Autumn inspiration #1

Get ahead of the game: TEACHING REVIEW Lesson 1

Before you know it, Spring will be here and that resolution to train through the winter will have disappeared into thin air. It happens to us all. So that’s why at “Golfing Inspirations”, we’ve recruited someone special to set the training trend this winter.

Introducing our “Game Golfer” …

His golfing background: A golfer for 25 years, he still has a handicap of 28. He never practises and has only ever had one lesson since a few group lessons at the very beginning. He is a member of a golf club in Holland and enjoys playing as a ‘free golfer’ on courses around the world, whenever he gets the chance. His golfing claim to fame: Surprise winner of the Aphrodite Cup for amateur golfers in Cyprus!

Over the years his family and friends have been trying gently to persuade him to book some golf lessons, saying that he would get even more enjoyment out of the game, if he played better. His answer was simple. He just loves playing golf and has no illusions of becoming a scratch golfer. Having fun with his golf buddies after a stressful week at work was always priority number one. OK, like everyone he would like to hit more good shots, but the score was not as important as the social aspect of the game and being active outside in the fresh air. After 25 years of playing this wonderful game, we’re pleased to say that our ‘Game Golfer’ has had a change of heart.

His dream to play lots of golf when he retired at the end of last year was shattered when health problems and an operation, the day before his retirement, meant spending the first few months of this golf season convalescing. Come the Spring, he still didn’t have the strength in his right hand to even hold a golf club. This wasn’t exactly how he had pictured his retirement. However, after much physio and relentless exercising, he was finally back on the golf course in the summer, initially in a buggy, and then strolling the fairways as before. His game was gradually coming back – more length and more consistency – achieved while still coping with little strength and reduced mobility in his right hand. Then, a few weeks ago, disappointment and frustration set in. His golf reached an all-time low.

Football friends are also having an impact on his comeback to golf, as he explains:

“For nearly 30 years, I’ve played indoor football with a group of friends. As we’re getting older, they are all gradually taking up golf now which is great. Some are having lessons every now and again, and playing a lot, so you see them all improving. My game, however, is standing still, or even going downhill! When we play on a course with a long par-three over water, for example, I often have to lay-up short because I don’t have the length to make the carry onto the green. By working on my game this winter, that’s one area I’m hoping to improve upon! Next season I want to be able to hit the ball straighter and much further, and get my handicap down.”

LESSON 1 Friday, 30 October 12.00

A walk in the park in Kralingen

On a perfect Autumn morning, our Game Golfer strolls down the leafy lane towards the driving range with PGA Holland teaching professional, Mariëtte de Groot. He is relaxed and looking forward to his winter training adventure at Kralingen GC. Six private 30-minute lessons over the coming months and a training routine aimed at really getting his game going next season. Target: more consistency in his game; longer and straighter drives; and his handicap reduced to 23.

PICTURE: A short introduction to the “Golf Academy 9-step plan” and how the website can be used to analyse and encourage winter training. Mariëtte is direct and to the point: “Let’s see how far you are already …”. She summarises in Dutch: “Meten is weten”. Yes, indeed, that’s how you learn. Our Game Golfer is pleasantly surprised: “I’m already at step 5, that’s not so bad!” Next step: The driving range mat for a swing check.

First, however, some all-important warming-up exercises. Our Game Golfer, who has been undertaking ‘lumberjack’ duties in his garden the past few weeks, obliges with an impressive show of synchronised stretching, twisting and turning. Not bad for a recently retired financial man. She then asks him to hit a few balls with a 7-iron so that she can have a look at his basic swing and set-up.

The first three shots sail through the air with the greatest of ease. Now that’s impressive, just through stretching – something our Game Golfer admits that he rarely does before playing! Mariëtte then films his swing from behind during the next few shots. Time for the moment of truth. This is always a real eye opener. All the things that you think you do right as a player, scream out at you in a video film. “Oh, my gosh! Do I really swing like that?”, is a common reaction. However, when you take a look at the ideal set-up and swing of a player shown alongside you on the i-pad, sometimes it’s not all bad.

Getting to grips with the situation

Normally one of the first problems that a pro addresses in a lesson is the grip. However, due to our Game Golfer’s hand problem, Mariëtte decides that his grip will suffice for now. She prefers to concentrate on other more urgent aspects of his swing.

PICTURE: Mariëtte’s advice: “Where your arms ‘naturally hang’ at address is the best set-up”. A tip she still values from her own beginner days. Mariëtte shows how to let the right hand ‘naturally’ join the club when addressing the ball.

PICTURED (left): No, he is not throwing in the towel yet! In fact, he is adding a towel under his right arm to keep his swing more compact and his right arm closer to his body. (Right): “Hold that head still!” Yes, it’s a real hands-on lesson!

PICTURED (left): A golf towel is placed on the practice mat to help create the right “in-to-out” swing plane. (Right): Luckily there are plenty of leaves around to use for the ‘leaf trick’ in the lesson. Here the aim is to ‘swing out’ to the ball on the follow-through.

A more natural new swing on grass

There is no time to pose for photographs. This lesson is firm, hands-on and full of inspirational tips, all in a matter of 30 minutes. However, we did manage to squeeze in just one to see how our Game Golfer’s new swing looks on grass … We’re impressed!

So how is our Game Golfer feeling after his first lesson?

Q&A:

What did you learn today?

“A lot! Would you like a top 10?”

Are these all old habits or new things that have crept in to your game more recently?

“Old habits, I guess.”

OK, your tips from today’s lesson.

“Here we go:

At address, my knees are far too bent, resulting in a poor angle of the spine. And I have a tendancy to come up and down with my body when I make the swing.

I’ve been reaching for the ball too much as well. So now at address I set-up with my hands closer to my body.

My arms are also ‘too fast’ – faster than my body – and they’re also ‘too bent’ during the swing. I have very little ‘arm extension’ through the ball. That’s one of my biggest problems – I tend to pull the club towards me on the downswing.

To help prevent that we worked on keeping my right arm closer to the body during the swing.

My head is moving ‘off the ball’ and …

I also need to relax my shoulders.

It’s important that I get my arms and hands ‘to follow’ and not ‘lead’ the downswing. In other words, think ‘knee or hip’ to start the down motion.

I also need to just let the clubhead ‘gently drop’ from the top of the backswing instead of smothering the ball.

That’s about it! Sounds an awful lot, I know. But the video analysis was very enlightening and my pro explained it all so well. To be honest, probably for the first time in my life, I now have the correct mental picture of how I should be swinging the club!”

So are you going to book a second lesson?

“Without doubt!”

Now that’s what we like to hear at “Golfing Inspirations”, golfers being inspired to play more golf!

A quick summary by his pro:

“The angle of the spine during address is very important. So by straightening his knees and getting him to stand a little closer to the ball, he has already created a much better ‘spine angle’ at address. His upper body is much too active during the swing while his lower body needs to do more. He also needs to stay behind the ball more and ‘reach out’.”

How did our game golfer experience his first lesson in more than two decades?

“My swing wasn’t totally ripped apart, I’m pleased to say. Nor was it totally back to the drawing board. All the tips made sense to me and even began to work after a few minutes. To be honest, after more than 20 years of not having had a lesson, I didn’t really know what to expect! I thought it might be a bit technical and boring. But, I was pleasantly surprised – it was inspiring! I really liked the video check too. Not sure I want to get that involved with the tips and analysis on-line though, but I’ll give it a try.”

We’re happy to say that our Game Golfer even stayed behind after the lesson to finish off the third bucket of balls. Now that’s promising …

You can follow his winter training progress in our regular updates which we’ll be posting here: Golfing Inspirations/Reviews/Special Features.