30 Jun 2023

EDITORIAL – WHAT IS THE ANTICIPATED IMPACT ON FUTURE GOLF TOURNAMENT SINCE PGA TOUR AND LIV GOLF MERGER

On June 6, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), announced to the world that the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour and the PIF agreed to drop lawsuits against each other and work collaboratively for the good of the game.  What does this mean for the future of professional golf?
 
According to Sports Illustrated, “The PGA Tour would control the structure of golf moving forward – including whether PIF’s LIV Tour continues operations, and if so, in what form. The Tour has promised a ‘good-faith’ evaluation of LIV’s viability, though potential penalties for LIV players who apply for PGA Tour reinstatement have already been discussed. The parties have set a deadline of the end of 2023 to reach a deal, and that condensed timeline means that 2024 could be a transition year for the sport. The PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV Tour’s assets would all go into a separate company, of which the Tour would have controlling interest. PIF would then be an investor in that company with the right of first refusal for future investments.”
 
Reading into this, it sounds like LIV may or may not exist going forward, and if it does still exist, it’s not likely to be in its present form.  LIV’s current business model includes selling its teams as franchises, and at this point in time there doesn’t seem to be much interest.  It’s no secret the Saudis want to get into professional golf as a major player, and at the moment, LIV just isn’t resonating enough.
 
Going forward and based on what Sports Illustrated reported, since the PGA Tour has assets in professional golf far and above what the Saudis have, it looks like the PIF will provide funding in return for a chance at greater returns in professional golf in the future.  This may include having PGA Tour events in Saudi Arabia, for example.  But the Saudis have made it clear this is a business venture, not a charity, and they expect a good return on their investment.  Time will tell how exactly this will happen.  And part of that certainly will include welcoming back LIV players to the PGA and DP Tours.  
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EDITORIAL – THE MEANING OF MICHAEL BLOCK’S PGA PERFORMANCE
1 Jun 2023

EDITORIAL – THE MEANING OF MICHAEL BLOCK’S PGA PERFORMANCE

Prior to the PGA Championship, the only people in golf who knew the name Michael Block were the members and clientele of the course where he works, Arroyo Trabuco in Mission Viejo, California, his fellow PGA section members, and golf geeks. After his performance in the PGA Championship, every golf fan knows his name.

For three days, Block mesmerized the golfing world as he shot even-par each day to land a spot in the top 10 entering the final round, where he would be paired with Rory McIlroy. Block’s dream week continued when he aced the par-3 15th hole, sending everyone into a frenzy, and even received a hug from McIlroy. He finished in a tie for 15th place and secured a place in next year’s PGA Championship.

Block’s epic performance has several meanings, one of which is the seemingly impossible (or at least improbable) may not be so impossible, after all. Although Block somewhat downplayed his accomplishment by saying this is how he normally plays when his mind is free (calling it “Blocky golf”), what he did is remarkable. It also means that those of us who teach golf for a living can really play the game at a level that commands respect from our students – although perhaps not to Block’s ability, but the point stands. It also means that someone with a dream can really accomplish that dream if he or she puts in the blood, sweat and tears necessary. Finally, and perhaps most important, Block conducted himself in such a classy manner that showed you can still have success and be respectful and gracious. It’s a lesson that some athletes and other successful people should take to heart.

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EDITORIAL – RULES CHANGE CONTROVERSY…AGAIN?
31 Mar 2023

EDITORIAL – RULES CHANGE CONTROVERSY…AGAIN?

 

Starting January 1, 2010, a new grooves regulation was enacted by the USGA and R&A because they thought the then-current grooves spun the ball too much. Club manufacturers found a way to actually make better grooves, which meant the rules change was useless but meant many competitive golfers had to buy new irons. In 2016 came the infamous “anchored putting ban,” which is still a sore spot with many today.

 

In 2019 the USGA and R&A completely overhauled the rules, the two most drastic changes being hitting the flagstick with a putt was no longer a penalty, and all drops were taken from knee height. After a long adjustment period, golfers accepted the changes. And now comes the latest controversial rules proposal, a Model Local Rule for “elite” golfers where they would play a distance-restricted golf ball. The rules makers deem this necessary because, in their own words, elite golfers hitting the ball too far “undermines the core principle that a broad and balanced set of playing skills should remain the primary determinant of success in golf.” They are also worried about courses supposedly “having” to increase yardage to handle all of this.

 

People who say, “Why don’t they just make the courses tougher” are not understanding their position. It’s not a matter of score; to them; it’s a matter of angles and what club is being hit into the green. There is also an element who want to return to the days of long irons into par-4s and where going for the green in two on a par-5 was a big deal. But those days are gone.

 

I recently went to the Korn Ferry Tour in Savannah, Georgia, and they played a course that measured just over 7,000 yards, and I did not see anyone making a mockery of the course. There are also practical problems with implementing a shorter ball: When do promising players switch over? In high school? In college? It would also be tempting for less-honest players to cheat by using the longer ball. It’s also not a given the PGA Tour will adopt the new rule, either, so what would be the incentive for ball manufacturers to even make such a ball? If that happened, the new rule couldn’t even be implemented. In short, while the USGA and R&A will almost certainly put the Model Local Rule into place and will follow it for their championships – as likely will the Masters – if the major tours don’t adopt the rule, we will have a big mess on our hands. And even if they do adopt it, there will still be a mess, albeit a smaller one.

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EDITORIAL – TIGER WOODS – WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD?
27 Feb 2023

EDITORIAL – TIGER WOODS – WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD?

Tiger Woods returned to official tournament competition this past February after a 7-month absence, and his return was typical Tiger since his car accident two years ago. He made the cut and then shot a stellar 67 on Saturday before a pedestrian 73 on Sunday.

Tiger says he only plays if he believes he has a chance to win, but his performance highlights a dilemma that no one has really talked about: Tiger needs reps to contend, but is playing so rarely due to his physical condition that he cannot get the reps he needs to contend. Now, before anyone says in years past that Tiger played well the first time out after an extended layoff – which would be correct – Tiger is no longer young. From personal experience, I can tell you the older you get, the more you need the reps. And no, I’m not comparing myself to Tiger in terms of skill, but I’m not the only one who has gotten older who has made this observation.

So now the question is, will Tiger make an effort to play more in order to be sharp for the majors? Because if he doesn’t, or his body doesn’t let him, then to make the climb to the top of the mountain one more time may not be possible. Yes, even for Tiger Woods, who has, since 1997, made the seemingly impossible happen.

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Editorial – What is a Good Age for Juniors to Start Learning Golf?
1 Feb 2023

Editorial – What is a Good Age for Juniors to Start Learning Golf?

Golf Instruction Before my current tenure as a teaching professional at an indoor studio with all the latest in video and launch monitor technology, I hadn’t really taught that many junior players. That all changed when I took my current position some six years ago.

 

Parents will ask me, “What is a good age to start learning golf?” Based on my experience, the best answer I can give is, “When they express a desire to be better at golf and they’re at least 5 years old.” By then, they should be used to learning in a school environment so that should translate over. When it came to my own kids, now 15 and 14, believe it or not I never gave them one bit of instruction for years. Sure, I put a golf club into their hands at early ages, but they never once asked me any swing advice. A few years ago, they attended USGTF professional Graham Lewis’s junior camp where I was also teaching, and I farmed out their instruction to another coach who did a fine job with them.

 

I’m currently teaching an 11-year-old who is the #1-ranked junior player for his age group in the Hilton Head, SC/Savannah, GA area. He has a younger brother who, at age 3, had a near-perfect swing. And still at age 6, it’s incredible. I told his dad I would not teach him because he’s such a natural and that if he develops any bad habits, I’ll step in. But so far, so good.

 

It cuts me up to no end when I see parents tell their kids, “Keep your eye on the ball!” Or, “Swing easy!” Not once have I ever said this to any kid or any adult, because they are old myths that one amateur tells another. Then again, we as teaching professionals exist for a
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23 Mar 2020

Basic Knowledge When It Comes To Clubs

By Mark Harman, USGTF Contributing Writer

I teach at a golf retail store when I’m not executing my duties with the USGTF, and one of my side jobs is doing club fitting.  I’m not exaggerating when I say I’ve learned more than I ever really wanted to know about clubs these past three years!  Here’s a little bit of what I’ve learned:

Irons – Generally, there are muscleback irons, good-players irons with slight forgiveness, good-players irons with technology, and game-improvement irons.  Clubs geared towards good players tend to have less offset and smaller heads, while game-improvement irons have more offset and bigger heads.  Good players who hit the ball relatively short for their skill level should seek out irons that have some distance technology.  Examples include Ping i500, Titleist T200, TaylorMade 790, and Callaway Mavrik.  If distance isn’t a problem but some forgiveness is warranted, options would be Ping i200, Titleist T100, and Srixon Z 585.  I would recommend muscleback irons only for good players who don’t need added distance and who strike the ball fairly pure – in other words, a very small audience.

Drivers – There are five general categories for drivers:  1) Drivers designed for accuracy with little workability; 2) Drivers designed for workability at the possible cost of accuracy; 3) Low-spin drivers; 4) Lightweight drivers; 5) Draw-biased drivers. There can be some overlap in these categories, but usually they are clearly defined in one of these categories.

Wedges – It wasn’t long ago that buying a wedge was as simple as picking one out with the loft you wanted.  Now there are bounce angles and sole grinds to consider.  Titleist Vokey wedges, for example, feature six different grinds!

How do we, as teachers, keep up with all these developments?  As someone in the business, it’s not easy for me!  Not to mention all the different shaft and ball options.  I would advise going to the companies’ websites for information.  While the descriptive text is designed for sales, it also provides some good info on each club.  More importantly, just knowing the categories that exist can be helpful in steering our students towards the correct equipment for their game.
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Teaching In Today's Environment
21 Feb 2020

Teaching In Today’s Environment

By Mark Harman, USGTF Contributing Writer

Years ago, the only way lessons were given was for a student to show up on the driving range and an instructor would dispense advice after seeing a few balls hit.  This was usually accomplished by fixing, or attempting to fix, the student’s most glaring visual flaw.  Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t.

As the video recorder age came about in the 1980s, it allowed teachers to break down the swing frame by frame.  The emphasis became fixing not only the most glaring visual fault, but trying to correct as many as possible during the allotted time.  While instructors knew about the ball flight laws, their knowledge was incorrect, as it was taught that the clubhead path through impact determined the ball’s starting direction.  We know now that this is wrong, that the clubface angle mainly determines the starting direction.  But with incorrect knowledge and methodology in full force, some players improved, but many didn’t.

Today in 2020, any student who wants to go see a teacher who has a launch monitor can usually find one within a reasonable drive of their home.  Teachers who use launch monitors focus less on what the swing looks like and more on what the numbers say.  We’ve seen this manifest itself on the pro tours, where Matthew Wolfe’s homemade swing makes Jim Furyk’s look downright conventional.  But Wolfe’s teacher, George Gankas, was astute enough to know he had a talent on his hands who could repeat his swing  time and time again. And since Wolfe could repeat the numbers, no changes were necessary.

While it’s not mandatory to have a launch monitor to teach, it’s becoming almost crucial.  The days of a teacher going to the range to help someone without any technology are fast coming to a close.  While most every teacher has access to a video system through their smartphone, it also wouldn’t hurt to invest in launch monitor technology.  Any teacher who plans on teaching making a full-time career of it must have it to be competitive.  Part-time teachers who can’t recoup a large investment should at least look into lower-cost options, such as FlightScope’s mevo, which is around $500.

The golf teaching industry has always evolved and will continue to do so.  Teachers who stay current have the best chance of succeeding.
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1-2-3 Putter Setup Golf Lesson Teaches Putting Speed Control
18 Feb 2020

1-2-3 Putter Setup Golf Lesson Teaches Putting Speed Control

By Arlen Bento Jr. USGTF Contributing Writer

One of my best golf putting lessons for new players or players that are struggling with distance control in putting is my 1-2-3 putter setup golf lesson. This concept is very simple yet very powerful for players that have a difficult time controlling speed on putts.

What you want to do is to get your students to set up with a narrow putting stance on short putts, I call this the #1 setup; I only want enough space between the feet to allow 4-6 inches, or the length of one putter head. I like to actually place a putter between my feet to demonstrate the spacing. Once the spacing is in place, I instruct the player to only take the putter back to the toe of the trail foot.

I like to use a forward ball position in my putting instruction. My idea is that I really like to have my students be aware of rolling the golf ball on putts. To achieve a better roll, I like a player to feel like the putter is striking the upper half of the golf ball at impact, so I need a forward ball position.

In the setup, I instruct the player to let the weight of the putter control the strike, no extra hit, or pop in the motion. I like them to feel a pendulum motion, letting the weight of the putter control movement and the strike of the golf ball. I encourage each player to use a symmetrical movement in the exercise: Let the putter move back to the trail foot toe (right toe for right-handed player), and then let the putter head move forward in a pendulum motion past the front toe the same distance. In most cases, we are talking about a putting stroke that moves back away from the ball 6-8 inches and through the ball 6-8 inches in the #1 setup. This consistent motion will create a consistent putt that travels the same distance every time. The goal is to use five balls in practice to no target, I call this “putt to nowhere” and try to get all five balls to travel the same distance, creating a small cluster using this exercise. All the player has to do is to remember what distance they create based on #1 setup and match that distance to their setup when they play.

Short putt, #1 setup. I get a lot of 5- to 7-foot putts in the #1 setup with my students.

Once the player has created the #1 setup and motion, all they have to do is simply widen their stance to 10-12 inches for the #2 setup. I like to explain the idea of being able to space two putter heads in length between my feet. Using the same ball position, let the putter head move back to the toe of the trail foot, and with a pendulum motion, strike the golf ball with a symmetrical follow through. Because of the larger setup, the putter head will move with a longer stroke, creating a longer follow through and a longer putt. Just like in the #1 setup, each player will have to learn how far the putt rolls with the #2 stroke vs. the #1 stroke, depending on green speeds.

In the #2 setup, I get a lot of 15- to 21-foot putts with my students.

Finally, the #3 stance is 15-18 inches apart, spacing three putter heads between the feet; longer putting stroke, longer putt. As I teach this concept, I am instructing the student to feel the putting stroke, not hit the ball.

In the #3 set up, I get a lot of 30- to 40-foot putts with my students.

Over time, each player will develop a confidence in controlling speed, thus improving distance control and improving putting.

Arlen Bento Jr. is an award-winning golf coach and “Top 100” world-recognized golf instructor. He is the former head golf professional of the PGA Country Club in PGA Village and director of golf/general manager of Eagle Marsh Golf Club in Jensen Beach, Florida. He operates his indoor golf center in Stuart, Florida, and outdoor golf academy in Port St. Lucie, Florida, where he specializes in player development, and offers his highly successful “Bento Golf Method” to players that want to learn how to get better. For more information, you can contact him via his websites www.arlenbentojrgolflessons.com or www.bentogolfmethod.com.
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11 Oct 2019

Learning Golf Should Mirror Skiing

By Mike Stevens A sane person would never tackle a black slope on their first venture on a snow-packed mountain when skiing, although I have seen several broken appendages proving me otherwise. Remember, I said a sane person. Generally, one starts on the bunny hill to get a feel for the stance and posture and how to turn and stop without crashing. Then, maybe something a little more exciting, but it might be months before attempting a black. Ski slopes are set up to allow a progression, and the industry promotes learning in that manner. Instructors would never take an inexperienced person to an advanced run right off the bat. I wish golf took the same approach. It would be so easy to have a short course within a course and designate a plan for new golfers to progress to so-called championship lengths. I have seen a couple of courses do this, but it is not something pushed at the industry level. Instead of all the new golf initiatives formulated each year to grow the game, we should concentrate on helping the individual progress in smaller steps. Tee it forward was a good idea, but meant for experienced golfers. If I were running a course, I would have 18 tee boxes within the course with a maximum distance 175 yards. Then, I would have new golfers play from there with a target score to achieve before they could move back to a farther length. I believe newbies would enjoy it more and feel a sense of accomplishment once they graduated to a regulation length course.
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6 Sep 2019

The New Major Championship Schedule

By Mike Stevens

Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy recently complained that there was not enough time between the major championships to adequately prepare. They were also critical that the season that used to carry into August was now over in July. I guess they forgot about the $15 million that players were chasing in the playoffs that concluded on August 25th. Rory could not understand how football could cause such a dramatic change in scheduling. Quite understandable, since Europeans have no idea how passionate we colonists are about the most popular sport in America. The NFL and NCAA take no back seat once the training camps and practice sessions begin.

Is the time between major championships really an issue? I think that depends on whether you consider the Players a major tournament. Many do, but yes or no, it is one of five huge tournaments each year. The only difference in 2018 versus 2019 was when the Players was conducted. In 2018 it was 31 days after the Masters. In 2019 it was 30 days before the Masters. In reality, the length of time between the “Big 5” this year was more consistent than in 2018, about 29 days. In the previous year, the PGA was held only 17 days after the Open Championship. So, in my opinion, the new schedule is just right. Golfers will adjust; they always do.
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