Golf Practice-zine Newsletter for March 2008

Here are some examples of what the recordings contain:

Before Tee Off

This recording discusses clearing your mind, closing your eyes, relaxing your jaw, your tongue and getting into a state of complete clarity. The intent is to set the mind at ease, close the eyes to see nothing but a 'black screen' in front of you, focusing on a mantra that eliminates any outside interference before stepping to the tee and beginning the round.

Pre-Shot Routine

The recording on Pre-Shot Routine is 2 minutes long and covers a thought process intended to create focused, positive preparation for an upcoming thought. Clear the mind, make a deliberate assessment of the shot requirements, select a club, take two practice swings, pick a target line, visualize a shot, step up to address the ball, free the mind, relax and let your swing flow through the ball. Once struck, regardless of the outcome, walk chin-up and prepare to repeat the process (in exactly the same amount of time) with the same steps for the next shot.

Getting into the 'Zone' is a process concerned with getting your mind to "turn off" or at least stay out of the way of your athletic performance on the golf course. The recordings are a great insight to the S.C.O.R.E. system that Fannin teaches in his books and on his website. They are an interesting way to practice your mental skills; to prepare yourself for golf course situations you are sure to face in any round. You should try them. I definitely recommend them to you. For $9.95, you can't miss.

To learn more about Fannin's Zone Coaching system and philosophy, check out his website at zonecoach.com

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Google Earth - Golfsmarter podcast courses

This is a shout out to another very cool website that aims to improve your golf IQ (raise the IQ and lower your scores). The podcasts discuss a range of topics form club fitting to playing tips. Podcasts are sponsored by Edwin Watts, a major golf retailer in the U.S. and guests are very knowledgeable golf pros from some of the best courses in the United States.

That is all well and good. I recommend the site for a listen anytime. For example, a frequent guest is a guy who calls himself the 'Top 100 Blogger' is on a quest to visit and play the Golf Digest Top 100 courses in the World. He comes on frequently to tell his tales (he did 11 courses in 2007). So far, he's played all listed courses in the British Isles and has done 71 courses as of January 3, 2008. When he's done, he will have taken 3 years to complete the century.

However, the interesting part of their site, this time around was contributed by a caller who created virtual map connecitons to courses reviewed in past podcasts and linked them to Google Earth. What happened was, the Golfsmarter people frequently interview head pros and some of the better courses around the U.S. and get them to give hole-by-hole playing strategies for their respective courses. Places like Pine Valley, Pinehurst No.2 and other really good tracks are presented in these audio interviews. Well, this listener though how nice it would be to match up a visual aid to complement these audio playing strategies -- to make the lesson a much richer experience. So, he created a map showing each of the courses and presented it to the Golfsmarter folks to host and download on their website. You can go to golfsmarter.com, get the download instructions which include the map connections and the steps to download the free Google Earth desktop application.

Once Googel Earth is installed, you add the Golfsmarter Network Link to the application address and you will be blown away with what happens next. Google Earth loads a satellite view of North America that includes tags for the various courses reviewed by Golfsmarter listeners. You've got several options from here:

1. the coolest is to click the Tools menu and select Play Tour. Your satellite begins hurtling toward earth and spins down to a view of the first course on the tour, World Worlds Resort in Brooksville, Florida. Then it lifts off and spins to Singapore and the Blue Canyon CC. It moves quickly through a few dozen courses in the course of 5 minutes or so. Very cool visually;
2. Click on the View menu and select Sidebar. The list of Places shows all courses on the tour. Each is linked. Click the link and the tour goes straight to the course. You can also click the course layout link (not available for all the courses) and the bottom of the screen opens to the course website complete with a layout of holes that you can then "flyover" at low altitude;
3. You can click the course link, zoom down to your course of choice and then manually use the compass control shown in the upper right corner of the screen to glide at your own pace over the course for a hole-by-hole close-up view with your mouse.

I have a screen image of the split-screen layout below. It shows the World Woods resort.

I have a video to demonstrate the flyover effect from satellite to low-flying-plane, but the video is too large to show here. I will post it on the website, so come and have a look at it later.

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An Interesting US Court Case on Accessibility

(from: San Francisco -- Google News Alerts)

A federal judge in San Francisco found that Marriott Inc. is obligated under federal and state laws to make accessible golf carts available to disabled golfers.

Three disabled golfers brought the suit against Marriott, saying they were denied access to special single-rider type carts which they require to play golf. The cards are equipped with hand-operated brakes, accelerators and come with swivel seats which permit them the mobility they require to perform a golf swing while seated in the cart.

Marriott countered that it had adequately accommodated disabled golfers by allowing them to bring their own single-rider carts or use a regular golf cart with a medical flag. But Judge Hamilton claimed that was insufficient; that the three plaintiffs were unable to transport single-rider carts or use regular carts. She said the handicapped golfers were therefore in a 'distinctly unequal situation' in comparison with able-bodied golfers, who are offered regular carts when they show up at a Marriott golf course.

Hamilton therefore ruled the company's refusal to provide the carts violates the U.S. Americans with Disabilities Act as well as two state laws, the California Disabled Persons Act and Unruh Civil Rights Act.

The judge wrote, "Marriott's current policy does not provide plaintiffs, mobility-impaired golfers, with an experience that is functionally equivalent to that of other non-disabled golfers." The ruling will apply to the 26 golf courses owned or operated by Marriott nationwide.

Nance Becker, another lawyer for the golfers, said, "We hope today's decision will make Marriott resorts more welcoming for their potential customers and encourage other golf resorts to do the same."

Though ruling that Marriott contravened the laws, the judge delayed issuing an injunction against the company and instead instructed both sides to try to reach a settlement about changes to be made. She said she will hold another hearing on the case at a later date.

A representative of Washington D.C.-based Marriott was not immediately available for comment.

Lawyers for the golfers said that about 400 golf courses nationwide currently provide the special carts.

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New PGA Tour Cut Rule

The rule was tested during the Sony Open, the traditional season-opener. The reason for the change was that, during a dozen tournaments in 2007, the 36-hole rule resulted in 92 players making the cut. This forced organizers to play threesomes off both tees which lead to rounds of more that 5 hours with long delays on par 5s, frustrations for players and long delays for the final groups. The TV producers had to be getting stressed, trying to squeeze finishes into tight programming boundaries, so something had to give.

The new rule at the Sony was applied after 36-holes, where 87 players made the cut. Eighteen players were then 'cut' to reduce the field to 79 players who played the weekend. The eighteen were awarded official prize money and FedEx Cup points, but were excluded from play for Saturday and Sunday. In Tour terms thew were deemed to be 'MDF', or 'Made the Cut, Did Not Finish'. At the Buick Open, Torrey Pines, San Diego, 19 more players made the cut and were not allowed to play on the weekend.

Some players were mad enough to file a petition to have the rule changed and Tour Commissioner, Tim Finchem met with members of the Player Advisory Council (PAC) at the Northern Trust Open, Riviera in Los Angeles. The PAC seems to like the idea of a compromise -- returning to the 36-hole cut of top 70 and ties, but if this results in a field of more than 78 players, having a cut on Saturday to reduce the field to reasonable pace of play for the final round.

A Policy Board vote on the matter took place at the start of the Florida Swing during the Honda Classic. To pass, the measure has to receive majority approval by four players on the nine-member Board. If it passes, the new rule will go into effect immediately.

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Presidents Cup Captains: Norman and Couples

Both are very worthy picks as experienced (four appearances by Couples, three by Norman), Hall of Fame players. Both are very popular players, both are into golf course design and both will soon be available for Champions Tour play. Both are in the twilight of their competitive careers with creaky backs and a motivation directed more off the course than on.

The pick is especially interesting for Norman, who is, after Tiger and with Arnold Palmer, the most business-oriented (and adept) player golf has ever known. Norman, as of last year (and before the effects of his recent divorce will be calculated) had a net worth of over $350 million is renowned for his business acumen. That drive has resulted with some bitter disputes with the PGA Tour and its current commissioner, Tim Finchem over what was Norman's oringinal idea for the World Golf Tour.

In 1994 Norman and business partner John Montgomery promoted the idea of a World Golf Tour, were talking to sponsors, TV networks and players to get the top 30 players in the world, bringing all different tours together to play for several tournaments a year with a then-high $3million purse per event. They were doing their homework and finalizing deals before going public. When the PGA Tour heard of it, they panicked, viewed Norman's idea as a threat and began talking behind Norman's back to players and sponsors stating that the idea would threaten the Tour's growth. After an informal meeting with Finchem, the Tour made a pre-emptive public announcement that said the World Golf Tour would be in conflict with Tour event regulations. Players would not be given releases to play in Norman and Montgomery's events. The WGT idea was dead just before it could get started. The deal Norman and Montgomery made with Fox Sports to broadcast the events had to be dropped; Fox went with a newcomer named NASCAR instead in 1995 (so they did all right). It was a bitter finish, with personal accusations being fired at Norman by the press and players who had been misinformed.

In September of 1996, the PGA Tour and the tours of Japan, Europe, Australia and the Sunshine Tour of South Africa signed a joint agreement with the wonderful, innovative idea to, "...create new international events, beginning in 1999. World Golf Championships were announced to enhance the competitive structure of professional golf worldwide while preserving the traditions and strengths of the individual Tours and their events." Great idea.

Norman remains somewhat bitter about the whole experience. Though he has forgiven, he devotes two full chapters of the topic in his autobiography, The Way of the Shark, Lessons on Golf, Business and Life, (Atria Books, 2006) and it is evident that the memory still hurts.

The Tour still owes Norman, in my opinion. If you watch closely, you see a little tension coming between the average tour player and the bureaucracy intended to support the professional game. The Tour tries to press players like Tiger and Els to settle on either the European or North American tours in a battle for sponsorship stability. The players feel they are entrepreneurs, free to play anywhere, and for the highest bidder, at times. Stay tuned, golf is booming and where there's lots of money, there is always controversy.

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