Join The Revolution (Part 2)

      Do you really think that golf is a dying sport?  I honestly don't know how anyone can accept that.  Like all things on this planet the growth of the game and the game itself goes in a cycle.  The good thing about that cycle is that it is also on a line and the line is trending upward. We have hit a trough with the low point being around the year 2010, but now that trend is in a steadily and strongly moving upward. It is a gigantic time for golf.  We are in earthshaking  and revolutionary times.  COME JOINT THE REVOLUTION!
      I remember the days when we had the big names in golf.  The names were Palmer, Player, Nicklaus, Watson and Trevino.  But many don't remember the times before these guys were so famous.  There was a lull in golf.  Critics thought that the game that was filled with the names like Nelson, Hogan, Sarazen and Snead were passing their prime. Golf was dead, it was written and there were no more stars in the game. Along came Arnold Palmer and the others which saw an explosion in the games popularity and play.
      When the famous players of the Nicklaus/Palmer years became less competitive as they aged, there were no "stand out" dominant group of players.  That is not to say that there weren't great players, its just that there was no one big name player that was truly dominant. It was said that golf was dead.  Along came Tiger Woods and the game witnessed a growth in play that was unprecedented.
     Tiger Woods gets hurt and has his "life" troubles.  He is no longer the dominant player in golf. Uh-oh, what do we do now?  Golf is dead.  It will never recover without the likes of Tiger. Golf is a boring sport and takes too long.  There just isn't enough excitement in the game now that Tiger is gone.  What do we do.  This has never happened before.
      The fact of the matter is, it has happened before.  It happened when Bobby Jones retired from golf.  It happened in the late 50's when Byron Nelson, Sam Snead and the great Ben Hogan were passing out of their prime.  It happened after the Palmer/Nicklaus years. The critics wrote and said that golf was dead because there would never be another Jack Nicklaus or Tom Watson or Gary Player or Lee Trevino. Then Tiger came along. Wow, Did things ever change.  It was suddenly "hip" to play golf again.
      Things are rapidly changing.  We are witnessing the rise of "The Young Guns".  We now don't just have one player that dominates the game and can just about win everything enter, but several. You know their names--Rory, Jordan, Ricky, Jason and Bubba.  These guys are GOOD! They are young and just now beginning their careers. I feel very fortunate to have lived through all these great golf eras, except Bobby Jones of course--I'm old, but not that old.  What a time to be a follower of the game of golf. It is truly awe inspiring. New names are coming up such as Bryson DeChambeau. The game is healthy, lives on,  is stronger than ever and growing steadily.
      That's my opinion as far as the competition in the tour is concerned.  What is happening at the level of the average golfer who goes out for their Sunday round?  The revolution has arrived at that level as well. I will have more about that in a future post. I will be away from my computer tomorrow so look for it.
Until then, JOIN THE REVOLUTION!

Rocco Mediate and I.  Rocco is a great guy and golf ambassador. It was a pleasure meeting him. 

 

Join The Revolution!

      I am tired of all those critics and their opinion that the game of golf is dying.  Have they taken a look at what is happening now in the game?  It is exciting.   When you take a good look at the game overall it is bursting at the seems. A revolution is beginning in this grand old game of ours.  COME JOIN THE REVOLUTION!
      When I write this  you are probably wondering if I drank too much of the spaghetti wine last night with dinner or I need to see my doctor to have my blood pressure meds changed. That simply isn't true. I don't have any wine at the house and my BP meds don't work that way. Let's just say that I am tired of critics looking at the game with their glass half empty instead of what really is happening and the glass is half full and filling.
      Yes, the game is not having the massive explosion of growth that it did after "The Tiger" phenomenon, but if you look at the numbers and what is happening with golf in general there is a steady growth. Slow steady growth is good.  Good foundations are built and people stay in the game. With a boom comes the inevitable bust. Slow and steady growth is what you must have.  The boom-bust cycle is dangerous because normally the bust is pretty bad to the game and it takes a while to recover from the bust.  That's where we are now, recovering from the bust of 2008.  With that said, we are recovering and there are hints that it is a strong recovery at that.
      I saw in a golf publication this morning that golf rounds at courses since 2013 have been increasing at a rate of two to three percent per year.  That appears to be a small growth, but it is steady and again you don't want a spike in growth because a spike is not sustainable.  If golf was truly in trouble, the serious decline in the numbers of players that we saw in 2008 would continue in it's trend.  This is simply not the case.  Golf has been growing.
      What else is new?  What makes me feel so confident about the growth of our game?  There are many things that I look at that show me we are in an exciting time for the game. In tomorrow's post, I will share some of those.  In the meantime, think about how exciting a time this is for the game of golf.  COME JOIN THE REVOLUTION!

Let's start this huge growth in golf with a bang!
 

Yes We Do!

   As I was scrolling through my FaceBook page this morning I saw a post that was curious to me. The post was asking the question do we need more women in golf. It struck as kind of an odd question. Of course the answer to this is very obvious. You're darned right we do. I am very glad it was posted because sometimes we don't shed light on the obvious. Women must be encouraged to play and if they haven't already, to take up the game.
     My wife plays golf. She has played softball almost at the professional level and also played basketball and volleyball in college. She was introduced to golf in San Diego when she was a youth minister at a local church.  She got hooked and now is hooked for life. We try to go out together as much as we can and enjoy the game together. We haven't been able to lately because she has had some shoulder and knee problems and I have had health issues as well. Our health problems have pretty much improved so we plan to play soon and play more often.  She is a lot of fun to golf together with as she brings a very competitive attitude to the game. Plus, she is not a bad golfer either.
     My daughter plays golf. In fact, if you see a 5' 3" petite girl walking up to the first tee and she tries to interest you in a friendly money game, think twice. She loves to take money from unsuspecting strangers and she can play. She went to the California State High School Girls Tournament in her freshman year and just missed it in her senior year. After high school she played at a local community college going to the California Junior College Women't State Tournament that year. She hits the ball a mile and is a major contributor to the reason I have back problems today from trying to out drive her.
     I admit to this.  I used to pack up my clubs and toodled off to the golf course for a day of fun on the links leaving wife and family home. I tried to get my first wife into the game, but she never cared for it. I did try, seriously but I did get my son to take up the game and also my youngest daughter that I mentioned. Gentlemen, we have to change our attitudes towards women on the course. We need to encourage those who wish to take up the game to do so. Those who are already playing we need to encourage and make it possible for them to enjoy the game as much as we men do. Guys, it may be time for an attitude adjustment as far as women on the course and include them in the great game we play.
     Please don't call me sexist when I say this. I truly don't intend it to be that way, but when you were born in the 50's you have some conflicting ways of saying things. Why not have daycare at the golf course? Let's free moms up to play. This actually can be beneficial to the game in that it gets more moms out to play and it can be an early introduction to golf with the kids. That may have been stated rather clumsily, but at least I hope I got the point across.
     Yes gentlemen, Eve did give us that apple in the Garden of Eden but it may be time to forgive her for that. As far as golf is concerned, all should be forgiven and she should take her rightful place in the golfing community.

Next time let's have her play from the men's tee if she is going to bomb it 280. That's my girl.

It's All There In Black and White--Or Is It?

       There are many theories and philosophies about the golf game and swing especially how to teach them. Which one is the absolute 100% correct way to teach golf.  Which method is set in stone and is the "right" way.  As an average golfer who is flooded by a tsunami of golf information and instruction and as a teacher I have to say that there isn't.  We are all learners, and as a community of learners we learn from others.  We all have our own ideas and opinions and as a community we need to respect each other's opinions.
       I saw this posted this morning on FaceBook by a very good friend and respected golf instructor. I totally understand the post, but I want to comment on it. Keep in mind that I am not commenting on it from the point of view of a golf teacher or pro, but one of average golfer and former school teacher. Here is the post, which presents a great question.

You come across a thread on social media. Let's say a pro has put up a video of a student. You spot an obvious problem with the pro's advice. Perhaps the student is even saying "I'm a work in progress I'll get it eventually."

Do you chime in with the correct fix that you know will get them playing better right now or let them flounder and possibly leave the game for good?

If you do chime in only to find your advice has been deleted do you call the pro on it? Does professional courtesy take a back seat when bad advice is being given and our sport is suffering as a result?

      Do you chime in? Does chiming in violate professional courtesy?  Does the pro who was on the video delete the response to the video from another pro?  What should the response be by the student if what the pro on the video's advice is not working?
      I have to ask how the advising pro who saw the video presented his or her comments and suggestions.  Was it in a condescending or overly superior way, or was it in a way that expressed some very good constructive criticism in a positive and gentle manner. I don't know that, but keep in mind that you catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar. Was the information passed on as an absolute, or was it made as constructive criticism?  How something is said and presented has a lot to do with how it is received. I don't know how it was presented because I didn't see the post.  By the way, as a member of a community of learners and golfers I think that the pro that commented on the video was right for commenting, although his comments were his opinions.
      Let's look at the pro that received the post and criticism of the video. I believe they didn't have to take down the post of the second pro.  Why not just say, "Thank you for your comments, I will consider them.  They were very valuable."  That shows some respect for the whole process of communication. Who knows, there might have been something there that the first pro could have used to better their instruction. What they were doing, according to the video, seemed not to be working. Maybe they need to take a look at their techniques and philosophies and just maybe it is time to make a change. We never stop learning and changing to make things better. It is a shame when we get stuck in our ways.
      As far as the student is concerned, as an average golfer my advice would be if it isn't working and you can't relate to what your teacher is telling you find another teacher.  You are paying for this lesson. You are there to get results, not make the pro's car payment. Find someone else that you can learn with their teaching.  Find someone else that is more in tune with your learning style. You are the one taking the lesson.  Why waste time on something that isn't working?  I would be willing to guess that he or she is not the only golf pro giving lessons out there.
      That's it for today.  I'm off to celebrate my birthday today.  I wish I could spend it on the golf course, but I will have to put that off for a while.  Today is "Good Friday" and we are gong to church later today.  My wife is the choir director and director of music and I sing in the choir so there is not much time to do much today.  By the way, don't forget to "like" our FaceBook page at http://facebook.com/golfisforeveryone and check out our website which is a work in progress at http://golfisforeveryonemd.com.  Remember to have fun playing golf.

Go play golf today.  Think of me working away.

  





























 

Love/Hate In The Hills Above Monterey

    There are courses that we all play that strike fear in our hearts.  We play them only because someone has invited us to play there or our stubborn self says we should so that we can conquer that particular link.  Sometimes it happens, most often we finish our round on that particular course and say, "Why did we do that again.  I know how much I hate that course." We are creatures of habit I guess. I have a couple of courses that fit that criteria for me.  At some time, I will reveal that list, but not today.
     Few courses I have played I don't like. Some have changed my mind after playing them and not giving up on them.  Two of these courses come to mind and they are in the Monterey Bay area. Located on the now closed Ft. Ord Army Base Bay the courses are Bayonet and Blackhorse.
      Both courses at the Bayonet/Blackhorse facility have been redesigned.  Before the redesign I played both courses and I hated Bayonet but kept playing it.  It is very hilly and I even walked it several times. I remember thinking each time walking up the 18th fairway why did I put myself through this misery again? That also goes to my stable set of mind in that if I kept having such a bad experience there each time I played there, why did I keep playing there?  I have been told that the definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over again and expect a different result. I preferred Blackhorse as it was what I thought a fairer layout. Both courses were redesigned, though slightly just a few years ago. I think they did an outstanding job on Bayonet but liking Blackhorse is taking a bit of getting used to.
     Bayonet was the tougher of the two courses.  It is well known that the designer of Bayonet was the commanding general of the old Fort Ord and Bayonet/Blackhorse is located on the former army base. The general was left handed and had a viscious left-hand slice.  All the doglegs go at a severe angle to the left so that his slice wouldn't hurt him.  It is certainly pure hell for the right handed player because you run out of fairway on the right and you wind up with a wicked shot our of tall cypress trees lining the fairways.
     All that has been change.  The greens are still tough to putt but the doglegs have been softened.  Don't get me wrong, the course is still a challenge, but it is a reasonable challenge. Blackhorse, on the other hand is a different story.  They made it tougher by adding traps and redesigning the greens, which are undulating.  I hated the course changes at first, but I am beginning to like the course. I used to prefer Blackhorse, but now I like Bayonet.

     I highly suggest you play both courses.  Both are impeccably maintained and the greens, although difficult, putt fast and true.  The views from the course are magnificent because the courses are built in the hills above Monterey.  I will say that both courses are demanding and you will be exhausted after you finish your round, but the courses and the views are well worth it. Oh, and stop by the restaurant after your round for drinks or a meal.  The food is very good and the staff is very friendly.  What a great place to soothe your scars, but I must say you will feel satisfied but tired after playing the courses.

Play them both if you have the opportunity.

Dad, Daughters and Son

     What better way is there to spend time with your family than a bright and sunny day on the golf course?  Golf is great family fun and the time you spend together is priceless. I guess I am a bit partial to this idea because I am an avid golfer, but I introduced my kids to golf at an early age.
      I have nine kids.  Before you go on saying stuff about having nine kids I do want to explain that five are mine and four are my wife's as I am in my second marriage. All nine children are grown and on their own pretty much.  I won't say anything about my wife's kids because I wasn't there for their upbringing. What I will say though is that her son has played golf with us and enjoyed it.  Of course my wife plays golf.
       I tried introduced each of my five children--four daughters and a son--to the game of golf at early ages.  I would play once a week and would marshal one day a week.  No, I would not take them with me when I played--I take that back, I would take them on occasion but only when they were older--but I always had one with me when I marshaled.  In fact, sometimes I had two  along with me.  We always had a wonderful time together. I was able to build in them a love for the game as well as a respect for the rules, traditions and behavior that is the game of golf.
      My oldest daughter hasn't taken up the game yet.  She is married and her family demands don't allow the time. However she and her husband want to take it up at a later time, and I have played a few times with my son-in-law.  Unfortunately, my second daughter doesn't want to have a thing to do with the game.  My third daughter is in school to be a nurse and married of all things a Class A PGA pro.  There is hope for her yet.
      I would take my son and my yougest daughter with me to marshal as much as I could. If I went to the range, most of the time they were in tow and I would let them hit a few balls. My son and daughter both enjoyed being out on the course and especially liked when we went into the coffee shop and had a burger. Later when I had a family membership at a semi-private golf course we would play after school and both had lessons.
      My youngest daughter played competitive golf in junior tournaments, high school and in junior college.  We would have a lot of fun traveling around the state to go to her junior tournments.  Part of the trip would be that we would go up the day before the tournament and play a course near the tournament site.  These were some great times.  She is now trying to get into the hospitality program at The University of Nevada Las Vegas and get her PGA card.
     My son and I still try to play every once and awhile. Unfortunately, I have moved away from Fresno where he lives and we don't get the opportuntiy to play.  However, he still calls me and asks me when we are going to play together again.  I hope we will soon.
      Playing golf together as a family is quality family time. My experiences proove this out.  Those times spent on the golf course with my kids and now with my wife cannot be more prescious.

My son at a tournament.  He's the one on the right. 

The Golf Course Travel Bag: Paso Robles Golf Club

The Friends And Family Plan: Part Two

         Yes, it is true.  Time seems to fly and the demands on that time are many.  It is also true that one of the biggest reasons people aren't taking up the game of golf or have left the game is because of time constraints. I understand that. Priorities have changed as far as how we spend that time.  Family time is limited because of both mom and dad in many cases having careers so that family time has to be spent wisely.  Golf can be a wonderful activity where the whole family can be involved and be together.
     Families, as I wrote about yesterday enroll their kids in a large variety of activities.  There is time spent at soccer games and practices as well as little league baseball and softball. These are all great activities to be sure but how parents do not interact with their kids other than cheering for them on the sidelines. Parents can't play the sport and actively participate with their kids. I have never seen a parent play shortstop in a little league game or play sweeper in the kid's soccer game. I know in my case my body would not allow it, in fact it hurts just to think about it.  Golf is different and the whole family can play together.
     What can courses and golf facilities do to encourage families to come out to the golf course?  How can we get families to start playing golf together.  There is a lot that can be done starting at the school level. There has to be a concerted effort at the school level to promote the game to kids. Programs such as The First Tee and The Littleist Golfer need to be promoted in schools and at the course.  Junior golf programs need to be a priority.  Phil Green in Newcastle with his Grow The Game Program is a model for what can be done.
      Junior golf is right now popular and growing.  There are many organization that put on junior tournaments.  My daughter went up through the ranks.  Her and I would attend tournaments together which included a round of golf before her tournament.  We also must encourage girls and young ladies to play in these tournaments in girl's flights.  In fact, when my daughter was playing there were some girls that could give the boys a run for their money.
      How about holding family oriented activities at the course?  Where are the father-son, father-daughter, mother-son, mother-daughter activities such as tournaments and other fun activities. What about an evening bar-b-que that kicks off with a nine hole family scramble tournament.  Be creative with the formats.  I once played a nine hole tournament with my daughter where we putted with a hockey stick.  Make up fun outings where the family can play together.  The game of golf is a family friendly activity and great clean fun.  
       Who normally takes their kids to a golf lesson?  I think most of you will agree it is mom. What does mom do while their kid is taking a golf lesson?  Probably sit and watch.  That's OK, but why not put a club in mom's had and have her hit a few.  We want more ladies in the game and this is a great way to do it.  In fact, what would be wrong with having family golf lessons, where the whole family takes a group lesson together.
       Golf is a family friendly activity.  What a better way to be out in the fresh air in an activity that teaches sportsmanship and honor.  With demands on time in today's society, why not bring families together at the golf course.  Put the video game down and come out and have some real fun.  Let's have that fun together as a family.

I have a lot of fun spending time on the course with my son, daughter and wife.

    

The Friends And Family Plan: Part One

      Who do you have for your cable and telephone provider?  We have AT&T for our cell phones--mobile for those of you in The UK--and Comcast for our cable. At any rate, this is not a commercial for AT&T.  What I want to point out though is that they offer a plan where you get family and friends together and get a reduced rate and more data on your phone program.  They call it--I don't know if they still do--The Friends and Family Plan.  Why can't we do something like that when it comes to golf?
       There has been a lot of talk in social and other media about why the game is not growing as much and as fast as it should be. I'm not going to go into all the reasons given but it seems that one strong reason is the time it take to play a round.  Since it take so long to play a round of golf, other things in life have to suffer. At least that is the interpretation of that fact.  I have to agree.
        Four to six hours is a lot of time out of one's life to devote to an activity.  With all that we pack into our busy lives that is a big chunk of time. Careers take a big chunk of time as well as family time and other things. It used to be that after a hard week at work a man needed the time away, and for many that was the time at the golf course. The time spent at work has not changed, in fact work time probably has increased and women have excellent careers in many fields as well.  Time with family has to be utilized to the maximum.
        We have to get the kids to baseball or softball practice.  What about soccer practice?  How about the school play?  Oh and don't forget the parent teacher conference. With all these demands on time, something has to give. You turn to your scheduling calendar and look at it.  What can we cut out in order to spend more time at home and with family?  Yep, you guessed it.  That four to six hours spent enjoying the game of golf.
      There is a problem here.  First, as a golfer--male or female--you don't want to give up the game but you want to spend more quality time as a family.  Secondly, as a golf course facility you don't want to loose players. That do you do?  I will have some ideas in the next post.  By the way, if you have a suggestion, please share them.  If you are a golf facility, what have you done to get families back playing.  If you are a family, how have you carved out time in your busy schedule to play?  I would like to share some of these ideas here.

Let's go play some golf!

 

The More The Merrier--Let's Grow The Game

      I wish you all a Happy Sunday and a Happy First Day Of Spring. Today is going to be very busy for myself and my wife as we present an Easter Concert at our church. We are busy in final rehearsal and today have a Palm Sunday Service at the church as well as the performance at the church.  With that in mind, I though I would have something special for you.
       Rich O'Brien is a contributor to this blog and has written a post about growing the game of golf. Rich has published several articles in numerous publications and this particular piece was published in The Charleston South Carolina Golf News.  Enjoy the piece and I will be with you again tomorrow with a new post.

We Need Your Help to Grow the Game

By Rich O’Brien

One of the recurring themes of the Grow the Game Initiative has been the importance of the course setup. Golf courses are typically set up too long for beginners and these players often become frustrated because they simply are not able to carry the ball far enough. Many of them quit the game. The perception is that there is not an easy onramp for new players such as a bunny slope in skiing.  The PGA of America recently published a book called Setting Up Golf Courses For Success. The purpose of the book is to educate PGA members on the positioning of tees to make the game more welcoming.

Surveys also indicate that there are 25 million non-golfers interested in playing the game. I believe that golf needs its’ core group of passionate golfers to take a more active role in growing the game.  They can do so by sharing their passion for the game and by inviting their friends to play.  I would suggest that a good place to start would be by inviting them to the driving range.  The facility, ideally, would offer a Get Golf Ready Program (or a program similar to it) and that would be a good opportunity to introduce your friend to the program’s instructor. From a marketing perspective, golf courses and teaching professionals would be well served to encourage and reward such an invitation system.

In my opinion every golf course should offer a Get Golf Ready Program.  The five week program is designed to be a comfortable and inexpensive on ramp for new players to the game. In a friendly group environment players can learn the basic elements of the game for only $99.   

And after completing this introductory series, your friend will be ready to take their new found skills to the course.  This is another good opportunity for you to mentor them. I have personally accompanied hundreds of new players onto the course. I believe that it is very helpful and serves a number of important functions; (1) it is also a good time to teach the player etiquette; (2) it protects the new players from the wrath of impatient players who want to play through; (3) and perhaps most importantly, it sets the player up for success by giving them permission to play from a non-traditional set of tees.  For many of these players I recommend that they tee off from yardage markers in the middle of the fairway; a par 3 would be from the 100 yard marker; a par 4 would be from the 150 yard marker; while a par 5 would be from the 200 yard marker.  It has been my experience that by playing the shortened version of the course that the new player are not overwhelmed.  These players also quickly learn the importance of the short game, play faster, score better and typically have more fun. And they might even make a par and be excited to come back again the next day to play.

It is in everyone’s best interest to grow the game. The first time a new player steps onto a golf course we have an opportunity to welcome them or we can treat them like they are a burden. These new players are the lifeblood of the game but, too often, they are treated like they are an inconvenience. So please invite your friends to play golf and take an active role in introducing them to the game. Take the time to be a mentor and a friend. 

Rich O'Brien   Golf Writer, Adaptive Golf Instructor, Mental Performance Coach, former Disabled Golfer, p: Skype: obgolfer4 m: 843-826-0837 s: www.golfisforeveryonemd.com e: richobriengolf@gmail.com

Attachments area

Inviting new golfers has a waterfall effect.

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YoureInvited-300x249.jpg

What's Your Handicap?

    What's your handicap index? Some people don't worry about establishing a handicap at a local golf course or associate organization, and I can understand many of the reasons why.  I won't go into that at this point, it is not important.  However, it is good to know how you stack up as far as your game goes with the rest of the golfing public.
     I admit that I have let mine lapse.  One simple reason is that I am not playing as much golf today as I was five years ago. Another reason is my move from Fresno to Merced.  At this point, I haven't joined a club here although I will sometime this year or maybe next. I very much miss competing in tournaments on the local club level and want to return to doing that.  First, I have to re-establish my handicap and then I will play tournaments again.
     Do you know what your handicap index means and how you arrive at a particular course handicap.  Many golfers don't, they just establish a number. I will try to explain it as briefly as I can.  You post your score to an organization called GHIN on the course computer. I have never found out  what GHIN stands for, I just know that they are the handicap people.  It's not that important. After 20 rounds the computer takes the scores of those twenty rounds and calculates, using a devised formula your golf index. My last one was 18.4, I think.
     The area or state golf associations are responsible for what is known as rating the golf courses.  Our organization in this part of California is as many know The Northern California Golf Association.  They send out a team of golfers to play a given course to establish that course's rating depending on how hard the course is to play. After they play the course, they go over the course hole by hole and agree on a degree of difficulty of the course and then what is known as a "slope" is calculated for that course.
    Sometimes I find this "slope" number a bit arbitrary and subjective because I have played courses in  Northern California and courses in Southern California which are similar in difficulty, but the slopes are very different.  It seems that courses are rated easier than they truly are in the south than they are in the north. That's only my opinion, however. The ratings depend on the raters and what they agree to, so the numbers are different and may differ from one rating session to the next a few years later. Different raters using the same criteria may rate a course differently.
    Slopes are assigned to the different courses and slope numbers can range between 50 to 150 depending on the rating given by the ratings committee. From there it is simple.  The golfer finds the slope chart for that course and the tees that he or she played, looks up their index and there is your course handicap.
    For example let's take my 18.4 index.  I go to the course slope chart for the white tees and find that the slope of the course is 123.  I go down the chart to find the range of my index where 18.4 lies to find my course handicap.  I find that is is 19 for that particular course. That's my course handicap.  That was simple, wasn't it?
     That's all I have for today. I hope that I haven't insulted anyone's intelligence by this simple explanation of the index/handicap system. Many of you do know it. In the meantime, visit my website at http://golfisforeveryonemd.com.  I have put up a couple of new U-tube videos that I am quite proud of. Take a look. so, for now hit 'em long and straight.  Don't leave that birdie putt short.

OK, how would you rate this hole?  A par 6, downhill to a slightly elevated green.  Yep, it's number 18 at Lake Chabot in Oakland. 

Hey, Don't Pass This Up!

    I travel a lot, as I have shared.  How many times have you, like I have, been on a trip with a definite purpose and driven by a beautiful golf course next to the road and said, "That looks like a great course and going to play it someday."? I do that all the time.  The course doesn't have to be by the roadside.  It can be in a city I pass through, but can't stop. It happens all the time and I have prepared a list of those courses I have thought about playing but haven't.  At some point in my life, I will make a special trip if I have to.

Here's the list and they are not in any particular order:

1.  Coyote Creek, San Jose, Ca.: There are two courses here, The Tournament and The Valley Courses and I want to play them both. Every time I drive to San Jose or somewhere south of San Francisco I pass this venue and vow to play them.

2.  Edgewood Tahoe, South Late Tahoe, Nevada:  Of all the "Drive By" courses this is probably the one I most want to play.  I don't get up to Lake Tahoe much anymore, but I have to play this course at some time in my life.

3.  Metropolitan, Oakland, Ca.:  This course has an interesting history.  It started out as a golf course and then it closed because the Port of Oakland needed somewhere to dump the toxic dredging when they deepened the Port.  After a while golfers became angry and wanted their golf course back, and finally they did.  The course was completely redone and is now Metropolitan.  I understand that you want to play this one in the morning, because it tend to get very windy in the afternoon.

4.  Tulare Golf Course, Tulare, Ca.:  I have a lot of friends who have played this course.  They say it is nothing special, but I would like to judge for myself.  I was hesitant to play Rancho Del Rey, but I am glad that I found that course.

5.  Mace Meadows, Pioneer, Ca.:  This course is located on Hiway 88 on the way to Carson Pass and Reno beyond. I have passed by it many times and have heard some great things about the course.  It is there just waiting for me.

6. Lockeford Springs, Lodi, Ca.:  Before you get to Mace Meadows, a long way before, you have to pass Lockeford Springs just out of Lodi. I have heard a lot about this course and it has been featured on the "hooked On Golf" golf program.  It looks very inviting and I can't wait to make a special trip up there.

7.  Shoreline, Mountain View, Ca.:  This one is not really right on the road, but I want to play it. My daughter played the course a couple of times in junior tournaments and I had to walk along lusting at the course wanting to play it.  She got all the fun, I got the sore muscles.

8.  Poplar Creek, San Mateo, Ca.:  Growing up and in later years I have fond memories of driving to Candlestick Park and freezing at a San Francisco Giants game.  In order to get to "The Stick" you have to pass Poplar Creek just off of US 101. I wanna play this course!

9.  Crystal Springs, Burlingame, Ca.:  This is another course my daughter has played and I haven't. It lise just over the hills of the San Francisco Penninsula in a small valley between the Pacific Ocean and The San Francisco Bay. Once again, she played it and I walked it watching her play.  This was true torture. I plan to go back there and vindicate this injustice some day. It will probably take a special trip and time set aside to play it, but it is well worth it.

The First Tee At Catalina.  I'm Coming Soon!

10.  All The Los Angeles Courses, Los Angeles, Ca.:  I don't travel south very often, and when I do it is normally to board a ship for a cruise out of Long Beach.  We don't stay.  There are several great courses down there, and someday I will get down there to play golf.

     There is one course that I did not mention which is probably my eleventh course.  You can't drive by this one, you have to take a boat because it is on Catalina Island.  Yes, they do have a golf course on Catalina Island and I'm dying to play it.  I plan to in September as I am going to be on a cruise. I always stop by the course whenever I am on a cruise and the ship stops there.  Mark, the pro, is a great guy to talk to and has been wanting me to play the course. This next trip is the trip and I will feature the course on my website.  More about this later.
     If you have a course that you drive by and want to play, let me know. In the meantime I have to run.  Don't forget to check out our website, http://golfisforeveryonemd.com.  Remember, hit 'em long and straight and by all means don't leave that birdie putt short.

Hope you get a big bang out of this post.

Let's Celebrate!

      Today is St. Patricks Day and there will be many celebrations. There is much more to celebrate and be thankful for today than just a grand Irish holiday. Two marvelous things happened yesterday so I want to pause to give thanks and share those two happenings with you.
      First and more importantly, my very good friend and co-founder of Golf Is For Everyone Mark Croft is back home from the hospital. Mark was hospitalized and had a very difficult surgery which I won't go into the details as I don't know that Mark would want me to share the details.  Many of you know the details anyway so I won't mention them.  I will say that the whole thing took a lot of courage, and Mark has been very courageous. He has kept a very positive attitude through all of this and I noticed that he is posting on our FaceBook page. I have missed you good friend. WELCOME BACK MARK!
       This second event that I am very thankful for is a lot less important than Mark's recovery.  It is still a milestone and I am very excited about it. Our Golf Is For Everyone blog has shattered the 10,000 internet site hits barrier. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading and being a part of this movement to grow the game of golf. Please keep reading because there is much more to come.  THANK YOU!
       What a wonderful day it is today!

YES!

What I Want In A Club Pro

      I am not a golf professional and I don't play one on TV. My position in the golf industry is that of average golfer. What I am talking about here is not the PGA touring pro that you see every week on TV , but the guy that you see every time you go out and play a round of golf at your local country club or muni.  In my work with Golf Is For Everyone, I have the privilege of being in touch with many club pros and have become very good friends through social media and our website.  They are good friends and I find their posts on FaceBook and other sites very interesting.
      There was a discussion thread on FaceBook today talking about the hiring of head professionals at golf facilities. I must add that the discussion was quite lively.  The whole thing got me to thinking. I know that is pretty dangerous and I began to wonder what I would want to see in the head pro at the courses I play at. Don't worry Clarke and Eric.  In my book your jobs are secure, but there are a lot of openings for head professionals out there. What would be the most important things that I as an average golfer and frequent player at a course would look for in a head professional.
       Two important things come to mind when I think about this. First, I think that it is very crucial that the head pro have a love of the game and how to grow it. What things can they do, or are willing to do to grow the game.  I am not talking about giving private lessons or using the latest technology to teach the swing. What I am talking about is how is this person going to grow the game and get more people to the course and playing golf.  What are they willing to do to get new players to the game?  How are they going to get those who have left the game to come back to the game?  How are they going to keep players coming back to the course to play? How are they going to give back to the game and the course in order to keep the course and game strong?  That is what is important, not using the latest technology to cure a slice.
       The second important thing is that as a golfer, I am not a number or dollar sign on the course's profit and loss statement.  We have lost a lot of this with today's techno-pro.  When I go to the course I want a warm welcome and a smile. Golf should be spoken here, and that means whoever is behind the desk or around the course or pro shop is willing to talk about either my game or the game in general. I totally understand that what they are doing is a job and whatever job they are doing right then needs to get done, but at least acknowledge me and make an effort. If you can't stop to talk right then, I understand.
       The pro and staff need to have the attitude of being "one of us" and not the people that run the place and are too good to deal with us.  The pro may play better than I do, but that doesn't make him any more of a golfer. Mingling with us "mortals" should be encouraged to an appropriate point instead of a strict hierarchy. Yes, they are paid staff and their expertise is to run the place but they are still part of the course family.
       I totally get that the club pro is responsible for the course's bottom line profits. They are in charge of the business and making a profit for the facility whether it is the pro shop, restaurant, driving range and course itself.  I admit that it takes a special kind of person to do that.  But number one in all of this should be the golfer.  Remember that the golfer is spending money at your facility and you must keep them happy. You must keep new people coming to play.  If dollars are not coming and staying, you can't be profitable. If you don't keep them happy, those dollars will go somewhere else. Pros please remember this and smile. A warm handshake and "We are glad you are here" would also be nice.

A warm and friendly staff make for happy golfers.

 

Golf--A Game For The Senses

      In our busy culture and lives, we don't always stop to smell the roses.  Do you ever stop to take in your surroundings when you go out to the golf course to play a round.  Are you single minded about getting your clubs out of your car and getting on with the task at hand which is to play golf.  Most of us when we go to  the course are so focused on playing golf we something--something very special.
      Think about this for a moment.  The golf course and the game are a rich environment.  There is a lot going on there. This is a place where the senses are busily interpreting the environment which your body has been placed. Yes, golf is a game but that game is played in an environment that is a banquet of stimulation for your senses.
       Take a look around you. The sensual delights don't stop from the time you take your clubs out of the car until you finish your round, fellowship at the nineteenth hole and putting your clubs back in your car. Use all five senses-sight, smell, touch, taste and hearing--it just takes the time to experience them. Our busy lives don't quite allow for that because it is always so full of stuff to do. Take the time to stop and take in that which is going on around you.  Believe me, you will be glad you did. The game will seem different somehow.
      I will have more on this in future posts.  In the meantime, slow down and take time to experience what is around you, especially at the golf course.

Climb to the top and experience what lies ahead.  Enjoy the view.

The Personal Touch

      What ever happened to the personal touch? Why is it that as a society we have given up on relating to each other and instead going the electronic and techno route? I like dealing face to face with people not a keyboard and computer screen. Just call me old fashion but I like to deal with people not a machine. We have given up on our five senses in the pursuit of total convenience. That search for ease has spilled over into the golf industry.
       The golf course pro shop has become an endangered species and this is very sad. What has happened is the golf shop has transitioned from where you went for your golf needs and were taken care of by the golf staff to basically a 7-11 convenience store where you pay your green fee and only purchase a sleeve of balls or a bag of tees because you discovered you were out at the last moment before your tee time. The shop is an afterthought for last minute items and not where you buy your shoes or clubs. Scheduling a lesson doesn't even cross our minds.
     We try to fix whatever is wrong with our swing by going to the internet and buying a series of lessons where we have no concept of what our golf swing should be in the first place.  If you are a thrifty sort, you go to YouTube and look up what is happening in your swing and bam, the problem is fixed. Or is it? After viewing the video CD lessons or seeing the free videos on YouTube you go to the course or range to try what amazing things you just learned only to find that it worked with Joe Pro on the Video and their swing, but is not the cure that you have been looking for and your swing is worse. Do me a favor, take some live lessons from a professional.  They can see what needs to be done to improve your swing and game.
     I go out of my way to spend my golf dollars in the local pro shop. My irons were fitted and made for me by a local club maker.  I told you the story of my driver in one of my other posts.  My feet are a very strange size, so I have to order my shoes specially made and I normally do that through my course pro shop. The time having my feet measured by a human adds value to my shoe purchase and I know my shoes will fit. I buy a lot of shirts at the course, even though it drives my wife crazy that my wardrobe is mostly logoed golf shirts. Golf balls are also included in my pro shop purchases and the funny thing is, prices are not that much higher than on line or in a "big box" store.  There is also nothing like the personal attention and knowledge from the shop staff.
      Spend your money in the pro shop.  The personal "Thank You" sure beats the "Add To Cart" button.
   

The pro shop.  Your source for everything golf.

 
         

Yes, The Times They Are A' Changin (Part 4) The Driver The Story Ends Finally

     Florida--a wonderful place to play golf.  There are many courses and so I wanted to take advantage of our trip there. I was excited.  We were there because we were going to go on a cruise and explore a bit of the state from Miami and up to Orlando and then to Tampa. For me, golf was high on the itinerary. Disaster struck on the next to last day of the trip at Buffalo Springs Golf Course in Bradenton.
     I played well in Florida.  By the way, you really can see the grass growing as it is humid and the burmuda grass grows quickly. On the eighteenth tee I took out my Top Flite Lee Trevino Intimidator and took a normal swing at the ball. The head of the club came off of the club and flew farther than the ball. The flight characteristics of a titanium oversize driver head  is something that NASA has never investigated, but I can assure you that it wasn't a smooth flight. It kind of makes a voov-voov sound and kind of just spins in the air until it loses forward velocity. All I had left in my hand was a Intimidator muscle shaft of graphite and a brand new grip. My Top Flite Lee Trevino Intimidator had suffered a fatal injury. When I brought it back home, I was told that it would cost more than the club was worth to fix, so the search for another driver was on.
      Many months passed as I tried to replace my beloved Top Flite Lee Trevino Intimidator and I settled on a Cobra knockoff to match my Cobra clones. This worked but I also found another Joe's Titanium No Name Driver with 10.5 degree loft as well. Both of these clubs were OK, but I really did not have a love affair with them.  They hit the ball off the tee, but neither of these clubs were impressive for me and my search continued.
      That is what took me to Sports Authority in Fresno and there it was. An Orlimar Titanium with 9 degree loft and stiff shaft is a very beautiful thing and it was on a closeout sale.  When I hit it on the golf simulator, it was magic. I bought it and took it to it's new home.  Hitting the driver on an actual golf course was Nirvana--and I am not even Hindu. The ball exploded off the face with control.  The only drawback to the club was the 9 degree loft which I couldn't hit it off the deck or get it airborne if I was under a tree.  I knew this was the club and would never let it go.
       In 2008 I was fortunate enough to play in a pro-am put on by a local supermarket. This was a very big affair for where I lived and the tournament put on by Peter Jacobsen Enterprises would bring in some of the big names in golf.  There was a Nike store on the tournament grounds and as a tee prize each participant received $400 to spend as they wished in the Nike store.  I don't like Nike balls--not putting down the balls, I just don't like to play them--and I have to try their shoes on before I buy them as I have a very strange foot. I wasn't sure of their shirt sizes as well so I went for a new bag, which I really needed. I was still short of the $400 so I kept looking.
       I saw a Nike Sumo driver with the square head and 10.5 loft. I though to myself I like my Orlimar but what the heck.  If I didn't like the Nike Driver I could sell it on Ebay and make a few bucks. After all, the price was right and I needed to spend the rest of the $400. I got the driver, but was skeptical as to if I would like it or not. I didn't get to try it in the Nike store so it was a blind purchase. It didn't cost me anything and I didn't have to marry it.
       The Orlimar went to my son-in-law and I kept the Nike.  In fact, I still have it and won't buy a new driver until this one breaks.  I have already had it reshafted and it hits quite nicely.  I love it.  By the way, I couldn't afford a new driver anyway, not with the price tags these days.  So, I am very happy with my Nike.
       There has been a flood of new driver technologies that have come on the market. Driver heads are now adjustable so that you can put in more hook or slice.  The loft is even adjustable and Callaway has used Boeing to design a new driver.  At some point I may move to something else as a driver, but for now I am very happy.  I also have more jingle in my pocket because I don't spend a lot of money on new drivers. Besides, as I have said before its the archer not the arrows.

Still great since 2008.

         
     



















             

Yes, The Times They Are A' Changin (Part 4) The Driver Continued

      I am not a great lover of change, especially when someone else is trying to get me to change.  I don't respond to fads and I don't have to have the "newest and best" even though that whatever it is makes loud claims it will totally improve and revolutionize my golf game. To me, skill and what you can do with any club is more important than the club doing the work for you. I think it is more the archer than the arrow--I cleaned that up so that I don't upset anyone and get sued--that is important to playing the game well.
      I was happy as a clam hitting my MacGregor 985 set.  The irons and woods--solid, oil hardened persimmon--had a very special feel to them.  I would crush the woods and make the forged blade irons sing. I could work the ball, producing a fade or draw when that shot was needed. When the ball hit the green it would dance.
      I used a balata ball back then, I realize some of you don't know what I am talking about but there was nothing like hitting a balata ball even though you could only get about four or five holes out of them because they would cut. You knew you hit a bad shot because they would smile back at you. Those were the days my friend--I won't say I thought they would never end because we didn't sing and dance forever and a day and I have already quoted Bob Dylan in the title of this blog series.
       Those days did end. I found myself playing a lot less golf as life was getting in the way of my golf game. Because of the things of life such as wife, children and job I wasn't going to the course or range nearly as much as I used to. In my glory days, I would play up to five times a week as well as practice at the range. That frequency went down to once a week or twice if I was lucky with no time to go to the range.  My game suffered and I decided that it was time to move to more forgiving equipment in the form of a set of Cobra clone irons and a new driver. I put the 985's up on the shelf along with the driver, but I kept the three and four woods as I just couldn't part with them.
       Somehow, I wound up with and fell in love with a Top-Flite Intimidator Titanium with that black muscle shaft and 10.5 degree loft. The bombs were back. I could hit that driver a very long way and could work it, including hitting a driver off the deck. It was great for getting out from under trees if I needed a low boring shot. Go ahead and say it. Why would I need that shot if I wasn't under a tree. I heard that, but it happens you know. You have to be ready for anything when you play golf.
       I played that driver for a long time and my game improved or at least stabilized. I stayed around an 18 handicap which was good for me because I was not playing as much as I used to. I would shoot mid eighties but most of the time I was consistently in the high eighties to low nineties. This was fun, until Florida and disaster struck.   Stay tuned for the last part of my driver change saga.  Check it out in my next post.

Bye-bye little white ball.

Yes, The Times They Are A' Changin (Part 4) The Driver

       I love watching golf on TV.  It is truly exciting to see the pros hit the ball as far as they do.  I especially love it when they sometimes melt down and show that they are human by making some sort of mental error. My favorite part is watching the golf equipment commercials because they promise a better game for me. All I need is the newest TaylorMade driver that costs $500 but will totally revolutionize my game.  Let's make this very clear.  If I bought a $500 driver I would certainly be sleeping the next millennium in our doghouse in the back. You know, the one I have mentioned in past posts. One thing is for sure though.  Driver technology has changed as have a lot of the equipment in golf.
        I am not going as far back in this post as I have before and basically I will share my own experiences. My experiences basically mirror what has happened to the "Driving Club", and I still am not caught up to what technology is today. I can't afford it so I use what is comfortable to me and what I have been using for a while now, 2008 to be exact.   I started my golf career with an old starter set which included an "Otey Chrisman" blade putter and a laminated head "Slammin' Sammy Snead" driver.
        My little starter set with my "Slammin' Sammy" driver kept me going for about four years when I was given a new set of "woods" for Christmas. This was a complete set of Arnold Palmer woods, driver to four wood and included a 2 wood.  By the way, woods were woods back then and my Arnold Palmer's were made of laminated wood with regular flex steel shafts.  I loved these clubs and it was like going from a Volkswagen Beetle to a Chevrolet Impala. They weren't quite top of the line, but they were an improvement. I added a new set of  Citation Power Built steel shafted irons and I was unstoppable, except by the California Highway Patrol I guess.
      About five years after I got my "new" set I was approached by my golf pro/teacher whose son was also a pro and was on the MacGregor teaching staff. His son was given a new set of clubs by MacGregor and asked me if I wanted to buy his son's old set. The shafts were stiff shaft, but he said that with my swing I could handle them  The great part about the set was the woods were persimmon, and good, oil hardened persimmon at that.  There is just something about hitting a solid persimmon wood driver that is indescribable. The solid feel of the club hitting the ball resonates in your hands as the club head hits the ball. I had traded in the Impala for a top of the line Mercedes Benz.  I was VERY happy and my game showed it.  
      By the way, the head of the club was nowhere near the size of today's club heads and when you look at how small it really is, you want to almost laugh. I honestly think that it would fit into one of today's huge 460 cc driver heads.  I felt very strong when I swung that club as it had a stiff steel shaft on it.  Those were the days and I actually still have that driver along with the three and four wood.
      Not all things last forever.  The "Pitsburgh Persimmon" or steel headed driver came out and things were about to change. What happened next, I will talk about in a future blog post.

Let the "Big Dog" Eat!

Sand Isn't Always On A Beach

     It's that time of year again.  The flowers are starting to bloom and Daylight Savings Time starts this weekend. I realize some of you don't participate in Daylight Savings Time, but for us in this part of California it means warmer weather and more time to tee it up. Spring also means another thing to us West Coasters and that is time to aerate the greens.  The holes and sand are coming, and very soon.
     When do they aerate the greens in the colder climates? I have kind of wondered that for years. How long does it take before the greens are not frozen anymore and the grass on the greens start to grow? How long does it take for the grass to start growing on the whole course as well? I feel for you guys as your golf season is so short. I will and always have shed a tear for you. Cheer up, Spring is on it's way. We play golf year round out here, although we have to contend with dormant burmuda grass during the winter.  The courses stay mostly green on the Pacific Coast, but here in our lovely Central Valley they over seed the greens and tees.
     It happens every year.  You go out to the course on a warm, sunny day and are expecting to play a great round of golf on a beautiful course with almost perfect greens.  Last week you missed the sign, "Course will be aerating Tuesday front and Wednesday back".  Thursday is your normal day to play and you come out only to find that the course was been aerated yesterday. The greens now are holy as if they have been blessed by the Pope and there is enough sand on them to bring a beach chair, cooler (filled with soda as the Alcohol Beverage Control Bureau won't allow under the courses liquor license outside beer but that's OK because I don't drink), umbrella, beach towel and sunscreen. We have to putt on these greens?
     Oh well you decide, let's play anyway.  Today is Thursday and we always play on Thursday so why not.  All bets are off though.  I'm not going to sacrifice a dime for the front, a dime for the back and a dime for the round. After all, I'm not made of money. It's just not worth it. Golf is fun!
      Aeration is very important to the health of the greens.  It has to be e golfers just have to learn to get used to the fact that it is a necessary thing.  We wouldn't want to play on greens that haven't been aerated. The thatch begins to build and water doesn't get down to the roots. The green also can't breath since the grass is so thick. That thatch has to be broken up.  The sand replaces the grass taken out of the hole made by the aerating tool because the sand is less dense than the grass removed by the machine.
     Playing on greens that have been aerated is a lot of fun.  First, if you are not the first to play on them, you can get a sense of  putts by the sand trails of those putts that have gone before you. I like seeing the funny little rooster tail behind the ball as it rolls over the sand.  You don't have to worry about the speed of the green either. You just hit the crap out of the putt, even from six inches. This too shall pass, my son--uh, and daughter as we don't want to leave the ladies out of this.
     Ah yes, the coming of Spring with flowers blooming and greens being aerated.  I took twenty-five putts that Thursday by the way.  I love aerated greens.

Beautiful greens like these have to be aerated. What am I saying?  All greens have to be aerated.