The wisdom of Harvey Penick…

In 1995, Ben Crenshaw, PGA Tour player, sank a putt on the last hole of a golf tournament for a one-shot victory. A er his putt dropped in the hole, he buried his face in his hands and cried like a baby while in the arms of his caddie. I remember the scene like it was yesterday. And yes, I also shed a few tears because Ben’s great friend, mentor and teacher, Harvey Penick had passed away almost exactly one week before. Oh, by the way, the tournament he won was the Masters. It was almost as if Crenshaw was telling every golfer and every lover of the game that this was his memorial…his legacy…to Mr. Penick and he was giving thanks to, “the greatest golf teacher of all time”.

Harvey Penick’s life in golf began when he started caddying at the Austin Country Club in Austin, Texas at the tender age of eight. Over the next 80 plus years, he delighted the members of the club with his “insights, into golf and life”. In 1992, at the age of eighty-seven, he decided to write a book about his insights. He called it, Harvey Penick’s Little Red Book. He wrote a total of six books, all “Best Sellers” and lled with his thoughts, stories, and golf advise that has stood the test of time. e Wisdom of Harvey Penick, his last book, contains a treasure of personal photos from the “most beloved teacher in all of golf”.

“ is book is written not only to help all golfers with their own games but to help club pros and teachers with their teaching”….

Harvey Penick, Austin Country Club, Austin,Texas, 1992

Following is a series of excerpts from his book: My Little Red Book… An old pro told me that originality does not consist of saying what has never been said before; it consists of saying what you have to say that you know to be the truth.

Golf Medicine… When I ask you to take an aspirin, please don’t take the whole bottle. In the golf swing a tiny change can make a huge di erence. e natural inclination is to begin to overdo the tiny change that had brought success, so you exaggerate in an e ort to improve even more, and soon you are lost and confused again. Lessons are not to take the place of practice but to make practice worthwhile.

Looking Up… Looking up is the biggest alibi invented to explain a terrible shot. By the time you look up, you’ve already made the mistake that caused the bad shot. When I tell a student to keep their eye on the ball, it is usually to give them something to think about that won’t do any harm.

Hand Position… I like to see the hands toward the inside of your le thigh (for right handed golfers) on every shot except the driver. With the

Share driver, I like to see your hands at your zipper. If this moves them slightly behind the ball at address, that is ne. It encourages hitting on the upswing. e Sexes… No pretty women can miss a single shot without a man giving her some poor advice. A husband should never try to teach his wife how to play golf or drive a car. A wife should never try to teach her husband how to play bridge. e Basic Shot…Learn one basic shot that you can hit under pressure and stick with it. If you have a good basic shot, you will rarely ever have to hit a fancy one.

Do You Need Help? If you play poorly one day… forget it! If you play poorly the next time out, review your grip, stance, aim, and ball position . Most mistakes are made before the club is swung. If you play poorly for a third time in a row… go see your Golf Professional.

A Very Bad Habit… Watching the club head go back as you start your swing will probably ruin any chance of hitting a good shot. Anything you do wrong taking the club head back is not s bad as watching it. It is amazing how many golfers get into this bad habit.

Kids and Carts… In my opinion, no young player can develop their game to its highest potential if they ride around the course on a golf cart.

An Irony… In golf your strengths and weaknesses will always be there. If you could improve your weaknesses, you would improve your game. e irony is that people prefer to practice their strengths.

Children… I don’t try to teach golf to children. What they need is someone who will guide their learning. Let them play, then help them when they want you to, or when you see something that demands a teacher’s attention.

When To O er Advice To Your Spouse… milestone celebrations!

Only when they ask!

Google Harvey Penick. You will feel a wonderful connection to this truly remarkable golf teacher and life coach.

NOTICE - Parents of students attending Non Public School

Pursuant to Section 3635 Education Law:

Residents of the Cazenovia Central School District - it is necessary to request transportation to NON PUBLIC SCHOOLS each school year. The request is to be in writing by April 1, 2023, to the Cazenovia Central School District, for the 2023-2024 school year.

The request must include the full name of the student, the residence address, including street or road name and house number, date of birth of the student, grade level of the student, name of the school to which attendance is requested. Most non public schools provide forms for this purpose.

Requests should be mailed directly to the Cazenovia Central School District, Transportation Department, 31 Emory Avenue, Cazenovia, NY 13035 post marked by April 1, 2023.

Cazenovia Central School District

Karen Cowherd

Transportation Supervisor

Email: kcowherd@caz.cnyric.org

Phone: 315-655-1326 Fax: 315-655-1368