How Far Should I Hit My Niblick? And What Is It?

McKenzie Meadows Golf Tip:

How Far Should I Hit My Niblick? And What Is It?

BY SCOTT ORBAN, PGA EXECUTIVE PROFESSIONAL, MCKENZIE MEADOWS GOLF CLUB

The Niblick is an ancient name of a golf iron, which is equivalent to a nine iron. It used to be the highest lofted club in a set. Other iron names included The Mashie and The Jigger. Thankfully, golf club manufacturers changed from names to numbers on the irons sometime after the 1920s. But even today there are a variety of names, especially on wedges.

Golfers can be confused by the inconsistency of letters, numbers and names on wedges, and the distances they are supposed to produce. Our irons are numbered by their loft: lower loft = lower number / higher loft = high number. It may be confusing that some of our lower irons have been replaced with hybrids1 and after the number nine-iron we have a variety of labels on our wedges: P, W, PW, A, AW, G, GW, S, SW, L, LOB and also an array of wedges with the degree of loft on each of them which could be represented by the letters listed.

To simplify the process in the wedges I direct many of my novice students to take a Sharpie and write a number on them so that the numbers continue consecutively after their number nine iron and make it easy to understand and remember.

In the picture, I’ve taken a Sharpie and written the number that corresponds with each of these irons. My pitching wedge is a 10-iron. If you have an A (attack) or a G (gap) wedge in your set that will be an 11-iron, followed by those labelled with the degree of loft. I have numbered them accordingly. As the clubs have a higher loft, they have a higher number.

If you are not too sure about the degrees loft on your wedges, and where they fall into your set, ask your Canadian PGA pro. They can do this for you in a minute. If you prefer you can look up the specs online. Knowing the distance each of your irons go with a full swing is a huge advantage. For the advanced golfer who carries a number of wedges (the scoring clubs) this is the baseline and a must-know.

Measure how far you hit every iron with a full swing, measuring only straight shots (off-line shots go different distances). Your PGA Pro can help you with this using FlightScope or Trackman technology. Now write the distance on the corresponding iron. When playing, this will give you confidence in your club selection and will lead to a more focused confidence and a better swing.

So simplify the game for yourself, find out what degrees are on your wedges and give them a number. Take it to the next level and write the distance on the cso you know how far it goes. It’s amazing how improved decision making and club selection will improve your game.

1NEW GOLFERS NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT HYBRIDS SIMPLY REPLACE IRONS. THUS HTTPS://WWW.MCKENZIEMEADOWS.COM/ACADEMY/GOLF-TIPS

Scott Orban, Richard Hardy, Wade Bishop and Paul McGowan.

MCKENZIE MEADOWS GOLF CLUB

Thank You Calgary for 25 years of Great Golf

McKenzie Meadows is in its 25th anniversary year. “Calgary‘s Finest Public Golf Facility.” That was the goal in 1996 and our staff continue to work towards this today. The golf course has grown-up in its incredible natural setting, making McKenzie Meadows a great place to be… and to golf.

The McKenzie Meadows reputation, popularity and success began with a fantastic design from course architect Gary Browning. Eight lakes, white sand bunkers and an 18-hole championship layout in the Bow River Valley’s Fish Creek Provincial Park. This natural setting is serene with gorgeous scenery, where golfers will see a variety of wildlife right in the city.

“In so many ways, McKenzie Meadows is unique with an annual Season Pass Membership which features no initiation fee or equity buy-in,” explains COO and PGA executive golf professional Scott Orban. “To maximize the opportunity for our members and the public to enjoy golf, we only sell a limited amount of memberships with booking privileges to ensure we can accommodate public golfers and corporate events.” For golfers, layout is important and head pro Richard Hardy explains that “although there are some changes in elevation, McKenzie is an enjoyable walking course with greens and tees near each other, making 18 holes a 7.5 kilometre walk in the park.”

The popularity of McKenzie Meadows vouches for the fact that Calgary golfers prefer location, layout and also enjoyably challenging golf. “Holes 10, 11 and 12 are often referred to as the McKenzie Meadows Amen-corner,” Richard grins. “And number 12 is known as McKenzie’s most difficult hole – a long par-four dog leg right which is protected by a slope of brush and trees on the right-hand side.”

There’s no secret to the MMGC success. It’s a tradition of excellence – of golf and service. Much of the McKenzie specialness is also about consistency.

McKenzie Meadows Golf Corp. has had the same ownership group since the Club opened in 1996. “The founders were prominent Alberta business families who instilled fantastic business practices and culture from MMGC’s inception,” Orban says. “It’s best summarized with the focus to ‘treat everyone the way you would like to be treated’.

Founders Rock sits on Hole #15 recognizing the families who established MMGC.

“It’s still our focus today! For the management group it means well manicured greens and course conditions, with exceptional services for every customer and visitor to the property.”

He adds that although time has passed, ownership has evolved to other members of the original families, the value of treating people right remains strong as ever. The uncompromising goal of golf and service excellence is a key reason why the MMGC management team has been with the company for a long time.

Scott Orban was hired as the inaugural head golf professional, to manage the golf operations and facilitate worldclass golf Academy programs to match the superb McKenzie training facility. Almost 20 years ago, he assumed the role of general manager and continues as the chief operating officer and PGA executive golf professional.

Richard Hardy also helped open the course in 1996 as the Club’s original assistant pro and, since 2002 he has been the head golf pro and an integral part of McKenzie Meadows success.

Focused and detail-driven Wade Bishop has served as MMGC’s course superintendent for the past 20 years, constantly working to improve and maintain the course, it’s two grass tee driving ranges, three practice greens with bunkers. He prides himself on conditions that rival any private golf club in Calgary. Wade expressed this directly when asked about his turf team’s goals: “I love it when private club members come to the club and say, ‘ Wow these greens are better than ours’.” Paul McGowan, Red Seal chef and hospitality expert, was the Club’s chef in the early 2000s, moved to other clubs in the area for private and public golf club experience before returning to MMGC where he has been the acclaimed food and beverage manager for more than 13 years. Paul is very confident in his team’s ability to deliver great food and service to daily golfers or to groups of 100+ in their event centre.

Orban always wanted to bring private club conditions and service to the public golfer. The owners concurred. Today, together with the MMGC management team, and the carefully trained staff strive for excellence in each of their departments and continuing to earn the superb McKenzie Meadows reputation.

He is both proud and positive about the McKenzie Meadows popularity and adds with enthusiasm that “for many, golf is recreation but it’s also a game that becomes a sport very quickly. The golf bug is real,” he flashed a warm grin. “All levels can play together at McKenzie, and the more they play, the more they want to play. Walking the beauty McKenzie Meadows and playing such a fun course. People often get bitten by the golf bug here.”

Getting ready for the 2021 MMGC season hasn’t left much time to plan for the special McKenzie Meadows 25th anniversary. “We are considering an event to celebrate the staff and volunteers who were such a huge help during the 2013 flood,” Orban says. “The golf course was devastated. And a lot of people helped us recover extraordinarily quickly, allowing us to open the following year.”

It speaks volumes that much of the same ownership group which planned and opened McKenzie Meadows 25 years ago is still involved. “It’s so special and so straightforward,” Scott Orban says with a passion. “It’s about treating people right, so they can golf with a smile!”

Golf...with a smile

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