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Are you fit? Do your pants still fit?

I love a couple beers and a couple cigars when playing golf, but I have come to realize that I play better and enjoy my rounds more with a little fitness prep.  It's not enough anymore for me to chug a couple tabs of Vitamin A (Advil) and grip it and rip it.  A recent article in the Wall Street Journal suggests that we can use our golf game as a barometer of our health.  In addition to the not-surprising news that most golfers are overweight, many suffer from back pain, and a significant percentage have played hung over (there is no greater sin than missing your tee time because you were over-served the night before), the article contains an excellent tip:  stretch before you play.  Link to www.mayoclinic.com, plug "golf stretches" into the search box and watch the slide show for 18 easy-to-do stretches designed to improve your flexibility for golf.  I am a big fan of Miranda Esmond-White's Classical Stretch program (I watch her on Iowa Public TV every Monday, Wednesday, Friday morning at 6:00 am.)  A former Ballet Canada dancer  she trains a number of Olympic and professional athletes.  I used her stretches before every round (10-15 minutes) during my mid-January golf trip this year and I swear they helped.  Not only did I feel good on the course without having picked up the sticks for a few months, I felt better afterward as well.  She is perky and has that cute Canadian accent; her web site does not offer much free info, but she does offer golf-specific tips during her program.  BTW, the current Golf Digest also has an article on biomechanics and the importance of stretching and strengthening the hips, some Miranda focuses on as well. We feature fitness tips in our youth clinics also.

Zach is back; he never really left...

Jay Flemma asks, rhetorically, in his golf blog, A Walk in the Park, "Is Zach Johnson validated yet?"  I tried to post a comment but Word Press was a little bonky, so I'll post it here today:

Given how few ever win one tournament, let alone a major and a couple tournaments, and get high marks for Rider Cup tenacity, Zach Johnson has nothing left to prove. People who know him here in Iowa say what you see is what you get; he just flat out works hard. Certainly not as flashy as Badds or Villegas, he does know how to close the deal, something many of today's pros, men and women both, can't seem to master. Heck, why should they, when they can make millions coming in third, THIRD!!!? I've said it before, Zach Johnson is the real deal. He knows how to win. Zach will be back.

As Jay put it: "Looks like a keeper to me."  Nice work Jay.

Golf "Girls"

In finding my way around the golf blogosphere I have found that women write some of the most interesting and readable blogs.  Often sassy and frequently irreverent the self-described female golf addicts who pen (pen?) these blogs represent a great and often overlooked opportunity for the golf business.  Tom Peters has argued for years that women represent one of the best, if not the best, untapped markets for all businesses.  The Golf Girl and The Golf Chick write fun and often provocative posts on a wide range of golf issues; The Fairway Flapper seems to focus on products and services targeting women golfers (she gets it).  A new site, definitely not for the meek and maybe not for kids (all these sites, like most women I know, treat adults like adults) is Chicks with Sticks whose author penned one of my favorite rejoinders to date.  (I leave it to you to figure out which one.)  I believe we need more variety and more points of view in order to grow golf.  These distaff bloggers may not be to everyone's taste, but neither are Fuzzy, Phil, and Tiger. 

BTW, I just stumbled upon Scot Duke's interesting Business Golf blog; he gets it too.

On the Tee--Radio Golf

Just a quick shout out to our friend Mike Rickord.  Mike has built a little multi-media company in the Heartland, the Iowa Sports Connection.  He covers youth and prep sports in a monthly magazine, a couple of radio programs and a growing web site.  A related venture targeting adults is a fun show called On the Tee featuring Mike and two local pros, Judd Gibb from The Legacy Golf Club of Norwalk, Iowa, and Bob Vanscoy from Waveland Golf Course in Des Moines, Iowa.  They discuss local golf and golfers, products and equipment, and interview PGA pros.  Fuzzy Zoeller was the guest last Saturday, and after listening I wanted to sit down with Fuzz and listen to him tell tales.  This is my second encounter with golf radio (a couple weeks ago I discussed the golf industry with Ric Silvestrini (who happens to operate the Iowa Golf Tour, a series of amateur tournaments,) on a morning drive-time show on KXNO, 1460 am); it's fun and I am amazed at the number of people who mention the shows.  On the Tee airs from 9-11 in the morning Saturdays on WOW, 98.3 FM.  Audio casts of the shows are also available on the Iowa PGA website.  If you are in the golf business consider radio for getting the word out.

We're onto something

I start every day, EVERY DAY, with the comics.  When I was a kid my mom would send them to me when I traveled abroad.  One of my regular reads is JumpStart, Robb Armstrong's strip about a married couple and their extended family.  The other day Joe, a cop and the dad in the strip, announced he was going to start an after school golf clinic.  He recruits family and friends to pitch in and makes it happen. Adults appreciate it and children enjoy the opportunity and the attention. Let us know if we can help set one up in your child's school.

Sean...Hit it Already!!

For anyone who witnessed Sean O'Hair's demise yesterday, there is a lesson to be learned for sure.  I'm talking beyond what the SwingStation System or any teaching professional (including Butch Harmon) can teach you.  I'm also talking about something other than choosing the wrong club or getting the distance wrong...even misreading a putt!!

I'm talking about O'Hair's disturbingly slow pace of play.  I watch a ton of golf on TV.  When it was his turn to play, I couldn't stand it.  Granted he is young (24); he has never been in this position in an "almost" major tournament; he had been going toe to toe with one of the world's best in Phil Mickelson; the list of excuses can go on.  Also, don't give me that "you couldn't begin to understand the pressure he was feeling" excuse.  If that's the way he is going to be every time he is in contention in a big tournament...I might hope he never contends again. 

I am aware of Sean O'Hair's troubles with his overbearing father (from Golf Digest 2005) and "overbearing" is an understatement.  I understand that if he wins The Players he gets a 10 year exemption and all that other great stuff that secures him for life. 

Believe it or not, I like him and I'm guessing he'll learn from this and not disappear.  He missed an easy putt on 16 and his short game needs work, but his tee balls, both shots on 17 and the 2nd one on 16 were good ones.  He is one of less than 130 golfers who get to keep their day job.  He's a pro.  Get the distance, feel the wind, choose a club, commit to the shot and hit it!  I'll pull for him in the future, but the second he starts over analyzing I can't promise anything.

The announcers picked up on it.  They mentioned the more time you take, the more time your body has to get tense.  Maybe his body didn't get tense and maybe even his mind didn't get tense...but I sure did.  I commend him for his "I didn't want to play for 2nd" attitude but HURRY UP NEXT TIME!

How Do You Measure Success?

SwingStation Systems New Jersey started their At-School golf program a few weeks ago at St Elizabeth's School in Bernardsville, NJ.  There were two sessions offered for intermediate and beginner. 

One of the parents signing up told me, "My husband wanted our boy to try golf, but we didn't sign up for the second session in case he doesn't like it."  The mom went on to say in a hopeful, innocent-like voice, "...but my husband really hopes he likes it."

Long story short, the 10 year old little boy signed up for the second session and when he walked around back to where our set up was, he was carrying a brand new set of golf clubs.  The mom informed me he bought the clubs with his own money!  I don't know who's smile was bigger that day, mine, the boy's or the boy's father, but I know one thing...SwingStation has landed another golfer and that's what I call success.

Make it Fun

The other day I provided SwingStation video capture for the grand opening of Copper Creek Golf Club's new clubhouse.  It was cold and rainy, so we set the System up inside the dining room, provided clubs and a target ball on a tether and offered free videos and brief analysis to the Club's guests.  I also set up our TourLinks putting green and the Club offered prizes for anyone who could sink their first putt.  The guests loved it, and the new teaching pro, Nichole Kentner, really liked it too.  I encouraged everyone to visit with her and to sign up for one of her clinics or a lesson package.  Most golfers have never seen their swing, and they really appreciate the ease of the SwingStation System.  Everyone walks away with something to practice or reinforce.  Even beginners are drawn to the System.  In fact, one young teenager who had never picked up a club approached me after watching the adults use the System and shyly asked if I could help her.  I got her started, and then introduced her to Nichole.  With a little bit of encouragement she'll become part of two of the fastest growing segments of golf:  juniors and women.  SwingStation was just new and different enough to draw her in.

Are You in Shape for Golf?

Are you sure?  Keep up with this:

Remember our post on Bosu?

Murphy has it going on.

Not wanting to turn this into too much of a fashion site I wanted to follow up on my brother's post about golf, colors, and short skirts.  Our friend Murphy has it right.  Golf is supposed to be fun, and shades of brown and pleated Bermuda shorts don't get it done.  Guys, guys, guys; Paula, Michelle, Natalie, and Lorena have beautiful swings and they bring a lot of color to the game.  Even Sports Illustrated seems to be wondering how short Michell will go.  Fellas, splurge on some MyJoys; and pick up some flashy slacks from LoudMouth Golf;  Not only will you liven up the game, these outfits are good for at least a stroke or two in any match.  For a real edge, try a kilt form SportKilts.  Believe me, your opponents will be impressed and distracted, especially if the wind is blowing. Come on life is not khaki-colored; live it up and liven it up a little.