Golf Tips & Quips

I got to the scrimmage portion of my practice session and I was hitting the ball really well. That is until I got to the one hole that always gives me trouble. I can play this hole as short as 105 yards or I can move back to where I can play it to 165 yards.

When I play the hole short I have no problems. The tee box sets up so that it is a straight shot into the green. Two bunkers guard the green on either side and it falls off over the back to an area that is 7 feet below the green. Not too difficult from this position. I still have to make the shot but there is not much to think about. Just hit it straight.

Problems arise however when I move it back to the 165 yard range. From this distance I actually tee the ball up from the tee box that is going in the opposite direction. From this angle, the green is off to the right a little bit. For some reason I have trouble getting myself properly aligned from this position.

When I am practicing I always lay down a club like Ian Poulter does in this video. It really helps to get myself aiming down the right line. When I have the the club down, I have no problem hitting a shot to a target that is off to the right. The shaft is there so I just trust that I am properly aligned and make the shot.

If I have to hit the same shot without my alignment aid, I struggle mightily. I feel like my stance is too closed and I have trouble completing a proper one-piece takeaway. I come across my body and hit a humongous hook. It happens every time I get to that hole.

Maybe it became mental after a while, but I also believe that poor technique or actually not knowing what to do is the main contributor of my poor performance on this particular hole. When you have poor mechanics or lack of knowledge, there is no way you can be confident in what you are doing. Especially in a game where everything is a matter of inches.

I often hear professionals say that a certain hole doesn't fit their eye. This is what is happening to me. I just don't feel comfortable. Rory McIlroy has been in the news recently for thinking about skipping the Players Championship held at TPC Sawgrass. It is considered golf's 5th major, but the 21 year old star says he may not be there in 2011. This is what he said about Pete Dye's infamous layout...

"I don't like the course," McIlroy said on the eve of the Dubai World Championship, the final tournament of the European Tour season. "That's one of the reasons I'm undecided whether to play it or not.

"It's a Pete Dye course. It creates angles, a bit like Whistling Straits," he said. "He designed that course as well, where the tee boxes are sort of lining you up in the wrong direction. Visually it's very tough off the tee. It makes you feel uncomfortable because it looks like you've only got a little bit of fairway to hit but actually once you get up there, it's a little bit wider. It's just very demanding visually," added McIlroy.

My Buddy Marc and I got in a round of golf yesterday at Miami Springs Golf & Country Club. We wanted to get out early before the South Florida heat could set in. I also wanted to be home in time to watch the final round of the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits. Unfortunately we did not tee off until about 11:30 AM, so it was hot and I would have to miss part of the tournament(I did make it home in time to see the leaders finish the back nine).

I can play whenever. I've played in Arizona with temperatures soaring over 115 degrees. I just like to play. Give me lots of water and Gatorade and I am good to go. It takes a little coaxing to get Marc out in the heat, but once he is out there, he is as game as any.

Marc has really come along this summer. He has improved his chipping and pitching tremendously and he has a natural eye with his putter. If I can get him to practice more he could really develop a decent golf game.

In a prior post, I shared Marc and I attempting a tandem Happy Gilmore swing. I am obsessed with trying to perfect the swing. I even started a Facebook group dedicated to the Happy Gilmore swing. Members send in their own hilarious attempts or those that they find on Youtube. Some are excellent, some are okay, and some border on the ridiculous. The course was wide open so we decided to get some more footage on the 18th tee.

It is not as easy as it looks. It takes a tremendous amount of timing and coordination to pull off this shot. Even the young golf sensation Rory Mcilroy struggled when he tried it in front of the cameras.

Our feeble attempts were hilarious. Needless to say, we each needed multiple takes to pull it off. Well, I pulled it off(sorry Marc). Marc was not so successful. We ended up spending five minutes on the tee box filming ourselves acting like fools. Like I said it was hot and I guess no one else was crazy enough to be out there, so we had all the time we wanted.

Marc made me promise not to show this to the general public. I think he even tried to use the Jedi mind trick on me, but it makes for good viewing. So again. Sorry buddy. I'm sure he will get over it...I hope. Have a good round and always hit your target.

Marc's 1st Attempt - This is just a warm up. Yeeaahh...That's it.



Marc's 2nd Attempt - I think he tries to get under the ball and scoop it up. Never try to help the ball into the air. Let the club do the work. HA!



Marc's 3rd Attempt - Contact! But where did the ball go? Don't think we have to look very far.



My 1st Attempt - All I did was make myself dizzy. And...how do I hit the ground a foot behind the ball?



My 2nd Attempt - Success! Pushed it a little right, but I got it out there.



Medicus Dual Hinge Combo Chosen by golf pros as top swing trainer clubs in the world. Try now!