ASK THE EXPERT

BY PAUL LEAHY

IS A RANGE LESSON OR A PLAYING LESSON BEST FOR MY GAME? Jim C., Camdenton

This is a great question and the answer depends on your game. If you are just learning the game the range is probably the best place to start. Work on your fundamentals, get comfortable with making solid contact consistently, and then try to take your game to the course.

If you have been playing for some time and are looking to improve your scoring, then a playing lesson may be exactly what is needed. A playing lesson lets a golf professional see where you are losing strokes to better understand how to help you improve. A playing lesson highlights your flaws as there is no consequence to hitting a poor shot on the range. A great format to use during your playing lesson or when working on your game individually is called the two-ball drill. Hit two shots off the tee and select the best one. Hit two second shots and select the best one, and so on. The idea is to see how well you could score if you actually focused properly on each shot. You will be amazed how well you can score doing this and it will breed confidence and give you something to focus on the next time you play only one ball. Either way lessons are a great way to build confidence and enjoy the game more.

SHOULD I FOCUS MORE ON HOW MY SWING LOOKS OR HOW IT WORKS? Evan H., Lake Ozark

If you’re looking for style points, most definitely focus on how you look swinging the club. If you are looking to improve your score, concentrate and focus on how it works. Some of the best players in the world have very different looking swings.

Look at Jim Furyk, Bubba Watson, and even Dustin Johnson, and you would not say they were the picture you envision what a golf swing should look like. All have had tremendous success but I don’t see many trying to emulate their technique.

We all have individual swing characteristics based on our instincts, physiologies and physical abilities. The best players develop the ability to put the ball on the clubface with accuracy and consistency. Focus on this and not how it may look to others, and you will find yourself having greater success shooting low scores.

Paul Leahy is a PGA Golf Professional and the Director of Golf at The Oaks at Margaritaville Lake Resort.

WILL SINGLE RIDER CARTS EVER BECOME THE NORM EVEN AFTER THE CONCERNS OF COVID 19 SUBSIDES? Hank E., Russellville

The use of single carts has certainly taken on a new meaning in 2020 with social distancing mandates and concerns. From a players standpoint the benefits of having your own cart are numerous. Speed of play, convenience, ability to play your own music, never having to go to another’s ball are just a few. Golfers are really enjoying being able to have their own cart.

What will prevent this from becoming the norm is obvious to most. Wear and tear on the course, cost for additional gas or electricity to run the carts, and probably the biggest reason is availability. Most facilities if not all build their storage facility for the amount of the carts they will need to operate. For a normal 18 hole facility that would be between 72 and 75 carts to accommodate 144 players. If single rider carts become the norm, golf facilities could only accommodate half the number of players on the course at one time, severely limiting the revenue that can be generated. Adding additional carts to their fleet is costly and storage will be an issue.

For these reasons it will be extremely difficult for the majority of golf courses to operate allowing individuals the option to take their own cart without passing the cost on to the consumer.

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