Know Your Game

One of the things that I talked about with Lynn in regards to this area of the forum is what can we do to get golfer's to start thinking about how to PLAY better, not just make the perfect golf swing. As Homer always said "happy golfing".

I wrote an article for The Georgia Junior Golf Foundation last year and I think it has some great ideas for all golfers. I have attached the link here:

http://www.gjgf.org/GJGF_issue08.pdf

My article appears on pages 24-25. Matt Peterson, my new boss at UGA Golf Course and current Player of the Year in the Georgia Section, has a great article as well on pages 18-19.

I hope that these articles help you out and I look forward to your comments and questions.

Thanks Jeff. I feel that over the past few years that all my time is spent on actually perfecting the swing rather than playing it which I think has lead to a slight de motivation and falling out with the game.
Will have a read at the articles and post questions.
Alex

Thanks for the link Jeff, I read the article with interest and have printed it off for myself.

I have also ordered the red zone book you recommend.

Originally Posted by golfgnome One of the things that I talked about with Lynn in regards to this area of the forum is what can we do to get golfer's to start thinking about how to PLAY better, not just make the perfect golf swing. As Homer always said "happy golfing".

I wrote an article for The Georgia Junior Golf Foundation last year and I think it has some great ideas for all golfers. I have attached the link here:

http://www.gjgf.org/GJGF_issue08.pdf

My article appears on pages 24-25. Matt Peterson, my new boss at UGA Golf Course and current Player of the Year in the Georgia Section, has a great article as well on pages 18-19.

I hope that these articles help you out and I look forward to your comments and questions.

Great article. My goal is to bust through another scoring barrier this year (popped one last year), and I'm going to try what I saw in this article to see if it works for me. I'm especially curious about trying the rounds from the forward tees.

Thank you for the link, Jeff.
Great stuff as usual.

UPP in freezing but sunny Ohio

I have a question, Jeff, in regards to having your students play the forward tees until they break par. If you have someone (like me) who is a few scoring barriers away from par, what progression would you suggest?

For instance, my next barrier is 90. If I break 90 from the red tees, do I:

A) Move back to the next tee, and break 90 there, and keep changing tees until I've broken 90 from all of them, followed by breaking 80 at the reds and so on?

or

B) Do I stay at the front tees until I break par, and then progressively work to break par at each successive tee?

Upon writing this, option A seems to make more sense (gut feeling). But I'd definitely like to get your feedback.

Last year was encouraging as I made a big leap not only in scoring, but in beginning to understand what works for my particular swing. So I'm really looking forward to this year.

Thanks

Jeff, the red zone book arrived and I have to say that from the off I like what I see.

I have previously read Pelz and Rotella who also advocate determining a short game handicap and this seems to support that and give good tests to arrive at said short game handicap.

I will stick with alignment golf for the instruction side of things but I can endorse this book with the short read I've had of it.

The short game facilities in my vicinity are pretty poor, what do you suggest?

Bump .

Jeff,

Thank you for posting the link to the Georgia Junior Golf Foundation Magazine.
Your article and Matt's are great reads and although they seem like "common sense" at times.A lot can be gained by what you've suggested. I was also very impressed by the coach's section and the magazine as a whole.

Thanks again for the link. Sick 'em Dawgs!

B-Ray

Originally Posted by GPStyles
The short game facilities in my vicinity are pretty poor, what do you suggest?

Any suggestions Jeff?

Thanks

Originally Posted by GPStyles Any suggestions Jeff?

Thanks

In regards to "The Red Zone", you really need to have real "game time" type environments. In the absence of quality short game practice areas I would recommend some of the other drills they offer in the book, specifically those which can be done indoors.

I also like to go out with small soccer cones and place them at 5 yard increments and plactice trying to "fly" them into the cones with different clubs and trajectories. In the end you must control trajectory and roll around the greens so this helps satisfy at least one area.

You can also use laundry baskets with a towel in the bottom and try to land them in the basket.

Putting can easily be done indoors.

I hope this helps a little. I am fortunate to have always had decent facilities to practice at.

Originally Posted by Bigwill I have a question, Jeff, in regards to having your students play the forward tees until they break par. If you have someone (like me) who is a few scoring barriers away from par, what progression would you suggest?

For instance, my next barrier is 90. If I break 90 from the red tees, do I:

A) Move back to the next tee, and break 90 there, and keep changing tees until I've broken 90 from all of them, followed by breaking 80 at the reds and so on?

or

B) Do I stay at the front tees until I break par, and then progressively work to break par at each successive tee?

Upon writing this, option A seems to make more sense (gut feeling). But I'd definitely like to get your feedback.

Last year was encouraging as I made a big leap not only in scoring, but in beginning to understand what works for my particular swing. So I'm really looking forward to this year.

Thanks

Sorry for the delay in responding, I have been trying to get caught up since my weeks absence.

I like this question because it gives everyone reading some options for their own game. I would suggest option A because it gives more flexibility and more attainable goals. Break 90 from every set of tees then start over until 80 is broken. Once you break 80 you may want to start going down in 2-3 stroke increments.

Good luck in achieving your goals, we are here to help.

Originally Posted by golfgnome Sorry for the delay in responding, I have been trying to get caught up since my weeks absence.

I like this question because it gives everyone reading some options for their own game. I would suggest option A because it gives more flexibility and more attainable goals. Break 90 from every set of tees then start over until 80 is broken. Once you break 80 you may want to start going down in 2-3 stroke increments.

Good luck in achieving your goals, we are here to help.

Don't sweat the timing. I know you don't do this all day

Thanks for the response. Just for clarification, in saying every set of tees, you mean ladies to championsip, right?


I'm kinda long, so some of the par 4's from the ladies tees end being par threes for me (224, 225, 193 and 203) . Do I:

A)Play it as the yardage presents itself(long or mid iron to the front or middle of green on the tee shot), or:

B) Do I still play it like a super short par four, playing for placement on the tee shot (requiring me to hit 2 quality shots into the green instead of 1)?

Thanks. Hope I don't sound completely clueless . I'm really looking forward to utilizing this method, as well as this forum. Keep em coming, Jeff.

Originally Posted by Bigwill Don't sweat the timing. I know you don't do this all day

Thanks for the response. Just for clarification, in saying every set of tees, you mean ladies to championsip, right?


I'm kinda long, so some of the par 4's from the ladies tees end being par threes for me (224, 225, 193 and 203) . Do I:

A)Play it as the yardage presents itself(long or mid iron to the front or middle of green on the tee shot), or:

B) Do I still play it like a super short par four, playing for placement on the tee shot (requiring me to hit 2 quality shots into the green instead of 1)?

Thanks. Hope I don't sound completely clueless . I'm really looking forward to utilizing this method, as well as this forum. Keep em coming, Jeff.

You can choose whatever method you want, the key is that you set a goal, achieve it, then move on. Playing for position is a great way to learn because it teaches you a different way to play than just "grip it and rip it".

Thanks for the link to your article, Jeff. I coach h.s. golf and will send it to my players. Excellent info.
Regards.
JerryG