Let the Season Begin! Almost.

For me, I have been able to enjoy some time off to spend with the family the past couple months. March 1st indicated my first day back to work. I am excited to be getting back to work, but at the same time we still have almost a foot of snow on the ground. I have not seen the grass in my back yard in 2014. This puts a hamper on practicing my short game! I am hopeful with all the snow we have seen that just never wants to melt, that it will lead to a bigger surge of cabin fever when it does go away. If so, this could bode well for golf courses in our area as I am sure many guys are ready to get out and play. My Masters countdown is at 39 days and after watching a Rory meltdown and drama filled finish at the Honda Classic today, it has me itching even more to get my sticks out and use them. However, when I get to work and look out the pro shop windows to see the course submerged in a white glistening powder, my heart sinks. I know that I still have a while until the course will be ready for me to get my sticks out. For the time being, beating balls into a net will suffice.

To continue on the topic of hitting balls into a net. What do you do during the off season to keep your game and swing fresh? If you do nothing, you can expect quite a few rounds to get the rust out of your swing. I mentioned in an earlier post about hitting into simulators and practicing when their is snow on the ground. Have you thought about getting lessons? Many professionals offer some type of indoor lessons during the off season even if you don't think there is a place for it.

What do we do? We convert a corner of our pro shop into an indoor hitting station. We have a mat and net set up and video equipment set up to record everything we need.Our facility has done this for a number of years, but it still surprises some members. We had a member in on our first day open Saturday and he asked about the net. We mentioned we use it for off season lessons using video equipment and even though it was in multiple e-mails, he had no idea we offered lessons during the winter months.

Just because you can't watch the ball fly doesn't mean that a Pro can't give a lesson. Thanks to video equipment and apps for your tablet and smartphone, it is very easy and very informative to get a video lesson. We are able to put your swing, side-by-side with a number of tour professionals to compare or even of an older swing of yourself to see how you have improved. We are also able to put the video in slow motion to point something out or draw on the video to help show a point we are trying to make. It really is amazing how much technology has expanded the horizons of golf instruction.

Call your local Pro, just because their is snow on the ground doesn't have to mean the clubs need to be in storage. Take some lessons in the off season to keep your swing fresh or to improve it!

Club Fitting 101: Flat Lie vs Upright Lie

If you are a weekend warrior golfer, then I am sure you had these thoughts: "I don't play enough golf to get fitted." "At my skill level, fitting isn't going to fix anything." "It is too expensive to get fit and order custom clubs." While these thoughts have crossed the minds of many, they are untrue. Every golfer ranging from the person who plays a handful of times per yer to the person who plays three times per week can benefit from properly fitted equipment. There are many misconceptions about club fitting and I want to help justify its importance. Today I am going to focus on just one aspect of the club fitting process and that is the lie angle. 20 years ago, if you wanted to buy a set of irons, you would go to the store and pick a set off the shelf and head to the links. This is not the case anymore.

One of the biggest factors in getting fit, is to have a proper lie angle fitted to you. Do you find that almost every time you feel like you hit a shot solid, it seems to hook more than you would like? If so, you could very well need irons that have a flat lie angle. If you find yourself noticing that when you make good contact, the ball drifts into a slice then you may very well need some irons with an upright lie angle. From the above image you are able to see the differences if your lie angle is off. You may buy a set with a standard lie angle, but based n how you swing yo may have the heel of the club impacting the ground the most or the toe of the club. If this is the case, you need to get properly fit so that you can start seeing the ball taking a straight flight!

There are varying degrees of how flat or upright you need to produce a straight shot and figuring this out during a fitting session is not that hard. I recommend going through a fitting session with your local PGA Professional even if you do not need new equipment. A fitting session is not that long, generally about 30 minutes for your irons and it is possible that if your clubs are not properly fitted, they can be adjusted to the proper specifications without investing in a new set.

The image above shows the most common way that PGA Professionals fit for lie angle. Most companies provide fitting tape that is similar to the Callaway ones shown above. One sticker goes on the face to show where contact on the club face is taking place. The second sticker goes on the sole of the club and shows where the sole of the club is making contact with the ground. A plastic board about the size of a clipboard and called a lie board is used to hit golf balls off of. This helps show the impact of the sole with the ground. Normally, a handful of shots are requested, so that the Professional is able to take an average and get a good sense of where the swings that made good contact were contacting the tape. Based on these variables, the Professional is able to recommend what specifications will work best for you to achieve the straightest ball flight.

Fitting can easily help your game. Please take the time to contact your local PGA Professional and get fitted!

The Masters; Does Any Other Major Compare?

We are less than 90 days away from the first major of the year, the Masters. The Masters is steeped in tradition and always full of excitement. The Tour has four majors each year, but come on, do any of them really match the Masters. Just the aura Augusta National creates is enough to give any golf enthusiast goose bumps. One thing that makes the Masters is great is that it is played on the same course each year, so the memories can pile up. Fond memories such as Jack's 1986 win to Tiger's "shot" that paved the way to win in 2005 along with the memories that show the average golfer can relate to the best as in the back nine collapse of Greg Norman in 1996. The Masters is the only major that routinely has the tournament won or lost on Sunday on the back nine; what is more exciting than that?

My bucket list has a trip to the Masters towards the top of it and yours should too. Thanks to this event, the average man can be applauded because they know of at least one type of plant and will be the first to take note of how beautiful the azaleas at Augusta National are. It also provides the foundation for those Christian men as we are always praying for our guy to make it through Amen Corner unscathed. Speaking of Amen Corner, I think you would be hard pressed to find three consecutive holes that have had as much of an impact on who wins a tournament on Sunday as these three holes.

What else makes the Masters better than any other major? How about the limited commercials during the event? It would be great if that was normal for all events. I am very grateful to Augusta National for allowing only limited commercials and those being to a couple of the major sponsors. If on site, it also great to pay the cheap prices at the concessions (be sure to get the traditional cheese sandwich) and you will notice all apparel only has the Masters logo on it. This event is the only one that goes through great lengths to preserve its traditions as a club and tournament. You also can't forget about the theme music used for the Masters. You know, the little tune that when it comes on and you are in the kitchen, you have to pause and peek in at the television, even if it is only a commercial advertising the event. This being the same jingle that when you hear it in January, you get chills going down your spine and excitement abounds at the thought of the Masters approaching.

As children feel a bit of a let down after Christmas Day ends and all presents from Santa have been opened, this same feeling happens to me the Monday after the Masters. I hate the thought that I have to wait a year until the azaleas are blooming and an event that is sure to be filled with excitement happens. I think one reason that the Masters holds a special spot with me is because it is early in the year. Living in the northern half of the U.S., many times the Masters coincides with the course opening. This adds extra excitement in that once March hits, so does the cabin fever. I am itching to get out and practice/play and the Masters helps to fill this void.

Do you have a favorite Masters moment? Or something about the event that brings out emotion in you? Please share. If I had to pick one, it would be when Fred Couples' shot stayed on the mowed bank of Rae's Creek and he went on to win in 1992. Isn't it amazing, how he still seems to be at the top of the leader board throughout the week year in and year out?

Are we less than 80 days yet?

Too Much Snow to Think Golf? Think Again.

Much of the northern half of the U.S. has already seen some good measurable snowfall amounts, while some areas are getting snowed into their homes. All to often when this time of year hits, golfers have their clubs in hiding and the game becomes an after thought until the thaws of Spring and the smell of Augusta's azaleas. However, this does not have to be the case. Put in a little work and practice through the snow season and you will notice you will have an advantage on your buddies when the golf season starts.

Now, you could be a die-hard to work on your game through the snow, but I doubt many of you fall into that category.

In this day and age, there are plenty of opportunities to practice your game. Many driving ranges have heated stalls that can make it bearable to just wear a light jacket when practicing. Many golf facilities that offer academies or schools may have a teaching building that can be used for practice or lessons during the off season and many times these hitting areas are also heated. Another option would be an establishment that has simulators set up. Some golf courses have these to use during the off season along with driving range facilities and there are also stand alone businesses that may also have this as an option. Today's simulators are much more realistic and provide a lot more swing feedback then some of the older simulators from 10 years ago. All of these options can be narrowed down and found in your area by doing a simple Google search.

If you really want to take your game to the next level by Spring, you should also search and contact PGA professionals in your area. PGA.com offers an area on their website where you can search for PGA instructors, it is simple and easy to find one in your area. The facility I work for in northern Indiana turns our Pro Shop into a teaching studio through the winter months. We offer swing instruction using video analysis to work on your swing. We will soon be offering the technology provided by Flightscope to be able to get even more detailed information about your swing. Along with that, I will be offering introductory golf classes at our local YMCA through the winter. There are many opportunities that allow you to work on your game during the off season and taking a little time to do a couple quick searches, can make it easy to win over some of your buddies' money those first few weeks in the spring.

Equipment Buzz: Callaway Big Bertha is Back

Besides Jason Dufner petitioning Tiger Woods to make his event 36 holes this week, all the buzz has been about the new Callaway driver, the Big Bertha. The name may not be new, but just as the original, Callaway is hoping this club will be a game-changer within the industry and they may very well be right. They are putting out two models, the Big Bertha and the Big Bertha Alpha.

The Big Bertha will be in competition with TaylorMade's SLDR driver and works in very much the same fashion. It has a sliding weight that can be slid around the bottom of the crown to help increase/decrease right and left shot shape. It also has hosel adjustments that can set the face up square or to favor a draw along with loft adjustments to increase loft by 2 degrees or decrease it by 1 degree from the standard setting. It is a very lightweight driver that helps increase swing speed and create more distance. It is also a visually appealing club with a pear-shape 460cc head.

The game changer for Callaway is the Big Bertha Alpha. This club features a new technology that has not been seen before and could have as much of an effect on the game as the first TaylorMade adjustable driver has. This 460cc head has the same hosel features as the regular Big Bertha in that you can adjust the face setting along with the loft by adding up to 2 degrees or decreasing 1 degree from the standard setting. It also has adjustable weighting on the heel and tow to help increase/decrease left or right shot shape. A third and new adjustable factor is the gravity core stick. This goes into the middle of the club from the bottom. Depending on which end you put in first, you are able to adjust the center of gravity of the club. With it inserted one way, the center of gravity is on the top half of the club face. If you adjust it and flip the stick, the center of gravity will be on the lower half of the club face. If you are looking to increase the trajectory of your shot, you will want the center of gravity on the lower part of the club face and vice-versa; if you are looking to bring your shot trajectory down some, then you would want the center of gravity on the upper half of the club face. This new adjustment allows to the golfer to be even more accurately fit for a driver and increases the chances of having a club that maximizes the strengths and minimizes the flaws of a swing. Be sure to at least test drive one of these clubs next season to see if it can help you.

So, You Wanna Be A PGA Pro?

All too often I am asked questions pertaining to my career. "If you are a pro, are you able to play golf on t.v. like Tiger Woods?" "What does it take to be a golf pro?" "How good of a golfer do you have to be to be a golf pro?"

There are two ways to take the road in becoming a PGA Professional. If you have been interested in golf for most of your life and find yourself enjoying the integrity and competition of playing at the high school level, I would encourage you to at least learn about what it takes to make golf a possible career choice.

The newest form of gaining your PGA membership is to attend an accredited university that offers the PGM program. This program takes approximately five years to complete, but when you are finished you will have a bachelor's degree along with your PGA membership. Internships and playing tests are required before you can graduate and gain PGA membership.

The second way of gaining membership is to take self-study courses through the PGA of America. You must employed at a golf facility with a recognized PGA professional for six months before you can sign up. Once you sign up, you must pass a pre-entry test that covers the basics of playing along with the business of golf. After this test is passed, you will then begin your journey toward PGA membership. There are three levels that you must pass. Each level has book work that must be completed, submitted and approved. Once this bookwork is completed and approved, you travel to the PGA National Education headquarters in Florida for a week worth of seminars. After attending the seminars, you are able to take an online test that must be passed before continuing to the next level. These steps are repeated until all three levels are passed. Outside of these three levels, you must also pass a playability test (same one required for those who attend a PGM program at a university). To pass this playability test, you play 36 holes in one day and have a target score you must shoot based on the slope and rating of the course you are playing. It is typically around 15 over for the 36 holes. This score may sound easy enough, but less than 20% pass on any given attempt. It took myself two attempts (thanks to scoring a 10 on one hole my first try) and even then, I passed right on the number.

The second way of pursuing membership is the route I took. I also have a college degree in Education that I pursued before signing up to work my way towards a PGA membership. I must say that the day I received my PGA membership, has been my most rewarding day of my career life (marriage and children have been more rewarding in my personal life). It felt more special and rewarding than receiving my college degree as it has always been a dream of mine to have a career in the golf industry. Receiving membership within the PGA helped to push me in that direction. It was by no means easy and it was difficult to do with balancing work, family and doing the self-study lessons, but it has also been worth it. Speaking of worth it, the cost is something else to consider when thinking of attempting to become a PGA member. If you go through a university, it is no different than paying for school with any other degree. If you choose to take the path of doing it on your own, you can expect to spend close to $7,000 with no financial assistance programs. Much of this cost comes from traveling to Florida three separate times for seminars (if you live in Florida, this can be a much cheaper expense).

Next time, I will address the myths that golf pros get to play golf all the time and have an easy job if you live in the northern half of the country because of mother nature and the winter months.  Let me know if you have any questions in what it takes to become a PGA member, I would be more than happy to assist in exploration in any way that I can.

What I Am Thankful For; Golf Edition

With Thanksgiving only days away, I felt it would only be appropriate to give thanks to 5 golf culture things. So let's jump right in :

1. Tiger Woods. Love him or hate him, I have to be thankful for him. Without him, golf would not have the popularity it does today, especially within larger cities. 

2. The Masters. It truly is a tradition unlike any other. The one major that can give me goosebumps when watching the back 9 on Sunday. Augusta is the "Mecca" of the golf world and should be on every golf enthusiast's bucket list  to attend at least once. Only 134 more days until round 1 starts.

3. Technology. It is amazing how much golf equipment advances from year to year. A couple years ago it was "average 17 more yards" and now all manufacturers are getting that 17 yards plus some along with more forgiveness. Technology has helped my own game and makes it easier for new golfers to enjoy the game right from the start. Driver adjust-ability has helped PGA pros with merchandising as we no longer have to stock as much product. We can now sell the driver, take it to the range and set it up to what works best.

4. PGA Professionals. What a great "club" to be a part of. From a career standpoint, they have been a valuable resource. I have worked for some great PGA professionals that have been great mentors to help me grow. Without them, I would not be the PGA professional I am today. Outside of family accomplishments and milestones, gaining my PGA membership has been my proudest accomplishment.

5. The Spirit of the Game. This is actually referred to in the beginning of the rule book and I am very thankful for it. The spirit of the game has taught me so much more than how to swing a club. It has taught me the importance of honesty, integrity and respect. It helped me gain confidence and handle responsibility. The spirit of the game has played an integral role in creating who I am on not only a professional level, but a personal one as well. There is so much more to golf than simply playing; the life lessons the game teaches is what makes the sport so rewarding.

These are just a few things that I am thankful within the golf realm. Be sure you take a moment to reflect on what you are thankful for during Thanksgiving week. I want to wish you each a Happy Thanksgiving and would love to hear what golf related things you are thankful for.