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Dave DeLong

Grinding it Out

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How often do you hear that in order to score well you need to have a good short game? I say it every day while I give lessons because it’s true! In order to score well you do have to have a good short game but you also need more than that.

It wouldn’t hurt if you could hit it long and straight while following that up with precision approach shots. Then, of course, you would need to negotiate the green and putt the ball into the cup. Most people believe that in order to play well they do need to drive long and true, select the correct club and put it on the green. Maybe if you are a scratch golfer, but most the golfer’s I teach would be happy shooting in the 90’s and breaking that 100 mark. I also teach low handicap golfer’s as well. In general, everyone needs to work on the short game. Still, something is missing that players need to come to grips with before they can expect to capitalize on all the extra time put into the “scoring area.”

Last month, a few hundred of the games top players battled it out to earn the right to compete on the PGA Tour. The final stage is over 108 holes or 6 rounds. It’s a pressure packed event with all the marbles on the table. Qualify and you go to the big show—miss and you go home. It’s that simple. This brings me back to the short game topic. I had qualified for the finals one year when the 108 holes were held on a difficult course outside Houston Texas. It was wet and extremely cold averaging just above freezing. I’m happy to say that I qualified that year but how I did might be a bit of a surprise to many. Out of 108 holes, I had only hit half the greens in regulation for that week. That means 54 times I had an opportunity to chip, pitch or hit a bunker shot. I managed to get the ball up and down 46 out of 54 times. For those that know golf, that’s lot of up and downs.

It wasn’t that I putted great or managed to negotiate the Bermuda grass any better than most. What I did do is the missing link with the short game; I flat out grinded my way around. What that means is that I refused to get frustrated, I refused to give up and I set my mind after a missed shot to get the ball up onto the green and into that cup. That’s what up and down means. I was able to do it 46 times. That’s determination and that is what people often times miss. They get upset and down on themselves and then can’t fight back and still make a good score.

I believe a good short game starts with that determination and then a lot of practice so you can pull off really good short shots, even when your are still fuming about that last poor shot you hit! It’s not easy to do that because you have to be able to accept that last error quickly and move forward to the shot at hand. This is a critical step in order to take your game to another level. You are still going to miss easy shots and you are still going to get upset because of them. But, you need to buckle down and get the ball into that hole anyway. That ability to grind it out is what separates you from reaching that next level. I challenge you for 2011 to become more determined, learn how to grind and reach another level!

Go to www.ddelongolf.com and see my Winter Special offer. One video lesson and three private lessons for $199.00 plus you will get a $25 Gift Certificate for a follow up lesson before March 1.

In the Search for Perfection

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Golfing great Ben Hogan has been quoted as saying that he never hit more than seven great shots per round. 2010 Remax World Long Drive Championship runner up Dominick Mazza told his dad after the competition that he felt he only hit one real solid shot in the competition and yet he blasted ball after ball 350 to 404 yards during the multi day competition to finish second.

I was asked recently to help an eight year-old girl, who by the way, has a very nice and strong swing to help her understand that she does not have to be perfect in order to play good golf. I thought this would make for a nice piece for all golfers at every level.

As I contemplated how I would address the issue the dad presented me regarding his eight year old, I began to realize that this is a pretty common challenge for all who play the game. And, to make a further point, I don’t think anyone has really ever had a perfect game. I know at the end of every really great round I have ever had, I could think back and count a few shots I would love to play over. I thought I would broach this subject to another golfer and it just happened to be another young golfer only ten years of age. As I talked to her about the challenge of golf and how difficult it is to hit every shot the way you want or the way you think you should hit it, she gave me some great insight that I want to pass on. She said, “I try to do my best. When I don’t hit a ball well or miss hit it, I don’t like it but I know that it is part of the game and that it will happen. I can accept that and then I just try to do my best the next time.”

My jaw dropped a little and then I broke out in a huge smile. She has the correct attitude. It’s realistic and healthy, and she proved to me that she is winning that part of the game that so many people struggle with. This ten year-old girl said it better than I could have. Perfection is a pursuit that many think they should be able to attain. Look at what Ben Hogan said about each round—and he was regarded as one of the best ball strikers of all time.

Hitting great shots are wonderful. They build confidence and it feels great. But in order to play well, more playable miss hits need to be realized and accepted. The bad ones hurt, but it’s how you handle the poor ones that can determine whether or not you are giving yourself the best possible chance to do well! Adopt the attitude of this brilliant ten year old and you too will play better and have more fun.

Drive for Show & Putt for Dough

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That is, unless your competing at the World Long Drive Championship. These guys hit long balls for money. How long and for how much? Well next time you see 16 year old Clayton Valley High School Junior, Dominick Mazza, roaming the halls at school, ask him. He may have to tell you twice because he is modest, doesn’t talk real loud, and because the first time he tells you he drove it 436 yards, you will need to hear it again. Unfortunately for him, he cannot accept any money but his dad will tell you that it’s just for fun.

I started working with Dominick a few years a back. When I first met him I thought he was another kid who played a lot of sports and I would need to improve on his fundamentals. Turns out that not only does he like golf but he throws an 87 mile per hour fast ball and is left handed as well. You might say there are plenty of coaches out there that are lobbying hard for him to stay focused on baseball.

So what’s his secret? Well he is pretty strong. He has big hands, weighs about 180 pounds and my guess is, stands about 6 feet 2. Dominick generates tremendous club speed and knows how to use leverage. He recently had his club speed checked and I happened to be there. His club speed was in the high 130’s which would be one of the highest on the PGA Tour. That would send a ball about 340 to 350 yards in the air. That’s what we call, “Bubba Watson long!” He is pretty much a “natural” at hitting it far.

My job is to help him control what he’s got. We have adjusted some things, ironed out a wrinkle here and there but basically, it’s all him. The shafts he uses are so stiff that you can’t flex them. He hits it solid and has wonderful balance. Oh, probably should mention that he is pretty good at the game of golf, too—he won a Junior Tournament this summer which proves he just doesn’t hit it long.

How lucky was his 436 yard drive that registered to be the second longest drive ever recorded at that grid? No luck at all, considering the fact that he qualified for the finals with five of his six balls traveling 400 yards or more! He put on a clinic and “shock and awed” everyone there, including his dad.

Dominick will be traveling next month to compete with the world’s best. You can bet they will be watching him closely. After all, he is still a growing boy!

Business With A Handshake

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Before golf became widely popular, business deals were sealed with a handshake after a round of golf. Salesmen who played golf were using an 18-hole round to entertain key clients and to solidify business transactions while on the course. Meetings were scheduled by making a tee time. Many members used their private memberships for business purposes.

Mark McCormack, founder International Management Group landed a colossal deal with non other then the King himself, with a simple handshake deal at the conclusion of a game of golf. The popular Arnold Palmer and Mark McCormack forever changed the world of golf on that fateful day. Sponsorships, TV contracts and corporate America jumped on board.

Today, young business men and woman are recognizing the value of knowing how to play as opportunities present themselves on a regular basis. You don’t have to be an expert to take advantage of the opportunity, but you need some understanding of the rules, etiquette, and how to get around the course in a timely manner. Many parents recognize the value of learning golf at a young age and send their kids to golf camps. Learning the fundamentals at a young age makes the game a lot easier later on. Many junior golfers come back and take a few lessons once they finish college because everyone at the office plays. I often see them quickly gain confidence with a few refresher lessons.

The PGA of America has introduced a wonderful program called Get Golf Ready and it is designed to teach new golfers how to get onto the course in just five days for only $99. I run that program at Boundary Oak and recommend it as a starter course for any adult new to the game. Graduation programs are offered after the five classes have been completed. For juniors, I recommend my Junior Camp which runs June through August. It is tailored for juniors of every level, beginner, intermediate and advanced.

My Corporate Golf Outings target employee and clients alike. Tailor-made for large or small groups, they include a group lesson or clinic, nine or 18 holes of golf and a meal. This is a great way to invest in your key people, and it’s local. Gather up your people in the office and come for a half day Friday or any day and I will bring them up to speed with how they can join the next company scramble and partake in the fun!

Often times I will take on a project where a person must learn golf and has a time line for a date with the links. Companies will often pay for them to learn golf so they can take part in the annual company golf outing. The challenge though is that golf can take awhile before you get the hang of it. People in general don’t do well under that kind of pressure with a game like this. The harder they try, often the more frustration the experience. Never the less, they must learn in a set time frame. My suggestion is to first read the summary of rules booklet. Next, private lessons with an emphasis on fundamentals while learning with five or seven clubs, instead of trying to figure out what all 14 are for. Then, mixing some lessons up, with time on the course (not just the range), and placing a greater emphasis on etiquette then performance. There is little chance that the golfer will achieve as high of proficiency level as they would like but they can learn how to behave and conduct themselves appropriately. Perhaps the later is more important anyway, rather than trying to become a decent player in a very short time. That can happen but it will take time and effort!

So, the next time you are invited to play a round of golf, join the company golf scramble, or just meet up with some co workers or friends, you too could be doing business and networking on the course!

Short Game Tips and Secrets

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Your short game holds the secret to guaranteeing lower scores. I want to share some thoughts when it comes to practicing and improving this area of your game.

To simplify, I specifically want to discuss chipping, pitching and sand shots. I suppose putting could be included but I will save that for another day. To define the two most played shots around the green, the chip shot is a shot played with maximum roll while the pitch has more air time and less roll. Every golfer should strive to practice and play these two types of shots. The sand shot is played somewhat differently as the club head passes underneath the ball while sliding through the sand. It is what we call “an explosion shot” because the ball is literally pushed out of the sand by the sand itself.

A good rule of thumb would be to follow the formula of putting when you can, chip when you can’t putt and pitch only when you have to. Most good players and tour pros follow this strategy because it has proven to yield favorable results. Too many times golfers try to do more then they should by hitting a high shot. Anytime you put the ball up in the air around the green, greater skill and much more practice is required while not assuring better results. Keeping the ball low to the ground and rolling it to the target is a much safer and smarter approach.

There are several factors which need to be properly assessed before any choice or decision should be made. The way the ball is sitting in the grass may be the single most important factor when determining the way to play the shot. How much green you have to work with is a close second.

Club choice is another factor when it comes to controlling the trajectory or height you intend for the shot. One idea, when playing the low shot, would be to use a less lofted club, like a nine or seven iron, and choose a land point that safely carries onto the front edge of the green. The set up for the chip or pitch is slightly different however. I recommend placing more weight on the leg that is closest to the target for either shot. This, more or less, assures a slightly downward strike, allowing for the club to contact the ball first.

Ball placement for the two shots should be altered. Setting up with feet close together (approximately six inches apart) is appropriate for either shot. The big difference is where the ball is placed. Addressing the ball across the rear or back foot help to keep the shot low while addressing the ball up or toward the front foot help get the ball higher in the air. Placing the ball further forward, widening the stance and opening the face would help it fly even higher and is what I recommend while facing a sand shot. At all costs, do not try to lift the ball in the air by shifting your weight to the back foot. This tendency causes a multitude of problems that will be avoided by keeping the weight forward and pivoting toward the target.

You can receive a complimentary short game lesson from me with any purchase of a Nike Wedge at Boundary Oak Golf Course during the month of May. Also, look for my Get Golf Ready Class for woman beginning in May. Just log onto www.boundaryoak.com and click Get Golf Ready. You can also contact me at ddelongolf@aol.com or 925 997-3683.

Scramble Golf

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When a friend, co-worker or business associate invites you to play in a scramble golf tournament, what is your answer? “I’ve never played before,” or “I’ve only played a few times, and that was just to the driving range to hit a bucket of balls.” Sound like a recipe for disaster with a great chance for humiliation or embarrassment? Maybe not. Maybe, it’s one of the great opportunities to expand friendships and an opportunity to do business.

Alright, let’s back up a little and gain some insight regarding this format and why it’s become such a great way to network. For starter’s, it gets people together; whether for team building, client appreciation, business opportunity or just fun. It brings people together and provides a wonderful opportunity to bond.

Most companies have, at one time or another, held a scramble format golf tournament. Some find it to be so advantageous for a morale boost that they pick a resort spot and return year in and year out. I witnessed this while working for The Pebble Beach Golf Academy in the early and mid 90’s. Some do it at a fraction of the cost by holding it locally. Either way, it’s a great idea and it’s fun, even for those who don’t play often.

The scramble format combines four or five golfers playing as a team. Some call it “best ball,” but technically it’s a scramble. It may consist of a few teams or the entire golf course, with sometimes over 20 or 30 groups playing together. Many charity events use this popular format because it allows golfer’s of every level to play together. Everyone hits and then one ball is selected. The process repeats until the ball is holed. It’s that simple!

The golf event is usually followed up with a luncheon or dinner while prizes, donations, auctions, raffle prizes and much more are collected. It is a great way to say thank you to your co-workers or key clients. It’s also a great way to move people around the golf course and I use it to help teach people the game while on the course. There is only so much one can do on the range and there is only so much I can see while observing from the lesson tee.

We have a wonderful facility at Boundary Oak to cater to the needs of Corporate Outing’s and a company tournament. Often times I will give a clinic at the range and then hit the course with a few groups and play along, offering tips and strategies to help the golfer’s improve. The benefits are many, including game improvement, fun atmosphere and a local venue which cuts the cost of travel and considerably higher fee’s and rates. And it’s right here in your our own backyard.

So, what if you don’t play golf but you are invited to participate by your boss and you have heard that it would be great for business if you did? I am often approached by people all the time who have been asked to learn how to play for work place purposes. No problem! It doesn’t take years to learn how to hit a golf ball. In five or six classes I will have you playing well enough to be able to participate in a scramble format. I will teach you enough that you can play, keep up and know just enough to get you out there and participating. I can’t guarantee that you won’t embarrass yourself from time to time but you will no longer just be a bystander or one who sells those raffle tickets.

If you are interested in learning how to play so you can say “yes” the next time your invited or you think it may be a good idea to hold a golf related event, please contact me and I will customize a lesson plan or group outing for you or your company. It’s a fun way to entertain or be entertained. I am at Boundary Oak Golf Course in Walnut Creek Contact number is 925 997-3683 or email me at ddelongolf@aol.com.

Pace of Play

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Pace of play on a golf course is what the speed limit is to a road. It is an expected time a group is encouraged to move through the golf course. However, not all golfers or golf groups can handle the pace of play or speed limit, if you will. Courses monitor groups to make sure that the course does not become backed up and cause undo delay. This basically means “playing too slow.” I want to address this topic and look into the cause and effect of playing too slowly, and offer some suggestions on how you can play more quickly and enjoy the round of golf more.

Way back in the days when I was competing on the PGA Tour, a player was penalized two strokes and fined a thousand dollars, if delayed the game by playing too slowly. Obviously this violation had severe repercussions for anyone who caused “undo delay.” It can and does disrupt players who are playing with a slow player, and of course the groups following. Playing slowly disrupts the game’s rhythm and makes it difficult to play well. This is an experience we can all relate to and become frustrated with from time to time. A pro can have trouble just like anyone else. They lose balls and sometimes get behind due to the challenging nature of the game.

Golf course Marshals are responsible for monitoring the pace of play and help groups move around the golf course, so as to keep pace with the group in front. When a group falls behind due to poor play, lost balls, lack of golfing skill and so on, they are politely asked to pick up the pace. If they don’t and the group continues to slip further behind, the player’s should allow the group behind to “play through.”

Often times, inexperienced golfers just can’t quite keep up with the group that is ahead of them. It is equivalent to pulling onto a Freeway and not keeping up with the flow of traffic. Imagine if several lanes were blocked because people were traveling much slower than the speed limit. That’s how it is on a course when a group is very slow. Oh sure, you will always have the fast player or groups who want to zip around and never wait. They are impatient and annoying in terms of hurrying everyone along. I don’t think it helps anyone to try and hurry around the course. I do think learning how to be efficient and not getting out onto the course before you are ready would be helpful in keeping up with the pace of play, once you do start to play.

But how can we learn to play and yet avoid being slow? That is a good question because in order to learn how to play we need to get onto the course. Some golf courses are “new golfer friendly” courses. By that I mean that they are shortened courses or thee par courses and much easier to play. A person also needs to be able to make contact with the ball and locate it quickly. They need to be ready to hit when it is there turn. The group I play with plays “ready golf.” That basically means hit when ready but never jeopardize the safety of another. Never ever hit with a person out in front. This “ready golf” keeps our group moving along, and unless it is a tournament round where the “honor system” is necessary, helps tremendously with the pace of play!

I teach a course at Boundary Oak for new golfer’s called Get Golf Ready. We learn all aspects of golf and include on course situations. I strongly urge anyone who wishes to learn how to play to contact me for more information. I can be reached at 925 997-3683 or just go to www.playboundaryoak.com and click on the Get Golf Ready tab under Golf Instruction. I hope to see you on the course!

Looking Ahead to 2010

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On The Green
January is a good time for reflection and projection for the year ahead. I asked 12 golfer’s, some friends and some students of mine, from beginner’s to professionals, what their goals were for the year ahead. Here is what they had to say: “Get into better physical condition; lower my handicap; win the Club Championship; not embarrass myself; stop getting so frustrated; improve mental toughness; practice more; take more lessons; improve mechanics.”

Some had a road map on how they would proceed toward their goal. These are all successful individuals who play, or want to play golf. I think looking ahead to the year in front of us is a great time for goal setting and to create a clear picture of what we want to accomplish.

To improve at anything, it is helpful to assess, as accurately as possible, where we are and where we want to go. Improving requires action, if only just a tweak here or there.

Let’s start with conditioning. You can’t play if you are incapable of swinging a club or getting around the course. Strengthening, increasing range of motion and just general health is vital. I know that many of my students will see improvement if they set conditioning at the top of their priority list.

Next, there is practice; not only finding time to practice, but working on specific areas that will reflect most on the scorecard. I think people have a general idea what they need to do to improve. The short game stood out the most from those I asked to participate in this article. They believe working on the short game will have the greatest impact on their score. I agree.

For the new golfer, get help. Find a teaching pro who you enjoy learning from and develop a partnership with them. There are many things the new golfer will need to learn, so it is essential to find someone you are comfortable working with.

If asked, most professional golfer’s would agree that improving is their top priority. How they go about that might be different from one to the next but improving their score is their number one goal. They are making a living at golf and the lower they shoot, the more successful they are.

I would like to share my 2010 golf goal with you and that is to simply have more fun when I golf. This means I want to enjoy the golfing experience more then I did in 2009. That could mean that I need to do a little of everything that was noted by all the golfer’s and friends I conversed with. Maybe this means to enjoy myself, the game, my playing partners, the challenge golf presents and the golf course and surroundings more.

My attitude will allow that to happen or not. Make sure that you don’t overlook this. Golfers tend to sometimes get a little frustrated. Make sure that your attitude is part of the solution and not the problem. Yes, I want to have more fun when I play and it’s probably going to help my score as well.
I wish all of you Happier Golfing for 2010.

Adding 20 Yards

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On the Green
On the Green
I am starting right off by attempting to answer an email which was sent to me just recently. “How can I add 20 more yards off the tee?” The 20 yards you are looking for is somewhere out there and I will be the first to say that it might be an equipment issue. Ball and club is where most of us begin, but that’s only part of it. Twenty additional yards is possible for some. Where it might be found could surprise you.

I enjoy playing with a regular group of friends at least once a week. Although we are all decent players, we would still like to add more distance. I think this is a common concern in most golf groups. Not hitting the ball far enough to reach the green in regulation would make most golfers crave that extra yardage, while those who can reach greens in regulation want to get there more easily. With the group I play with, the 20 is out there for each of us, at times. I will break it down and explain how each of us has captured that elusive “longer ball” and where that 20 yards “hides.”

I mentioned hides because it comes out of hiding, here and there. Hitting the ball solidly is the starting point for each of us. When we hit it solidly, we can better gauge what’s going on from that point on. Often times, ball contact is not quite in the middle of the club face. One of my playing partners struggles with this more often than the rest of us. This player often tries for that extra 20 by trying to hit the ball as hard as he can. Often times the swing rhythm is off and the tempo too quick. Instead of gaining 20, he loses 20 because of that mistake. So “centeredness of hit” is his most important key for finding that 20 additional yards.

Another one of my playing partners has lost length due to the natural process of aging. This player has added 20 more yards because he is on a strength and flexibility program. I am impressed with his commitment to meet with a trainer more than once a week and work on regaining what he once had. This player can once again make the necessary turn and motion that allows for a more powerful blow at impact. His price, an exercise program, will benefit him with much more than 20 yards. He will get a better quality of life, as well.

The next player clearly is on a mission to find that combination of shaft and club. Having gone through a fitting process to measure swing speed, ball speed and more, this player has dialed up their yardage with the benefit of today’s technology. It’s amazing what a launch monitor can do to help make the experiment a little more exact. Combining the information with the right shaft, driver head and ball has greatly benefited this player and put his mind at ease.

Another player is benefiting with some lessons, putting her on plane by creating a little more dynamic motion and improving her rhythm. She has generated more speed so her ball will go further. I am also seeing her now able to hit shots and keep them in the air longer.

As you can see, it’s not a simple answer. Each one of these players has found distance in different places. Anyway you look at it though, who isn’t happy when they’ve added 20 more yards to their drives?

Email me at ddelongolf@aol.com with your question and I will perhaps choose your question and send to you a free golf lesson! Also, I can send a gift certificate for golf lessons via mail for anyone who would like to give the gift of golf. I recommend a series of 3 private lessons for $125.00.

ON THE GREEN
DAVE DELONG

To Give or Not to Give

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I thought this might be an appropriate time to write about golf gifts and what to avoid when looking for something to give to the golfer in your family, workplace, or community. I grew up in a home with a family of five, three of whom were golfers. You might imagine that the two who avoided the links were often buying presents for dad, my brother and yours truly. Of course “it’s the thought that counts” and keeping that in mind is why one puts forth the effort to find something unique.

In our family, some presents were “hits” while others were not. Everything from golf clubs to golf posters, and everything in-between, ended up on a desk, wall or floor at our home. What can you give when nothing comes to mind other than the fact that the person you are buying for is or will be a golfer?

Anything that needs an accurate fitting, such as custom clubs should be given in some form of credit or certificate. For example, purchase a gift card from the pro shop or golf store or present a note wishing “Merry Christmas” and a new set awaits you is often perfect. However, hybrid clubs, sand wedges, putters and drivers are probably good choices but make sure the clubs can be returned, just in case the specs are off. I still think when giving a gift such as hard goods, like the ones mentioned above, it is a safe bet to give a certificate and let the person make the choice themselves. I always appreciated those certificates that allowed me to choose. After all, I knew what I needed. I recommend this when the person you are buying the golf gift for knows a thing or two about golf.

For someone new to the game of golf, a package of lessons is a great gift. Sometimes people go in the opposite direction and purchase equipment first and then lessons. I would not recommend this approach. A qualified professional Might be very helpful in leading the new golfer to what would be most beneficial regarding golf clubs after giving the person a few lessons. They can then better advise on what clubs the player should purchase or order and potentially help save money.

Lessons often times reveal what lies ahead. Buying a set of clubs that may or may not be used is a big expense. Not everyone who tries golf takes a liking to it. Lessons will be a fraction of the cost. Here is a thought, if the boss plays, have some co-workers chip in and buy a mini series of lessons. At $45 for a single private adult lesson, $125 for three private lessons or $250 for six, you can’t go wrong. (Junior prices are $40 for a private lesson or a series of six for $200).

Some other ideas that work are shirts, sweaters, balls, hats, shoes, outer wear that can be found around town. Some names that do very well with the experienced golfer are: Nike, Titlist, Callaway and Taylor Made. These brands do not disappoint. They are some of the best names in golf. Whether purchasing shoes, clubs or balls, you can’t go wrong here.

As for lessons, give me a call at 925-997-3683 or send me an email at ddelongolf@aol.com and I can mail a gift certificate.

Enjoy your Holiday’s and Give the gift of golf.

ON THE GREEN
DAVID DELONG, PGA CLASS A PROFESSIONAL BOUNDARY OAK GOLF COURSE

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