Golfer’s Product Guide

An award-winning public golf course with all the amenities of a private club

• 36 picturesque holes • Practice greens, driving range, carts and club rentals

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-Golf Digest

“Brian Silva, Architect of the Year.”

-Golf World Magazine

...Now with Tee Times Available Online!

1000 Freeman’s Way Brewster, MA 02631 Toll-Free: 877-843-9081

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www.GolfingMagazineOnline.com 25

By Gene Mulak

What was once solely utilized to prevent a snowplow from destroying a mailbox during the winter can now be found in almost every PGA Tour player’s bag.

What I will refer to as an “alignment rod” can be purchased for very little money at any hardware store. These rods can be very useful when working on your game. I have pictured five alignment rods that when set up in place, can work several parts of the swing that if executed properly will produce shots that are hit higher, fly straighter and will find the sweet spot on your clubface on a more regular basis. As you can see, the five alignment rods are all on or stuck in the ground. Each rod serves a specific purpose.

The first rod is located on the ground, along my toe line. This is a commonly used tool to help players with their alignment. The rod is used by almost every player on the PGA Tour. The rod should be aligned parallel to your target. This will aid in making your swing not shift during the strike of the golf ball.

The second and third rods are forming a letter “V”. These are put into the ground on an angle which will help form an arc for the golfer to swing on. The most efficient golf swings form a concentric circle, with very little shifting to the swing plane. Moving the club around on the backswing, like a football player kicking a field goal, then returning the club back to the ball where the club will be moving slightly in-to-out and not in jeopardy of looping or “coming over the top” in the downstroke. As the club moves into the forward swing, most players that would hook and push the ball will hit out excessively, causing these results depending upon the clubface. The front side of the “V” will ensure that this does not happen, and the club will swing around the corner and form an arc.

The fourth and fifth rods serve what may be the most important part of a great swing. The rod that would be put next to the golfer’s trail foot will ensure the golfer is turning his or her hips going back and not sliding. If the golfer slides his or her hips back, he or she will move the club low behind the ball. This will cause contact issues! This is probably the most common fault among amateur golfers. The center of the pelvis should not move back. If the golfer bumps the alignment rod in the backswing, this will provide instant feedback.

The fifth rod will serve as the opposite of the fourth rod at the back side of the swing. On the down swing, not only does a good swing have a hip turn but it will have a hip slide. The idea of moving the hips linear is very foreign to most golfers. If a player only produces a rotary action, they will never get all their weight to the front side of the swing. A golfers’ goal should be to bump his or her lead hip into the alignment rod that is in the ground on the front side of their swing. Again, this simple alignment rod will produce instant feedback for the golfer.

Gene Mulak is the Director of Golf at Silver Spring Country Club in Ridgefield, CT . Gene is a certified Stack & Tilt instructor. He can be reached at (774) 406-1549 or Golf@SilverSpringCountryCC.org

Breaking 100 is monumental! There are many types of shots that will contribute to scoring that first 99 (or better) score. The quickest way to get the job done is to focus your attention on PUTTING. Do the math! What if you had 2 putts (or less) on each hole? That’s a max of 36 for your 18 hole score. That leaves 63 shots over those 18 holes for the rest of your shots. That’s a lot!! So, let’s fix your putting.

There are two elements that you must pay attention to when you putt: direction and distance. Direction is certainly important. But you will attain your goal of breaking 100 faster if you commit to learning how to control the distance your ball travels. Learn to put proper PACE on the ball by becoming “speed focused”. To do that you’ll need to deliver your ball to the hole with a certain “arrival” speed. Think of your ball arriving at the hole with only 2 to 3 revolutions remaining before it comes to rest. That dying speed makes the ball more likely to fall DOWN into the hole. And if it doesn’t go in, it still guarantees an easy tap in for ALL your second putts.

Get the feel of appropriate PACE by rolling balls with your hand to holes of different lengths on a practice putting green. In the beginning you might have a ball roll too far or too short. This is how your computer (your brain!) calculates what works and is the start of establishing “feel”. Adjust your “umph” until the ball runs out of speed just beyond the hole ONLY by 2-3 ball revolutions. Notice that your hand is depending on the information being gathered by your eyes. Experiencing the energy needed for that pace translates exactly to the energy you’ll need when your putter is in your hand. Start with a 10 foot putt. Once you’re set up, turn your eyes to the hole and LEAVE them there. Feels scary but roll putts while looking at the hole! You’ll probably experience hitting too far. No worries. Keep looking and adjusting so you literally see the amount of roll you produce in real time. Then adjust until your ball stops within 2-3 revolutions of the hole. You could putt like this, looking at the hole. Alternatively, build a dedicated LONG “last look” at your target, 2-3 seconds, into your pre-shot routine before returning your eyes to the ball to make your stroke. That will create that needed communication between your eyes and the rest of you! You’ll be on your way to becoming a member of the double-digit club. Next goal: breaking 90.

Sue Kaffenburgh, PGA/LPGA

Bayberry Hills Golf Course, Yarmouth, MA. www.GolfLessonsCapeCod.com SusiePGA@comcast.net 508-364-GOLF (4653)

Make Short Game Practice Focused

By George Connor

Practicing the short game can be boring for a lot of people. Here is a great game that I like my players to use in order to remain focused during a short game session. Rather than chipping over and over to the same hole, play this game, keep score and always try to improve your best result.

Pick a hole and chip one ball into each of the four quadrants surrounding the hole. So, it’s one ball each that finishes: Past the hole and right; Past the hole and left; Short of the hole and right; Short of the hole and left.

Keep track of how many shots it takes you to get one ball in each quadrant. Now, go make the putts! Knowing that you have to make the putts will prevent you from “cheating” by hitting a chip shot very long and very right as an example. A perfect score would be 8. Practice this drill a few times per week in order to improve your ability to focus, chip into a defined area and make those short putts that will save par.

I also like players to think of which quadrant they want a ball to finish in while they are playing. If a hole is cut on a severe slope there will be one quadrant that is better than the other three. For most right handed players, the easiest putt is uphill with a little amount of right to left break. Rather than just aggressively chipping the ball as you try to make it, or haphazardly chipping the ball towards the general vicinity of the hole, pick a specific spot in the preferred quadrant. Not only will this give you an easier putt, you will be more invested in the shot. Planning the shot out this way will let you visualize the chip. As a result you will tend to hit more precise chips. George Connor is the Head Golf Instructor at Farmington Woods Country Club in Avon, CT. 860-830-6969 or George@ConnorGolf.com

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Golfing Magazine • New England Edition

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