Lehman, Gogel share their experience

By Eric Morken Alexandria Echo Press

Tom Lehman had an opportunity to play a tournament in Europe during the first week of August, but it was not that tough of a decision to turn that opportunity down.

The Resorters match-play tournament on his home course at the Alexandria Golf Club has held special meaning to Lehman since he was a young kid. The longtime PGA Tour and Champions Tour contender has made it a point to be in Alexandria for the Resorters as his sons, Thomas and Sean, have played over the last decade.

Being around the club and seeing familiar faces makes this week special for the Lehman family. It was an opportunity he couldn’t miss as the Resorters celebrates the 100th playing of this event from Aug. 1-7.

“It’s a big week. The 100th anniversary is a big deal,” Lehman said. “It’s been 100 straight years on the same course. That’s a remarkable feat. It’s a big deal to our club, and it’s a big deal to me and our family. Just to be here and be a part of it is way more important to me than playing in some tournament in Europe.”

Lehman, a former Player of the Year on all three tours under the PGA, helped kick off that centennial celebration on Saturday as he joined fellow PGA veteran and current Champions Tour player Matt Gogel in hosting a clinic for members on the AGC driving range.

Gogel’s ties to the area and membership at AGC stem from his wife, Blair, and her family connections to Alexandria. The couple lives much of the year in Kansas City, but has a summer home on Lake Miltona.

“My wife has been coming here for 51 years,” Gogel said.

“Her parents and grandparents have been coming up since the 20s, so 100 years. (Friday) night at dinner, we found out that her grandmother has been coming to Lake Geneva. We love it up here...the lakes, the people, everyone is so nice.”

“Find what you do well and perfect it”

Those who come to a golf clinic with two players who have competed at the highest level might have expected a complex dive into the mechanics of the game. Maybe answers to what makes for the perfect swing.

But analyzing down to the tiniest details is not what has led Gogel and Lehman to success in their careers, so that wasn’t their message. Both led off the clinic with a similar point – don’t try to be someone else, and keep the game simple.

“My drills were just trying to keep the club face square at impact,” Gogel said. “Tom was talking about just five clubs you need to worry about. Driving the ball, chipping, putting and wedges. I just try to keep it simple so more people can keep playing this great game.”

Lehman’s philosophy has long been to find what you do well as a golfer and try to perfect that. No two people have the exact same swing. He spends most of his practice time now chipping and putting, and his message to young players at the clinic included the importance of trying to master the driver, the wedges on shots 100 yards and in and putting.

With technology in equipment and the club speed players generate in today’s game to get distance off the tee, those three parts of the game are as vital as ever.

Lehman called up his oldest son, Thomas (a young pro himself), to demonstrate as Thomas drove the ball well over 300 yards. That’s a wedge or an easy iron shot into the green then on a lot of holes.

“I just try to tell people what I know,” Lehman said. “What I know is what I share and that’s you do want to keep it simple. There are other approaches. Some people are way more analytical, way more complex than me, but for me that would be a big mistake. I’m more of a feel guy and keep it simple is always the best. The biggest thing is find what you do well and perfect it. That’s really my ultimate mantra. Whatever it is you do well, find what that is and perfect it.”

EXPERIENCE: Page 5

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