Stockton/ Redlands, California... $600 per hour... (The putting guru)

Ranked 14th... Dave Pelz/ Austin, Texas... $30,000 per day... (The short game guy!)

 

 

INSTRUCTIONAL GOLF QUOTES...

  Professor

 

Some interesting "deep" instructional quotes...

 

"I am the captive of my slice...I am the servant of my score."  Grantland Rice

 

"Setting up is ninety percent of good shot making".  Jack Nicklaus

 

"On the backswing, the order of movement goes like this:  hands, arms, shoulders, hips.  On the downswing the order is reversed: hips, shoulders, arms, hands."  Ben Hogan

 

"If you slice, initially you have to exaggerate the factors that will produce a draw".  Gary Player

 

"Tempo is the ingredient that ties the swing together and produces the timing that is so essential to effective ball-striking."  Al Geiberger

 

"Great players are great planners.  A sound game plan is essential in golf".  Johnny Miller

  

ONE OF CANADA'S VERY BEST...AL BALDING

 

A native of Toronto, Ontario, Al Balding had a most impressive playing career.  Winner of 4 PGA tour events plus numerous other events, Balding was truly one of Canada's greatest players.   In a previous edition I ranked Balding #5 on my list of Canada's greatest players.

PGA Tour wins (4)

Canadian Tour wins (10)

front of scorecard  
 
Balding scorecard  
Shown above is a very cool signed "official golf card" from the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf Tournament dated March 24, 1996.  Balding's partner was Jay Hebert..... the card was attested by George Bayer. 
 
Other wins (2)
magazine  

 

Other senior wins (2)

Balding was named Ontario Athlete of the Year in 1955 and 1957. He was elected to Canada's, Sports Hall of Fame in 1968, and the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 1984.  (Source...Wikipedia)

 

  Peter Jackson

 

For a good part of Balding's career he was associated with the MacGregor Golf Company, of Albany, Georgia.   As an interesting footnote, MacGregor Golf was the first golf company I signed with when I made the switch to professional golf.  

 

Known for his gentlemanly nature, Balding was a wonderful role model for other aspiring professionals.  My first introduction to Al was in 1971 at the Peter Jackson, B.C. Open Championship at Marine Drive Golf Club; my second in Milton, Ontario at the Rattlesnake Golf Club in 1999; I remember clearly his pleasing demeanor and professional manner was uplifting for me on both occasions.  A real gentleman!

 

WATCH THAT LEFT KNEE

 

Recently I have taught a few students who have had improper action in their left knee on the back swing.  When taking the club away from the ball, the left knee should move to the center, or generally point at the ball.  For some golfers the left knee moves straight out or to the outside; this incorrect action will prohibit the golfer from loading his/her weight into the back leg.  We refer to this as "reverse pivoting".  The most common outcome can be skying the ball, hitting it very low,or pushing the shot to the right. In the photos below notice the busy leg action of the great Jack Nicklaus.  Not tough to notice, Jacks's left knee moves to the center or points generally to the ball.   To check your own leg action, it's easy, simply look in the mirror!

 

jn swing  

Quick Fix...Try to develop a "One Piece Takeaway"....start your backswing taking the club away with your arms.  Done right you should feel the body weight move into your right side and the left knee wanting to point to the ball; done correctly that sensation of weight transfer is POWER GENERATION!

 
 

VANCOUVER ISLAND TRADITION GOLF TOURNAMENT

 

BC Golf House  

 

Vancouver Island Tradition Golf Tournament...

 

On Monday, August 12th, I will be hosting the 4th Annual Van Isle Tradition Golf Tournament and fundraiser at Nanaimo Golf Club. All proceeds raised will go to the B.C.Golf House & Museum. If you might like to join us, please e-mail me and I will forward you the details.

 

nanaimo new 2  

nanaimo new 1   

After having held our event for three years in Victoria, we have moved the 2013 tourney (upon invitation) to Nanaimo Golf Club. As a very cool treat we will be utilizing their new clubhouse which will be opened in July.  I have enclosed some recent photos of their  
"soon to open" spectacular new digs. MANY CONGRATS TO MEMBERS AND STAFF! 

 

THEY DON'T MAKE THEM LIKE THAT ANYMORE...

 

The card below is that of Kaslo Golf Course, located in the Kootenay region of British Columbia.  Built in 1923, the course opened originally as a 4 hole layout; it was later expanded to a nine hole facility.  I would expect the card to be dated somewhere in the 1930-40's era.  What makes the card a standout, though the postcard is rather plain in content is the colour of the putting surface.  So what's that all about? 

 

kaslo gc 2 

 

My research has revealed the early greens in the Kootenay's were primarily constructed of sand.  My good friend, Mike Reiste, the B.C. Golf Museum historian explained to me the putting surfaces had 2 additional elements added... sawdust and used car oil.  The components were mixed in a cement mixer then applied; the sand gave the green a predominant smooth surface, the sawdust a softness, and the oil the (blackish) bonding agent.   

 

 kaslo gc

  

THE HYBRID CLUB...YESTERDAY AND TODAY

 

In a previous issue I had mentioned how important I think the inclusion of a "hybrid" is to your game.  For most golfers the hybrid has become the favourite club of choice; shorter than your fairway wood by approx.  2 inches, the hybrid is the ideal club to bridge the gap between irons and woods.  Excellent height is usually achieved with a hybrid making it a killer club on approach shots.  In addition, the hybrid is a superb trouble shot club, especially hitting from the rough. 

 

hybrid  

 

Please notice above the image of a typical hybrid club.  Most hybrids come in various lofts, such as 21, 24, 27 degrees.  Check out also I have included in the line-up  an early 1900's hybrid aluminum head club made by "The Standard Golf Company", Mills Patent of Sunderland, England....circa 1915.  (Checkout the hickory shaft)   Another great example of the re-working of an old idea into a dynamite new golf product.  

 

A DOWNSWING ANALYSIS OF JASON DAY...

con't from the May Newsletter 
 

Illustrated below are eight images of Jason Day on the downswing with the driver.  I have listed below 8 comments you might find interesting and useful:

 

jason day 2

 

a.      Notice the L shape of the club related to the left arm in the first image.   This leverage translates itself to "lots of power" as he releases this angle into the hit zone.

 

b.      Notice how the hips and downward motion of the club are working in tandem with each other.  A lot of fire power indeed!

 

c.       Notice in picture 1 (of the lower series)  the club angle in relation to the ball...everything is lined up perfectly.  I have added a reference line...

 

d.      Notice in picture 3 (of the upper series) the straightness of his left leg and the straight line achieved in image 4.  As I tell my students...like swinging in a barrel.

 

e.      Notice how Jason keeps his head in position and stays behind the ball through the hit zone.  A phrase I use a lot is "let the club pass you" before coming up. 

 

f.        Notice at the finish of his swing in picture 4 Jason has 95% of his body weight on his leading foot with his belt buckle and chest pointed to target.

 

g.       Notice how Jason extends the club to target in picture 3.  As Tiger says...the club head chases the ball!  Right arm is straight! 

 

h.       Notice how Jason is in perfect balance at the completion of his swing.

 

GOLF INSTRUCTION with SCOTT              

      
2013 SUMMER LESSONS
 
  
Golf Instruction is available on all facets of the game. 

 

All lessons include video and an e-mail summary.  Not to forget...PLAYING LESSONS are available too.  Highland Pacific is a fantastic venue for Playing Lessons.  I look forward to hearing from you!  Cheers!

 

  Call or e-mail to arrange your outing!
 
Let me build a corporate outing for you at Highland Pacific!

Email: [email protected]
Call: Highland Pacific Golf Shop @
250.478.4653

Website:  www.highlandpacificgolf.com

  

HP Golf Club  

 Pacific Nine - 8th hole

 

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Good golfing to all!