2010 U.S. SENIOR OPEN: DAILY TICKETS NOW ON SALE

Daily tickets for the 31st U.S. Senior Open, to be held July 26-August 1, 2010 at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, WA, are now on sale.  

A limited number of daily tickets are available for both championship and practice rounds.  Championship Round tickets (Thursday - Sunday) are available for $45 per day.  Practice Round tickets (Monday - Wednesday) are available for $20 per day.  Daily tickets provide access to the championship grounds and include complimentary parking and shuttle transportation to the main admission gate. 

“The support from the local community has been outstanding.  Our ticket sales are tracking 25% ahead of past U.S. Senior Opens which could yield record setting crowds.” said Chris Falco, Championship General Chairman.  “With the addition of daily tickets, we have options that can meet every budget and hope everyone has a chance to experience championship golf at Sahalee.” 

Additional ticket options are also still available, including the Fore Pack, Championship Weekly ticket, and the upgraded Trophy Club Weekly ticket. The Fore Pack includes four (4) good-any-one-day championship tickets and a commemorative program.  This is the most flexible option, allowing for tickets to be divided up throughout the week or used all on the same day.  The Fore Pack is priced at $135, but has a value of $185. 

The Championship Weekly ticket provides access to the championship grounds and includes seven (7) individual tickets, one for each day of the championship (Monday - Sunday).  A commemorative championship program is also provided free of charge.  The Championship Weekly ticket is priced at $150. 

Trophy Club Weekly tickets provides an upgraded experience, including entry to  an up-scale, on-course, climate-controlled hospitality pavilion as well as grounds access.  The Trophy Club is located adjacent to the 18^th fairway and has premium food and beverage available for purchase.  Each Trophy Club ticket includes seven (7) individual tickets, one for each day of the championship (Monday - Sunday) and a commemorative championship program.  The Trophy Club ticket is priced at $250 and quantities are limited. 

Throughout the week of the championship, kids 17 and under receive free admission when accompanied by a ticketed adult.  Kids also receive front-row seating in all on-course grandstands.  Daily capacity on the golf course is limited to 30,000 individuals to enable all spectators the opportunity to experience the championship up close.  All tickets include free parking and free shuttle transportation to the admission gate.

Tickets for the 2010 U.S. Senior Open are available online at www.2010ussenioropen.com, in store at all Fred Meyer locations, or by phone at 877-281-OPEN.

You Can’t Always Get What You Want, But You Can Get What You Need

Bob Duncan

In golf, what you want and what you’re going to get are usually two different things! 

This may apply even more significantly to women in golf than men.  Why?  Because golf has traditionally been taught from a men’s standpoint:  Here’s a club…Now let’s improve your address position, create the proper angles in the knees and hips, turn your shoulders, keep your head down, swing easy, and extend through the ball. 

 

After 30 years of teaching golf, I can hardly find anyone who can actually fit that model and make it work.  And with less athletic experience growing up, women are often caught in a communications trap.  What do all those things mean?  And are they effective?

 

For starters, though not all men have been properly fit for clubs, the number of women properly fit is far lower.  And, the less accomplished you are, the more a proper clubfitting helps!  Just as you wouldn’t ski with boots that don’t fit nor would you buy shoes that don’t fit, you shouldn’t buy or use clubs that don’t fit. 

 

Read:  Clubs that don’t fit are not effective!  Proper fitting is often the most effective thing a pro or teacher can do.  Here’s the rub, if the Player can’t hit a club effectively, maybe it doesn’t fit!

 

But, going a step further, as golf instructors we would be better off adopting a Coaching philosophy rather than a Teaching philosophy.  Teaching often requires adherence to a model in which drills are aimed at eventual learning.  In coaching, it’s the PLAYER’S input, experience, and abilities that drive the COACH. 

 

Read : A Coach learns about the Player’s knowledge and experience, and uses the Player’s terms and phrases.  If the Player already knows how to do something- or already has a successful way to do it-then the Coach need not teach it!  “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” is an adage I like to abide by.   It’s the Coach’s job to make you a better Player, not to make you into a machine that constantly needs readjustment due to failure.

 

So, while a swing model is a great tool for a pro to have, it’s a tool to work FROM and not a diagram that requires complete adherence. 

 

This is potentially even more important with women based on the original premise that golf been taught from a man’s perspective.  As Golf Professionals, we need to enhance and improve upon the experiences and abilities of the Player in front of us, and not overly use terminology, diagrams, and drills that may not be effective for that Player.

 

Women often benefit even more by going to different locations on the course and learning about what actually happens, instead of what you want to have happen.  It’s not effective to teach someone that performance is solely due to making the perfect golf swing only to then watch them fail on a downhill lie.  Or in a fairway bunker.  Or on a side-hill lie.  These all suggest they need modifications to the original ‘Model’ golf swing.

 

Read :  On a tee, the ball is at the mercy of the swing and the club.  On the ground (it’s only on a tee 18 times a round) the swing and club are at the mercy of the lie. 

 

However, many teachers still teach a model that few can fit, one that stems from the premise that perfect is solid and straight, and apply a ‘faults and fixes’ theme to alternative performance.  If the ball isn’t on flat ground with a perfect, ‘fluffed-up’ lie, then it probably shouldn’t go straight - that’s alternative.  And, if it’s not on a perfect lie, these alternative results are actually predictable!

 

For a right-handed Player, if the ball is on a side-hill above your feet it should go left.  Below your feet it should go right.  But when you use that perfect driving range swing, you’re set up to fail.  Instead, learning how to play these lies makes your game more predictable.

 

We need to consider more effective game-playing techniques and strategies because we all know that the perfect swing will fail at the most unexpected time.  We need to enhance and improve the abilities and experiences of the Player we are coaching.  And, we need to work with Players on the course - after all, if I never saw you play,   how would I know what to teach you? 

 

These are principles that make the game of golf easier.  Yes, that’s right - easier!  It requires far more ‘mental toughness’ and swing knowledge to adhere to a model golf swing that is built solely on the range but inexplicably fails on the course.  And, we should not force Players solely into swing models - it’s the experience of the Player that counts the most.

 

 And, really, playing golf is more fun! 

 

Bob Duncan is the Teaching Professional at Tetherow Golf Club in Bend, Oregon.  Bob has given over 8,000 hours of instruction and coaching, and has custom fit over $1.6 million in golf equipment.  Bob is an expert in on-course coaching, and typically spends 60 - 75% of his lesson time on the course at Tetherow.  You can reach Bob at golfsavvy@msn.com, visit his website at www.golfecoach.com, or visit Tetherow at www.tetherow.com.

Women, Golf Yourself First!

by Diana Del Garbino

Ladies, when it comes to our health, our fitness, our nutrition, or just taking care of ourselves, we consider ourselves last. This seems to be part of our genetic make up. I see mothers, daughters, sisters, grandmothers, and wives take care of everyone else, but when it comes to their own health, as it relates to everyday living and fitness for our favorite game, we put it at the end of the list. 

Let’s take a look at how much time we really have: There are168 hours in a week. Let’s break it down; 40 hours for a full time job, if you get 9 hours of sleep a night, that’s 63 hours a week, 10 hours for commuting, 20 hours for kids & family (during the week), if you cook, add 10 hours a week, weekend time (family, friends, & GOLF) add 20 hours. That leaves you with 5 hours extra a week. So what should you do with that extra time? 

Start by thinking about who needs to be mentally, physically and emotionally strong? That would be you! The woman of the house. As women we are the center of the universe. Everyone knows who to ask to get the answers to homework, where the keys are, and are the dishes clean or dirty?  Now that you know how important you are, why are you still putting yourself last? 

Take that five hours a week, and break it down to one hour five days a week.  You can get a lot done in those five hours!  Imagine if you dedicated 30 minutes three times a week on just your golfing muscles?  What would that look like?  Upper body mobility would give you more rotation.  Lower body strength would give you more power and stability in your stance.  Upper back workout would keep your shoulders from getting over worked and causing injuries.  Strengthening your glutes and abdominal muscles would give you a more athletic stance and keep your lower back from overworking and getting sore.  So get working those golf muscles before the kickoff of the spring season! 

Now let’s talk about nutrition. Remember the old adage “you are what you eat?”  Well, your mom was right.  If you want your body to be soft and squishy, eat more bread, pasta, and rice.  If you want to be lean and toned, eat more fruits and vegetables, lean protein; but go easy on the whole grains and breads, limit your sugar intake.  Remember what and how you eat determines not only your figure, but your mood, muscle quality and metabolism.

Ok, so now you’ve taken time out for your self.  Let’s talk about when you’re out on the links.  What are some of the challenges for women on the course? Athletic ready position (addressing the ball), means it’s ok to bend your knees and stick out your butt!!

Make a bad shot? Let it go and focus on the next opportunity for a great shot. 

Time on the course should be a challenge and leave you with a renewed sense of self-confidence and well-being.  Do you want bogies for health or birdies? Your body deserves your best effort! 

Diana Del Garbino is TPI-Certified Level 2 fitness pro in Oregon. She works out of Muscles in Motion-Professional Training Studio in Lake Oswego, where she works regularly with local LPGA & PGA Professionals.  To learn more about Diana and her golf fitness program go to www.mymusclesinmotion.com.

Teaching Golf to Juniors

by Derek Mount

I love teaching golf, but I especially love teaching golf to kids. Seeing the joy in the face of an eight year old child when they hit one pure or sink a long putt is much more satisfying than trying to turn an eight handicapper’s 10 yard draw into a 5 yard draw.  If you can get a young child interested in golf, they will benefit in countless ways.  More important than learning fundamental skills of this great game, they will learn much about life, as the parallels between golf and life are well documented. 

Children have a natural ability to swing the golf club because it is generally too heavy for them to make an incorrect motion like a reverse pivot (weight going forward on the back swing and backwards on the downswing).  This forces them to use the weight of the club head to hit the ball rather than try to force it, ingraining a keen sense of feel that will set a great foundation for the swing.  To parents, it  may seem unproductive that I don’t immediately force certain aspects of a swing, though it is for good reason.   Quite simply kids will succeed at their sport, but only after they have learned it.  Constantly trying to correct their form at this stage will cause them to tense up, foregoing the use of their natural instincts.  I believe this turns the learning process into a chore, and consequently the child will be much less likely to flourish.

Job one is being friendly to the child and never condescending.  Find common ground as quickly as possible (ask them what they like or don’t like about school, other sports, their experience with golf, etc.).  By establishing a rapport quickly, the child feels comfortable and ready to learn in a completely non-threatening environment.  I like to act goofy and try and get them to laugh at me.   This reduces any ‘intimidation’ factor.  Obviously, avoid any technical words or terms, and get down to their level by squatting down so that they can look at you face to face.

Before taking a child to the driving range, I take them right to the putting green and have them hit a few tennis balls into the hole from a very short distance.  This not only builds their confidence immediately by giving them positive feedback, but when they start hitting golf balls into the cup, the hole looks a heck of a lot bigger.  If you can teach them the short stuff first then build towards the full swing (first putting, then chipping, pitching, lofted irons, followed by less lofted irons, then woods) they will develop a wonderful feel for the game. 

There is a great drill I use for kids on the putting green. I set up a circle of tees on the green about the size of a hula-hoop, spacing the tees about 6 inches apart.  I then have them putt balls towards the ‘hula hoop’.  If they get the ball to either stop inside the circle or hit a tee, they get to choose their favorite color tee in the circle and keep it.  They keep trying this drill from different distances and then I have them chip some balls to the circle, keeping the same rules.  This is a great way to introduce the importance of distance control (which is really what golf is all about isn’t it?) and the small prize is enough to keep their attention.  The kids I’ve tried this drill with have wanted to keep doing it over and over, which is exciting because it encourages falling in love with the short game before moving on to the full swing (it’s a great drill for adults too, by the way, if you can just convince them that learning how to hit their driver can wait).

Introducing the fundamentals (grip, stance, aim, ball position, swing techniques) should happen very slowly to prevent sensory overload.  As I stated before, kids often have an innate understanding of the game that is lost on adult beginners, so they should be encouraged to find their way on their own to some degree.  This is where some parents and I differ, as often they will want me to make sure their shoulders are square at address or that they are swinging the club on a flat enough plane.  I don’t think kids under 10 or so should worry about any of this, unless they are already into competitive golf.  As they hit balls they will pick up on what works and what doesn’t and will make adjustments accordingly.  I make sure they have their hands together and are aimed in the right general direction and just have them whack away.  Contests, friendly competition with other kids, and positive reinforcement are keys to holding their attention for the lesson.  I always have a pocket full of small prizes to give away during junior lessons. 

I don’t ever tell a child they are doing something ‘wrong’.  I always, however, point out (enthusiastically) when they doing anything correctly or experience any amount of success. Words like ‘no’ and ‘don’t’ stifle the learning process and only confuse the child as they are generally unaware of what they are doing wrong even if you explain it to them. 

If you can just let the child have fun and enjoy the game rather than pushing them to succeed they will be much more likely to become a lifetime player (and, probably a better player too).  Derek ‘Jeff’ Mount is a USGTF Golf Teaching Professional who teaches at the King City Golf Course in King City, OR. He can be reached at 503-577-8807 or email djm8181@yahoo.com.

The LPGA Teaching Division: What Makes It Tick?

by Erin Szekely

 

It is pretty exciting for me when women and golf get attention at the same time.  Yes, the two do go together quite well.  Thanks to media outlets giving more and more consideration to the accomplishment of female golfers and the impressive skills that they bring to the course, women’s golf is being taken more seriously than ever.   The LGPA is a well-known organization at this point, but I want to tell you more about the LPGA  instructors. 

The Ladies Professional Golf Association is divided into two divisions: the LPGA Touring Division and the LPGA Teaching and Club Professional Division.  The LPGA has a very rich and colorful history.  As you can imagine, in the 1950’s little attention was paid to women’s sports, but in 1950 the LPGA was founded through the efforts of thirteen courageous women, including the likes of Babe Zaharias, Patty Berg, Betty Hicks, and Louise Suggs. The teaching division was founded in 1959 by Marilynn Smith, Shirley Spork, Barbara Rotvig, and Betty Hicks.  In 1960, the first LPGA National Golf School was held in Ann Arbor Michigan and “teaching teachers to teach” was born.  The LPGA is now the oldest women’s sports organization and it is with pride that I am a member.

After extensive training, I earned my place as an LGPA member in 1996.  When I began my training to be part of the Teaching and Club Professional Division,  I looked on it as an adventure and a privilege.  I felt a responsibility to the founding members to honor their efforts by giving students the best chance at success with their golf games.

Certification for the LPGA does not come easily. You must first pass a player ability test which examines your skills as a golfer. Following the ability test, a golfer vying for membership must complete educational schools where you learn how to be a top teacher.   Though golf is a sport-a kinesthetic activity-the LPGA Teaching Division curriculum includes tools to teach golf to auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learners.  Additionally, product merchandising and the art of managing golf facilities is taught to those of us in the program.   The way I looked at it was that it was an advanced degree.  It generally takes four years to complete all the requirements to become a class A professional.  All aspects of being a professional are taught, but the emphasis is on teaching.  The instructors that we have in the LPGA are second to none, and when you complete all the requirements, you can feel pretty confident that you have been given the tools to be the best professional. 

Just as a teacher in a conventional classroom can plan on being encouraged to exercise their own style and personalizing methods, the LPGA Teaching division encourages its instructors to do the same. 

You are encouraged to choose a style that fits you the best and a method that works best for your students.   I have found through a lot of research and personal experience that teaching students what to do with the golf club as opposed to what to do with their bodies is the easiest way to teach and learn the golf swing.   I learned this from the 12^th member of the Teaching Hall of Fame, Manuel de la Torre, who learned it from the 4^th member of the Teaching Hall of Fame, Ernest Jones.  Since there are only 12 members of the Teaching Hall of Fame, I think I have chosen my method wisely. 

With the knowledge that I gained from the LPGA Teaching and Club Professional curriculum and the ongoing educational credits that I am required to obtain, I feel confident that what I and other LPGA teaching pros have to offer is pretty special.  So if you are looking for an instructor, take a look at an LPGA teaching pro.  Rest assured that your game will improve and your time spent will be rewarding. 

Have fun out there and keep swinging.

Erin Szekely is an LPGA teaching professional. For more information, please visit www.golfingwitherin.com or call 425-398-0443.

Fourteen Golf To Reveal Its New MT-28 V5 Wedge

FOURTEEN GOLF, recognized worldwide amongst top touring golf professionals as one of the foremost leading wedge designers and manufacturers, introduced their new MT-28 V5 at the recently concluded PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, FL.

The new MT-28 V5 represents a long legacy of winning wedges. Its predecessor, the MT-28 V4 is known on several professional Tours as the “go to club” or the “money maker.” Its exceptional performance has positioned FOURTEEN as the wedge authority.

This classically designed wedge features the signature FOURTEEN “reverse taper design” but has been improved by adding a groove strategically located in between the club sole and blade portion of the wedge. This structural change allowed the engineers to move the CG to a higher more stabilizing position for more precise shots.

The sole of the MT-28 V5 possesses a flatter shape with a trailing edge and heel relief. This new dynamic combination allows any player to fully utilize the club’s bounce and execute pure or solid shots out of any type of rough.  

The MT-28 V5 boasts a rounded leading edge that promotes confidence at address and its clubface has been engineered so that the player can easily open or close the face. The head is manufactured with a Nickel chrome moliben alloy which conforms to the 2010 USGA club regulations. It is available in both a chrome and non-plated black finish.

In preparation for the new groove policy on the professional tours such as the PGA and LPGA, the company spent years engineering a new trapezoidal shaped groove for the MT-28 V5 Wedge. This distinctively sharp-edged trapezoidal groove also undergoes a mirror-face milling process which precisely and carefully mills each groove for optimal spin.

The professionally designed MT-28 V5 comes in a variety of lofts, a 48, 50, 52, 54, 56 (2), 58 (2) and a 60 degree. Two steel shafts, a Dynamic Golf and NS Pro 950GH are available. A proprietary rubber grips finishes these classic wedges.  

FOURTEEN GOLF in Japan established itself in 1981 as a premier golf equipment design company. The highly successful venture developed exclusive designs for Titleist, Yamaha, Srixon (formerly Dunlop Japan), Wilson, PRGR, and many more. The original team was credited with developing the first hybrid iron and the highly popular “Citation” cavity iron by Power Bilt which was one of the most popular irons of the 1980s. In the year 2000, the business transitioned into branded design and manufacturing company.  

For more information on FOURTEEN GOLF please call 949-852-8811 or visit the company website at www.fourteengolf.com.

EWGA invites women to join Seattle members on April 3

All work and no play is no fun, but combine work WITH play, add social activities and golf education, and you have the EWGA (Executive Women’s Golf Association). 

The EWGA’s Seattle Chapter is preparing for its 18^th year of bringing networking and golf to the women of Puget Sound. The season officially starts with the organization’s biggest event of the year, the annual Tee-Off brunch, to be held from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 3rd at Bear Creek Country Club in Woodinville. Women interested in learning more about the EWGA and its schedule of 2010 activities are invited to join current members for a buffet brunch, a product/service expo, a preview of the upcoming EWGA season, and a fashion show sponsored by Shi Golf.

“The Tee-Off kicks off our season of events, including weekly leagues throughout the Seattle area, weekend golf trips all over the Pacific Northwest, social events, and educational sessions for golfers of all levels,” Chapter President Dee Johnson said. “It’s a great time to meet new golf friends.” 

One lucky attendee will win a golf vacation for two to The Grand Del Mar in San Diego. This grand prize was donated by Stellar Travel, a 10-year sponsor of the EWGA Seattle Chapter.

Reservations for the brunch are $45 for members and guests and may be made online at ewgaseattle.org before March 25. For brunch attendees interested in hitting the links afterward, tee times have been arranged at the nearby Golf Club at Redmond Ridge. Online registration for the golf option is also available on the EWGA Seattle Web site, due by March 19th. 

For companies interested in promoting their businesses to career-minded women golfers, several sponsorship options are available, including vendor tables for information sharing and demonstrations prior to and following the brunch, table sponsorships, and in-kind donations. For more information regarding sponsorship, please contact Donna Becker at sponsorship@ewgaseattle.org. 

About EWGA
Since its founding in 1991 as the Executive Women’s Golf Association, the EWGA has enriched the lives of over 100,000 women, connecting them to learn, play and enjoy golf for business and for fun. This not-for-profit association delivers a wide range of golf, social and networking activities for 20,000 new and experienced golfers who belong to more than 125 local chapters throughout the United States and international chapters in Canada and France. 

The Seattle chapter is one of the largest EWGA chapters, with over 250 members. Visit www.ewgaseattle.org for more information, or contact the chapter hotline at 206-781-5813. EWGA membership is available starting at $125. The EWGA is headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. For more information about the EWGA and its membership, visit www.ewga.com.

Notes from the Golfing Newbie

by Dan Stark

Still laughing and wincing over the freezing Friday that marked my not-so-impressive first try at golf, the memorable outing will stay with me for a long time to come.  Despite my pre-game dream that I would have a record game that launched my pro career, the only record that I set was how wet and muddy I got in a single afternoon. I feel like it has taken until now to dry out.  While I am not going to discount the idea of winter golf, I have a new appreciation for proper winter golf wear and the benefit of kind-hearted golfing partner.  Sipping cocoa and cursing the cold, Cameron and I joked that it would have been “enlightening” to have my instructor Brett from GolfTEC along on our adventure to coach us through the rain-soaked course. 

 

Though my score was politely ignored by the only other soul on the course that day, I left the clubhouse knowing two things: I am totally hooked and I need more practice.  So I headed back to GolfTEC for another lesson.  As I pulled my clubs from the trunk, I spotted some souvenir mud, now dry.  I resisted the urge to dust it away.  Proof that these clubs saw more than the driving range, I was not about to obliterate this trophy.  Like a kid on show-and-tell day, I gave Brett the short 7-hole story.  While we shared a few laughs about my first game of golf, I told Brett that we missed him out there.  Brett then laughed and told me that neither Cameron nor I could convince him to play in a downpour.

On to the lesson…My warm-up felt great. I was making good contact with the ball without my typical total ball misses.   I was anxious to show Brett that I had been practicing to bring my swing path forward a bit and to keep my head from lifting. Still, I knew Brett would find some areas of improvement for me. I was pleasantly surprised when he pointed out only a few things that were just a tiny bit off in my setup. My head wasn’t entirely behind the ball, my shoulders were not square and my hands were a little too far forward. Luckily, these issues were minor enough that I conquered them in the next few shots.

 

Working our way through the rest of the swing videos, I was surprised to see that my club head was still not far enough in front of my body.  Brett had me focus on keeping my right arm long and after another set of balls my swing path had crept back into the zone (just barely).

 

Up at the top of my swing I still had my persistent problem of lifting my body out of the swing.  My swing was also a bit on the long side, resulting in a little loss of control at the top of the swing.  During the next part of my lesson Brett had me work on keeping my head still, maintaining my spine angle, keeping my body down in the shot and shortening up my swing a touch.  My shots were feeling better and better.  Previously, I had never really had a feeling that I was muscling the swing but by the end of a lesson or a range session my body would feel pretty worn down.  Brett explained that the changes in my swing were increasing the lag of my club head leading to greater swing efficiency.

 

During the next set of balls Brett went relatively silent.  Afterwards as we gathered up the balls (”Rocks” in Brett parlance), Brett told me that he does not like to disturb folks when they are in the middle of a really good thing. He also commented about how few miss-hits I was having in this lesson.

 

Back to the sensors, I was floored when a saw the numbers.  I was hitting the ball farther than I have hit it for months.  All the while I was hitting it considerably more consistently.  The really important part was that I was doing so with less effort than ever before.

 

Brett, seeing that I am making progress, had me try out my driver near the end of the lesson.  The driver (”The Big Stick”, as Brett calls it) has always made me a little nervous and rightfully so.  Add the length of the driver to my monkey long arms and no one and nothing is safe around me.

 

After surveying my surroundings, verifying that I wouldn’t destroy something in the training bay, I let it rip.  Despite my lack of practice, my driver was my most reliable club when I played Cedarcrest in Marysville.  Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case this time.  My first few hits felt and sounded bad.  Brett had me make a few minor setup adjustments and sent me swinging again.

 

The next few shots were much better. I was making good contact with the ball and the shots continued to feel smooth. By channeling the earlier parts of the lesson I kept hitting satisfying shots until we were out of time. Brett and I were both really pleased with the lesson, probably my best lesson to date. Now I’ve got to hit the range to lock in my new efficiency.

 

Thanks to GolfTEC’s amazing coaching and technology, I’ve been thinking about that magical moment when as an athlete you make the shift from hand-holding student to proficient and independent player. 

 

On my bike I have a power meter that continually monitors my training effort. While heart rate monitors were the standard years ago, power meters have taken over as they measure your actual effort rather you’re your reaction to the effort. All you need to do is take a look down at your handlebars and immediately you get a sense of how the workout is going. The power meter records a sample of data every second so that you can analyze your workout on the computer later.

 

At GolfTEC there is a wealth of information to teach us about our swing: high-speed cameras, velocity sensors and tilt meters and instructors.   But, it would be impossible to pack these things up and take them with you to the course. Out on the golf course you are all alone to make your own adjustments. 

 

Of course, as I progress in cycling, I am more in-tune and now look down at the meter less.  I still use the power meter, but depend on it less.   I suppose the same could be said for golf. I’ve gotten better at applying self-corrections yet I still feel like that hand-holder.  Certainly, there will be a day when my efforts will be rewarded with a swing that is effective and second-nature just as I have experienced in cycling.  For more information about GolfTEC, please look for their ad in March’s issue of GolfTodayNW!