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Tuesday 19 March 2013

REAL Golf is different than RANGE golf

Golf is played on a golf course. Golf lessons are regularly taken on the driving range.

These are two quite obvious statements, I am sure you would agree. Yet the more I coach, the more I am convinced this needs to be addressed.

I work with many groups of golfers and often go to the course with them to see how they are playing. From my observation, and feedback from new and experienced golfers, players often cannot take their range game to the golf course. This may be due to nerves, bad feelings and more. Something has to change. The last time I checked, the only competitive measure of a golfer is how many contacts between club and ball are made starting from the tee on No. 1 and ending up on the green on No. 18.

I have seen a number of ideas, including:
  • Simulating on the range what you want to do on the course, by creating virtual holes.
  • Trying to recreate pressure situations on the range so you feel more accustomed to this on the course.
  • Developing plenty of positive memories to look back on.
  • Creating a consistent pre-shot routine that enables you to feel as comfortable and prepared on the first tee as you do on the driving range.
These are all positive ideas, but do they equal the full story? I believe these ideas create extra noise and things that the golfer should do, and attention gets taken off the actual task at hand. If these ideas were indeed the “magic pill” that golfers are always looking for, then the top golfers would never feel nervous on the first tee. After all, they have done this many times before, have played under the most extreme pressures and have many positive memories. The feelings of nervousness may be better controlled, but I struggle to believe Tiger or Rory are not slightly nervous or fired up as they go to tee No. 1 of a major.

Here are three of the common problems I encounter and some ideas to help get it right on the course:

No. 1. — Hitting from a mat aligned to one place













Unfortunately, as soon as golfers set foot onto the golf course, they come up against all the challenges that course designers put out there to make this game more difficult. Tee boxes are not always pointed straight down the fairway unlike the often square, non-movable shape of a driving range mat. This often leads to misalignment on the course, and as a result, completely different swings to those seen on the range. Now all of a sudden, the great swing you have been developing on the range will only ever lead to shots in the wrong direction, and a new, hybrid-swing full of compensations is the only way to make the golf ball go straight.

Solutions:
  • When practicing, keep swapping targets so that you are not always just hitting shots aligned with the mat.
  • On the course, aim at a closer, intermediate target, instead of using a skewed pointing tee-box as your marker and aiming far out into the distance.
2. Having a flat lie in practice











In the first three holes of the most recent round I played, my golfers found they had just three shots played from a flat bit of ground. All of these were tee shots. The rest were a combination of uphill, downhill and sidehill lies that needed small adjustments in technique, or some understanding of how the elements will likely affect the shot at hand. If the sum total of your golf practice is on the driving range, be careful; the majority of shots you hit out on the golf course will not be as straightforward as these. This doesn’t mean you need to spend endless hours perfecting each different lie, but just to develop some awareness to feel or see the differences in terrain and know the effect these will have.

Solutions:
  • Take five golf balls and place them in different parts of the fairway with varying slopes. Think through what you want to try to do, or the effect the lie may have, before experimenting.
  • Have a mix in your practice time. It is fine to strike golf balls on the driving range/practice ground, but flat ground is just one potential lie and you will also need to have encountered the other lies you will face on the course in your practice.
3. Learning a technique, not a skill













When out on the course, I have been pleased to see how well my players did around the greens and in the bunkers. The learning that we have done together has been focused on how the club and ball interacts to produce a shot and as a result they had confidence in facing new situations on the course. Instead of learning how to play one shot, these golfers learned how to control the golf ball in different ways. Learning through guided experimentation what makes a chip shot go low/high, or land soft/roll a lot after landing, gives you the chance to build an adaptable skill-set and not be phased by situations on the course. If you just learn techniques of how to play a “chip shot” you become more rigid and different shots on the course appear a big challenge.
Solutions:
  • Throw 20 golf balls down around a practice green and then try to hit them all close to the hole. You will have to use a variety of high and low shots, probably with different clubs. Experimentation will lead to increased awareness and development of your skill-set and creativity, instead of learning of just one specific technique.
The best solution? Why not take a playing lesson with your local professional. Get them to play alongside you and:
  • Be your caddy and help with decision making for your shots.
  • Play with you and talk you through all of the things they are considering before playing a shot.
I guarantee these ideas will help you transfer your range game to the course.

This article was written by Andy Griffiths. Andy is the new coach at Oak Park Golf Club's Academy. He has an extensive background in golf coaching from all around the World already and continues to develop himself with an aim of becoming one of the leading figures in the industry.

You can find out more about Andy at www.andygriffithsgolf.com or you can call him to book a lesson on 07956500197.

Why not put Andy's advice into practice and join Oak Park Golf Club. Click here for more details or call the club on 01252 850850 ext 2 or email oakpark-sales@crown-golf.co.uk

Friday 4 January 2013

Wettest Year For England Ever!

A recent announcement from the Met Office has declared 2012 as the wettest year for England since recrords began and the 2nd wettest for the entire UK. As such we will take a closer look at how that has affected Oak Park Golf Club on a local level.

Below are two charts detailing rainfall statistics at Oak Park. Table 1 is the average over the previous 30 years and table 2 refers to the rainfall levels for 2012.

table 1                               table 2
Jan
61.8
Feb
45.4
Mar
44.1
Apr
47.1
May
51.3
Jun
44.4
July
46.3
Aug
52.8
Sept
54.4
Oct
77.8
Nov
67.9
Dec
63.4
year
656.6
Jan
37
Feb
16
Mar
27
Apr
122
May
28
Jun
132
July
86
Aug
61
Sept
57
Oct
95
Nov
106
Dec
93
year
861
The first quarter for 2012 was far drier than average and as such we experienced a busy period. Hopes were high that 2012 was going to be a great year for golf locally. Due to this dry spell groundwater levels were extremely low and this prompted the authorities to implement the hose pipe ban.

However, April gave us something completely different. It was the wettest month locally since records began closely followed by the same in June. To top this all off, the other Summer months were also above average too, and as such, we ended up having the wettest Summer on record.

This has led us into the Winter with an already very high groundwater level and, coupled with the continued high rainfall levels, has caused us to implement the recent trolley bans to protect the courses for the longer term. Not only that but it has meant certain machinery cannot go out onto the course and in addition certain projects are thus put on hold in order to protect the courses further.

Friday 28 December 2012

2012 - Great Year For Golf

2012 has been a great year for golf despite the Great British weather. There have been some real "edge of your seat" majors, a jaw dropping Ryder Cup and a potentially defining year for a young man from Northern Ireland.

Bubba Watson claimed his first major, the US Masters at Augusta, and gave teaching professionals all round the World a headache, as golfers realised there is more than one way to swing a club! He was seemingly out of contention but four consecutive birdies from the 13th ensured he went into a play off with Louis Osthuizen. As Bubba smashed his wild tee shot into the trees, with his infamous pink driver, the upper hand appeared to be Oosthuizen's. But Oosthuizen's momentarily clumsy short game and Watson moment of magic, bending his wedge from 160 yards in the trees from left to right 50 yards, left him 2 putts to secure an emotional maiden victory.

On what appeared to be one of the more challenging US Open courses at the Olympic club, Webb simpson claimed his first major in only his 5th career major appearance. After a shaky start, bogeying two of the first five holeshe seemed out of the running at +5. However, four birdies in five holes followed at the turn, backed up by 8 consecutive pars to ensure he had a clubhouse lead at +1. The final day saw numerous big names challenge. Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington, David Toms, Lee Westwood, Tiger Woods, Graeme McDowell and Jim Furyk couldn't overcome the challenges set by the Olympic Club, however, and Webb Simpson thus sealed his first major.

Royal Lytham and St Annes threw up another enthralling British Open. Going into the final day Adam Scott looked set to become the first Australian since Greg Norman in 1993, to lift the Claret Jug. With four holes to play Scott bogeyed all four to card a 75 and finish -6 for the tournament. Ernie Els holed his 15 footer for birdie to leave a nervous wait in the clubhouse at -7. All he could do was watch and prepare for a play off at best as news, of each and every bogey Scott made, came in. A bogey at the last from Scott left Els as the outright champion and gave him his fourth career major.

Rory McIlroy stormed to victory at Kiawah Island in the USPGA, winning his second major at only 23, a month younger than Tiger Woods when he acheived the same feat, and restored his position as World Number 1. McIlroy carded a 66 as he won by a record 8 shots beating Jack Nicklaus' previous record at the USPGA. 2012 has been a remarkable year for McIlroy as he won both order of merits either side of the pond, won a major and finished the year as World Number 1. Comparisons are now being made between Tiger Woods and himself. It could be argued that, although he has the talent, before this year it may have been too early in his career to discuss these comparisons with any credence. However, achieving what he has in 2012 will surely define the expectation now upon his shoulders going forward. Will he deliver?

After a torrid first 2 days, Europe trailed 10-6 going into the the third and final day at the Ryder Cup. USA required just 4 1/2 points from the 12 singles matches to regain the trophy. But something epic was about to happen, something Butch Harmon described as the greatest day he has ever witnessed. The USA once came back from being 10-6 down but that was on home soil, so the fact Europe did it away from home made it even more special. Ian Poulter's spirit must have transcended through the team and Europe went on to win 8 out of the first 11 matches to retain the trophy. But to then top that remarkable come back off, Francesco Molinari secured a tie with Tiger Woods to win the Ryder Cup outright. This will go down in golfing history as one of the greatest Ryder Cups... especially from a European point of view!

2012 has been one of the most exciting years for golf. Hopefully 2013 will follow suit but even if it doesn't, 2012 will surely inspire many to get out onto the fairways more often in 2013.

Saturday 15 December 2012

Can Watson turn around the USA's fortunes?

Tom Watson will become the oldest captain in the history of the Ryder Cup, when he leads the US team in 2014 at Gleneagles at the age of 65. He surpasses the record held by John Henry Taylor who led the Great British team back in 1933 and is the first repeat US captain since Jack Nicklaus led the team in 1987.

Is the decision one of desperation or one of pure genius? He last led the team in 1993, bringing victory over Europe and that was the last time the US secured victory on European soil. He is also no stranger to to winning in Scotland, winning 4 of his 5 British Open titles on Scottish courses. David Toms was the early favourite for the role, but have the US PGA pulled off a masterstoke? What hapens if he fails to win back the Ryder Cup? Where do they go next?

In our mind this is certainly a bold decision that has got a lot of tongues wagging. He has already received a lot of support from his fellow professionals and he could be just the man to bring an air of calm and experience to the US camp.

Europe on the other hand are enjoying a great period of success in the 20 years having only lost twice since Watson's victory in 1993. with the emergence of some great talent within Europe the US will undoubtedly face another tough task. But the question now on everybody's mind is who will lead the European team. One of the names currently being touted is Paul McGinley, who has already received public support from Rory McIlroy. However, in light of Watson's announcement some are now calling for a big name to also be appointed to lead the European contingent and as such the name on everyone's lips is Darren Clarke.

What do you think? Will Watson turn it around for the US? Who should Europe opt for?

Tuesday 11 December 2012

Welcome!

Welcome to the official blog site for Oak Park Golf Club. We aim to utilise this site to bring all the latest news and interesting happenings within the golfing world. So stay tuned and please subscribe to receive our posts via email.

Happy Golfing!

The Team at Oak Park Golf Club