USGTF Monthly Newsletter Archives - Page 74 of 144 - United States Golf Teachers Federation

5 Jan 2018 admin

Editorial – Honesty and the Golf Teacher

By: Mark Harman, USGTF National Course Director It’s a dilemma I’ve faced countless times in my golf teaching career, and it’s one that, 28 years later, I still have no good way of handling. I’m referring to how honest I can or should be with some of my students. One of the things that breaks my heart – although only in a teaching sense as this is far from a tragedy – is when a student of mine wants to accomplish something and comes to me for my help, and I can clearly see that they have no hope of doing so. A good example is a former low-handicap older golfer with physical ailments wanting to increase distance and regain their glory days, when it is obvious to me that they cannot do so without undergoing some intense physical therapy and a lot of work away from the driving range. They come to me, hopeful that I can give them the magic move that will instantly create 10-20 more yards off the tee. I collect their clubhead data on my GC Quad (a TrackMan-type device) and look at their video, and see that, well, they pretty much have a decent-enough move that really cannot be improved all that much, especially in their currently-compromised physical state. I ask them if they are in a conditioning program, and the usual response is “no.” When I advise them to see their doctor and start one, they tell me “I will” but I know they probably won’t. I know from firsthand experience that getting motivated at an older age to work hard on a physical regimen to achieve better golf is difficult. A couple of years ago, I suffered a fall from about eight feet off the ground, landing right on my back and rear end. The fall permanently damaged my hip and lower back, and I have great soreness in my hip and tightness in my back virtually every day. So I can’t really get on my older students too much if they don’t do what is necessary to reach their goals. Sometimes I see people who lack coordination to the extent that they frankly will never be able to play anywhere near the level they desire. In these cases, I remain encouraging and help them as much as I can, but again, it breaks my heart (in a golf sense) that I know they cannot reach their goals. Now, some teachers might say that no one is unteachable, and that’s not what I’m saying. Yes, I can give them a plan that will improve their games, and that’s my job and I gladly do it. My dilemma is in how honest can I be. To my fellow teachers, how do you handle such situations? Please write me at mark@usgtf.com, and I will discuss your answers in another editorial later on.

Editorial – Let’s Celebrate the Return of Tiger

I never got to see Michaelangelo or Da Vinci paint. I never got to see Shakespeare write, or Abraham Lincoln recite the Gettysburg Address. But I did get to see Tiger Woods play golf.

Yes, I put Tiger in the same category as these other historic greats. His genius is every bit the equal of those Renaissance masters, albeit in a competitive arena. And yet, the artistry Tiger displayed at his best was just as exquisite as any artist in history.

Some people don’t like Tiger because of some of his on-course antics (swearing and slamming his club into the ground), and they have a valid point. I don’t have a problem with people who don’t like him because of this. But these same people may be depriving themselves of the joy of watching the greatest golfer of all time perform his craft. Yes, I know Jack Nicklaus has won 18 majors to Tiger’s 14, and that Sam Snead holds the record for number of victories at 82 while Tiger is stuck at 79, but I think context is important. While Nicklaus did have to fend off the likes of Trevino, Watson and Palmer – all of whom won at least six majors – Woods had to contend with multiple major winners in his own right, and he played in an era where literally anyone could win a major if he was on his game (think Rich Beem or Shaun Micheel). And Snead? Outside of Hogan, Nelson and Demaret and perhaps a handful of others, he simply didn’t face nearly the depth of competition. Combine that with Tiger’s utter dominance in so many events such as winning the Masters by 12 and the U.S. Open by 15, and you have someone who played the best golf ever played over a sustained period.

As I write this, Tiger just finished off a 69 in the first round of the Hero World Challenge. He may go on to contend and possibly win, or he might fall back into the pack near last place. But whatever the case, as John Maginnes said on his radio show, Tiger doesn’t move the needle…Tiger is the needle. And golf is better for having him back.

By Mark Harman, USGTF National Course Director

World Cup Recap: USA, Masih, Harman Win Titles

Team USA shot a record 9-under-par 711 to win its eighth team title out of 13 attempts at the World Golf Teachers Cup at Boulder Creek Golf Club in Boulder City, Nevada, October 18-19. Mark Harman fired a 6-under-par 66 and Kacey Tyler a 5-under-par 67 in the final round, leading the USA the final day to edge Team International 1 by five strokes. Canada came in third at 724, followed by International 2 at 765 at Great Britain & Ireland at 792.

Shafiq Masih from Canada claimed the individual title with scores of 67-70 – 137 to defeat runner-up and defending champion Rebecca Samuelsson by two strokes. Newly-crowned United States Golf Teachers Cup champion Matt Smith finished third at 70-70 – 140. Pam Montgomery won the Ladies title with scores of 80-78 – 158 to nip Mary Peter-Wolf by one stroke.

In the inaugural World Senior Golf Teachers Cup, Harman, from Ridgeland, South Carolina, defeated Tyler on the first playoff hole after both finished at 6-under-par 138. Tyler’s tee shot on the #9 hole on the Coyote Run nine went into the water after a bad bounce, and his third shot finished 20 feet from the hole. Meanwhile, Harman put his approach shot on the par-4 hole 15 feet away, and after Tyler’s par effort lipped out, Harman two-putted for the victory. It was his ninth WGTF national or international victory since competition began in 1996. Anthony Benny from Trinidad & Tobago won the Super Senior championship with 71-72 – 143 and finished fifth overall in the World Senior Cup. Ray Holder shot 75-77 – 152 to win the Legends division for players 70 and over.

Pictured from left to right: Kacey Tyler, Jim Perez, Michael Wolf, Matt Smith, Mark Harman and Jim Grow.