GOLF Q&A

Ask the Exper t

BY PAUL LEAHY

There are more than a dozen golf courses at Lake of the Ozarks. GETTY IMAGES

I am having a lot of trouble hitting my short pitch shots around the greens fat. How can I improve my chipping?

Laura P., Montreal

This is a common problem for a lot of players. My assumption is you are attempting to help the ball get in the air which causes you to hit behind the ball. The next time you set up for a short pitch or chip, position the ball slightly behind the middle of your stance. Open your front foot to allow your chest to also be slightly open and pointed toward your intended target. Put about 60 to 70 percent of your weight on your lead foot and swing the club on your intended target line going back. Be careful not to swing it to the inside.

Go ahead and make some short pitch shots with your weight remaining on your lead foot throughout, as this will promote clean contact with the ball. Try to allow the club to get the ball airborne by turning your chest to the target on your follow through. If your weight goes to your back foot during the shot, you will continue to have an issue making clean contact with the ball.

Which course or courses at the Lake of the Ozarks would be best for a beginner?

Brandon A., Rocky Mount

All the courses at the Lake of the Ozarks have tees designed for beginner golfers, which will shorten the total yardage of the course to accommodate all skill levels. The other things I would consider is to find a course that is as flat as possible, as hitting the golf ball from uneven lies is extremely challenging. On the driving range you are practicing from a relatively flat lie so finding a course to replicate these conditions will make your transition from the range to the course more enjoyable. Taking these elements into consideration your most beginner-friendly facilities are Lake Valley Country Club, Rolling Hills Country Club, Redfield Golf Club and Eldon Golf Club. These facilities don’t have some of the dramatic elevation changes that some of the others have that make them challenging because of all the uneven lies.

When I go out to practice, what tips could you give me so I can get the most out of my practice time as I am limited on how much I can get out?

Jack D., Jefferson City

This is a great question and most golfers don’t think enough about their practice habits. First, I would try to plan an hour if possible of dedicated practice time. Try to find a spot where there is as little interruption as possible and start by stretching and preparing your body. You hit more full shots on the driving range than you do on the course most days so you need to prepare by stretching and conditioning your muscles.

Always have a plan as to what you are going to work on. I would recommend always practicing with a club or alignment stick laid on the ground to assure that you are aligned properly and hitting your shots at your intended target. Don’t just drag balls over and hit, not knowing where you are actually aiming. Have fun with your practice time. Play 18 holes on the range at your favorite course. Pretend you’re teeing off on the first hole, use the club you would hit off the tee and play each hole visualizing the shot you want to hit. This will slow down your ball hitting and help you prepare to play the next round of golf. Just don’t poor your bucket out and hit 60 drives, you won’t accomplish much and will probably create bad habits as you will get tired.

I would spend half your practice time on shots under 100 yards and putting, as this area of the game equates to more shots on the course than any other area. Use your time wisely and I know it will lower your scores and help you enjoy the game more.

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

American Ethanol in the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout.

BREAKING RECORDS

AMERICAN ETHANOL EYEING 7TH TOP GUN TROPHY

STORY BY CHARIS PATIRES | PHOTOGRAPHY BY GEORGE DENNY

They are one of the most beloved racing teams at the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout … and they come to win. American Ethanol spends all year preparing for the race with one goal in mind — to go faster.

Owend by Don Onken, American Ethanol has racked up six consecutive Top Gun trophies (2015-2020). The fastest speed clocked was 217 miles per hour. He’s outnumbered by world-champion racer Dave Scott who holds the record for number of Top Gun wins at eight, five of them consecutive. Scott has since retired from racing making it possible for Don to eventually outpace him with the number of Top Guns.

“Our plan is always to go faster,” Don said. “We are working on new engine combinations and are currently on version four. We are hoping for more horsepower with more reliability.”

Every August, offshore powerboats from all over the world come to race in the Shootout. Teams compete to clock the fastest speed in their class, earning the Top Gun trophy.

As soon as the Shootout is over, the crew for American Ethanol starts to plan for the next year — pulling the engines and seeing what needs worked on.

“We spend the next year replacing parts, making changes, and doing lots and lots of testing on the dyno,” Don said. “We enjoy the challenge. We are constantly brainstorming, solving problems, and making changes to try to create a boat and engine combination that will provide the results we want to see.”

To get American Ethanol in top-notch racing condition, in addition to Don two full-time employees, Earl Moorman, crew chief, and Dave Bernshausen, work all year to get the engines and boat ready. Several volunteers and family members help out when they can. This year they’ve enlisted the help of ProCharger to provide expertise on the 2,500+ horsepower Mercury motors that are supercharged by ProChargers.

Of course, none of it would be possible without driver and mechanic, Tony Battiato, and throttleman and Mystic Powerboats owner, John Cosker.

“We always have a lot of goals but an important one this year is to try to make three runs down the course,” Don said. “With the high horsepower our engines produce, it can be difficult to have all components hold up for multiple runs. We love that fans come to watch us, so we strive to put on a good show for them.”

Don has been involved in the Shootout since the beginning when he ran a 302 Formula at the second Shootout at Shooters 21. His history in racing began in 1956 with drag racing and evolved into offshore powerboat racing in the 90s. In 1997, Don crashed during a race and the decision was made to focus on the Shootout, a safer alternative to boat racing.

“For us, the Shootout is a family event. We enjoy getting our family and close friends together, and spending the week preparing for and running in the Shootout,” Don said. “We also really enjoy the fans. We have had fans tell us they are at the Shootout just to see our boat run, and that is really special to us.”

With more than 20 patents to his name, Don’s greatest asset is his innovative thinking. He believes that it isn’t good enough to be a success; he wants to do it in a way that no one else has thought of. Don is the owner of Onken’s Incorporated, a manufacturer of steel containers used in grease and oil recycling and storage, Onken’s American Recyclers, a glass recycling start up, and previous owner of Oil Filter Recyclers, Inc, the largest oil filter recycler in the United States.

Don and his wife of 57 years, Bonnie, have had a Lake home since the mid-90s. They reside in Easton, Ill. The couple has two sons, JR and JD (Amy), and four grandchildren.

American Ethanol with the Top Gun Trophy.

American Ethanol docked before a race.