Four down, one to go! It's been an absolute blast and it's a bittersweet moment that we are preparing for our final session of Junior Summer Camps which starts next week Monday, August 5th.
Let's make it a great last session for 2024! Details and sign up below.
Want to make your child’s summer break more fun while also helping us secure the future of the game we all love so much? Our Junior Golf Summer Camps give kids a stimulating environment in which to fall in love with golf while making new friends and keeping active. And when a child becomes a golfer, it’s good for them, good for your relationship with them and good for golf.
Sessions: C: July 15-18 (Book soon!) D: July 29-Aug 1 E: Aug 5-8
Want to make your child’s summer break more fun while also helping us secure the future of the game we all love so much? Our Junior Golf Summer Camps give kids a stimulating environment in which to fall in love with golf while making new friends and keeping active. And when a child becomes a golfer, it’s good for them, good for your relationship with them and good for golf.
Sessions: C: July 15-18 (Book soon!) D: July 29-Aug 1 E: Aug 5-8
Want to make your child’s summer break more fun while also helping us secure the future of the game we all love so much? Our Junior Golf Summer Camps give kids a stimulating environment in which to fall in love with golf while making new friends and keeping active. And when a child becomes a golfer, it’s good for them, good for your relationship with them and good for golf.
Sessions: C: July 15-18 (Book soon!) D: July 29-Aug 1 E: Aug 5-8
Looking for a unique way to spend your Friday night? Look no further! Join us for our Date Night Golf Clinic of the season at Flanders Valley this Friday, May 24th!
Why You’ll Love It: - Tee Up with Your Boo: Grab your favorite person and enjoy a gorgeous evening on the greens. - Love and Lessons: We'll have you laughing and learning together, no matter your skill level.
Come for the golf, stay for the fun, and leave with great memories (and maybe a few new golf skills)! We can’t wait to see you there!
We are thrilled to announce three exciting golf events to enjoy some unique experiences on the course this May!
- Join us on May 22nd for our Short Game Session at 6 PM at Flanders Valley, where you can hone your chipping and putting skills with expert guidance. - Don’t miss the Cleveland Wedge Day at Berkshire Valley Golf Course on May 24th, a perfect opportunity for players of all skill levels to try out the latest in wedge technology and walk away with a new club. - Later that evening, bring a partner to our first Date Night Clinic of the season at Flanders Valley. It's a great way to enjoy the beautiful evening on the greens while learning together. Book your spots by clicking the links below.
It is the morning of the New Year! What are you going to do with it? Now, I am sure you have all seen the New Year’s articles about things you want to accomplish in 2024 with the “New Year, New You” or the “Strive For More in 2024” type of message. I am all for the notion of taking stock in the way you conducted the 2023 golf season and how you want to move forward in your golf life in 2024. This is when we can come together and look at the calendar and figure out a way to get you tacking back in the direction you prefer. I am in that same boat and want to continue to move myself forward in this game as well. The return of the PGA Tour in Hawaii serves as a reminder of the dedication top professionals invest in their game. Like them, it's beneficial that they conduct a year-end review and outline a strategic plan for a successful 2024 campaign. For most, it's not just about overarching scoring goals, but rather refining specific aspects of their game like polished short game shots or achieving a closer proximity to the flag on approach shots. Don’t get me wrong, I relish in the big picture, macro goals, as well. Plus, I hear those goals all the time from students learning how to improve their game. My take is that if we can make a better version of the many small things you do well, achieve those micro goals, then those big picture goals will come into focus sooner than expected. Indoor sessions are now available at The Eagle Club in Chester, GolfCave in Green Brook, and The Green973 in Sparta. Feel free to reach out, and together, we can schedule a session to set you on the path to achieving your golf goals in 2024
The winter solstice is upon us and longer days of sunlight are ahead! The temperatures have started to drop, prompting some of you to seek refuge at the indoor practice facilities to maintain your golf game. Keep up the dedication! This part of the calendar always gets kind of crazy but welcome. Family and friends take center stage, accompanied by the exchange of gifts and well wishes. May the holiday season bring you joy and the New Year bring fresh opportunities to achieve your goals. Remember to stay safe, have fun and weave a bit of golf into your conversations along the way. Wishing you all the happiest of holidays.
As many of us are trying to figure out what to get the golfer in our life, I too am now in that group. My 25 year old son has been bitten by the golf bug, and he desperately needs clothes, a new driver, and wedges. I am sure that is no different than what some of you may be struggling with. Do not fret, we are here to help!
The golf shops at the park commission courses have plenty in stock to fit your player's needs. I was at Flanders Valley this week and Patrick Cardoso, our Director of Golf, had all of our Cleveland wedges on sale. The manufacturer’s tech people are always advocating to get new wedges every other season. New grooves make a difference since about two out of three shots are played within 125 yards of the flag. Not to mention the creative “around the green” shots we can take advantage of when there is some new tech filling that space in your golf bag.
We have wedges from 52 degrees to 64 degrees in a variety of models and finishes. Men’s and women’s CBX2, CBX and RTX6 are all represented in the collection at the shop. Be sure to call the Flanders’s shop for a great price.
The snow has stayed away at the moment, and some of our courses are still open. If the forecast agrees and your schedule allows, getting out to walk and play nine holes is always a great way to clear your brain. Take this time to really enjoy the outdoors and work on some of the macro ideas we talk about all season. Such things as a sound take away, good balance and finding your finish. We all know it's not the mid-June type of expectations, but we can still polish for that time when it really counts.
Drop me a line if you need gift ideas for your golfer.
As we step into Thanksgiving and the temps are still golf worthy, the atmosphere around the courses is shifting from swings to touchdowns and planning the Thursday feast. It just so happens that golf takes center stage in these conversations, as gratitude for the impact the game has on our lives becomes evident.
Whether your junior joined one of the Summer Camp sessions and fell in love with being outside, whacking that little white ball and laughing with new friends, or maybe you attended one of our Date Night Friday Night sessions and figured out what the attraction was to being outside at the course. Perhaps, you came to one of our Cleveland Wedge Days and got your hands on a new wedge or two, and it made the world of difference in your short game. This season has given us all something to be thankful for.
Reflecting on my golf year, I am thankful to the many families that we encountered throughout our instructional season and beyond. Our PGA Junior League teams were filled with familiar and new faces eager to compete and improve. A fall highlight was our work with veterans during our inaugural PGA HOPE instructional sessions, culminating in our participation in the NJGF Veterans Day Pro-Am at Fiddler's Elbow CC. Witnessing individuals of all ages trying to master the game brings a smile to my face. The events in your golfing world hopefully added some zest to your year and fertilized your thinking for what may bloom in the spring 2024 golf season. If so, we’ve collectively achieved a significant aspect of the golfing experience.
As you savor delightful food and quality time with family this week, remember when you are ready to get back into the swing of things we have some great indoor options. Each of the following have awesome technology to track ball flight: The Eagle Club in Chester, NJPGA Indoor Booth at Fiddler's Elbow CC, GolfCave in Green Brook, and a new indoor facility in Sparta called The Green 973. Enjoy our turkey feast!
This past spring, I started to teach a section of PGA H.O.P.E. students at Berkshire Valley GC. H.O.P.E. is an acronym for Helping Our Patriots Everywhere. This program introduces golf to Veterans and Active Duty Military to enhance their physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being. I have been an active H.O.P.E. instructor for over eight years, but had never hosted a group at one of our Morris County Park Commission courses. I decided this was the season to start, it just seems like a good fit.
Let me tell you, the energy for this program has been phenomenal. Our first section was a six week program last spring. Fellow PGA Professional Jerry Carter and I were working with a group of ten students through various golf skill specific instructional periods at Berkshire Valley. The skill level varied from regular players to absolute beginners looking to learn.
Throughout the PGA HOPE training that Jerry and I participated in, it was communicated that the veterans are all in on golf. This sport has given so many the chance to get outside and socialize with other veterans. They can also enjoy the calm settings of the golf course, all while learning a new skill that we are all trying to improve. Some participants had golf clubs and for those who didn’t, we supplied clubs so that everyone could participate and learn. Conversations with the veterans about golf, their experiences at the course or range, and just life in general always give me something to reflect upon to help me be a better teacher and person.
Jerry and I are in the middle of another Fall Session of PGA H.O.P.E. and plan to play in a Veterans Day Pro-am with our students at Fiddlers Elbow hosted by the NJ Golf Foundation. The power of this game has a reach beyond what many of us may think. I am witnessing it for sure this H.O.P.E. season.
Watching PGA Professional Michael Block’s performance this weekend at the PGA championship made me think a lot about his game. What can we learn from his inspiring play and attitude?
His attitude? It never really changed throughout the championship. I kept waiting for an energy charged blip, for even just a slight ruffled feather to appear on the course, but that moment never came. Block was so comfortable in his own skin and never let the moment take charge of his emotions. Now, inside his stomach may have been churning, but he never let the moment affect his decision making or execution of the shot at hand. He was just playing golf like he had done many, many times, and at a high level I might add.
Brad Faxon commented on his continuous motion during his putting stroke. It looked as if Block would go through a portion of his pre-shot putting regime with one hand on the putter and once his second hand came to the grip, he let the stroke begin. At times, we may become fixated with our setup, and that sort of paralyzes the putting stroke for a moment. Block makes this continuous motion work in his putting stroke.
That unique pre-putt routine is something I am very interested in exploring. Block fell back on a solid routine and rolled the rock to a tune of 28 putts per round, and finished 6th in Strokes Gained Putting . Not bad for a club pro on the big stage. Good Luck this week at the next PGA Tour stop in Forth Worth.
FYI..Summer Junior Golf Camps are right around the corner.
Now that we turned the calendar to May, and we might actually see some sunshine this weekend, we can really start to digest the upcoming calendar of events. High school golf season hits its Sectional and Group Championships on the next two consecutive Mondays to crown individual and team champions. That means our PGA Junior League season is about to kick in. The golf season is officially rolling along.
The golf instructional calendars at the Park Commission golf courses are up and running now, as well. Our first Cleveland Wedge Day was held at Pinch Brook on April 27, and we added another to the calendar at Flanders Valley on May 18th. Sign ups for the event are now happening. Join us for a short game instructional session, talk with our Cleveland Tech Rep and get your hands on a new wedge or two.
If you were thinking about having your junior come to summer golf camp, the early registration discount deadline hits on May 15th. We expect a full squad of juniors roaming the Red course at Flanders starting in our “A Session” June 26-29. Check the Flanders Valley website to print out the paper application and drop it off at the golf shop.
Also, keep an eye out for our Friday “Date Nights” at Flanders Valley. Easily one of our most fun activities for you and a guest to come out for a drink and some uncomplicated golf instruction. As always, keep an eye on our Calendar of Events for all the courses to sign up for our activities.
We are starting high school golf practice this week, so spring golf must be here! Although with the nor'easter that just blew through, staying inside might sound like an appealing idea at the moment. But don’t let that cold weather fool you. It is time to plan for warm weather days!
Do you have a goal for this season that is rattling around in your head? Maybe it's to establish your handicap, hit more greens in regulation, or drop the number of total putts you execute during a round. If your goal is one of these or another, write it down so you can see it when you sit at your desk, or put it on a Post-It note on your monitor so you can see it when you check your email. There is a paper cut-out on my peg board that I have had for years that says “ A vision without action is just an hallucination.” I love that message and won't take it off my board. That note just reminds me to keep rolling my rock up the hill!
Now that we have a goal in place, let's create some action. Our instruction schedule is up on the courses’ websites. See if something fits into your schedule. Full Swing, Putting, Chipping sessions, Cleveland Wedge Days, Playing Lessons, and of course Date Night sessions are there for you to pick from, learn, and have fun.
If you are looking for a female group to play with that is focused on low stress, go with the flow golf, let me know and I can put you in touch with Nina at the WGANJ, they are playing out of Pinch Brook. If your junior wants to play PGA Junior League drop me a line. We are forming our Flanders Valley team now. Plenty of golf activity is about to percolate as we move into the later part of March. Gearing up for golf season is a great time of year!
It's hard to believe we made it through January with almost no snow on the ground. In fact our region of the country saw temps above the norm just about everyday last month. The courses that are open have been busy to prove that. I know winter golf in NJ is a way for many to get outdoors and keep moving. There is value to getting outside and breathing some crisp winter fresh air in your lungs, as well as getting to stay in golf shape.
The PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando wrapped up last Friday Jan 27, so I guess it is really time to start thinking of your early season golf plans. Heck, even The Masters has commercials running already!
If playing winter golf outdoors is not your thing, there are plenty of indoor simulator businesses around where you can make swings and see some analytics of your golf swing. There is so much value in winter indoor work. Now is the time we can focus on a specific area of need, tweak those areas and integrate a fresh routine. We all fall into that haze when spring rolls around, courses open and we just want to play! Take some solace in knowing you put in the work during the off season just like the professional athletes in order to start off the season on the right foot.
If you are interested in an indoor session, drop me a line and we can use The Eagle Club in Chester. Attention Juniors: Drive, Chip and Putt signups are open on the national website. Flanders Valley will be hosting a local qualifier on June 8. Also, the first day of NJ high school golf practice is March 16. Lets get your mind, body, and swing in shape for 2023!
As the calendar days run up to the winter solstice and the holiday season, I wanted to reach out and acknowledge all of the golfers who made the 2022 season one to cherish. Hopefully, we all got the chance to play and experience what this game has to offer. Maybe you brought a friend to the course for the first time. Maybe you got to play that one round at a terrific club, or maybe you just got the chance to play a quick nine on that last sunny day of the season. Whichever way, those memories are the little gifts throughout the off season that will keep golf in the front of your mind and on the tip of your tongue. As I write this, the first, messy snowfall of the winter season is happening, yet I am already thinking about how I can jumpstart my game improvement plan…along with thinking about the gifts under my bed that I still have to wrap! Ah, yes, the most wonderful time of the year. I hope you enjoy the holidays. Be safe, have fun, and talk a little golf along the way
As we approach the week of Thanksgiving, I want to take this time to express my sincere appreciation. Getting a chance to work with you has been a marvelous opportunity for me. I admire your standards, persistence, and positive outlook for your game. It is awesome to read the excited texts and emails I get from you. Hearing about your great rounds, successful range sessions, or the new clubs you treated yourself to always puts a smile on my face.
Your willingness to take on great challenges in this game is highly admirable. Let's continue to do the next thing in your development. Don't try to figure out the whole puzzle in one night. Just do the one next thing, and then move on. Keep smiling, hold on to your sense of humor, and we will find the right answers for you.
Enjoy all the wonderful food and fun with your family this week. When you are ready to get back at it, we can meet indoors at the NJPGA Indoor Booth at Fiddler's Elbow CC or at the GolfCave on Rt 22 in Green Brook.
Your excitement to work on your game stays hotter than ever as the September temps begin to cool us all down. Keep our fall instructional sessions marked on our calendar. We are striking while the iron is hot to capitalize on the energy that we had from all of our students this summer! Here’s to keeping up the mojo working through September.
If you didn’t get the chance to get a look at your golf swing on record, now is the time to join the Full Swing sessions at Berkshire Valley. Our Date Night sessions have all been sold out, so we added an extra Friday night next week. As always, the Short Game clinic never fails to enhance what our golfers are trying to get accomplished, and it is a ton of fun!
If you think your workplace or group of friends may want to get together for a private clinic, we can accommodate that request as well. Learning golf with a group is always a recipe for entertainment, laughs, and a great night out. Drop me a line, and we can schedule something this Fall for sure at any of the four MCPC courses.
Enjoy your Labor Day weekend! See you at the course.
Come and try out a great range of Srixon and Cleveland products at our Demo Day at Flanders Valley on Friday, August 12th. Our PGA Professionals will be there to help you find the best clubs for your game. So what are you waiting for?
Summer is well and truly here and what better way for your children to spend some time on the course, meet some new friends and learn some great new skills than at our super fun Session C Junior Golf Camp.
From on-course instruction, miniature golf, team games and learning the basics of the game; there is so much fun to be had.
Spaces are filling fast so be sure to sign up your young ones today! (If this week doesn’t work for your calendar, there is always Session D August 1-4 or Session E August 8-11).
Now that we have made it to April and the first Major on the PGA Tour is actively on television, I think we can all start to really get jazzed up about the upcoming golf months. It just takes a little glimpse of the grass growing and confirming spring break plans to push us all outside and get those playing juices flowing.
Now, try not to worry about being in peak season form yet, but pay attention to some items that will help you feel like you can start this season ready to go:
Regrip some of your clubs. You may not need to do the entire set, but maybe change one or two of your main clubs: putter, wedges, or hybrids. Think about those clubs you hit more than a few times a round. Sometimes a fresh look and feel is just the right elixir to get your brain to focus on the positive results these clubs can offer.
Don’t be afraid to brush up on the Rules of Golf. I gave my High School golf team a rules quiz to get them accustomed to the language of the rules and how to execute some simple procedures the rulebook lays out. I can forward you the quiz if you want to test your knowledge, just let me know. There is also the skill based online quiz at the USGA website you can take, as well.
Take that winter work you have been doing indoors in the mirror or on the putting mat and give it a go. Don’t lose faith in your winter practice habits. Remember you made a decision this offseason to change your mode of operation. Stay positive about your enhanced work.
Watching The Masters this weekend always gets me amped up for the season. I hope you feel the same way about your game. Let's make the 2022 season one that we can all look forward to and create our own Masters moments. See you at the course...
Now that the Super Bowl is behind us and President’s Day is coming up, I bet some of you are starting to think about spring golf. Colleges and university golf teams are ramping up, and NJ High School practice can start on March 7. Many of the indoor hitting studios are really starting to get busy and even some of the daily fee courses are getting traffic at the moment they are no longer snow covered. Is now the time to take stock in your winter plan as a student of golf? You bet it is! I for one turned into a student for a few weeks.
I have always read that you should look for an opportunity to turn yourself into a student to maximize your own teaching ability. So, this winter I enrolled at a local woodshop called NJ School of Woodwork. My wife always wanted to turn a corner of the living room into a reading nook, and we decided I would attempt to build some shelves. Armed with some purchased shop time and wood, I went into an arena that I was a bit of a novice. Now, I am a hack homeowner with modest woodworking skills. However, once I got working with a professional who has built houses, created furniture, and custom kitchens, I was so pleased with the fine tuning his support and instruction added to my skills. With my motivation and his skill at instruction, the end results were a project that I am proud to say, “I made that!”
This experience has renewed my appreciation for how people learn, and I plan on bringing that zeal for the way students digest information to the golf course this season. Hopefully, we can all grow from our new experiences and from what Scott taught me at the NJ School of Woodwork. As I became a better student and listener, I feel I also became a better teacher.
Can’t wait to start the next project in the shop! Although that might have to wait as the weather is trending in our favor to get outside!
May your holidays be blessed with the warmth of family and friends. Be sure to put your feet up and enjoy the long-awaited break. It has been fantastic to work with you on your game this season. We witnessed such positive momentum in our programs and we will keep working with you to become more comfortable coming to the courses as we move into 2022.
As I am here at my desk listening to Christmas music and looking at the lightly snow-covered grass outside my window as it is hard to believe Christmas is two weeks away. I realize that you may have played your last round weeks ago but there is probably golf on your mind as your primary focus may have shifted to another activity. Let's keep a few things in perspective this winter as the weather gets colder and outside rounds may not happen until late March.
Get those clubs out of your car! Bring them inside and inspect those sticks. Get a better inventory of what you finished the season with. Empty out your bag fully. I am guessing I am not the only guilty party that had that emergency granola bar mushed in the bottom of a ball pocket from the summer.
Prioritize your club replacement plan. We all have those one or two ideas on where you want to go with your set makeup next season. Maybe adding a hybrid, change putters, modify the gapping between your wedges or upgrading your driver. With your clubs in plain sight every day in your house you may have a better chance to act on those upgrades.
Off season instruction is just as important as what you do in season. The winter is a terrific time to work on your body as well. Stop trying to guess why your body struggles to move during the golf swing. Book a spot for a TPI Functional Assessment from a Level 3 Professional. I just happen to know a good one!
I have added The Golf Cave on Rt22 in Green Brook as well as the NJ Golf Foundation Studio at Fiddler’s Elbow CC as two terrific indoor facilities with Trackman capabilities to work out the winter kinks. Let me know if you are interested in using either facility and we can set up a session. Enjoy the excitement preparing for the big visit from St. Nick.
The LPGA will be competing in the Cognizant Founders Cup at Mountain Ridge CC in West Caldwell, NJ October 4-10. Whenever the professional golf tours come to town it is a treat to go watch and learn.
If your junior is interested in participating in a free golf clinic at Mountain Ridge on Wednesday now is your chance to sign up in the link below. The New Jersey Golf Foundation is covering the cost of all general admissions tickets on Wednesday as well. Come and watch the LPGA Professionals and have your junior take part in a terrific learning experience.
I look forward to seeing you at Mountain Ridge on Wednesday October 6th.
It is time to turn the calendar to September and say goodbye to those two, sun filled summer months of July and August. Now is probably a good time to reflect on some of the interesting experiences I witnessed at the course that may make you think about the state of your game at present, and what to look forward to in the coming months.
I always get recharged in watching the joy and exuberance of the juniors at golf camp as they hit shots down the fairway and run to their ball in excitement, ready to hit it again, or play another hole regardless of a score.
The laughter of the novice adults who come to Date Night clinics is infectious when they try this new thing called golf. Even after we finish, and the sun begins to set on the course, the happy look on their faces something I always remember.
I was away with my family during the USGA Women’s Senior Open. Scrolling through Instagram, I found post round interviews with Ellen Port and Dana Ebster. Two golfers in the event who may not be household names but both held back tears in their appreciation for the game that has given them so much. This is what they work for, the chance to compete in a USGA event.
Should we be any different in our appreciation for the time we get to spend at the course? The summer months are always a fun time to see people enjoy the game and what is has to offer. Now that fall is around the corner and other priorities may creep into your schedule, let's try not to forget those moments that made your summer at the course something to grow from.
Our last Couples’ Date Night is this Friday September 3rd 5:45 pm at Pinch Brook. What a terrific way to start the Labor Day weekend with a night of golf and fun. Check the Pinch Brook Calendar of Events on their website to sign up.
It is time to turn the calendar to September and say goodbye to those two, sun filled summer months of July and August. Now is probably a good time to reflect on some of the interesting experiences I witnessed at the course that may make you think about the state of your game at present, and what to look forward to in the coming months.
I always get recharged in watching the joy and exuberance of the juniors at golf camp as they hit shots down the fairway and run to their ball in excitement, ready to hit it again, or play another hole regardless of a score.
The laughter of the novice adults who come to Date Night clinics is infectious when they try this new thing called golf. Even after we finish, and the sun begins to set on the course, the happy look on their faces something I always remember.
I was away with my family during the USGA Women’s Senior Open. Scrolling through Instagram, I found post round interviews with Ellen Port and Dana Ebster. Two golfers in the event who may not be household names but both held back tears in their appreciation for the game that has given them so much. This is what they work for, the chance to compete in a USGA event.
Should we be any different in our appreciation for the time we get to spend at the course? The summer months are always a fun time to see people enjoy the game and what is has to offer. Now that fall is around the corner and other priorities may creep into your schedule, let's try not to forget those moments that made your summer at the course something to grow from.
Our last Couples’ Date Night is this Friday September 3rd 5:45 pm at Pinch Brook. What a terrific way to start the Labor Day weekend with a night of golf and fun. Click on the link below or check the Pinch Brook Calendar of Events on their website to sign up.
It is crazy to think we are in our first session of summer golf camp this week. It seems like we were just in the middle of a cool spring and golf season had just kicked in. Since my last post, we have been through an exciting High School season, the start of our PGA Junior League season, Drive Chip and Putt local qualifying, and our first Date Night clinic. Time flies when the warmer weather comes in and the golfers come out!
Watching the US Open this past weekend was, as always, a learning experience. There were so many interesting stories about how the players were trying to figure it all out on that one Father’s Day weekend. I have to say the Richard Bland story had me thinking and taking notes during and after the broadcast. Here is a 48-year-old Englishman who was leading the US Open after 36 holes. The commentators after the round were talking about his performance, and said something I think we should all take to heart. “Be the best version of yourself.” Bland is never going to hit it like Rory or putt it like Rahm, but what he can do is control what he does well and excel at it. That may simply mean applying sound course management skills that put him in the best position to make the best score.
George Bland knew his lane and capitalized on his best skills. We all could learn from that 36-hole performance. We may not hit it the longest, have under 30 putts per round, or hit 14 greens in regulation. However, we do control what shots we can hit well and when to attempt those shots. I think those 477 starts on the European Tour taught Bland more than anyone actually thought, and thank goodness they did because what a great teachable moment for all of us!
Now that we are turning the calendar to April, and we have all gotten outside to witness what this weather can do for our psyche, it is time to really start gaming out your early golf season. The tour’s first major is right around the corner, NJ High School golf is kicking it into gear, and the courses are all opening. All are good signs in my book for a positive start to the 2021 season! Are you as positive about your game?
I have seen on the lesson tee, both at the indoor studios and outdoor ranges, an excited response to the action of 2020. Golfers want to keep this good mojo working. I am in favor of that! Here are some ideas just to keep you rolling towards that feeling you are looking for:
After you strike the ball, finish like you are a professional on television. Weight on your target side after you the ball is away. Then, try to pick up your trial leg off the ground and hold that position on your target side leg for a three second count. If you have the tendency to hang back, you won’t be able to do this for a three second count. Let's create that good motion towards the target.
Also, take a look at your backswing when the club parallel to the ground. If your club is parallel to the target line as well as the ground, you are on the way to completing a sound backswing. This position will give you a chance to complete a backswing on plane. Now we have a better chance of attacking with ball from down the target line on the downswing.
I hope everyone is excited to see the golf balls fly and the putts fall as we crack open the 2021 season.
I think it is kind of fitting to be sending this message out today, as the Friday of the 2020 Players Championship was the start of the Covid shutdown in this country. The second round in Ponte Vedra, Florida was cancelled just as Hideki Matsuyama had shot 63 (-9) and was in the lead...and here we are, one year later!
Oh, what a year we had in golf...surprisingly, an unprecedented uptick of growth that has not been seen in years! New people in the game, people coming back to the game, and just more people at the courses, driving ranges, and playing mini golf. More golf, in any form, is NEVER a bad thing!
Now, how do we keep you moving forward in your quest to improve and keep that same energy for the game as we have had in the previous months? Possibly, watching golf on television has stoked that fire in the colder months. Maybe, now that some snow has melted, and we can see the grass, the courses will be open soon. That warm sun and that green grass might be just the ticket to get your golf ticker beating fast!
What did you remember from the last time you played? What mental notes did you keep about changes to your approach? Realize the first time you hit the range or the course there may be that readjustment period to get your game trending to the direction you want it. Do not fret! Your playing season is not defined by your first few trips to the range or course.
Focus on your balance, finish like you are posing on Tour, and try not to squeeze the toothpaste out of the tube with your grip pressure. Keep it light...keep it positive...keep smiling! Golf season is back!
New Jersey high school golf is back! After losing the spring 2020 season to Covid 19, the NJSIAA has allowed spring sports to move forward. Teams can meet virtually starting March 1. We can start meeting our teams in person starting April 1st and matches can start April 9th. This is great news for the golfers as they all had their seasons cancelled last spring.
Now comes an interesting part. With no season last spring and a condensed pre-season under the watchful eye of their coach, what are the aspiring varsity golfers doing in order to make sure they are ready for the April 9 matches? I have heard from numerous coaches that losing last spring could be detrimental to the development of their younger players. I 100% understand that sentiment and agree with it. It will be telling to see what the players are capable of once we can see the ball get airborne.
Even with all that, still an opportunity has arisen! If you played last summer/fall and took care of your body this winter, and maybe got a chance to hit balls at an indoor facility, you may be more equipped to compete right out of the gate in April. Instead of sitting at home watching the snow, you can always be working on your game and watching yourself improve.
Try to chip a tee off the carpet. This will keep you aware of the low point in your short game swing. Get in front of a mirror, make some slow-motion swings to reinforce your correct body positions and posture. Take a glance at the USGA website and take a 10 question rules test. Being familiar with terminology and how to proceed in certain situations can only pay dividends once our match season starts.
I was doing some office work these last two few days in between shoveling over 20 inches of snow when I came across some seminar notes I had written down on a session the NJPGA did with Dr. Nick Molinaro. Dr. Molinaro is a leading Sports Psychologist right here in Northern New Jersey. I got to know Dr. Nick when he was a member at NJ National, and I was an Assistant Golf Professional there in the early 2000’s. He has built a terrific practice and works with many notable athletes and leaders in business.
One of the topics he discussed that day was how to keep yourself focused and in control on the golf course. The statement I had at the top of my notes was a quote from Dr. Nick, “It only takes 90 seconds to swing the club in a 4.5-hour round of golf.” I had to think about that a bit but then it made sense. The totality of all your swings in an 18-hole round would be that 90 second mark that he spoke of. Now comes the challenge! What does your mind do for that other 4 hours and 28.5 minutes?
I am sure we all have different answers for that question. If you can turn your attention to the other energy at work in your environment in between shots, you are on the right path. Recognize under pressure where your attention goes...to internal or external factors? Figuring these things out and channeling them to a constructive path will be a great place to start. The power of belief is a positive force, it can turn “I Can’t” into “I Can.”
Off-season improvement, that’s what! Now is the time to ramp up your plan for your off-season practice. We are all figuring out at this point what indoor practice we can commit to given the situation of the day. While things are still different, there really is more certainty for your golf sessions this off season. We can only trend upwards especially as more light is greeting us each day!
If you are working at home to supplement your training, there is plenty of sound work you can accomplish at home in front of a mirror. I am a huge believer in creating proper balance and posture. If we have suspect posture, then there are going to be breakdowns when you start to move the club. Take a picture of yourself or look into a mirror from the side after you take your golf posture. Can you draw a line down from under your armpit to the front of your kneecap and down to your furthest shoelace? If so, chances are your posture and balance are pretty solid.
In your putting stroke, use a mirror or old CD and place it on the ground with a ball on top. Can you see your eyes in the mirror? If not, there may be the need for more bend forward or a repositioning of your body over the ball. Either way, the mirror will give you clues on what needs to happen.
The hitting bay at the NJPGA is open now if you interested in using that location in Bedminster for your next session. Just drop me a line.
The update of www.begingolfnow.com is finally complete. I invite you all to take a look and add your impressions to the student testimonials. Please feel free to drop me a line with your thoughts.
Thank you for all the warm wishes this holiday season. I hope everyone got the chance to celebrate in their own way as we all move forward into 2021. It was delightful to read all your responses to my holiday message. The spell that this game has us will be something that we will look back on years from now when we try to explain the year of 2020. A brief snippet of your comments: “The thing that really turned my head was hearing from all the new players what brought them to the course and realizing golf was great game!”
“Thanks for a wonderful PGA Junior League season- it was because of golf that our children felt a sense of normalcy.”
“Golf was the first thing to bring some saneness back into our lives.”
“Watching my son who never played before making his first par the day before his wedding was special.”
We all want to keep the good feelings cascading into the new year. As one of our group mentioned in a comment, “It is not enough to have a great drive or great swing, but a great mental attitude is paramount.” I think we all worked on our mental approach towards life in 2020. Keep up the positive efforts! Drop me a line if your winter swing plan needs attention. Enjoy the primetime golf this week as the PGA Tour is in Hawaii.. Patrick Cantley is my pick.
As the winter solstice occurs this week and family celebrations are in full gear, I wanted to take this time to wish all of you a happy and fun, holiday break. All the best to the golfers and their families as we move into the end of 2020, and welcome 2021 to the show.
Now that the last big golf event is wrapping up, the LPGA Tour Championship, we can look back at this once in a lifetime type of head scratching golf season. Some of the more interesting happenings that made my list include:
Bernard Langer, at 63 years old, using hybrids and fairway woods in second shots to some of those par 4’s at The Masters, makes the cut.
Sophia Popov, ranked 304th, winning the Women's British Open at Royal Troon.
Colin Morikawa drives the 16th green and makes eagle on Sunday to win the PGA
Dustin Jonson crushing the field to win the green jacket.
A Lim Kim birdies last three holes to win in a Monday finish of the US Women’s Open.
Both Kim and Popov not given spots in the season ending LPGA Tour Championship.
PGA Tour pulling the plug on the Player Championship and a portion of the Tour season on Friday the 13th of March.
Golf Channel closes the studio doors in Orlando.
The tremendous support of all the golfers who came out to the course, and those who were excited in seeing their games progress on the lesson tee.
I would be interested in discovering what made your head turn this past 2020 golf season. Please pass those moments on to me, and I will share with the group. Until then, keep that happy, holiday spirit thriving and enjoy the end of December and 2020. Great things are on the horizon for all of us in 2021. Heck it’s a Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup year!
I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving weekend. The weather gave us the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors, hopefully some of you got in a last round of golf as the courses were rolling over the weekend. On that note, the National Golf Foundation released their October round counts. Would you be surprised to hear that rounds were up 32% in October 2020 versus October 2019? Or that the national year-to-date number of rounds were up 10.8% this year versus 2019. 2020 gave us a warm and somewhat dryer year than last, add to that the strange circumstances around the virus and voila! an annual increase of around 50 million rounds played. Those numbers are awesome to think about. Great job!
You can still quench you thirst for championship golf on television coming up next weekend beginning on December 10. The United States Women’s Open will take place in Houston at the Champions Golf Club. The 75th anniversary of this great competition takes place not only under Covid rules, but during a daylight challenged part of the calendar. The USGA will have the 156 players competing on both courses at Champions for the first 36 holes, then go to the Cypress Creek course for the final two rounds on the weekend. Necessity truly is the Mother of Invention...and Flexibility...and Creative Thinking!
Brooke Henderson is my pick at (– 6) this week
If you are in need for a holiday gift for the person in your life who is looking to improve at this crazy game, golf lesson gift cards are available to purchase. Individual, indoor, playing lessons or lesson packages are easy to obtain. Let me know what your budget is, and I can help in your gift giving needs.
The winter months are no excuse to not stop improving.
We have all seen our fair share of odd things in 2020. Add to that list the playing of the final major of the year in November. Add even more to that list... someone shooting 20 under par with just 4 bogeys and one 3-putt all week. Hats off to Dustin Johnson with that performance to claim the green jacket. Not only did Johnson hit is straight off the tee hitting 44 of 56 fairways, he ranked first in Greens in Regulation by hitting 60 out of 72 greens. A dominating performance over the field! Yours truly whiffed on the Louie Oosthuizen pick, but I digress.
As we are looking forward to Thanksgiving week, take a moment to be thankful for the golf in your life. Golf may have been one of the only familiar forces in your life these recent months. Golf may have been your only avenue to get out and be with friends this spring and summer. Hitting the course may have been the comfort zone you were searching for. Maybe golf was a new activity just to get outside, that may have started as an interest, but now has turned into the subject of your holiday gift list. We are all in that zone somewhere, and we are all happy for the byproduct of its influence.
When you get the itch to move your practice indoors during the colder months or are looking for an opportunity to continue the good golf mojo you have built this season, drop me a line or shoot me a text. I have access to two terrific indoor hitting areas with technology to help, one in Bedminster NJ and one in Oakland NJ.
One last item. Who was the last player to win a Major playing a persimmon driver?
Enjoy your Thanksgiving! Hope to still see you at the course..
The calendar may say November, but it certainly doesn’t feel like November. A 70-degree day Monday, and we had another great one on Tuesday. 2020 sure has owed us something like this. Now, throw in the final major of the year down in Augusta! Bonus time for sure for all of us golf nuts.
So, how are you taking advantage of this brief gift of warmer weather? Courses are still buzzing even though frost and daylight have put a cramp into our plans. Did you schedule that last outside playing lesson to reinforce the course management habits we had been working on all year? Are you comfortable with the swing cues that we talked about to keep you on track over the winter? Do you need to get a jump on your off-season physical training, or plan for indoor swing sessions? Just because the calendar says November, there is no reason to stop improving.
Fun Fact about the tournament this weekend in Augusta. Bryan Jones, the Head Golf Professional at Black Oak Golf Club, here in Long Valley, NJ, will be one of the Rules Officials on the course at this year's final Major. Bryan is a Rules Chair for the PGA of America. As a rules official, we can probably bet they might be a little nervous that there is a possibility they may be part of deciding the championship, but nevertheless will step up for the integrity of the game every time. Have a great week Bryan!
And for everyone else...Make hay while that sun shines in your bonus time! See you at the course.
Just think about that for a moment. When we play golf, we know there are always going to be about 72 to 110 strokes that happen on the course. It is up to us to compartmentalize them into their own little sections, to take note of, and most importantly move on from.
A high school golf student of mine has had a season long goal of trying to drive her ball over a specific creek on the course. We would always come to that hole, and we would look at each other and smile. She knew she was swinging to make that goal a reality no matter what happened on the previous hole or subsequent tee shots. During a playing lesson this past week, that goal was on the forefront of her brain. Now, this high schooler may have just made a double bogey on the previous hole, but that didn’t matter. She washed that double bogey out of her mind because the next shot was coming. What happened on the last hole didn’t matter, the next shot did. It was her goal to be successful at that tee shot, and she was excited to hit it!
We all laugh at those Bill Belichick press conferences when he gives the press something along the lines of “We are on to the Jets,” or “We are moving forward to focus on the next team.” No truer words are spoken when we play golf. Yes, I know there are going to be great shots and crummy shots out there. It is up to us to figure out a way to soldier on with our heads up during the down times, and to enjoy, but not think too much during the good times.
Get excited to hit the next shot! See you at the course.
It was a new experience to watch the US Open Championship with no spectators. Winged Foot is a very difficult golf course and the variety of scores showed it. Hats off to Bryson DeChambeau for posting a winning score under par. He didn’t waver from his plan all week to mash the ball around the course and create second shots with more lofted clubs than his fellow competitors. DeChambeau’s body transformation of adding weight, strength, and speed to his golf swing were noted all week.
Golfers always find ways to be successful. This fact was noted by a newsletter I received from Blast Golf. Blast looked to see how the best short game performers faired at Winged Foot. They came up with this interesting stat:
Every player in the PGA Tour Top 5 Proximity to the Hole from 20-30 yards finished in the Top 20 at Winged Foot 1. Zach Johnson - T8th 2. Matthew Wolff - 2nd 3. Harris English - 4th 4, Webb Simpson - T8th 5. Hideki Matsuyama – 17th
This nugget tells us that how close you hit the ball to the flagstick is just as important as how far you hit it off the tee. Those 300-yard drives count just as much as those 20-yard pitch shots. Dechambeau will win Majors playing his way for sure, but there will be winners that execute on other specific strengths as well to bring home the trophy. Be one of those players who executes on your own strengths to be successful in your round.
One of my serious high school players sent me an email this week asking for some advice. He was struggling with his confidence and scores. His off the tee and iron play had been inconsistent the last few junior tournament rounds. He was looking to right the ship and regain some confidence as the junior tournament season here in NJ is coming into the home stretch.
Now, this high school player has all the power he needs at the moment to be successful. We had worked on some structural items in his swing over the winter and into the spring. Rounds in the 70s started to appear in the summer events, so we know some of that info had worked into the fabric of his approach.
To pick up his positivity though, I was able to steer the dialogue to what was going well in this sudden valley in his game. Did he pay attention to his posture and alignment? Was his tempo the same throughout the play of each hole? Was he making good course management decisions? All the things that we may take for granted when we play, because we may just automatically do them well, yet they are essential to success.
If some of those three skills listed above are in play, then we may find out that a good strike on the golf ball will happen. If that good strike is struck, another may be just around the corner...Look, here comes another, and it looks like you are heading out of that valley! Those pars will start to seep back onto the card. It may not be immediately, but at least we both know you are working the problem, looking at yourself as a whole golfer, using your strengths to move yourself forward, and know that a great view is on its way from that peak just ahead.
See you at the course...hopefully for our Cleveland Golf Scoring Clinic
We have all seen the increased daily traffic at the course and ranges this season. Golf has blossomed this summer into something special during the time of this crazy pandemic. I have seen so many new people getting into the game and more of my regular students playing and practicing more. Since we are looking at Labor Day weekend in the front windshield, now may a good time to take a second look at your game and see how you are progressing as we are moving into those cooler months.
This week's broadcast message couldn’t have come at a better time. Like many others, I worked on getting my body in better golf shape this spring while we were all home. Once courses opened, I started teaching and practicing, and it was tough to keep that stick-to-itiveness for completing my golf fitness routines. I, for one, had taken a step back. After an initial screening by Golf Fitness Professional Jim LaFratte at Core Golf Performance, he noticed a hip flexor issue that I needed to improve on in order to make a better turn through the ball. The kneeling hip flexor stretch was one of the items I included in my fitness routine. That along with a foam rolling protocol helped me improved my finish position of the golf swing.
Sometimes it’s not just the swing that may be hindering your score. It may be something going on with the motion sequence that your body is trying to make, but not quite getting there and it’s holding you back. During our next session at the course or driving range, let's take a look. Just as objects in the mirror may be closer than you think, a better score, might be closer than you think and not as big of a leap as you might imagine.
Enjoy the Labor Day Weekend and remember there is a reason they make the rear view mirror so small.
As we moved through July and now into August, I wanted to do a summer check in. Since my last post, we have gone full steam ahead into our season. Summer Junior Golf Camps have been very popular with our young golfers! PGA Junior League matches are rolling along, as well. It's gratifying to see the kids really wanting to play and get better! We also hosted our extremely successful inaugural Cleveland Golf Wedge Day at Pinch Brook a few weeks ago. I cannot wait to offer this clinic again! All healthy signs for a fun second half of the season.
If you have been playing at a steady clip these past few months, take some inventory of your score history. Try to look for trends. Do you play better after work or on a day off? Do you score better in the morning or twilight rounds? If we can examine the data, maybe we can come up with some strategies to get you into a positive mindset to shoot better scores whatever time of day you have the opportunity to play!.
Don't forget, I can also offer the option of participating in a playing lesson! We can go on the course together and see what decisions you are making during the round. Does talking about your golf game interest you? Me, too! We can have some really good golf conversations as we play. Drop me a line, and we can start that interaction.
Enjoy the PGA Championship, that warm, summer sunset, maybe even that crisp glass of ice cold Arnold Palmer, and as always- See you at the course...
As we finish the first two weeks of July, I am proud to announce that our Summer Junior Golf camps are rolling along. During the last 10 days, we have seen 21 juniors on the course and practice areas discovering and working on the game of golf...utilizing safe social distancing protocols, of course! Between July and August, we will host five separate Monday through Thursday sessions of our Summer Junior Golf Camp. If that doesn’t bring a sense of joy to a golf professional, I don’t know what does!
Once the governor announced that summer camps could start on July 6, we jumped at the chance to pick up where we left off last summer, giving our juniors the chance to get out on the links, and strut their stuff. The first two sessions did not disappoint. We had chip-ins, long putts made, and bombs hit off the tee, along with many of acts of kindness and decency toward our fellow golfers. Plenty of “Camper Bucks” were issued to offset purchases in the shop, and pizza was devoured by the box.
I never really know what the effect of camp is on these juniors until I get an email from a parent about how their child reacts at home. This is a must share! Here is one particular email comment from this week's class, “We knew he would like it, but his level of enjoyment has *fully* surpassed our anticipation. Thank you for that.” Can you tell I am smiling?
Watching younger players enjoy the freshly cut grass, seeing the ball fly, and running to the next tee to hit a driver really makes the week go by with plenty of laughter. So, whether you attend our golf camp, or another, set your junior up to enjoy the morning walk down the fairway with some friends, dragging a handcart, and swinging at that little ball that drives us crazy, but makes us oh, so happy! Thursday, July 23 we are hosting a Cleveland Wedge Class at the Pinch Brook, Sunset Valley, and Berkshire Valley. The cost of the session includes instruction and a wedge. See you at the course..
This past week, I was on the course with a student during a playing lesson when our conversation on his acquisition of certain golf skills took an interesting turn. Steve, a retired engineer, asked me if I had ever heard of W. Edwards Deming? I looked at him trying very quickly to comb through my rolodex of information in order to come up with an answer, alas, I had nothing to retort. Steve went on to give me a brief look into the theories of Edwards Deming. Demings was a leader in management theory in the area of quality. Demings believed in continual improvement and redefining mistakes as opportunities for improvement.
Steve lives near one of the courses where I teach and started taking lesson with me last summer. He was about to retire and decided to take up the game of golf. As Steve was talking with me, I could see his road map into improving at golf. He was using some of Deming’s initiatives to link to his improvement at golf... Plan for changes to bring improvement...Do changes in a small scale...Check to see if the changes are working...Act to get the greatest benefit from change.
Looking at the learning process closeup, I can see how golf students take certain steps to achieve a desired outcome. We all learn differently, but we all want similar goals in golf, and truly, in the end, we want to enjoy the process of the game! We want to have fun! Let’s examine what turns your gears to help bring you more joy while playing golf.
Enjoy your Fourth of July! Full Swing classes start July 12 at Berkshire Valley. Email me to reserve your spot.
This past week, I worked with a family of four who just started playing golf. After explaining how the carts ran and what the role of each employee was, we ventured on the course for some instruction pertaining to the golf swing, strategy, and golfer awareness. This was not just a one-time type session for me, as the family has booked more lessons to move out of their beginner status and on to being regular golfers. More exuberant newer golfers have continued to come my way! Four of my son's high school friends who just got clubs texted me to help them with their golf swings. One of my high school students played in his first golf association qualifier. Another indoor winter student reached out for information on purchasing new clubs due to a recent Father's Day gift, and one of my long-standing students texted me about his best ever two over par nine holes that he shot (picture). What do these occurrences have in common? All new interactions into the game of golf in their own way. Exciting to say the least!
These crazy Covid times have certainly brought many of us to alter our choices for recreation. It is invigorating to see these types of new experiences into the game of golf. These golfers’ enthusiasm for the game and what they are each trying to accomplish makes me smile, and the fact they want to share these moments with me really gets me excited for the next lesson. Keep up the great work people. What is your next golf moment going to look like? I’d love to be the one you share the excitement with!
We are finally kicking into another gear as golf in New Jersey opens up a bit more, and we are all excited about the prospects going forward. I have seen numerous students for additional sessions already since outside golf instruction has begun again. We have an opportunity to work on or reimagine your golf story, and that puts a smile on my face. I hope on yours, as well.
Case in point...Earlier this past week, I was working with a junior whom I have seen at many of our instruction opportunities through the years. We were conducting a full swing session, as he was working to achieve proper posture and alignment. With the next strike, lo and behold he striped an iron down the fairway and looked back at me with a huge grin and said, “That is the straightest I’ve ever hit a ball!” Brendan’s reaction was so genuine, it made both of us laugh out loud!
So, what is the next building block in your golf story? Do we need to have a conversation about purchasing clubs, re-connect for a session from previous years, or move forward with plans for attending a summer Junior Golf Camp at Flanders Valley GC? We can travel this expedition together, uncover some missteps, and maybe plot a new course!
As Father's Day approaches, I just want to pass along warm wishes to those dads who enjoy their families on and off the golf course. If you are anything like my dad, you are the ones that keep us on track and help us write the next chapter.
The PGA Tour season is a week away, and the more I read about the field of players, the more exciting this all gets. Fifteen out of the top 20 players in the world are scheduled to play at Colonial CC in Texas. You can tell that the golf buzz is around! This week giving lessons, you could feel it! Even though NJ is still at 16-minute tee time intervals, you could hear the chatter around the clubhouses and in the staging area. We are back playing, the June sunsets are later, and the weather is awesome!
Now, we must turn that newfound enthusiasm into a positive result to grow the game. I was giving a playing lesson Thursday night, and the last two twosomes that went out at 6pm were beginners. It was a heartwarming experience for me to watch as they were trying to tee off knowing that playing 9 holes at 6pm was going to be a stretch, but they were pumped to try. When we think of growing the game of golf, this is the type of circumstance that comes to mind. I applaud their enthusiasm!
The attached photo is of a short game lesson I gave this weekend. My student was figuring out his chipping motion and alignment. I just happened to have my sanitizing wipes in my golf bag and figured it might be a good visual to keep the club head aimed at the target and the swing moving down the target line. Presto! A new training aid...any port in the storm.
The PGA Tour season is a week away, and the more I read about the field of players, the more exciting this all gets. Fifteen out of the top 20 players in the world are scheduled to play at Colonial CC in Texas. You can tell that the golf buzz is around! This week giving lessons, you could feel it! Even though NJ is still at 16-minute tee time intervals, you could hear the chatter around the clubhouses and in the staging area. We are back playing, the June sunsets are later, and the weather is awesome!
Now, we must turn that newfound enthusiasm into a positive result to grow the game. I was giving a playing lesson Thursday night, and the last two twosomes that went out at 6pm were beginners. It was a heartwarming experience for me to watch as they were trying to tee off knowing that playing 9 holes at 6pm was going to be a stretch, but they were pumped to try. When we think of growing the game of golf, this is the type of circumstance that comes to mind. I applaud their enthusiasm!
The attached photo is of a short game lesson I gave this weekend. My student was figuring out his chipping motion and alignment. I just happened to have my sanitizing wipes in my golf bag and figured it might be a good visual to keep the club head aimed at the target and the swing moving down the target line. Presto! A new training aid...any port in the storm.
I am very excited to be back on the lesson tee and be available for on course coaching again. The range and bunker area at Berkshire Valley GC are open for practice. The range is set up for safe, social distancing. All of the practice greens remain closed to the general golfing public, but I do have access for short game lessons. The short range at Flanders Valley GC still remains closed through this phase of reopening. As we get back to working on our games, I wanted to let you all know that I will be wearing a mask during our sessions, as I suggest you bring one as well. We will be keeping a safe distance during our session. You will be the only one touching your golf bag and clubs. I will have sanitizing wipes with me during our session for both of us to use if needed. Also, in order to avoid having extra people at the practice areas, I will not be booking a lesson immediately after your session is complete. This has been a unique situation for all of us. This time away from golf has brought some new perspective on common past practices and a focus on what can happen in the golf community going forward. It is my belief that we all have an opportunity to grow from this, and I am excited to help you regain that focus or create some new golf buzz in your life.
Happy Memorial Day Weekend! I am sure we all didn’t expect this when we were planning four or five months ago, but it is what we have so lets make the best of it. If you haven't heard already, driving ranges will be open this weekend, and foursome play is allowed in NJ. All with adherence to proper health protocols. Golf is trending in an upward trajectory, let's keep the good vibes going.
Since we last talked, I have gotten other notes, texts, and short videos from students giving me updates on their early season progress. Keep them coming! It is always nice to hear from so many of you looking to keep the good mojo rolling while we move into the 2020 season.
Junior Camp update: The Flanders Valley Summer Junior Golf Camps are still planning on going forward at this time. Golf could be well positioned this summer to be a nice escape for kids and their parents. We will follow the health guidelines of the State of NJ at the time of camps if and when they happen. The link for online information about dates and cost is attached, and we will be updating our customers as we hear more from the proper authorities.
On the instruction side, when the MCPC gives me the OK to begin, I will broadcast that information loud and clear! As of now, I would be happy to work with anyone who may want to visit the Farmview Golf Center here in Hackettstown.
I got this text from a student I had worked with all last season and through the winter months. Our spring lessons turned into exchanging video and conversing online about the concepts we had been focusing on through our training. The smile on my face when I saw this text was from ear to ear. Real progress is something to be cheered. There will be real progress for your game as well this season. Progress just means different outcomes to different players.
The warmer weather is really here! With the courses open now, go out and have some fun playing golf. Send me a text on your progress. We can make adjustments so that you can have that lightbulb moment as well. As Matin Hall says on the Golf Channel show School of Golf...”if you keep doing what you have been doing, you will keep getting what you have been getting.
I hope everyone got the chance to get outside this past week. Spring has really popped! But, now we might be getting some freezing rain this weekend! Unbelievable!
Regardless of this crazy spring, our goal has always been, and will continue to be, to get you out to the course, playing better, and feeling good about your golf game. The only way for you to take inventory of what is going on in your game is to get out and test drive some of those mechanisms that you and I have focused on improving since we last saw each other in person. If some of you have not gotten the chance to play yet, keep focusing on your swing rehearsals and mirror work to reinforce those positive motions. The work you focus on now will pay off when you get on the course. If you are playing this coming week, take some phone video and send it my way. I will look forward to seeing it, and giving thought to our next lesson plan.
The National Golf Foundation projects 90% of all golf facilities will allow play by May 17. Courses in New York, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut are open. Granted some may have more restrictions at the moment than others, but it does give us the chance to get out and play as the sunset keeps creeping later and later. All positive signs of a brighter tomorrow.
Stay safe, and Happy Mother's Day to those terrific Moms who make it all work out somehow.
I bet you were waiting to hear those five words from our state leaders. I was guessing sometime next week, but I will take the early opening as a light at the end of the tunnel. The governor’s guidelines are interesting to say the least, but we will acquiesce in order to see the Titleist fly down the fairways. What are your expectations when you get to play your first round after this stay at home period? Well, when assessing your practice at home, understand that the improvement that you make with your home practice has more of a feel component to rather than that concrete result we get at the course. Practicing those swing motions and positions will pay off in the overall dynamic of what your body is able to do with the club during a round as the golf season moves forward. There will be a trust that you have developed in your practice, don’t give up on that trust. Preparing yourself with an optimistic perspective is a good strategy to get the day and the golf season off to a good start. The knowledge that you did put in practice time during this home time, should make you feel confident and ready to go. It is a comforting feeling to know that the bright light at the end of the tunnel isn’t the train coming from the other end! And here is a non-golf chuckle.
Hello Friends, I hope everyone is doing well this week as the weekend weather is kind of getting better. As I was watching the NFL draft last night with my son, we were listening to the analysts talk about the intangibles that the players possess and how those traits will make them a fit on their new NFL team. I got to thinking about what traits you may wish you had or want to expand on in your golf game. • hitting the ball further • splashing a better greenside bunker shot • making more putts inside of 10 feet • hit more greens from inside of 100yds • improving your course management skills As we inch closer to May and the hopeful opening of the golf courses, take some time to analyze your game. Then, let’s start a conversation to see if we can turn those analytics into NFL sized results on the course.
Now may be the time to give yourself a pat on the back. We all have been adjusting to a different schedule and I am sure you have done your best keeping your life on track. The ray of hope that the warmer weather brings is around the corner. Just know that we will be back again at the course soon. Until then watch your favorite Hallmark Channel movie, post a note to your friends working in healthcare or just watch past highlights form that golf tournament they traditionally play this weekend in Georgia. Take care and see you at the course..
Join me on Morris Sussex Sports today at 4:30 pm as we talk about the sprig season. Take your mind off this crazy time and add this webinar to your viewing list. I am looking forward to the conversation. See you at the course... I hope soon.
I hope you and your family are well during this puzzling time. We all are trying to get work done and stay sane while staying in our homes. Try to build in some time away from your newly formed daily schedule and think about your own golf game and how much fun we are going to have when the weather breaks and we are back at the course.. Know that we are still planning for the upcoming season and how we can make it successful for you.
If you are looking into a few areas that will improve your fitness level during our down time, feel free to reach out to one of the few TPI Level 3 Certified Trainers in NJ Jim Lafratte. Jim is the owner of Core Golf Performance in Oakland NJ. Drop him an email and reference this post and see if he can help you out and get your body moving on more of a productive path. james@coregolfperformance.com
I am sure many of you are making swings and practice putting in and around your house. I say great! Keep up the work and add some levity into the sessions. Send me a file of some of your favorite or not so favorite swings and we can talk about what is on the horizon for your game. In the meantime I added a short video of some putting ideas you might want to incorporate into your routine.
See you at the course...hopefully soon Mike #beaconofhope
Time to start talking to your Juniors about Drive, Chip and Putt!
Now that we have turned the calendar into March, we can really start thinking about that first Major of the year down in the Peach State. Some might not know about a great event which will take place the Sunday before the pros tee it up for the Green Jacket. The 7th Drive, Chip and Putt Championship will take place on the hallowed grounds at the Augusta National Golf Club on April 5th. Drive, Chip and Putt is a free, nationwide youth golf development program open to girls and boys, ages 7-15, in four age divisions. The three-pronged competition tests the skills essential to playing the game – accuracy in driving, chipping and putting. The players compete to get through Local, Sub-Regional and Regional levels in order to earn a trip to the Finals. Eighty juniors from ten Regional Qualifiers earned their way to Augusta to test their skills for the top prize. Local Qualifying for the 2021 Championship starts in May. Check out www.drivechipandputt.com to find a local qualifier near you. Flanders Valley GC will host a qualifier on June 16, 2020. Be sure to log on and register your junior for a chance to compete. Look forward to seeing you at the course!
The PGA Tour has moved back to the West Coast, and we have had some unseasonable warm weather roll through our part of the East Coast. The thaw, albeit brief, got me outside playing golf. I hope you took advantage as well. One area that the short-lived warm sunshine shown light for was my plan for the 2020 season. I know everyone starts the year with resolutions on what they want to accomplish and I am no different. We should all look to add arrows to our quiver. What I mean by that is, educate yourself more on the strategies around your game to add strength to your game. Am I getting the most out of my work out routine? What was the last golf instruction book that I read? Do I have an understanding of why my golf ball keeps traveling in the direction it does?
This is the season in the northeast to take an inventory of what you have and plan for what you! want to accomplish as we look towards the spring. Keep your physical and mental improvement as your target. See you at the course!
Time to wipe the worries of 2019 away and start fresh! Forget all those errant shots and missed putts, let's keep a few small ideas in focus that can make a big difference: * Look to improve your fitness level, even just a bit. * Stock up on new golf balls. * Fit in more time to play during your week. Golf is perhaps the most measurable game in all of sports. With just a number, it tells the narrative of your day. So, let's' write your new golf story in 2020!
Find that perfect gift! Holiday giving season is running out
You can still get that golfer on your holiday list something they need, or maybe it's a gift for yourself! We all want to play better golf, one way to travel down that road is to get an educated set of eyes looking at your improvement. This is where we can make it happen. Whether you are looking for a better bunker approach, a putting lesson, or an on course strategy session, I can help! I look forward to hearing your thoughts and concerns. Drop me a line, and we can come up with a plan for your gift. Happy Shopping .Mike A..PGA
Don’t let the cold temperatures make your golf game go into hibernation!
Join me at Core Golf Performance in Oakland this winter to keep your golf game on track for spring 2020. Let’s take a look at your swing and get some feedback on your fundamentals. We can utilize Trackman and TruGolf Simulators to hone in your ball flight. Practice on the Putting Perfection Platform with Blast Motion will keep your putting tempo in check. Take a look at your swing on playback with the Hudl and Mirror Vision applications. Also, take advantage of the only Level 3 Certified TPI Golf Fitness Professional in Northern NJ and the staff at Core Golf. Now is the time!
No reason not to get better when the right facilities and professional knowledge are at your fingertips. Contact me to get more information on lesson times. See you soon Mike A..PGA Cell 908-246-6454
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