Imagine you're on the game show Jeopardy and this was the answer.
Of the two choices below, what would be your correct question?
1. How do you get to Grandmother's house
2. What is a fitting description of a Disc Golf course layout
If you selected question #2 you're probably already a player or you thought it was a trick question, but I assure you it wasn't. Yes, I said disc golf, it wasn't a misprint.
To go one step further with the description, add the lines "in-between the buildings and around the maintenance facilities". This would apply if the course was located on the campus of Douglass / Cook College at Rutgers University in New Jersey. Truth be told the river is actually a pond, but that minor fact didn't matter to over 100 professional and amateur disc golfers who played at the 34th annual Jersey Jam on August 19th and 20th respectively on the Rutger's course. Disc golf ...who would have thunk it? More about this event follows below.
They're real and they're spectacular! Well, maybe that's overdoing it a little, (as a fan of Seinfeld I just like that expression) but disc golfers are for real and the way the professionals make the disc fly is nothing short of magnificent. Yes, there are pro disc golfers and there is a professional tour where men and women compete for prize money. In addition, hundreds of regional events are scheduled year round for amateurs to play and compete (checkout http://www.pdga.com/ for all the details). In fact, disc golf is played in over 22 countries around the world.
Before jumping ahead to quickly, rewind back to the early 1960's when Vince Lombardi addressed his new team the Green Bay Packers, for the first time. To stress the importance of the basics, he uttered his infamous remark (as he held up a football) "gentlemen, this is a football. Am I going to fast for anyone"?
So that I don't make that mistake, it's important to step back and review the basics of disc golf.
What is Disc Golf?
Disc golf is played much like traditional golf, with the exception of the chosen weapons and the intended target. Instead of hitting a ball with clubs into a small hole in the ground, players throw a flying disc, or Frisbee(r) into an elevated metal basket. The sport was formalized in the 1970's, modeled after traditional ball golf.
A plethora of similarities exist between the two sports that include, but are not limited to the following:
- The objective of the games are the same; to complete each hole in the fewest number of strokes, or in the case of disc golf the fewest number of throws.
- A hole begins when a golf disc is thrown from a tee area toward the basket, typically a par three or four, measured in hundreds of feet, not yards. As a player progresses down the fairway, he or she must make each consecutive shot from the spot where the previous throw has landed. The trees, shrubs and terrain changes located in and around the fairways provide challenging obstacles for the golfer (I'm sure there are courses with holes over a river, as the title implies, although I haven't witnessed it). Therefore, the player's strategy can vary from flying the disc over or around the obstacle, or play "a roller", which hits the ground running hard toward its intended target. My observations compare playing roller type golf to "links golf" in that certain shots work out better by keeping the disc on the ground, especially in windy conditions. Remember, disc golf is played all year round, in all conditions. Finally, when "the putt" lands in the basket the hole is completed.
- The game is played in the same sized groups and combinations: singles, 2-somes, 3-somes, 4-somes, partners etc. They play shotguns, scrambles and partner better ball.
- Discs are stored in a bag, described as similar to a gym or small duffle bag with pockets, with anywhere from a few to over 12-15 or more different discs, for the different types of shots required. A large majority of golfers carry the bag, but I'm starting to see more pull carts being used, during the tournaments I observed. During a tournament I saw a wife was caddying for her husband (just like you often see on the pro golf tours).
- Disc golfers share the same joys and frustrations of traditional golfers, whether it's sinking a long putt or hitting a tree halfway down the fairway.
There are some differences, however.
- The most significant is the cost. Disc golf rarely requires a greens fee( You won't need to rent a motorized cart. The equipment needed to start includes: One disc (approx $10-$15) and a bag costs around $30( Disc golf uses a rating system to rank each player. There is no handicap system like in ball golf, where any player can play any other player fairly, by giving them strokes on designated holes to make up for the differential in ability. ( Dress code is a major difference. In contrast to the business casual look of khaki pants or shorts and collared shirts worn in traditional golf, disc golfers overall have a much more relaxed look, with jeans, tee shirts and sneakers or hiking type boots (no disrespect intended). Note, in tournaments a collared shirt is typically required.
Who Plays Disc Golf?
Just like ball golf, disc golf is played by boys, girls, men and women from school age to old age. It's designed to be enjoyed by people of all ages, male and female, regardless of economic status. As you would expect, pros are typically strong and athletically built, but recreational players are a diverse group that come in all different shapes and sizes; from king sized "big dogs" to the twiggy thin. The game today is played by the baby boomer generation, predominately men, but women are always welcome and encouraged to join in. Disc golf is easy to learn, so no one is excluded. Players merely match their pace to their capabilities, and proceed from there.
The Professional Disc Golf Association, with over 16,000 members, is the governing body for the sport, and sanctions competitive events for men and women of every skill level from novice to professional. Permanent disc golf courses are found throughout the United States as well as in countries worldwide.
Where do you play?
Many city parks have golf courses already set up. Most are free to play as often as you like. Disc golfers who do not have the benefit of a permanent disc golf facility in their area often "make up" courses in nearby parks and green spaces. One of the great features disc golf shares with traditional golf is that they are both played in beautiful settings. A nine-hole disc golf course can be established on as little as five acres of land, and a championship-caliber 18-hole course on 30 to 40 acres. Disc golf courses can coexist with existing park facilities and activity areas. The ideal location combines wooded and open terrains, and a variety of topographical change.
The need for more courses is constant, as the sport continues to grow in popularity. The PDGA has created standards for the design and installation of new golf courses, to ensure their success in the community.
In Summary: Why should you play?
The ongoing fitness boom finds more and more people taking up recreational activities in an effort to improve health and quality of life. Disc golf provides upper and lower body conditioning, aerobic exercise, and promotes a combination of physical and mental abilities that allow very little risk of physical injury. Concentration skills increase by mastering shots and negotiating obstacles. Players of limited fitness levels can start slowly and gradually increase their level of play as fitness improves. Scheduling is also flexible; a round takes one to two hours, and may be played alone, eliminating the difficulty of scheduling tee times. And as in traditional golf, disc golfers find themselves "hooked;" increasing the likelihood of frequent participation. Disc golf is played year-round, even in rain or snow. Perhaps the greatest attribute of the sport is the expense - or rather, the lack of it. A professional quality disc costs less than $10, and it only takes one for basic play. And, of course, there's the sheer fun of the game - no matter what your age or skill level!
Below is a recap of two events which occurred in our region during July and August of 2006.
Skylands Classic Pro / Am event - July 22 & 23 Warwick, NY
Brakewell Steel / Warwick Town Park Disc Golf Course is a beautiful park like setting in lower upstate New York. The 18 hole course was designed and created between August 1998 and April 1999 by many volunteers around the area that share a love for disc golf. The course features challenging terrain that includes wide open fields and narrow wooded fairways nestled in a scenic environment that offers beautiful vistas and pronounced elevation changes. Rolling hills and natural boundaries along the wonderfully manicured landscape provide a dynamic golf experience, while wind currents that vary from day to day, will occasionally require tricky shot adjustments.
The Warwick course has quickly gained a reputation as one of the most versatile, challenging, and fun courses in the United States. What makes Warwick especially unique is that they have two permanent baskets on all 18 holes. Combined with two concrete tee pads per hole, the Warwick "Animal" course offers four distinctly different layouts that range from a Pro Par of 54 to a Pro Par of 68.
This event attracted the best men and women pros from around the country as well as International players from Sweden, Finland, Japan, and other countries, plus many of the areas top amateurs, 90 in total. I attended as a spectator on the second day, following the top men's and women's groups during their final round. Congratulations to:David Feldberg, Des Reading, Bryan Motley, and Jay Gobrecht for winning the 2006 Skylands Classic!! The leader board also featured others who cashed at this event. For the men: Nate Doss, Ken Climo, Barry Schultz, Brian Schweberger, Steve Rico, plus New Jersey's own Steve Brinster and Bob Graham. For the women, Carrie Berlogar, Val Jenkins, Leslie Demark, and Mandi Snodgrass. Not exactly household names like Woods, Hogan, Palmer and Nicklaus, but in the game of disc golf these are some of the game's best.
Jersey Jam - August 19-20, 2006 the 34th annual
The Jersey Jam is the longest running tournament in the country, now in it's 34th year. Two 18 hole rounds are played each day with a lunch break in-between, Saturday for professionals and Sunday for amateurs.
Early on a hot and sunny Saturday morning, 47 pros from NJ, PA and the surrounding states throughout the Delaware Valley and the Northeast and further south were scattered all over the course warming up. Then, tournament director and principal figure of the NJ Disc Devils Eddie Nathan yells out to all players BRING IT IN, for the pre-game meeting. Just saying that Eddie yells out does not do it justice, so trust me when I say that this isn't just any yell. It sounds more like a good imitation of the horn on the TV show Survivor, as he screams at the top of his lungs. After the meeting the players proceed to their opening hole, anxious to hear Eddie yell out TWO MINUTES, as play is about to begin.
I attended this event as a sponsor. My product, The Cardkeeper is a wallet style scorecard and pencil holder, which I donated for use as prizes to the winners of CTPs (closest to the pin contests). During tournament play each group of four players stored the official scorecards in The Cardkeeper wallets. As a commercial plug, my product is quickly becoming a popular accessory item by disc golfers throughout the country. Marshall Street, http://www.marshallstreetdiscgolf.com/, one of the game's top on-line distributors of disc golf products sells The Cardkeeper.
On this day I volunteered to help out on the course, so they put me on Hole #1 as a spotter. The opening hole is a par 3, 291 feet. From the tee the hole is straight ahead, however there are a few obstacles to avoid along the way. At about 120 feet out, there are several trees 15 -20 feet high spread across a landing area 100 -120 feet wide. Next, you need to fly the disc over a large hedge 8 feet high and 20 feet wide before landing safely for the next shot. Don't go too far right on the tee shot or you'll be blocked out by a thickly wooded row of trees that separate the course from the Eagleton Institute building and parking lot (it's out of bounds and a 1 stroke penalty). Go too far left and you hit another university building or one of two large trees that stand near bye it.
For the better pros the obstacles hardly seemed to exist, as their discs flew over the hedge and safely onto the fairway, within 100 feet of the hole (actually it's a basket). Just like in ball golf, the objective is to get the second shot close enough to putt for a par. Throughout the round I saw only a few birdies and many pars, plus several that went very right or very left that resulted in bogies. It was actually a tough opening hole. After a fun morning round (and a great sun tan) they served a barbeque lunch for all. A special thanks goes out two Andrew Sweeten, the President of the Bucks County Disc Golf Alliance for his efforts through the sweltering heat as main cook AND for the awesome burgers and hotdogs.
The afternoon round paired the players with the lowest scores together to determine the winners of the total purse of $3,270. In a playoff, Steve Brinster defeated Joseph Mela to take the first prize of $550, followed in third place by course pro Bob Graham who won $255.
On Sunday, with the weather equally beautiful and a gusty wind, 55 amateurs and recreational players went through the same drill as the prior day. As you would expect, there was A LOT more for me to spot on this day, compared to the pros. The obstacles I described earlier did their jobs rather well, as many shots hit the first rows of trees or the hedges caught them. I must admit that there were a few laughs to be had, from some of the positions in the hedge the players had to take, in order to play the next shot. Like ball golf you have to play it from where it lies or move it and take a one stroke penalty. For many that made it over the initial trees and hedge, their banana shaped shots found the wooded area to the right, which left no bargains for their second shot either.
I witnessed the same joys and frustrations from the players as those experienced in traditional golf. At the end of the day, everyone enjoyed themselves and the event was once again a success. After all, that's what playing disc golf is all about.
October 05, 2006
August 08, 2006
Creating a successful tournament
The article to follow was written by me for a regional golf publication in 2005. If you're organizing a golf tournament, outing or event as they're all referred by, it should provide a tip or two which I hope benefits you.
Throughout New Jersey in 2004 well over one hundred thousand rounds of golf were played by tens of thousands of golfers that attended thousands of golf tournaments. If you multiply these numbers times the totals from every other state across the nation, the result is a mind-boggling number that rivals the amount of transactions per second performed by a computer.
What possible reason could account for the increasing popularity of these events each year? The answer is simple. Organizing a golf outing fits well in a wide variety of scenarios: They're an easy way for a non-profit organization to raise funds for their favorite cause. Golf outings are an easy way to pay tribute to a friend or loved one who lost their lives, or for old friends to get together for a day of fun and camaraderie. When networking groups need a venue where they can spend several hours together with their customers, suppliers, peers and / or prospects, or when a company wants to show appreciation to their employees and customers, a golf outing is the easy way to bring them together. It might appear easy from the outside, but if it's your job to organize the event or if you're a volunteer who just wants to get involved and help out, you know first hand that there's nothing simple or easy about it.
The subject matter which follows takes you "inside the ropes", giving first hand experiences from a few brave souls that run annual tournaments, the courses that host them and an event management company which provides complete event solutions. It was designed to provide you with a hands on guide in a format that should streamline your efforts, whether you're a first time event planner or a group that needs to improve on a previous year's performance. Highlighted throughout are subtle Do's and Don'ts, to help you create your successful event.
Let's take a step back and define what we mean by a golf tournament and clarify the terminology. Throughout this article the terms tournaments, outings and events all refer to the same thing. Tournaments come in all shapes, sizes and reasons for being organized. They range from small groups of twelve or more golfers celebrating a birthday or holding a bachelor party, to charities or corporations with hundreds of attendees (and everything in-between). "All formats that have a winner are technically considered tournaments", states Tim Kreps, the General Manager at Harbor Pines in Egg Harbor. Golf events are designed to be fun, but the fact is they're a billion-dollar industry which accounts for millions of fundraising dollars each year. The proceeds provide needed scholarships and money that benefits many causes. Golf outings help fuel local economies, the golf courses and their concession businesses, plus the food and beverage industries with a high level of guaranteed business each season, regardless of weather conditions.
When Dave Acolia, a manager with UPS first decided to get involved at his district's annual golf fundraiser for The United Way, he just wanted to help. Eleven years later Acolia has taken charge, heading up the event with a passionate approach. When asked why he takes on this challenge each year, the conviction of his belief was clear. "Once I started volunteering at United Way community work days and saw first hand where the money goes, I was hooked. It's a year round effort organizing sponsors, asking business owners for prize donations and restaurants for gift certificates. I'm constantly asking for contributions and soliciting help from peers to raise awareness internally, but it's well worth all the effort. My time is also spent attending sports memorabilia shows, looking for interesting items to auction off at the dinner awards ceremony. A key to the success of our fundraising efforts is constant email communications, stressing the importance of registering with payment months in advance. Everyone is well informed of the opportunities to win prizes through hole-in-one, longest drive, closest to the pin and double your money contests throughout the round. Also, it's a good idea to have special attractions such as a comedian and offer unique food items on certain holes. This assures that everyone is well fed and happy to contribute to the fundraising cause. A detail, which cannot be overstated, is developing a close relationship with the golf course. Mike Beal, club pro at Miry Run in Robbinsville who's hosted the event for several years knows our group well. He worked with us to reschedule last year's September rainout to early October. I can't stress enough the importance of surrounding yourself with people who understand your needs, to assure a successful tournament."
Paying attention to details is the key for Sally Roslow, a certified fundraising executive for the New Jersey Hospital Association. Talk about pressure, for the past seven years Roslow has run a tournament for CEO's, Board and Trustee members each September at TPC Jasna Polana in Princeton. As you would imagine expectations are high. "From the moment they drive through the gates and are welcomed at the bag drop, the number one goal is for our members to have a day of fun and camaraderie, networking with their peers," says Roslow. "Every detail is taken care of beginning with spelling each participant's name correctly on the master list, then presenting it to the golf course several days in advance of the event. Years ago we made sure we didn't lose money, but now it's become a serious fundraising event for scholarships. As a rule, payment must be received with registration form prior to the event. The entry fee is inclusive of a donation, plus all golf and food expenses, so the only time members need to reach into their pockets is for a golf ball, a tee or ball marker, etc. Each participant receives a quality tee gift and a chance to win prizes for a hole-in-one. One major detail which cannot be overlooked is this; raffles, mulligans and door prizes fall under the gaming laws of the State of New Jersey. They all require a license to be legal. The donation of a car cannot include any additional expense, so it can't be a lease. Be sure to get adequate hole-in-one insurance, competent witnesses and don't forget to send a 1099 to the winner. It's a year round planning process. Knowing your audience is important for a number of reasons, but especially when planning a stroke play format. Pairing foursomes is always a challenge. It's important to make every effort to avoid personality conflicts while assuring that a round of golf is played in the allotted time". With two groups starting on each hole (except on par threes), keeping track of the speed of play and where groups are at all times is just another detail Roslow pays personal attention to. "Never forget to recognize your sponsors, the foundation for supporting your event. Like many things in life vendors change, so expect to always be cultivating new sponsors and be sure to show your appreciation often. You can only control so much," but giving the personal touch is something she takes great pride in providing to all members.
Ask the question, "what makes a good tournament from a bad or mediocre one" and without hesitation Kim Rifici will tell you about the merits of an organized committee. As a veteran of five years coordinating events at Valleybrook Golf Club in Blackwood, Rifici highly recommends committees meet regularly, communicating on a weekly basis. Cooperation between groups and the golf course benefits both parties. How does she measure success? "When a group rebooks immediately, we know that the event was a success and planning next year's event has already begun". She adds, "book well in advance and don't try to do everything yourself. Give as much to participants as possible, like planning a picnic lunch prior and an awards dinner after golf. Because fundraising accounts for the majority of our events, many sponsorship opportunities are part of every event. Examples include tee signage on each hole, prize holes and beverage carts. Remember, the real dollars raised come from prizes, sponsors and extras, not the golf".
As simple as it sounds, "expect the unexpected and set your priorities," says Todd Edelman, Golf Outing Sales Manager at Forsgate Country Club in Monroe Township since 1998. Edelman, a veteran of many years of personal experience in his current role also acts as the coordinator of his own annual event. He runs a memorial fundraiser for a childhood friend who died in the events of September 11. With more hands on experience than most he suggests that a group first needs to plan ahead and determine what's most important to the success of their tournament. As examples, are they looking for a low price with an ala carte buffet style for lunch or a higher quality complete day with several meals and all the amenities? If this is your first event or if you're looking to improve on a past years, don't be afraid to ask the course for help or work with a Golf Event Management company that does this as a core business.
"When groups come to me I suggest they have a few checklist items prepared, which include:
Thank you for subscribing to the Thumbs Down Method newsletter, published throughout the 2006 golf season. Please distribute this information freely to fellow golfers, friends, family, etc. As always, email me with your comments on what you think, any questions about your ball striking or your golf game in general at mailto:atInfo@ThumbsDown.info.
To order a copy of The Front Nine edition of my Ebook go to www.GolfInstructionMadeSimple.com.
Alan Martin
Throughout New Jersey in 2004 well over one hundred thousand rounds of golf were played by tens of thousands of golfers that attended thousands of golf tournaments. If you multiply these numbers times the totals from every other state across the nation, the result is a mind-boggling number that rivals the amount of transactions per second performed by a computer.
What possible reason could account for the increasing popularity of these events each year? The answer is simple. Organizing a golf outing fits well in a wide variety of scenarios: They're an easy way for a non-profit organization to raise funds for their favorite cause. Golf outings are an easy way to pay tribute to a friend or loved one who lost their lives, or for old friends to get together for a day of fun and camaraderie. When networking groups need a venue where they can spend several hours together with their customers, suppliers, peers and / or prospects, or when a company wants to show appreciation to their employees and customers, a golf outing is the easy way to bring them together. It might appear easy from the outside, but if it's your job to organize the event or if you're a volunteer who just wants to get involved and help out, you know first hand that there's nothing simple or easy about it.
The subject matter which follows takes you "inside the ropes", giving first hand experiences from a few brave souls that run annual tournaments, the courses that host them and an event management company which provides complete event solutions. It was designed to provide you with a hands on guide in a format that should streamline your efforts, whether you're a first time event planner or a group that needs to improve on a previous year's performance. Highlighted throughout are subtle Do's and Don'ts, to help you create your successful event.
Let's take a step back and define what we mean by a golf tournament and clarify the terminology. Throughout this article the terms tournaments, outings and events all refer to the same thing. Tournaments come in all shapes, sizes and reasons for being organized. They range from small groups of twelve or more golfers celebrating a birthday or holding a bachelor party, to charities or corporations with hundreds of attendees (and everything in-between). "All formats that have a winner are technically considered tournaments", states Tim Kreps, the General Manager at Harbor Pines in Egg Harbor. Golf events are designed to be fun, but the fact is they're a billion-dollar industry which accounts for millions of fundraising dollars each year. The proceeds provide needed scholarships and money that benefits many causes. Golf outings help fuel local economies, the golf courses and their concession businesses, plus the food and beverage industries with a high level of guaranteed business each season, regardless of weather conditions.
When Dave Acolia, a manager with UPS first decided to get involved at his district's annual golf fundraiser for The United Way, he just wanted to help. Eleven years later Acolia has taken charge, heading up the event with a passionate approach. When asked why he takes on this challenge each year, the conviction of his belief was clear. "Once I started volunteering at United Way community work days and saw first hand where the money goes, I was hooked. It's a year round effort organizing sponsors, asking business owners for prize donations and restaurants for gift certificates. I'm constantly asking for contributions and soliciting help from peers to raise awareness internally, but it's well worth all the effort. My time is also spent attending sports memorabilia shows, looking for interesting items to auction off at the dinner awards ceremony. A key to the success of our fundraising efforts is constant email communications, stressing the importance of registering with payment months in advance. Everyone is well informed of the opportunities to win prizes through hole-in-one, longest drive, closest to the pin and double your money contests throughout the round. Also, it's a good idea to have special attractions such as a comedian and offer unique food items on certain holes. This assures that everyone is well fed and happy to contribute to the fundraising cause. A detail, which cannot be overstated, is developing a close relationship with the golf course. Mike Beal, club pro at Miry Run in Robbinsville who's hosted the event for several years knows our group well. He worked with us to reschedule last year's September rainout to early October. I can't stress enough the importance of surrounding yourself with people who understand your needs, to assure a successful tournament."
Paying attention to details is the key for Sally Roslow, a certified fundraising executive for the New Jersey Hospital Association. Talk about pressure, for the past seven years Roslow has run a tournament for CEO's, Board and Trustee members each September at TPC Jasna Polana in Princeton. As you would imagine expectations are high. "From the moment they drive through the gates and are welcomed at the bag drop, the number one goal is for our members to have a day of fun and camaraderie, networking with their peers," says Roslow. "Every detail is taken care of beginning with spelling each participant's name correctly on the master list, then presenting it to the golf course several days in advance of the event. Years ago we made sure we didn't lose money, but now it's become a serious fundraising event for scholarships. As a rule, payment must be received with registration form prior to the event. The entry fee is inclusive of a donation, plus all golf and food expenses, so the only time members need to reach into their pockets is for a golf ball, a tee or ball marker, etc. Each participant receives a quality tee gift and a chance to win prizes for a hole-in-one. One major detail which cannot be overlooked is this; raffles, mulligans and door prizes fall under the gaming laws of the State of New Jersey. They all require a license to be legal. The donation of a car cannot include any additional expense, so it can't be a lease. Be sure to get adequate hole-in-one insurance, competent witnesses and don't forget to send a 1099 to the winner. It's a year round planning process. Knowing your audience is important for a number of reasons, but especially when planning a stroke play format. Pairing foursomes is always a challenge. It's important to make every effort to avoid personality conflicts while assuring that a round of golf is played in the allotted time". With two groups starting on each hole (except on par threes), keeping track of the speed of play and where groups are at all times is just another detail Roslow pays personal attention to. "Never forget to recognize your sponsors, the foundation for supporting your event. Like many things in life vendors change, so expect to always be cultivating new sponsors and be sure to show your appreciation often. You can only control so much," but giving the personal touch is something she takes great pride in providing to all members.
Ask the question, "what makes a good tournament from a bad or mediocre one" and without hesitation Kim Rifici will tell you about the merits of an organized committee. As a veteran of five years coordinating events at Valleybrook Golf Club in Blackwood, Rifici highly recommends committees meet regularly, communicating on a weekly basis. Cooperation between groups and the golf course benefits both parties. How does she measure success? "When a group rebooks immediately, we know that the event was a success and planning next year's event has already begun". She adds, "book well in advance and don't try to do everything yourself. Give as much to participants as possible, like planning a picnic lunch prior and an awards dinner after golf. Because fundraising accounts for the majority of our events, many sponsorship opportunities are part of every event. Examples include tee signage on each hole, prize holes and beverage carts. Remember, the real dollars raised come from prizes, sponsors and extras, not the golf".
As simple as it sounds, "expect the unexpected and set your priorities," says Todd Edelman, Golf Outing Sales Manager at Forsgate Country Club in Monroe Township since 1998. Edelman, a veteran of many years of personal experience in his current role also acts as the coordinator of his own annual event. He runs a memorial fundraiser for a childhood friend who died in the events of September 11. With more hands on experience than most he suggests that a group first needs to plan ahead and determine what's most important to the success of their tournament. As examples, are they looking for a low price with an ala carte buffet style for lunch or a higher quality complete day with several meals and all the amenities? If this is your first event or if you're looking to improve on a past years, don't be afraid to ask the course for help or work with a Golf Event Management company that does this as a core business.
"When groups come to me I suggest they have a few checklist items prepared, which include:
- Select a preferred date plus an alternative or two, just in case the course is already booked
- Have a budget range already set
- Determine main objectives. Ex: Is it a fundraiser, business appreciation, memorial?
- Organize a committee of dedicated volunteers who have experience with organizing events
- Have more than enough sponsors
- Plan on giving yourself at least six months in advance to prepare. Never think it's too early to start
- Advertise the event several months in advance. It's better to overbook than under subscribe
- Getting registration and money well in advance of your event
- Suggesting a suitable format for the participants. Scramble, stroke play etc."
Thus far there's been no mention of the main obstacle for a successful tournament, the weather. Frost delays are easier to deal with than rain by scheduling starting times after 10:00 before mid May and after Labor Day. Like the expression, "the best way to get out of a Full Nelson is to not get into one in the first place"; it's best not to schedule your event on a day when it's going to rain. All kidding aside, we all know that predicting the weather several months in advance is not a viable option. At Fiddlers Elbow Country Club in Far Hills, they've come up with some creative ways to deal with rainy days. Just in case conditions are absolutely unplayable, their 54-hole facility affords the flexibility to re-schedule later in the season. There's so much planning and effort involved that canceling is not an attractive option for the event's planners. On rainy days, Golf Event Manager Joe Febonio and his staff work with the committee on ideas like adjusting the format or playing nine holes and moving up dinner, to allow the group's main purpose to continue. "With Monday - Thursday designated for tournaments, it's our job to assure that the show can still go on as scheduled".
The golf outing at the New Jersey Chapter of Meeting Professionals International "MPI" represents each year's largest fundraiser and networking event. A long list of responsibilities are delegated to their team of committee members, all hard working professionals with full time careers and families to juggle. Topping this year's list was issuing a request for proposal for selecting a new course to host the event. Along with meeting their budget requirements, a central location weighed heavily into the selection because members are spread throughout the Tri state area. Next, last year's sponsor's are contacted by the entire committee, asking for their continued support. With the financial issues behind them, MPI focuses on their main objective of networking. The golf tournament represents a priceless opportunity to spend a full day in a relaxed setting. Members can make connections and conduct business without cell phones and the typical everyday distractions. With 144 golfers of all skill levels, a five or more hour round is factored into the plans and actually a positive thing. There's time to network with peers, suppliers and friends, plus give their mental batteries a well-needed charge. Overall success is often times measured by a group's ability to master tiny details, that seem minor but aren't. Cathy Reynolds, who heads up all special events for the MPI chapter, reminds us that people often remember the first and last events of the day. That means making sure to have a warm welcoming committee at check-in and don't ever take for granted the importance of the PA system at dinner. This assures that your awards ceremony leaves a positive lasting impression.
When your event needs an experienced hands on partner with industry connections, a Golf Event Management company may be a no brainer solution. For sixteen years, Greg Porcino President of GEM Marketing based in Somerville, has made a business of assisting a diverse group of tournament organizers achieve their goals. Need to do a better job reaching your target market, improving your identity or just freeing up employees to do their real jobs? Working with an event management company will quickly justify the investment by allowing committees to focus on selling the tournament, achieving revenue goals. Maybe your group needs help being recognized or simply more entertaining for guests. If so, you can leverage their relationships with media outlets, entertainers / celebrities, special attractions and product / equipment manufacturers. For first timers, they can eliminate the learning curve, reducing both risk and anxiety. With today's busy lifestyles tournaments are constantly challenged to maintain attendance and profitability. For any or all of these reasons Golf Event Management companies may be the right choice for creating your successful tournament.
When Bill Kennedy, assistant sports editor and golf writer for the Times of Trenton attends an outing, it's usually because he wants to play the course that's hosting it. For the past six years, Kennedy holds his annual reunion for high school alumni (he's in his sixties) and friends, as part of The William Morton Foundation golf tournament. Each year the fundraising effort provides a student athlete with much needed money for college. Kennedy will admit that he breaks most of the rules like doing almost all of the work himself and playing in his own event. He also takes verbal registrations, trusting that his friends will attend and pay him because they said they would. "I play in the event to keep my sanity. At the end of the day, everyone has fun and money was raised for a good cause. That's what running a tournament is all about".
There are no hard and fast rules for creating a successful golf tournament BUT unless you enjoy living life on the edge, follow the Do's and Don'ts (in no particular order of importance) below:
Do's:
1. Organize a strong committee and delegate responsibility
2. Have constant communications with attendees and committees
3. Develop a good relationship with key event sponsors
4. Send a "thank you" to sponsors and attendees
5. Advertise the event aggressively
6. Form a strong partnership with the golf course
7. Provide quality prizes and amenities
8. Insist on early registration and payment
9. Plan next year's event early
10. Keep the awards ceremony short
Don'ts:
1. Try to do all the work yourself
2. Select a site before budget is set
3. Have an alternative date for holding the event
4. Cut corners on food and beverage issues
5. Take verbal registration and payment commitments
6. Under subscribe sponsors
7. Play in your own event
8. Overbook with too many players
Thank you for subscribing to the Thumbs Down Method newsletter, published throughout the 2006 golf season. Please distribute this information freely to fellow golfers, friends, family, etc. As always, email me with your comments on what you think, any questions about your ball striking or your golf game in general at mailto:atInfo@ThumbsDown.info.
To order a copy of The Front Nine edition of my Ebook go to www.GolfInstructionMadeSimple.com.
Alan Martin
May 22, 2006
A Pretty Swing ...don't mean a thing
It is high, it is far, it is??? If you've ever watched a baseball game on TV or listened on the radio you've heard the announcer use this expression (or a similar one) after the ball is hit and looks like it's on its way out of the park.
The idea for this article came to me recently when I saw a picture in the newspaper, showing one of baseball's power hitters, just after he finished his swing, in a perfect follow-through pose. Was it a home run? OR was it off the wall? OR was it just a long out OR foul back? (In this case I watched the game the night before so I knew it was a home run). QUESTION: What would the swing have looked like if the batter hit it on the end of the bat or a fraction of an inch too high on the bat and just missed, or popped it up? MY ANSWER: It probably would have looked exactly the same. Isn't it funny how in baseball, the exact same swing can produce a foul ball, a towering pop-up, a screaming liner right at someone or a monster blast, depending on where they hit the ball on the bat? Simply put: It's all about SOLID CONTACT.
Have you ever wondered why in golf, a good or bad shot is almost never explained in those simple terms? I know I have. Instead, if a shot is hit off-line the TV coverage typically replays the swing in slow motion and analyzes it something like this: See how the club is not parallel to the target line on the back-swing? Notice that the hips haven't cleared yet, allowing the club to swing on-plane? All too often we hear technical language only a physics major would understand, not typical amateurs like you and ME.
As a side note, it's good timing that I write this article comparing the golf and baseball swings, as we're witnessing history being made. At the present time, the most legendary figure in the history of sports, Babe Ruth has had his once insurmountable home run record of 714 tied. As the baseball and golf seasons are in full swing (no pun intended), what better time to put the golf and the baseball swings side by side.
In baseball, they talk in terms of "did he get it all"? OR get good wood, OR hit it on the fat of the bat. Again, did he make solid contact? In golf, the shot stayed right because the player did not release the club through impact.
Another side-note; during my round this weekend a member of our three-some brought an old, classic wooden driver (from the 60's), to hit just for laughs and to compare it against today's high tech golf weaponry. On the 14thhole I took a cut with it off the tee. Because the original grip was still on the club, I almost gave the term RELEASE a new meaning when I hit it, because my right hand slipped off and my left hand held on for dear life just after impact. Imagine being a relatively new player and having an instructor tell you to release the club. If they swung and let go could you blame them? What else could itpossibly mean? Here's my 2 cents: If you really want to Keep IT Simple, speak in a language the typical player can understand and can relate to, PLEASE!
In baseball, a hitter is taught to drive the hands through the swing, break the wrists and hit it hard. In golf, we don't have the luxury of just hitting the ball hard. It needs to go in the right direction and there are NO DO-OVERS, like a foul ball in baseball. When a player uses active hands at impact to square the club, manyof today's instructors refer to it as flipping, and that's definitely taboo. Instead, they teach the best players (the guys who hit hundreds or thousands of balls a week) to turn your hipsinto the ball and let centrifugal force square the club naturally. MY ANSWER: Most of us are amateurs who don't have time to practice and "there's nothing natural about it". Watch what the best players actually do with their hands (not what they say they do) and what you'll see is that great ball strikers have great hand action.
What both swings have in common is they happen in a flash. In golf,the ball makes contact with the club for less than 2 seconds TOTAL during the entire round. A pretty swing is nice, but more than one half of the swing is just preparation to impact. Therefore, the most important split seconds of the golf swing are just before, during and immediately after the club strikes the ball. This is the portion of a Pro's swing you need to copy. In simple terms; IF THE CLUB ISN'T SQUARE ...the ball could end up anywhere.
Thumbs Down, is my simple method any player can quickly learn,which SQUARES THE CLUB WITH YOUR EXISTING SWING, plus adds an extra pop on the ball without over swinging. It's based on the same sound swing fundamentals taught by the best instructors ...made easier than you ever imagined. Bottom Line... better golf, MORE OFTEN.
Thank you for subscribing to the Thumbs Down Method newsletter, published throughout the 2006 golf season. Please distribute this information freely to fellow golfers, friends, family, etc. As always, email me with your comments on what you think, any questions about your ball striking or your golf game in general at mailto:atInfo@ThumbsDown.info.
To order a copy of The Front Nine edition of my Ebook go to www.GolfInstructionMadeSimple.com.
Alan Martin
The idea for this article came to me recently when I saw a picture in the newspaper, showing one of baseball's power hitters, just after he finished his swing, in a perfect follow-through pose. Was it a home run? OR was it off the wall? OR was it just a long out OR foul back? (In this case I watched the game the night before so I knew it was a home run). QUESTION: What would the swing have looked like if the batter hit it on the end of the bat or a fraction of an inch too high on the bat and just missed, or popped it up? MY ANSWER: It probably would have looked exactly the same. Isn't it funny how in baseball, the exact same swing can produce a foul ball, a towering pop-up, a screaming liner right at someone or a monster blast, depending on where they hit the ball on the bat? Simply put: It's all about SOLID CONTACT.
Have you ever wondered why in golf, a good or bad shot is almost never explained in those simple terms? I know I have. Instead, if a shot is hit off-line the TV coverage typically replays the swing in slow motion and analyzes it something like this: See how the club is not parallel to the target line on the back-swing? Notice that the hips haven't cleared yet, allowing the club to swing on-plane? All too often we hear technical language only a physics major would understand, not typical amateurs like you and ME.
As a side note, it's good timing that I write this article comparing the golf and baseball swings, as we're witnessing history being made. At the present time, the most legendary figure in the history of sports, Babe Ruth has had his once insurmountable home run record of 714 tied. As the baseball and golf seasons are in full swing (no pun intended), what better time to put the golf and the baseball swings side by side.
In baseball, they talk in terms of "did he get it all"? OR get good wood, OR hit it on the fat of the bat. Again, did he make solid contact? In golf, the shot stayed right because the player did not release the club through impact.
Another side-note; during my round this weekend a member of our three-some brought an old, classic wooden driver (from the 60's), to hit just for laughs and to compare it against today's high tech golf weaponry. On the 14thhole I took a cut with it off the tee. Because the original grip was still on the club, I almost gave the term RELEASE a new meaning when I hit it, because my right hand slipped off and my left hand held on for dear life just after impact. Imagine being a relatively new player and having an instructor tell you to release the club. If they swung and let go could you blame them? What else could itpossibly mean? Here's my 2 cents: If you really want to Keep IT Simple, speak in a language the typical player can understand and can relate to, PLEASE!
In baseball, a hitter is taught to drive the hands through the swing, break the wrists and hit it hard. In golf, we don't have the luxury of just hitting the ball hard. It needs to go in the right direction and there are NO DO-OVERS, like a foul ball in baseball. When a player uses active hands at impact to square the club, manyof today's instructors refer to it as flipping, and that's definitely taboo. Instead, they teach the best players (the guys who hit hundreds or thousands of balls a week) to turn your hipsinto the ball and let centrifugal force square the club naturally. MY ANSWER: Most of us are amateurs who don't have time to practice and "there's nothing natural about it". Watch what the best players actually do with their hands (not what they say they do) and what you'll see is that great ball strikers have great hand action.
What both swings have in common is they happen in a flash. In golf,the ball makes contact with the club for less than 2 seconds TOTAL during the entire round. A pretty swing is nice, but more than one half of the swing is just preparation to impact. Therefore, the most important split seconds of the golf swing are just before, during and immediately after the club strikes the ball. This is the portion of a Pro's swing you need to copy. In simple terms; IF THE CLUB ISN'T SQUARE ...the ball could end up anywhere.
Thumbs Down, is my simple method any player can quickly learn,which SQUARES THE CLUB WITH YOUR EXISTING SWING, plus adds an extra pop on the ball without over swinging. It's based on the same sound swing fundamentals taught by the best instructors ...made easier than you ever imagined. Bottom Line... better golf, MORE OFTEN.
Thank you for subscribing to the Thumbs Down Method newsletter, published throughout the 2006 golf season. Please distribute this information freely to fellow golfers, friends, family, etc. As always, email me with your comments on what you think, any questions about your ball striking or your golf game in general at mailto:atInfo@ThumbsDown.info.
To order a copy of The Front Nine edition of my Ebook go to www.GolfInstructionMadeSimple.com.
Alan Martin
April 28, 2006
Why pros are PROS
Thumbs Down Method Newsletter - April 2006
Welcome to the maiden Thumbs Down Method newsletter, the first of many throughout the 2006 golf season. My inspiration for this first issue was actually the same as the one which prompted my decision in 1996 to write the Thumbs Down guide(s) for better ball striking. Back then, self preservation lead me to search for a cure to correct my out of control slice and save my golf game, which I never found until I developed Thumbs Down and fixed it by myself.
Not only did I never find my cure, but all the articles I read in the magazines, all the simple TV tips from pros and top instructors only made it more complicated, confusing and counter-productive for me. Simply put: things got worse, not better for me. There's no questioning the knowledge or credibility level of the top sources in golf, but I found they rarely communicate their message in a language a non-pro (the typical player like me and you) can relate to and even understand. Trying to apply their tips when I practiced all too often ended in frustration instead of the joy I initially intended.
I couldn't have scripted the perfect example of what I'm describing any better then recently after scanning through a copy of the leading golf magazine and reading a tip written and demonstrated by one of the world's best pros. Anytime a top player offers a way to generate more power with less effort, a large audience of amateurs (like me) are anxiously reading and wanting to know more. This quick tip shows a picture of the player just after striking the ball, with head down and forearms rotating as the club extends about two feet beyond impact. I've seen this pose dozens of times and refer to it as classic power position. The typical player that views a picture like this is hoping for a simple explanation to discover some new magic move or secret that changes their game forever, but rarely gets it. Instead they use a lot of technical language we don't understand and the average amateur can't relate to. Watching a world class athlete do what comes natural to them, then hearing their explanation of what they're thinking is often not what we're expecting them to say. In fact, most of the time it's a frustrating and confusing experience.
To elaborate, when a player describes that one of their key power moves happens AFTER the ball is struck, it means that solid ball striking comes too natural to them. I guess hitting thousands of balls every week does that for you. For the rest of us, there's nothing natural about it. In fact, I believe that the moment of the golf swing that's all too often "glanced over" is the most important split second in the entire golf swing (all 10,000+ steps). For me, unless the club makes solid contact with the ball, with the clubface squared and following a line to your target, nothing else really matters. It's clear that pros and instructors agree, but it's confusing when they describe it by telling you to "shake hands with the target." To further drive my point home, go to the practice range and try this tip: Match your swing plane on the through-swing with your backswing and downswing. I dare you!
In sharp contrast, I've dedicated an entire book on the importance of starting with solid ball contact, then working backwards to the golf swing. I believe that the first 3/4 of the golf swing is merely preparation to impact and the final 1/4 (on the downswing when your hands are just above waist height) is where the swing REALLY begins. It's the zone you need to master when you warm-up and practice. The Thumbs Down method is all about MASTERING THE IMPACT ZONE first. Get this part right and your swing magically gets better.
Golf is a complex game. There's no question there are numerous steps in the golf swing that are EXTREMELY IMPORTANT - too many at times. All I know is that when I taught myself to square the club at impact, I finally learned to consistently hit the ball solidly with all my clubs and control where the ball is going. Oh, bye the way ...my swing has also noticeably improved as a by-product of changing my swing thought priorities with Thumbs Down.
Professional golfers are in a class by themselves. They're SO good as compared to the rest of us it's mind boggling to believe. What they do and how they explain what they do is equally difficult to fathom at times. In their attempt to KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID "Kiss", pros and top instructors use technical terms which don't often translate into better golf for the rest of us.
To REALLY kiss, it's as simple as
Thumbs Down ...for Thumbs Up results.
In golf ...it doesn't get easier than this!
Thank you for subscribing to the Thumbs Down method newsletter. The subject matter in this issue forms the foundation for future newsletters, published throughout the 2006 golf season. Please distribute this information freely to fellow golfers, friends, family, etc. As always, email me with any questions about your ball striking or golf game in general at Info@ThumbsDown.info. To order a copy of The Front Nine edition of my Ebook go to http://www.golfinstructionmadesimple.com/ Also visit my blog and comment at www.ThumbsDownMethod.blogspot.com
Alan Martin
Welcome to the maiden Thumbs Down Method newsletter, the first of many throughout the 2006 golf season. My inspiration for this first issue was actually the same as the one which prompted my decision in 1996 to write the Thumbs Down guide(s) for better ball striking. Back then, self preservation lead me to search for a cure to correct my out of control slice and save my golf game, which I never found until I developed Thumbs Down and fixed it by myself.
Not only did I never find my cure, but all the articles I read in the magazines, all the simple TV tips from pros and top instructors only made it more complicated, confusing and counter-productive for me. Simply put: things got worse, not better for me. There's no questioning the knowledge or credibility level of the top sources in golf, but I found they rarely communicate their message in a language a non-pro (the typical player like me and you) can relate to and even understand. Trying to apply their tips when I practiced all too often ended in frustration instead of the joy I initially intended.
I couldn't have scripted the perfect example of what I'm describing any better then recently after scanning through a copy of the leading golf magazine and reading a tip written and demonstrated by one of the world's best pros. Anytime a top player offers a way to generate more power with less effort, a large audience of amateurs (like me) are anxiously reading and wanting to know more. This quick tip shows a picture of the player just after striking the ball, with head down and forearms rotating as the club extends about two feet beyond impact. I've seen this pose dozens of times and refer to it as classic power position. The typical player that views a picture like this is hoping for a simple explanation to discover some new magic move or secret that changes their game forever, but rarely gets it. Instead they use a lot of technical language we don't understand and the average amateur can't relate to. Watching a world class athlete do what comes natural to them, then hearing their explanation of what they're thinking is often not what we're expecting them to say. In fact, most of the time it's a frustrating and confusing experience.
To elaborate, when a player describes that one of their key power moves happens AFTER the ball is struck, it means that solid ball striking comes too natural to them. I guess hitting thousands of balls every week does that for you. For the rest of us, there's nothing natural about it. In fact, I believe that the moment of the golf swing that's all too often "glanced over" is the most important split second in the entire golf swing (all 10,000+ steps). For me, unless the club makes solid contact with the ball, with the clubface squared and following a line to your target, nothing else really matters. It's clear that pros and instructors agree, but it's confusing when they describe it by telling you to "shake hands with the target." To further drive my point home, go to the practice range and try this tip: Match your swing plane on the through-swing with your backswing and downswing. I dare you!
In sharp contrast, I've dedicated an entire book on the importance of starting with solid ball contact, then working backwards to the golf swing. I believe that the first 3/4 of the golf swing is merely preparation to impact and the final 1/4 (on the downswing when your hands are just above waist height) is where the swing REALLY begins. It's the zone you need to master when you warm-up and practice. The Thumbs Down method is all about MASTERING THE IMPACT ZONE first. Get this part right and your swing magically gets better.
Golf is a complex game. There's no question there are numerous steps in the golf swing that are EXTREMELY IMPORTANT - too many at times. All I know is that when I taught myself to square the club at impact, I finally learned to consistently hit the ball solidly with all my clubs and control where the ball is going. Oh, bye the way ...my swing has also noticeably improved as a by-product of changing my swing thought priorities with Thumbs Down.
Professional golfers are in a class by themselves. They're SO good as compared to the rest of us it's mind boggling to believe. What they do and how they explain what they do is equally difficult to fathom at times. In their attempt to KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID "Kiss", pros and top instructors use technical terms which don't often translate into better golf for the rest of us.
To REALLY kiss, it's as simple as
Thumbs Down ...for Thumbs Up results.
In golf ...it doesn't get easier than this!
Thank you for subscribing to the Thumbs Down method newsletter. The subject matter in this issue forms the foundation for future newsletters, published throughout the 2006 golf season. Please distribute this information freely to fellow golfers, friends, family, etc. As always, email me with any questions about your ball striking or golf game in general at Info@ThumbsDown.info. To order a copy of The Front Nine edition of my Ebook go to http://www.golfinstructionmadesimple.com/ Also visit my blog and comment at www.ThumbsDownMethod.blogspot.com
Alan Martin
April 09, 2006
A Thumbs Down Attitude Helps Me Discover Scoring Opportunities in Every Shot
...by Nick Petti
Has one awkward shot ever thrown you off your entire game? Do you know the kind I mean? A shot that throws you so off balance you take it into the next shot, and the shot after that, until you've made a complete mess of your scorecard?
The kind of shot that has you begging for golf instruction from your golf equipment supply guy?
Here is a great way to discover the scoring opportunities hidden in every one of those awkward shots and how you can gain the edge-up on your opponents who are not aware of what I'm about to tell you.
Please forget about your swing for one moment and burn this piece of golf instruction made simple into your brain.
Golf is a mind set.
It is cerebral. It is a thought process. Of course a little good luck never hurts, but, to achieve the advantage of that winning mind set, you have to acquire an attitude that is becoming of relaxed focus.
Use whichever attitude works best for you to gain that winning mind set and get ready to lower your score and add 20 yards to every club in your bag - except your putters of course.
Now, for me, it's a little secret I call my thumbs down attitude - which is perhaps a story for another day - and my Callaway golf attitude. If I'm swinging what the best in the game swing, my attitude toward my game improves.
When I'm faced with one of those awkward shots, I think it through. I put on my Callaway golf and thumbs down game face, and I focus.
I see myself swinging true. I see myself keeping my balance and my head from moving, then...
I see the line my Callaway golf club must travel. I set up my shot by considering where the club head is in relation to where it needs to be for the greatest distance and accuracy. And I keep in mind that the ball is going to have contact with the club head for several inches through my swing.
After a few practice swings I judge what relationship my feet should have with the line and I find a comfortable stance - then relax.
Relaxed focus and attitude are keys to golf success.
When you try this, first be aware of any problems you may encounter keeping your balance. Shift if necessary until you find a comfortable position where there is no tension in your swing. Keep from swaying as you are about to the hit the ball, but stay loose.
I free my muscles and focus my mind on swinging my Callaway golf club smoothly. Thumbs down keeps my relaxed focus as I address the ball, which enables me to stay square on impact.
Remember, if you are fidgety when you address the ball, you are not going to achieve relaxed focus. This is not a time to be thinking of golf instruction from your golf equipment supply guy.
It is a time to keep your feet still and make sure you see the ball from the beginning of your swing through the end. An awkward shot demands relaxed focus.
This will be your edge-up on opponents.
You really can discover the scoring opportunity hidden in every awkward shot. Just remember that a relaxed golfer is a focused golfer and a focused golfer usually scores lowest.
Don't let the awkward shots beat you. Relax and think them through. Maintain the edge-up on your opponents and you'll beat them every time.
That's what I did today, despite the rain and 30 mph wind gusts.
Now, there is some "golf instruction made simple" worth sharing with my golf equipment supply guy: my focus from relaxation and my attitude from Callaway golf and thumbs down.
Has one awkward shot ever thrown you off your entire game? Do you know the kind I mean? A shot that throws you so off balance you take it into the next shot, and the shot after that, until you've made a complete mess of your scorecard?
The kind of shot that has you begging for golf instruction from your golf equipment supply guy?
Here is a great way to discover the scoring opportunities hidden in every one of those awkward shots and how you can gain the edge-up on your opponents who are not aware of what I'm about to tell you.
Please forget about your swing for one moment and burn this piece of golf instruction made simple into your brain.
Golf is a mind set.
It is cerebral. It is a thought process. Of course a little good luck never hurts, but, to achieve the advantage of that winning mind set, you have to acquire an attitude that is becoming of relaxed focus.
Use whichever attitude works best for you to gain that winning mind set and get ready to lower your score and add 20 yards to every club in your bag - except your putters of course.
Now, for me, it's a little secret I call my thumbs down attitude - which is perhaps a story for another day - and my Callaway golf attitude. If I'm swinging what the best in the game swing, my attitude toward my game improves.
When I'm faced with one of those awkward shots, I think it through. I put on my Callaway golf and thumbs down game face, and I focus.
I see myself swinging true. I see myself keeping my balance and my head from moving, then...
I see the line my Callaway golf club must travel. I set up my shot by considering where the club head is in relation to where it needs to be for the greatest distance and accuracy. And I keep in mind that the ball is going to have contact with the club head for several inches through my swing.
After a few practice swings I judge what relationship my feet should have with the line and I find a comfortable stance - then relax.
Relaxed focus and attitude are keys to golf success.
When you try this, first be aware of any problems you may encounter keeping your balance. Shift if necessary until you find a comfortable position where there is no tension in your swing. Keep from swaying as you are about to the hit the ball, but stay loose.
I free my muscles and focus my mind on swinging my Callaway golf club smoothly. Thumbs down keeps my relaxed focus as I address the ball, which enables me to stay square on impact.
Remember, if you are fidgety when you address the ball, you are not going to achieve relaxed focus. This is not a time to be thinking of golf instruction from your golf equipment supply guy.
It is a time to keep your feet still and make sure you see the ball from the beginning of your swing through the end. An awkward shot demands relaxed focus.
This will be your edge-up on opponents.
You really can discover the scoring opportunity hidden in every awkward shot. Just remember that a relaxed golfer is a focused golfer and a focused golfer usually scores lowest.
Don't let the awkward shots beat you. Relax and think them through. Maintain the edge-up on your opponents and you'll beat them every time.
That's what I did today, despite the rain and 30 mph wind gusts.
Now, there is some "golf instruction made simple" worth sharing with my golf equipment supply guy: my focus from relaxation and my attitude from Callaway golf and thumbs down.
March 26, 2006
Control your shots. Improve your game!
Are you frustrated by your inability to control your shots? Let Thumbsdown show you:
How to swing to square your club at impact.
How to swing to correct your slice.
How to swing to play a draw.
How to become a consistently better ball striker.
How to quickly discover to hit more accurate shots more often.
What drills to practice to get the feel of squaring the club.
The best way to warm-up in a few short minutes before tee-off time.
How to swing to square your club at impact.
How to swing to correct your slice.
How to swing to play a draw.
How to become a consistently better ball striker.
How to quickly discover to hit more accurate shots more often.
What drills to practice to get the feel of squaring the club.
The best way to warm-up in a few short minutes before tee-off time.
Thumbsdown Testimonials
"It's almost golf for dummies! There are no confusing words or swing thoughts."
Dan McCarthy, Head Professional, Springdale Golf Club, Princeton, New Jersey
"There's nothing not to like about Thumbsdown!"
Dan Pasternak, Head Professional, Panther Valley Golf and Country Club Allamuchy, New Jersey
"In its simplest form, the Thumbsdown technique calls for the golfer to turn down their strong hand thumb as they strike the ball." Bill Kennedy, Trenton Times,
"I like it! Now I have something meaningful to visualize during my downswing. I'm confident I'll hit the ball solid and online" Ted K
"Alan, you really have something here! The ball went right where I was aiming and a lot longer than ever before." Jonathan C
"I'm amazed! It was simple and I saw the results from the first shot I hit. Lookout, the dreaded straight ball is back in my game." Chris H
"Thumbsdown gave me the most fundamental improvements to my golf swing in the past 20 years. Thank you." Henry K
Dan McCarthy, Head Professional, Springdale Golf Club, Princeton, New Jersey
"There's nothing not to like about Thumbsdown!"
Dan Pasternak, Head Professional, Panther Valley Golf and Country Club Allamuchy, New Jersey
"In its simplest form, the Thumbsdown technique calls for the golfer to turn down their strong hand thumb as they strike the ball." Bill Kennedy, Trenton Times,
"I like it! Now I have something meaningful to visualize during my downswing. I'm confident I'll hit the ball solid and online" Ted K
"Alan, you really have something here! The ball went right where I was aiming and a lot longer than ever before." Jonathan C
"I'm amazed! It was simple and I saw the results from the first shot I hit. Lookout, the dreaded straight ball is back in my game." Chris H
"Thumbsdown gave me the most fundamental improvements to my golf swing in the past 20 years. Thank you." Henry K
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