Golf Practice-zine Newsletter
for March 2011

Thanks for signing up to receive the March 2011 (Issue #29) of the Newsletter. Increased emphasis on the World Golf Rankings for eligibility into elite golf tournaments has thrown the golf world into a bit of a tizzy. We talk about why the WGR should be preferred. SNAG (Starting New At Golf) is becoming increasingly popular for introducing kids to the sport -- and for adults, too. Golf Genie has produced a handy pocket guide for on-course reminders of player tips, shots and strategies. TaylorMade's XFT wedges provide removable clubfaces for players that want to replace their grooves and keep the club. Plus, there is news about Tiger's new Jupiter Island 'compound' and its dream practice area. Check it out!

Newsletter Contents:

1. World Golf Rankings Dominate
2. Snag Golf
3. Golf Genie Pocket Guide
4. Golf Gizmo: Driver Tee
5. TaylorMade XFT Wedge
6. News Tidbits

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As I wrote in last month's Newsletter (Issue #28) the USGA is moving toward using the World Golf Ranking (WGR)as a tool to determine eligibility for the U.S. Open in 2011 and 2012.

Increased reliance on the WGR by golf's major governing bodies has increased concern in the minds of players and fans on the determination of the number one ranked player. Recently, some players have voiced their disagreement with WGR as and indicator (Paul Azinger for example) since he prefers the existing method of the money list. In Aziinger's mind, professional golfers are motivated by two key factors: money and prestige. Money and prestige go hand-in-hand with golf's major tournaments, so players prefer this measure as an indicator of performance. Moving to the WGR, a system of calculations deemed mysterious and perhaps unnecessarily complicated, is "crazy" in the opinion of detractors' .

Why World Golf Rankings Matter

• Golf is in the Olympics in 2016. Eligibility will be based solely on World Rankings for entry into the Olympics
  
• The PGA and European Tours in keeping with their unified objective toward the Olympics are in a movement to grow the game internationally. Players around the world play in Tours that have different money levels. Comparing earnings amongst players across Tours by money winnings is a meaningless measure of the strength of field.
  
• Sponsors require a common denominator from which to draw on a known player pool. If they are to invest dollars into an event they want to be assured they are drawing the strongest field possible. A ranking system must give them confidence that their dollars are being invested wisely.
  
• Rankings will be based on the strength of field and awarded to an event based on the current, near-term records of player entered. Playing in a tougher field should earn a player a larger share of the ranking points than a field offering a pot of prize money.
  
• In the past, money has not been enough to draw players to world events. Players on the PGA Tour, because it is the richest prize pool, tend to "stay at home". Travel is costly and difficult; if they can miss a world event and make up the money later locally, the world travel gets a pass. Distributing rankings points and money to encourage World Game development will ensure better fields are spread more evenly around the world. To grow the game, World Golf Federation bodies feel this approach will achieve a World Game expansion for golf.
  

For a detailed description of how the WGR is calculated see Wikipedia, "Calculation of the rankings"

I don't see the traditionalists point. Their objections are groundless. The WGR is a better indicator of consistent, high quality play over recent, relevant golf history for a given player. Player quality shifts from Tour to Tour as rates of development catch and pass programs in various countries. Golf is an emerging game in many countries; increasingly so as it has become an Olympic Sport for 2016. So prestige is increasingly being accumulated to golf as a professional sport. In the Olympics it will gain attention to a huge audience. The International Golf Federation, virtually formed by an alliance of all pro Tours (Headed by Peter Dawson of the R&A and Ty Votaw, former executive Director of the PGA Tour) is attempting to attain a degree of standardization across this "new world game" as a result of its Olympic designation. Thus, a consistency in the ranking mechanism across all national and international golf bodies is aimed at laying a strong foundation that maintains golf status in the Olympics beyond 2016.

So, prestige-wise, there is no higher calling than to be an Olympic medallist. A medal would be at least equal to a major in my opinion. Not through direct prize money of course (but who says money has never been part of the Olympics), but in post-podium endorsements, appearances and branding value to a player certainly.

The other primary driver is to appease sponsors. Both the LPGA, PGA and Australian Tours (for example) are losing sponsors. Scheduling a Tour event in the PGA, say, next to a Major or WGC tournament, dooms that PGA Tour stop to also-ran status. State Farm (LPGA) and John Deere (PGA) have withdrawn support of traditional events. They could not be guaranteed fields that would bring crowds to support their event. Players are free to miss important events on Tour (e.g. Tiger and Phil during FedEx playoffs in 2009, 2010) so total purses are beginning to suffer. Sponsors want to draw international fields to their tournaments because the top ranked players are distributed around the world, a trend that will continue. For the last two years, the European Tour has been more interesting to watch -- the first two events in 2011 were better in Europe than on the PGA in my opinion.

So, this WGR change is good. Golf organizations, for a change, are ahead of their players in recognizing a need to rank more accurately with consistency and current quality of play. Fans, sponsors and the sport will benefit.

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2. Snag Golf

SNAG stands for "Starting New at Golf" and is a carefully thought-out system of golf instruction fundamentals, packaging and equipment for presenting golf to kids. It simplifies the game so anybody can play and have fun. It's priced economically so that families, groups and organizations can participate with no barrier to entry. SNAG simplifies the game of golf so kids can play anywhere open space is available. No golf course required.

Player paks are sets of clubs balls and related equipment needed to start playing. Snag has its own terminology for equipment which is all plastic except for the balls:

• Launcher (the name for irons used in launching (hitting off the Launch Pad), pitching and chipping
• Roller (equivalent to the putter)
• Launch Pad (a portable platter with tee to move and place the ball around the course)
• Carry Bag (cloth golf bag big enough to hold Launcher and Roller clubs)
• Flagsticky (flag with a round foam base wrapped with a velcro-like "sticky surface)

This set is referred to as a Player Pak. It comes in both left and right hand versions.

Each Player Pak comes in three sizes:

• 26-inch (green) for 5-7 year-olds
• 30-inch (blue) for 8-10 year-olds
• 34-inch (red) for 11 years and older

There is a "Princess" Pak which is pink, equipped the same as Player Paks but comes in only two sizes (26-inch and 30-inch).

The colours refer to the club heads, so that clubs don't get mixed up between sets. Cost of all versions of the Player Paks is $100.00 each. But in this game, not every player needs their own set of clubs, this is up to you and your wallet.

There is a 40-pages plus instruction booklet to let you know that SNAG is a world unto itself. Everything from SNAG's unique vocabulary and equipment to helpful instructions on how to set up a course, tips on swing basics, grip (or 'hold' as they call it), special training tools to help 5-10 year olds understand the golf swing, practice drills (my favourite) and training aids. All this lore has earned it the term SNAGology. There are even tips on SNAG etiquette.

Highland Pacific GC just outside Victoria has the gear for Snag Golf. They are inviting suggestions for how to make it available for prospective customers (e.g. parties for kids, special promotions, demo days, etc.). If you are interested, get in touch with Anney or Matt at Highland Pacific's website.

You could probably play SNAG anywhere: indoors, (meeting halls, gyms, malls); outdoors, (parking lots, lawns, soccer fields, even golf courses). Course design and play options are endless. It's a great low impact sport to teach kids basic motor skills, responsibility, etiquette and playing well with others.

If you are thinking of a cool, low cost, way of introducing your young kids to the game of golf -- a way that you too, can join in and have fun -- I can't imagine a better system. And system is the word. SNAG is a a thoughtful, well-designed teaching and coaching method. It covers physical, mental aspects of physical education and is designed by professionals in a way that has proven very effective in coaching, teaching and recreation environments.

For more details, access to resources, a look at the instruction manual and a great demo video go to Snag's website

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Practice Reinforcement

Practice Plans and Practice Notes are important supplements to your practice program. I've found that, extended practice sessions can be counter productive if you don't manage them carefully. So i look for ways to reinforce the gains made through practice.

You will loose the benefit gained from drills if you don't reinforce them. There are a few resources that help track and retain your good practice habits.

Golf Genie Pocket Guides

The Golf Genie guides are pocket-size references designed to be carried on-course and aid golfers with tips and reminders to help the master techniques, shots and course management as they learn the game.

The books are produced by PGA professionals with solid playing and teaching backgrounds. Their aim, in producing the guides is to:

• Produce high quality, affordable and credible golf instructional references
• Provide tips that are highly visua, supported by simple and concise text that can be understood "at a glance."
• Booklets that are easily portable, well organized and quickly accessible for use during a round of golf

There are two guides: Practice Drills and Tee to Green. The booklets are well organized. The colour coded, tabbed sections help you get at the tips you need in timely and intuitive ways while you play. They are a great learning tool for all levels of amateur players.

Tee to Green Pocket Guide

I was only able to find the Tee to Green guide -- Practice Drills is completely out of stock at Golf Town throughout Canada (a fact that makes me proud as a Canadian since we apparently are so into practice).

Tips are organized into three categories:

• Basics
• Advanced Shots
• Quick Fixes

The book are about 5.5 inches long and 3.5 inches wide so it is easily pocketed for use during a round. The tips are tabbed and well described for quick access to the info you need. Each category is also colour-coded, basics in blue, Advanced in green and Quick Fixes in orange. Pictures offer visual cues to the clear tips in text. The package is well organized and well presented.

For a video description of the Tee to Green golf pocket guide checkout the Golf Genie website

New this year, are smartphone-based applications. These are faithful replications of the pocket books for smartphone use. Colour, electronic access to fundamentals and tips are there for quicker retrieval during your round if you need them.

Golfers are going to see more and more of this type of material delivered by smartphone. Apps are everywhere because phones are everywhere. The internet has changed everything and golf is likewise affected.

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Driver Tee

Pictured here is a golf tee innovation developed by a German company spcifically engineered to improve driving. Basically, the product is a plastic, hinged golf tee that is hopefully unbreakable. Driver Tee Gmbh claims that the design provides the following advantages over traditional tees:

• economical: because it is hinged, the tee does not fly off when the ball is struck; it is therefore reusable, cutting down the number of tees needed;
• longer drives: less ball resistance since the tee hinge bends in the direction the ball travels when struck
• convenience: you are going to find the tee after your shot since its stays in plays after the ball is struck
• environmentally effiicient: no broken golf tees to litter the tee boxes during a round; reduced use of wood in tee construction
• improved ball striking consistency: since by inserting the tee to hinge-depth ensures a constant ball height for every shot
• improved durability: plastic, high quality construction improves golf shot precision. Reduced club friction improves drive accuracy.

2 Functions of the upper piece:

1. Vertical locking for ease of use when teeing up
2. Hinged joint provides resistance free drives

Key Tee Components (see Diagram)

1. Vertical locking of the hinge joint. When pushed downwards into the ground the tee automatically becomes stiff and blocks Driver Tee's hinged effect. However when teed up this releases again.
   
2. Protection. Special formed head protects both the Driver Tee and the club head. The hinged joint is protected due to the closure on the hitting side.
   
3. Stabilizer. The stabilization in the upright position ensures a secure teeing of the ball in the optimum position.
   
4. Free space available for advertising / logo.
   
5. Hinged joint for hitting the ball with minimum resistance.

The hinge principle here appeals to me. It adds to the durability of the tee and might make it almost unbreakable. I say 'almost' because I'm pretty famous for trying what were labelled as 'unbreakable tees' before. They broke -- less regularly than traditional tees -- but they broke. But, they were fixed; this Driver Tee has some engineering behind it. So, it might work. I'm all for less stuff in my pockets, especially if it is quality-built.

For a short video of the Driver Tee in action, check the website.

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I invested in two new wedges for my 2011 season. Finally the wedges I've dreamed of have been made. TaylorMade did the manufacturing magic on these beauties.

Removable Face Plates
Club makers have been fooling with movable weights and screws all over the place for drivers and woods the last two years or so. Finally somebody got smare with face plates. To me, this makes practical sense. So what if you can move weights and screws around and open or close the club face -- I say phooey to those gimmicks. Changing weights and face angles adds layers of complication to a swing that nobody has mastered in the first place. Weight and face angle changes are too radical an adjustment; too big a move to be accommodated easily into your game or swing in a short time span.