Short Game

Once a sound swinging motion is developed, all of the various shots in golf share a common feeling and motion. Most PGA Tour professionals hit, on average, only 10-13 greens a round. So why then do they score so well? The obvious answer is that the short game accounts for well over half of their score and for you, it may be even more. It doesn't take brute strength or athletic ability to develop a sound short game. What it does involve is proper setup for a solid stroke that can be varied in pace and length, along with a developed feel for distance.

It takes as much practice -- probably more patience -- to become proficient at this than the full swing. Make a commitment to spend at least half of your practice time on your short game. The results will be well worth the effort.

Please contact the golf shop to learn how to put this technique to work for your game today!

Who Owns This Hole?

Our third great shot was played by, who else, Jack Nicklaus. It wasn't the shot that launched his career or created his reputation; that had been earned years before. This timely masterstroke was just one in a career replete with such memorable shots, but it could be the one that established Nicklaus as the greatest player in the history of the sport. Although there were many great moments before and after this one, it is hard to recall one that was equally dramatic.

Imagine we are making a movie about the golf tournament to end all tournaments, starring three of the greatest players of the era. The scene is the 1975 Masters Tournament, to be enacted in brilliant April sunshine at the Augusta National Golf Course. Are you ready on camera? OK... Lights! Action!Let's set the stage. On the par five, 15th green we have the final twosome. It consists of the hottest player currently playing the game, Johnny Miller, along with another heir apparent to the golfing throne, Tom Weiskopf. Just a few yards away, waiting to play his tee-shot on the 16th is Jack Nicklaus. Weiskopf and Nicklaus currently share the lead at 11 under par for the tournament. Miller trails by one shot.

Weiskopf lies over the green in two shots at the par five. He chips weakly, and is now faced with a slippery birdie putt across twenty feet of lightning fast Augusta green. Nicklaus knows the situation as he glances over toward the 15th green, then steps up to his ball and hits his tee shot to the par three, 16th hole. For the final round, the flag on 16 is usually located in the back left part of the green, allowing players to play down the right side. The putting surface slopes towards the water hazard to the left of the hole and shots landing on the right half of the green feed down to the cup.