Do You Hate Blow-up Holes on the Golf Course?

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What’s the percentage of time that you take out your 3 wood for your second shot on a Par 5 hole? If you’re like most Golfers, the answer could be 80% or higher. Though, the Players on the PGA Tour aren’t even close to that high of a percentage.


So why are you using your 3 wood more than the PGA Tour Player? And please don’t say because the PGA Tour Players hit their Driver so much farther than you - because they play a golf course that’s much longer than the course you play – so things balance out.


I feel this is an important question to ask since we’re always working to help Golfers with their personal battles to combat the ‘Blow-up Hole’. I believe that the number one culprit in holding you back from playing more great rounds of Golf maybe the occasional ‘Blow-up Hole’.


For example: You’re going along – playing a pretty good round of Golf after 7 holes and then all of a sudden ….. ‘Blow-up’. How did this happen? You were playing so well and then out of nowhere you make an 8 on a Par 5 and now your score is back to what it always is after 8 or 9 holes. If you do this once on the front nine and once on the back nine - it’s the difference between the 89 you want and the 95 you keep getting. Or the 99 you want and the 105 you keep getting.


You look back after the 9 holes and say to anyone that will listen (even though they’ve most likely heard you say it after every 9 holes), “If I could just get rid of those ‘Blow-up Holes’, I’d have a good score.”


Let me ask you a few questions – How many ‘Blow-up Holes’ have been caused by your 5 iron? On-the-other-hand, how many ‘Blow-up Holes' have been caused by your 3 wood? Has your 3 wood caused more or less 'Blow-up Holes' than your 5 iron?


Now, there will always be one person out there that’ll say that they make more ‘Blow-up Holes’ because of bad shots with their 5 iron than their 3 wood. Though, I’d probably need to see it to believe it – but I guess it’s possible.


Now what causes most ‘Blow-up Holes’? Does a bad tee shot into the trees automatically cause you to take an 8 on a par 5? No, not at all!


Just yesterday, I was with a Golfer on a par 5 that hit a good drive that had a little hook to the left. The ball took a big jump to the left when it hit the ground and went into the trees about 250 yards from the center of the green with no shot to advance the golf ball closer to the hole. The Golfer hit it out onto the fairway and had 260 yards left to the center of the green after two shots.


What would’ve you done from here?


I feel that if you would’ve gone on to make an 8 or more on this hole, that the bad Drive would’ve had very little to do with your bad score. I believe that the 3 wood that you would be trying to get as close to the green as possible for your 3rd shot – but ended up half-topping into the fairway bunker 200 yards away from the green, that led you into hitting your 4th shot with a 3 iron that hit the sand a little behind the golf ball (in your attempt to get close to the green); that led into your 5th shot being a 180 yard shot to the center of the green with your 4 iron which you hit pretty well and ended up only a few yards left of the green in another sand bunker - did more to influence your ‘Blow-up Hole’ than the bad drive did.


Have you ever - “been there, done that”?


Look at the Stat of the Week below in this Golf Improvement Weekly to see where the Players on the Nationwide and PGA Tour have their worst scores. It isn’t on the Par 5’s where they use their 3-woods less than you do even though the Par 5’s they play are often well over 575 yards.


Well, the Golfer that I was with yesterday took out his 5-iron from 260 yards for his 3rd shot and hit the golf ball to about 110 yards to the center of the green. Then hit his Pitching Wedge to about 20 feet of the hole and made the putt for Par.


And you know what? He made it look simple. And even if he didn’t make the putt – he would’ve got out of the hole that had the potential to ‘Blow-up’ - with a Bogey that wouldn’t have hurt his score.


‘Blow-up Holes’ don’t happen just because of bad tee shots – ‘Blow-up Holes’ happen because you’re not playing to your Strengths. ‘Blow-up Holes’ happen because you’re playing to your Weaknesses.


The Monkey doesn’t play to their Strengths or away from their Weaknesses – they just hit ‘whatever’


The Player plays to their Strengths so that they’ll never even have to consider their Weaknesses


When’s the last time you played like a Player and made a conscious effort to have a PLAN for all 18 holes?


Go Ahead Be A Player!


Regards,


Marc Solomon - Your Instructor For Life


www.GolfMadeSimple.com

The Evolution of a Golfer

The Evolution of a Golfer

Go From a Frustrated Golfer to a Happy Player!

Why is it that it seems like some people that begin to play golf pick-it-up right away? Then before you know it, they’re breaking 100, busting through 90 and in less than 2 years – they’re in the 80’s for a short spell before moving into the 70’s in year 3 or 4.

On the other hand – Why is it that some people begin to play golf, make some progress, but then get stuck and don’t improve from that point? They start off like most people learning the game, taking baby steps towards improving and then wham – they hit a wall and stay there for the next 5, 7, 10, 20 years.

Which group are you in?

7 out of every 8 Golfers are in the second category. You start off with high hopes and dreams of playing well. And you slowly make progress after taking a few golf lessons. At this point Golf is still exciting and you’re pumped-up to be out on the golf course, along with going to the driving range to practice your golf swing. You like that you’re seeing improvement – even though it may be slight, there’s some improvement.At this point, some people will progress into the 80’s every once in a while – though most get stuck in the 90’s or 100’s. And thus two categories of Golfers are created – ‘The mid-90’s Golfer’ and ‘The Low 100’s Golfer’.

Look below this article to see how you can make a Donation to The San Diego County Red Cross, along with Winning a 3-Day GMS Program

It seems to me that once Golfers put these labels on themselves – they almost never lose that label. Is it because they don’t have the talent and ability to break through 90 into the 80’s or through 100 into the 90’s? Is the game just too hard and complicated that you can never do it? Is there not enough time to devote to your game on the practice range or enough time on the golf course?

I believe the answer for all three questions is: you do have enough talent – the game isn’t that hard and complicated – you don’t have to devote that much time to your game to see consistent improvement.What happens to many Golfers is that you get so caught up in ‘the grip’ – in ‘getting your knees, hips and shoulders aligned’ – in ‘keeping your head still’ – that you make hitting the golf ball with a consistent swing, more complicated than it should be.

Have You Ever Heard of the Book – ‘Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff’?

Let’s go back to the Golfer that breezes through the 90’s, then the 80’s, and into the 70’s. How is this possible? No, taking Mulligans isn’t the answer! This is the Golfer that’s focused on striking the golf ball with a smooth golf swing. These Golfers aren’t concerned about all the details that the ‘mid 90’s Golfer’ and the Low 100’s Golfer’ are concerned about.

The Golfers that get stuck in the 90’s and 100’s often read Golf Digest and Golf Magazine or watch the Golf Channel and think that all this stuff they read or hear needs to be done to get into the 80’s and 70’s. They think this is the stuff the 70’s Golfer is thinking about on every golf swing. And that this is the stuff that the 70’s Golfer practices all the time.

Who do you think reads Golf Magazine more often – The ‘mid-90’s Golfer’ or the ‘70’s Golfer’? Who do you think is trying the tips on the Golf Channel more – The ‘Low 100’s Golfer’ or the ‘70’s Golfer’? Who do you think reads Tiger’s tips in Golf Digest more often – the ‘mid-90’s Golfer’ or the PGA Tour Pro?

Well, I can answer these questions very easily – Do you think Tiger would reveal his ‘secrets’ if he knew that other guys he was competing with were going to successfully use his ‘tips’ to improve and potentially beat him? That’s how unimportant those ‘tips’ are. If they were so valuable – why would he (Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia, Annika Sorestam and others) give their ‘secrets’ away for some other Tour Pro that was competing against them every week to use to beat them?

That would be like Coca Cola giving their secret recipe to Pepsi. Or Warren Buffet telling every investor what he’s buying before he buys.

The Evolution of the Frustrated Golfer to the Happy Player begins with getting away from basing your Golf Swing on all the ‘tips’ you’ve read and heard throughout your ‘golf career’. You’ll start the Evolution of transforming into a Happy Player once you get away from the ‘Tip Mentality’ that keeps ‘mid-90’s Golfers’ as ‘mid-90’s Golfers’. You’ll start to see the transformation once you start to develop a PLAN and then stick with that PLAN!

Your PLAN goes beyond your strategy on the golf course. Your PLAN is your swing – Your PLAN is what you take to the golf course so you can swing with consistency – Your PLAN is what will help you go from a ‘mid-90’s Golfer’ or ‘Low 100’s Golfer’ into a ‘Bogey Golfer’; then into an ‘80’s Golfer’ and potentially a ‘70’s Golfer’.

If you want to read how one Golfer did it – click here to read how a Golfer like you went from a 16 handicap to a 3 handicap using his PLAN.

But, you’ve got to have a PLAN to improve like that as opposed to the Frustrated Golfer that relies on the mailman to bring them Golf Tips Magazine each month.

The Monkey relies on ‘Tips’ and ‘Secrets’ to improve their Golf Swing

The Player has a PLAN to improve their Golf Swing

Which do you rely on?

Regards,

Marc Solomon - Your Instructor For Life

http://www.golfmadesimple.com/

Special Message – Donation to the San Diego County Red Cross – Win a 3-Day GMS Program

In the wake of the devastation in California – and since GMS has an allegiance to California with our three locations in La Quinta/Palm Springs, Lake Tahoe and San Diego – along with all our GMS Golfers that live in the path of the fires. GMS is holding an auction for a 3-Day GMS Program – with all money going to the San Diego County Red Cross.

The winning bid will win a 3-day GMS Program (including accommodations) in either of our newest locations. Meaning you could choose either – La Quinta/Palm Springs, California - Phoenix, Arizona - Boca Raton/Ft Lauderdale, Florida.

Again – the money from the winning bid will go to the San Diego County Red Cross so that they can use the money to buy supplies or whatever they need to help those in need. Each week I write about Golf almost as if it’s the most important thing in the world. Obviously when we see what’s happening in Southern California – it unfortunately shows that there are a lot more important things than Golf.

Also, as a special note – I’d like to highlight a very special person - Wataru ‘Wat’ Tomita – our Instructor in San Diego lives in the area of Qualcomm Stadium, were people that were driven from their houses have congregated to stay safe. Yesterday, Wat went over to the Stadium to donate clothes, blankets and supplies to those in need. He has also volunteered to help-out so that people in the terrible position of having to evacuate – are a little more comfortable. I applaud Wat – he’s a true Gentleman and I’m proud that he’s a part of the GMS Team!

You can also help out, along with getting something we feel is valuable (a 3-day GMS Program) in appreciation for your donation to help those in need. We have listed our Charity Auction on Ebay.com – if you’d like to make a bid to help those in need, along with winning a 3-day GMS Program – please click here.

GMS in Palm Springs, California

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This could be the biggest announcement GMS has ever made!

GMS is proud to announce that we have reached an agreement to add a new location in the Palm Springs, California area at The Trilogy Golf Club at La Quinta.

If the name - The Trilogy Golf Club at La Quinta sounds familiar – it might be because it was the host course for The PGA Tour’s LG Skins Game from 2003 to 2006! We’re not fooling around. This was the golf course that held The PGA Tour’s LG Skins Game that featured Tiger Woods, Annika Sorenstam and Fred Couples competing against each other for some big bucks!

And now GMS is giving you the opportunity to spend 3 days with us learning how to develop a more consistent Golf Swing, along with developing a PLAN for improvement in this fantastic location. You’ll be developing this PLAN each afternoon on the golf course that held one of the most prestigious events in golf for 4-years in a row!

Could you think of another place on the West Coast where you’d rather be playing golf when it starts to get too cold up North? What could be better than the golf course that held The PGA Tour’s LG Skins Game! Are you excited?

Set at the base of the majestic Santa Rosa Mountains of Palm Desert, California, The Trilogy Golf Club at La Quinta is a Gary Panks-design that was the home of the 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006 PGA Tour LG Skins Game. This 18-hole championship Southern California golf course has been played by Tour Players such as the aforementioned Tiger Woods, Annika Sorenstam and Fred Couples, along with Phil Mickelson, Fred Funk and Mark O'Meara.

Have you ever been to the La Quinta/Palm Springs area?

If so, then you know why I’m so excited about our newest location! If you haven’t been to this area – now’s your chance. Let me tell you – I’ve always heard how nice this area is and I’ve seen the scenery on television – but you can’t understand it till you’re here. Words can’t describe the beauty of La Quinta – the sunshine, the blue sky and the mountains leaning up against the green golf courses. It’s no wonder why the Hollywood movie stars vacation in this area and why the PGA Tour always comes back to the La Quinta/Palm Springs area!

We have arranged accommodations at a brand new and beautiful Embassy Suites (that you might mistake for being a Ritz Carlton), that also offers additional accommodations in their beautiful casitas. With a pool, fitness center and full breakfast each morning – you can’t go wrong. Then add that you’re right across the street from Old Town La Quinta with Clint Eastwood’s Hogs Breath Saloon – and you’re in good hands.

Our first class at our La Quinta/Palm Springs location will be held Friday, November 30th to Sunday December 2nd and will continue through the end of May with a 3-Day GMS Program held every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday – along with Friday, Saturday, Sunday.

So sign-up's start right now and continue through the end of May.

2007 and 2008 Rates and Dates are in place – click here to access our webpage for our La Quinta/Palm Springs location at The Trilogy Club at La Quinta.

For more intimate details about the hotel and facility – take a look below in The Buzz. November 30th can’t come soon enough!

Go Ahead, Join Us in La Quinta and Be A Player!

Regards,

Marc Solomon - Your Instructor For Life

www.GolfMadeSimple.com

Hard, Smooth or Easy - How Do You Swing Your Driver

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The thought of swinging too hard is enough to make even the best Golfer stop to take a deep breath. For as long as many of us can remember, it’s been beaten into our brains that swinging too hard is one of the 3 Golf Commandments never to betray.

And so it is that whenever you hit a bad drive – the first thing that pops out of the mouth of anybody within a half-wedge away is: ‘Man, you looked like you were really trying to kill that ball!’ And your reply is most likely: ‘Yeah, I tried to hit that one a mile.’

Yet, have you ever taken into consideration that the fear of swinging too hard could actually lead to more lost golf balls than the actual act of swinging too hard?

‘Huh? Marc, what are you talking about?’

As most Golfers are so worried about swinging too hard and hitting a bad golf shot – the best Players in the world are swinging close to 30 miles per hour (48 kilometers per hour) faster than you. Yet, nobody is telling them that they’re swinging too hard – and by the looks of things – they’re hitting some pretty decent golf shots that are translating into some pretty good scores. Would you agree?

“Excuse me, excuse me – Mr. Woods, I think you’re swinging too hard with your Driver. I think you should try to slow your swing down a little.”

“I’ve just won 4 out of my last 5 events and 7 out of the 16 events I’ve played this year – I think my swing speed is just fine, thank you.”

From the research that I’ve seen, the average Male is swinging his Driver at 85 miles per hour (137 kph) and the average Female is swinging her Driver at 75 miles per hour (121 kph). Yet, Ernie Els, who’s often envied for how smooth he can swing – swings his Driver at 118 miles per hour (190 kph). While Tiger swings his Driver upwards of 125 mph (201 kph).

So it’s funny to hear a Golfer that says – “I wish I could swing as smooth as Ernie Els. He swings so nice and slow. I wish I could swing as slow as he does.”

Ah ha, nice and slow? There’s nothing ‘nice and slow’ about 118 mph. Frankly, he’s swinging his butt off! And what’s funny is that when you’re trying to swing your hardest – you’re still more than 30 mph slower than what you might call a ‘slow’ Ernie Els swing!

Yet, the fear of you swinging too hard, even though you’re swinging 33 mph slower than Ernie – is most likely causing you to hit more bad shots than when you do actually swing too hard. Meaning – because of this fear of swinging too hard, you’re most likely decelerating with your Driver. Which could lead to such horrible effects such as slicing and loss of distance. Have you ever experienced either of those?

And the Golfer gasps – ‘Decelerating with my Driver? Are you kidding me? I’ve never decelerated with my Driver. I’ve might’ve picked up my head once-in-a-while, but I’ve never decelerated with my Driver!’

The next time you’re standing by the first tee waiting for your tee time – watch the group that’s teeing off. And I believe you’ll see most Golfers decelerating their golf swing to the point that they actually have most of their weight on their back foot at impact with the golf ball. Have you ever ended up with your weight on your back foot?

Meaning that because they’re (you’re) trying so hard not to swing too hard, that they (and possibly you) are using their (your) body to slow down their (your) swing by leaning back on your back foot. Again, have you ever caught yourself on your back foot after a Drive? Deceleration!

Believe me; on and around the greens aren’t the only places you’re decelerating. You’re also most likely doing the same with your Driver. Though, deceleration is often not blamed for the bad tee shot – it’s often mis-diagnosed by the ‘swing experts’ that you may be playing with as “picking up your head, swinging too hard, swinging over the top, bending your left elbow, not turning your shoulders, blah, blah, blah, blah.”

Yes, being able to swing smooth can help you to hit a better golf shot. Though, trying to swing slow will actually cause you to hit a bad golf shot just as frequently as when you’re trying to swing too hard.

The Monkey is trying to swing slower and slower after each bad shot and then when they do hit a good shot – they complain about not hitting the golf ball far enough

The Player just makes a smooth “Tick Tock”

Go Ahead, Be A Player!

Regards,

Marc Solomon - Your Instructor For Life

www.GolfMadeSimple.com