Putting in Perspective
The Often-Neglected Key to Good Golf
October 30, 2009
The putting stroke is the simplest of the swings we use in the game of golf, and it probably should be the starting point, the foundation on which a golfer builds his game. It is also true that the target in putting is a sassy, sometimes inaccessible hole in the ground which starts at 4 ¼ inches and seems to shrink as the ball gets closer, which means putting is difficult even if the stroke is relatively easy. On top of that, the putter will be the most used (and abused) stick in the bag, with the ability to determine on its own which way our scores go. So, why do we tend to neglect putting in lessons, and in our practice sessions? Read more
Patience is a Virtue in Every Language
Golf Lessons from Different Cultures
May 1, 2005
I have had the good fortune as a teaching professional to work with people from a variety of cultures. It is one of the best parts of my job, getting to meet so many interesting people from so many interesting places. And the one word I usually try to learn in different languages is patience. Read more
About Junior Golf
Getting Kids Started in the Game
January 5, 2005
People frequently ask me about the best age to get their children started at playing golf. The easy answer is that it is not really a question of age, but of interest and attention span, which is obviously different from one child to the next. I have given lessons to children as young as three years old, but in general, it seems that young golfers respond better from age six and up. Read more
Fit to a Tee
Making the Most of the Winter Months
February 12, 2006
It is a slap in the face, the way CBS broadcasts these images into our homes. Less than twenty four hours after a foot of snow fell here in the east, we are taunted by the footage from the Monterey Peninsula where the tour players and a bunch of lucky amateurs are playing at Pebble Beach. Sunshine, sailboats, short-sleeve shirts, all kinds of exotic wildlife, that magnificent coastline where the Pacific pounds away—and here we are laid out in our egg chairs and lazy-boys after shoveling the driveway, two portable heaters breathing hot air towards a set of toes still unthawed. Read more
Kiss Three-Putts Goodbye
How to Learn Distance Control in Putting
October 27, 2004
“There is no point in taking a putting lesson,” I have heard people say. “It is an individual thing,” they say. While I agree that there are many different styles of putting that get results, there are also some underlying principles that help most people get better on the greens. And putting is such a crucial part of scoring in golf that it is better not left to random experimentation. Read more
Of Two Minds
Playing and Practicing Require Two Different Mental Approaches
October 13, 2004
Playing golf and practicing are two completely different parts of the game, with different goals and mindsets. For this reason golfers who try to play and practice at the same time are not really doing either. Read more
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