A Note To Our Junior's Parents - 2017

Dear Parents,

Stonebridge Impact Junior Academy welcomes 2017 as a new year filled with improvements and positive change that will certainly help our juniors progress even further. We had a great 2016 at our new facility (Stonebridge) and cannot wait to put some great improvements into play this year. I will outline many of them here, and will follow up with details as each improvement makes its way into our programming.

First off, we have a personnel addition to come this year. To join Coaches Chris, Cassie and Josh, we are excited to announce that Coach Michael will be coming back to join us in May. Michael did a summer internship with me a couple years ago at Eldorado. He will be finishing up his PGA schooling with a 6 month internship with me, and then rolling that over into full time employment as an instructor at the club. Michael brings a different avenue of knowledge to our program as he studies hard on the bio-mechanics and technology side of the game. We will have our Flightscope out and running more often which will give our juniors a different look at the way they play and how they can improve.

As far as the academy goes, we will be expanding the number of tournaments we offer to our juniors. We are going to shoot for one every month, and will still have our “major” events that will qualify each player for the year end playoffs. All our players will have opportunities to play each month as we will break each tournament down into divisions as needed. 

We are going to be adding a fairly big fitness and athleticism component to our programming as well. The golf industry is seeing a sharpe rise in physical fitness and strength programming for elite golfers and we are welcoming the idea of keeping up with that trend. Your junior will not only be a great golfer, but a better and stronger athlete as well. I am certified by TPI (Titleist Performance Institute), and we will be using a lot of their principles in our fitness programming.

Our program curriculum will be more defined and specific to each groups needs for improvement. We will also be emailing out junior progress reports that gives you (parents) a better idea of how your juniors is learning and improving, as well as some areas that need to be addressed at home to facilitate their improvement during training. There will also be a mental game addition to our curriculum where juniors will learn how to control their mind and thoughts on the golf course. 

And finally, the most exciting news of all. Im sure by now your junior has come home and mentioned that because its so cold out, we had our training session indoors. Well, we have taken over the back half of the cart barn that is located out by the driving range, and we have plans being made to turn it into a indoor short game and fitness space. It will serve as our “classroom” for fitness and mental training as well as our shelter for days that are too cold, to hot, or too rainy. 

On a more personal note, I am delighted to say that I have been named the North Texas PGA Randy Smith Junior Development Award winner for our section. Meaning, you can rest assured that your child is in the best junior golf development program in North Texas. I am also honored to say that I received the US Kids - Top 50 Junior Instructor - Honorable Mention for the 5th year in a row. Coach Cassie and Coach Chris will be taking their US Kids Certification course in March, so they will be right on my heels for that award next year. 

We thank you for your continued support. We love each of our juniors and are dedicated to seeing each one improve as much as they want to!

Thank you!

Coach Chad

Are Those Golf Magazine/Digest Articles Written For You?

After taking a two week vacation and being extremely busy when I got back, I had a pile of Golf Magazine and Golf Digest's sitting on my counter waiting for me to read. I had four magazines in all which I read all in one night. I love reading these magazines and articles, but not so much because I learn about golf techniques but because I know many of my students and club members are reading those same articles.

The great thing about being an educated instructor is I have a very strong filter for information. I am able to take a magazine article, read it, and apply it to a student that has that exact flaw. Sometimes I'll read an entire magazine and find nothing helpful, but every month I'll have a handful of members come up to me and explain to me what they read (which is the same thing that I read) and it is very interesting to hear how they interpret the information.

The magazines are very popular because they take great instructors and have them give a simple lesson on a very general topic so that viewers can have something to think about. However, the average golfer will take this advice and immediately apply it to their own game no matter how it affects them or their current golf swing and assume the advice will only help.

During my golf article binge I found 3 articles written on very similar subjects that all had a different approach to the correct technique and all had different fixes and drills. After reading the third article I thought to myself, how can an average golfer possibly sift through all this information and find what is correct for them. More likely will be that this golfer doesn't even understand that the three articles are talking about the same part of the golf swing and will end up trying ALL the drills and fixes at once. Then they are breaking good habits to add bad ones just because they read some information about it.

I read as much about the golf swing and am always learning and training myself (just as you do in your job) to stay on top of the game and the techniques of golf. Part of my job as your golf instructor is to be your personal filter for all the information you read, hear or see. Good instructors have a vivid memory for golf swings and I can probably remember yours much better than you think, so if you have any questions about a reading or piece of advice from an article, I can help you filter that information so you don't have to be confused or developing bad habits for no reason.

Having knowledge is great, but in golf you need to have the ability to know that not every piece of advice is correct and not every magazine article is written for you! Be aware of that and make sure you check with your pro before you make any changes in your swing.

You don't want to improve? I don't believe you!

Have you ever met a golfer who does not want to improve their game or their score?

I have met a few that claim they don't, but they still get upset and frustrated on the golf course. This shows me that they still care and do not want to perform poorly.

Don't be this guy!

I believe deep down everyone playing the game would like to hit better shots and shoot better scores. It's just the nature of competition and sport. So, why do you think the average golfer refuses to take a golf lesson or take them consistently?

Lets look into it...

99% of PGA Tour players, Web.com, European Tour, and collegiate players have a golf instructor they they see regularly. Regularly means whether they are swinging it great or terribly. Why? Their instructor usually knows the player very well and has a great idea of what the players swing faults and tendencies are. Good instructors have a knack for remembering golf swing and lessons from a long time ago which makes each session with a student productive and efficient.

If PGA Tour players are relying on experts to help them keep their swing in shape, why do you think you can handle it yourself?

Excuse #1: I know my swing and can fix myself...

Everyday I hear our members come off the range and say, "I just figured it out!" I can help but ask them what they did to figure it out because it almost always makes me giggle a little bit. Most answers are something like, "I moved my ball position forward a little and started striping it", or "I had to keep my head down longer cause I was looking up."

What I hear is, "I tried so many things, that one finally worked and I hit 2 good shots in a row." The fact is, they got lucky by distracting their mind enough to make a couple decent swings, but they did not improve their overall mechanics. They will try to take it on the course and will find that they swing fix they found doesn't work as well as they had hoped. That is why they are right back on the range the next day searching for the next key that 'figures it out' that day.

In order to improve your game, golfers need to make a commitment to change their swing. The ball flight cannot change if impact remains the same. Usually there are some fundamental flaws that prevent a golfer from making a effective impact position and that is why teaching professionals have jobs. It is very hard to diagnose yourself as you hit. The things you do and the things you feel are often far different from each other, and you need a set of trained eyes to guide you.

Excuse #2: I study the swing, so I know what to do...

Your judgement is clouded by golf magazine articles and the free advice your buddy gave you yesterday. I'm sad to say it, but none of these are tips and fixes are created for you. Magazine articles just want to sound interesting so people will read them (no, they are not directed at you personally no matter how much you may think so). And your buddy is likely just telling you what worked for him at one point when he hit the same kind of shot (do you have the same swing as him? No, it won't work).

Developing a relationship with your instructor is very important. Have them on speed dial on your phone, communicate with them often. Odds are they love their job, and will talk about your swing with you whenever and wherever you need some help.

Many times, a student of mine can simply call me and tell me what the ball flight looks like and what they feel in their swing. I know immediately know what the problem and know what thoughts to tell them that will get them back on track. Having someone on your side that knows your game and swing inside and out is a huge advantage over your golfing buddies.

Excuse #3: Its expensive…

The only other reason would have to be price. But if you talk to your instructor, you can find a plan that fits your budget and your goals. Plus, you'll get all the money back eventually by winning it off your buddies or buying less Pro-Vs from the golf shop. Not to mention you'll have more fun on the course, which is PRICELESS!

So, stop taking bad advise from yourself, your buddies and magazines and start improving your game. Develop a relationship with you pro and keep communication with them and with a some good practice they will keep you on the path to better golf!

Be more like this guy!

'Like'
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2013 Junior Golf Leader Award, Student Successes and Random Golf Thoughts

I'm honored and happy to announce that I have won the 2013 Northern Texas PGA Junior Golf Leader Award for our chapter. I have a lot of pride in my juniors and my program, and its great to get recognition for what I do. What makes it even better is that I love what I do and I would never change my job for anything, so getting this award for doing what I love is just awesome.

Next step is to win the same award for the entire North Texas section. That decision will be made soon, so hopefully its good news!

I have had several junior golfers make big breakthroughs this summer. Several have won individual tournaments and a few of my older high schoolers are talking with college programs about playing for them. Its a exciting time at the club and I am constantly reminded by member and employees at the club that they have never seen this many junior golfers out during a summer or throughout the year.

One of my personal goals is to be a better motivator for my juniors. Golf is the hardest game in the world and is never mastered. Improving takes time, patience, discipline, endurance, guidance, instruction and a great plan. I want all my juniors to be motivated to be the best they can be, and to do that they need to practice consistently.

A great instructor, buddy and teammate (in college) of mine found that research shows people who can practice consecutive days in a row will improve significantly more than those who practice once is a while or every other day. The basic premise is that 14 days (2 weeks) of consecutive practice will produce better results than 14 days spaced out over a month. Your body and brain have the ability to remember feels and thoughts throughout your practice that helps you maintain and progress in your practice. By taking days off between practice sessions, you body and mind forget what they are working on and the little ideas that help you progress.

Two of my students, Jordan and Kyler are a great example. They had high school tryouts today and have been working with me all summer (in my academy) with little practice in between trainings. Ten days before tryouts, they made a pact with me that they would practice for the next 10 days in a row for 5 hours per day in order to get ready for tryouts. I made them a detailed practice plan to follow to make sure they practiced with a purpose and structure. For the most part, they made it to the course everyday (even in pouring rain and 100+ heat) to practice their 5 hours. I am so impressed with them, and I knew they would perform well in their tryouts.

Last year, Kyler had trouble keeping his scored in the 90's with a good round being high 90's and a bad round having no real ceiling (scary). Jordan has been improving consistently for a while, had a career low of 89 in last years high school season but had an average somewhere in the mid to high 90's. Today, at Oak Hollow Golf Course, Jordan shot a new career low 87 and made her Varsity team. Kyler shot a career low 85 and made his JV team. He is on his way to Varsity next year and Jordan has now expressed some interest in playing golf in some capacity in college.

Its amazing what a little determination and commitment will do for your golf game.

I saw a great quote recently that really sums it all up:

"If it's important enough to you, you will find a way. If it's not, you will find an excuse"

All of my juniors tell me they want to get better at golf. They all do, just by being in my academy and getting time with me. But the ones who really want to be good will go the extra mile and put in the 20-30 hours per week it takes to really be great!

Great job to Jordan and Kyler!

Also, Jordan texted me after her round. After congratulating her, I said "Take a day off tomorrow, you deserve it." She texted me back "hahahaha nope, my chipping needs work." That is dedication and she has the internal motivation needed to be a great player. I'm excited for her this year.

Golf is Fun!

A Note From The Head Pro

Eldorado Country Club Head Golf Pro - Scott McClinton was kind enough to teach my juniors for a session while I was away at the TPI seminars. He wanted me to share this note with you:

"Coach Chad has spent the last few days in San Diego attending the Titleist TPI training, getting some great knowledge about the golf swing, golf fitness, and just being a better instructor.  Good for him!  While he was away, I got the opportunity to substitute coach for one of his academy classes.  I just want to say to the parents and to Coach Chad how impressed I was with the academy players.  Their attitudes were some of the best I have seen out of any junior golfers I have coached;  Very positive, very driven, very respectful, and very polite.  It was an awesome experience that was both fun, and rewarding for me.  Great job to those juniors; keep it up, I see LOTS of promise, and great job to Coach Chad for helping mold some great young men and women.  (Tori, Maddie, Jordan, Ryan, Kevin, and Logan – great job gang!)"

Thanks Scott!

TPI Experience - Golf Fitness

This past weekend, I attended a TPI seminar. TPI stands for Titleist Performance Institute and is a way to look at the golf swing that is not normally done. I normally look at a golf swing by recognizing ball flight flaws then looking at the body and how it works to determine what to do to fix that flaw. TPI does this process but almost exactly backwards. 

Each player is taken through a physical assessment that will give the instructor knowledge of how their body is limited in the ability to swing into certain positions in the golf swing. From the results of this test, we can determine how those limitations will effect your swing and cause swing faults that will affect the ball flight. I learned techniques to identify these limitations and also how to help fix them so the player can make more efficient swings. The process is called a screening, and it takes a player through every necessary motion the body has to be put in if they want to have a perfectly efficient swing. Very few people can pass the entire screening, but it acts as a baseline for possible fitness work and a platform for me to know how to teach that individual.

I also learned many techniques that I can use with my students as a warm-up each day so that they are prepared to swing and play their best. Stretching and warming up properly is under-rated by golfers these days. Making sure your body is ready to handle a 80-100 mile per hour swing is very important and will help prevent future injury. 

For my adult students, this will help me assess motions and positions in your swing that you are just not physically capable of hitting, and allow me to prescribe workouts to fix that imbalance or work around it as an instructor. There is nothing wrong with having a limitation in your body, but the best results will come when I know about them and can then work around them. 

For my junior students, academy and summer camps, I have learned the value of having a body that can handle a golf swing and all its essential positions. I will be including more athletic activities as well as a warm-up program for all my juniors. Junior camps (Spring Break and Summer) will be VERY fun and full of exercises designed to develop the entire body (coordination, flexibility and strength) as well as learn great golf fundamentals and skills. 

I am excited to use the new information I have learned this past week I can definitely see the benefits in my own game as well as my students. My quest for new knowledge about the golf swing never stops, and this was a great step into the fitness and body movement characteristics of the golf swing.

The philosophy for TPI is: "We don't believe there is one way to swing a club; we believe there are an infinite number of ways to swing a club. But we do believe there is one efficient way for everyone to swing a club and it is based on what they can physically do."

If you are interested in getting a screening (testing your body for proper golf positions) please let me know!

Finding YOUR Instructor

Dr. Bob Rotella’s five keys to finding the right instructor.

1. Find an instructor who has had success teaching golfers of your ability, age, sex and commitment level. Some teachers prefer (and are at their best) working with really good players, high-handicappers, men, women, kids or seniors. Ask potential teachers what type of golfers they regularly teach and even talk to a few students if you can.

2. Select a teacher who is close to where you live or work and has the time and energy to give you the attention you want. If you have to drive a long way to take your lesson, you might not stay with it. Also, you want to avoid teachers who are overbooked and might rush through a lesson with you.

3. Look for someone who you enjoy spending time with. You might have to take a couple of lessons to find out. Another way is to offer to pay a teacher for half an hour to ask some questions and get better acquainted. You need to find out if you connect.

4. Go for credibility. You can't learn if you don't trust the message. Unlike kids, adults tend to approach lessons with skepticism and question the instruction they receive. Kids are better at trusting what the teacher tells them. Adults could learn from that. If you don't believe in what the teacher is telling you, you're wasting your time.

5. Decide if you want a teacher who is technical and analytical or one who teaches based on feel and visualization. Both methods/philosophies work. But some golfers respond better to one or the other. Discuss your preference with any potential teacher.

All this said, keep in mind that the best instructor in the world might not be the best instructor for YOU. Find an instructor who is successful and you can communicate with and you will have great success!

Committing to Change

There is a saying "keep doing what your doing, and you'll keep getting what you're getting."

As a golf instructor, there is a lot of truth to these words. Students come to us all the time to improve their game (long game, short game, putting, etc) and we have no problem giving help. In every lesson that I give, I see dramatic improvements to ball flight, distance, contact or short game but it is rare to have a follow-up lesson with that same student and be able to pick up right where we left off in the previous lesson.

I understand how hard it is to make a change, I was just like you all when I was learning. I had instructors tell me to make swings and put my body in positions that didn't feel comfortable and didn't feel right to me. But I made myself realize that the reason I came to this professional was to learn and improve. I gave up trying to fix everything on my own, and had to listen and perform what my instructor said no matter what. My golf pro was named Mitch Lowe (PGA), he still teaches to this day in Half Moon Bay, Ca. And to this day, I can attribute my golf swing and a large part of the way I teach to him.

The days of the "quick fix" are fading. Why? Because a quick fix is a temporary solution. As instructors, we would be doing a disservice to you if we gave you a quick fix every time. Our goal is to improve your golf and make you a more consistent and better golfer. All the advise and changes we make are designed to achieve that goal, unless you specify a different goal. That being said, quick fixes are far less awkward when learning, but they are far less effective in producing long term results.

If at anytime during instruction you are confused or don't understand what to do, ASK! If your pro cannot provide a solid reason for why they are making a change, you may want to find a new pro. Its like asking a doctor why he prescribed you a certain medication and he is unable to tell you the reason. That would send a red flag to me for sure! Ask as many questions as you would like, we are there to answer them.

So, if you are looking to get instruction, please see a PGA professional in your area and come in with the right frame of mind. Be willing and committed to change, and you WILL get better.

An example of a great change that resulted in better ball striking immediately. Club was across the line at the top, causing pulls and hooks. He committed to the change and texted me this "74 yesterday with 4 birdies. -1 on the back!" 

Student Success Stories - Melanie

Melanie:
This story is about confidence. Melanie plays on the SMU golf team and was an extremely good junior golfer. She played golf for Baylor before coming to SMU. During her junior year, her play was not up to her standards, she was having trouble getting the ball off the tee and therefore trouble scoring well. When I first played with her she qualified her drives before ever hitting one by saying she has not had confidence in her driver for the past year, hitting drives that are either 180 yard slices or 50 yard smother duck hooks (literally). I didn't really believe her at first, and I laughed the comment off like it was a complete exaggeration. But it wasn't.

I met Melanie while she was working an internship for Century Golf. They manage our property, so she came to help out for a couple months. The first time I watched her swing I was amazed by how much power she created. She hits the ball farther then any woman I have worked with. But she had an obvious (to me) flaw in her swing. For a normal golfer the flaw she had would be manageable, but for a golfer with as much speed as Melanie has the flaw is compounded. For her junior year, her average score was somewhere in the mid-high 80's. She was down on her game and has basically written off her senior year of golf.

We had our first "official lesson" and she told me how many instructors she had gone to that couldn't help her, and most told her it was a mental issue. I didn't think that was true, because I could see the flaw that is causing the shots and knew that if she could fix it her driving would improve. Since her short game was already very good, fixing her driving would change her game completely.

After a few lessons, Melanie started to learn why the golf balls reacts the way it does off the club face, and she started to hit some amazing drives. She practiced very hard for about 6 weeks, working her way through the swing change. After a while, she started putting some great rounds together. Rounds that she said were more like what she used to do (what she expected to do). I could see her confidence rising with each drive that split the fairway.

About a month ago, Melanie qualified to travel for the SMU team. She played amazing golf for three rounds, shooting a combined total of 8-under par including a 65 (course record) in the second round! She won the tournament and beat the previous tournament low total score by 3 strokes. She's now basically guaranteed a travel spot for the rest of the year, and is excited to be competing and hopefully winning more in the rest of her senior year!

She is a prime example of committing to a change in her swing and that change bringing the confidence she needed to play golf like she knows she can. I teach each student the same way, analyzing their game/swing and making and adjustment the the most critical part of the swing that is causing poor performance. It was Melanie who took the change and made it her own. She now has a much better understanding of her golf swing and a lot more confidence when she steps to the tee!

Student Success Stories - Jordan and Ryan

It has been quite a while since my last post, and it has been a great year for me and for my golf academy. And there have been a few really great success stories that I'd like to share with you.

Jordan:
The first one is a tribute to hard work. Jordan is a high school golfer and has really just started to take the game seriously about two or three years ago. She has great natural athletic ability which is very helpful, but the best attributes are her dedication and her attitude.

Jordan first started in my academy about 8 months ago and was shooting scores around 110-115. She wanted to improve and break 100 so she could compete on the JV team. I told her that it would take a lot of work and a lot of swing and practice, and she was OK with that. So, in addition to the 3 times each week that she meets with me, I had her start a practice routine at home each night. It started as hitting 100 chip shots (with whiffle balls) and 100 full swing practice swings (based on what we are working on). On her own, she has added swings and chips that now add up to about 500 swings/chips per night. She also realizes how important short game is, and has decided to give herself a 10 push-up penalty for any 3-putts she makes or any putt she misses under 3 ft.

Its safe to say Jordan has done thousands of extra practice swings/chips, and hundreds of extra push-ups as she tries to better her game. About two weeks ago, she shot a career low 91 in a golf tournament and was in disbelief when the girl keeping her score told her what the final score was.

Ryan:
This story is about determination more than anything. Ryan started playing golf only about 6 months before his high school tryouts. He worked very hard for those 6 months but unfortunately didn't perform as well as he would have liked during tryouts. But immediately after tryouts Ryan told me that he was going to stick with the academy and work all year to make the team next time. This story is special to me because many people would give up and concede to the fact that it just not their sport, or they aren't good enough, but Ryan came back with even more determination to improve.

Currently, Ryan is out practicing 6 days a week, including 3 days a week with me in the academy. He and I can both see the changes in his golf game, and there is no doubt in my mind he will make the team next year an be a great player if he keeps up his current work ethic. He has a great attitude and does not make excuses, just practices hard! Whether or not he becomes a great golfer, he will have a successful future because of his never give up attitude and determination to improve.

I will keep these stories coming. They are the reason I do what I do, and why I love my job!

Start Your Putts On-line

Sorry, its been a while since my last post. I have changed jobs and am now really getting settled in at Eldorado CC. It's all going great!

I have talked before about the gate drill when practicing your putting. The single gate drill helps you make consistent, solid contact with your putts, as well as make a pure stroke. 

Today, I want to talk about the "Double Gate Drill". This drill still promotes solid contact and a pure stroke, but adds another gate that will make you start the ball on your target line every time. Below is a picture of the gate drill. Ill explain...

The ball starts between the first gate (bottom) which is just barely wider then your putter. Take a practice putt to see what the exact line of the putt is, then put two more tees (the second gate) about 1/3 of the way to the hole. This is about a 5 foot putt. 

The second gate's width is vary depending on your skill level. I put the tees very close the the ball on either side so there is little room for error. You can make them wider if you want, but I would not leave more than a half inch gap between the ball and the tee on each side, any wider would defeat the purpose of the drill. 

You will find that if you can split the second gate when you putt, the ball will go in EVERY time, and if you do not start it on line, you will bang into the tees and the ball will go nowhere.

Try to make 20 putts from two different locations. You will definitely feel a difference in you putting stroke and your confidence when you start to hit putts without tees everywhere. 

Note: Dont let yourself get too frustrated if you hit the second game a few times in a row. You will be surprised how many putts you do not start on your intended line. This is a very difficult drill but you will really notice the benefits quickly. 

Good Luck!

Stop Your Slice With A Baseball Bat

The most common miss for the average golfer is a slice. There are many ways to slice a ball, but there is one particular problem that causes this problem in many golfers. In this post, I will describe what that swing fault looks like and provide tips for a quick way to fix it.

Almost every golfer has heard of the term "over the top" when used when describing a swing that comes steeply from the outside to the inside through impact. The "over the top" motion is only part of what makes a golf ball slice. The actual slicing of the golf ball comes from a club face that is either open or in the process of opening at the moment of impact. Swinging over the top with an open club face only emphasizes a slicing ball flight. It is also common for a player to have an over the top swing and hit a ball that goes straight but to the left (for a righty golfer). That just means that on that particular swing the player managed to square up the club face to the outside in swing path. The ball would have sliced if the club face was open to the outside in swing path.

To cure this common mistake, there are two keys to focus on:

1) Square the club face. The club face must be square to your swing path in order to hit the ball straight. The key to squaring the club face is to start the release of the club earlier in the downswing so that by the time the club reaches the ball, it has time to be square. Practice this using a baseball bat and imagine you want to hit an outside corner pitch over the shortstop's head. Meaning you are completely extending your arms while rotating your wrists so that the ball will be hit to the left.

2) Swing on the proper swing plane. Eliminating the "over the top" swing fault is also crucial to straightening out your ball flight. Swinging over the top is really a club path that is too vertical coming into the ball, and needs to be flattened or rounded out. Swinging a baseball bat is a very round golf swing, and it will definitely help improve your swing plane. Take continuous swings forward and back with the bat and get a good feel of the rounded arc of the bat. Then you can transfer that into your golf club. Hold the club at address and lift it a foot off the ground. Make several golf swings that start at that point and come back to impact at that point a foot off the ground. You will feel a rounder swing (more like Matt Kuchar or Ricky Fowler). After many repetitions, decrease the height to six inches and swing more times. Eventually work your way down to hitting a ball off a generous tee height and feeling the round and shallow swing.

When combining the rounded out swing with the great release you learned in key one, you should see a great change in your ball flight. Hopefully you will get rid of your slice and hit the ball straighter and farther.

Good Luck!
Coach Chad

Eldorado, here I come!

Well, it is official. I am now the Teaching Professional at Eldorado Country Club in McKinney, Tx. This is as close to a dream job as you can get at my age, so I had to make the move. I will be responsible for the teaching and golf education at Eldorado, as well as running the Eldorado Junior Academy.

I have a variety of programs ready to go for all the Eldorado members, and for you all too! The best program going right now is what I call the Eldorado Player's Academy. This academy meets once a week, for an hour and a half, and there is a low monthly charge for the students. Learning this way is the most effective way to learn, aside from taking individual lessons each week. The program is limited to 6 players for each session so that I have some good one on one time with each student. We will go through everything from video analysis to chipping and putting to trouble shots on the course.

I am most excited about taking over the junior golf academy. There is much room to grow the junior academy and I plan to take it from where it is now to hopefully double or triple it's size within a year. I will also be instructing all the summer junior camps and will be putting together a junior golf team that will play teams from other country clubs in the area.

Another noteworthy achievement is that I finally finished all my PGA work and am now a PGA Class A Professional!

I am very excited about this opportunity, and want to urge you all to come and get some golf training. Contact me if you want to get into some golf lessons, or if you know somebody that wants or needs to get into one of my programs.

Thanks!

Chad
cmoscovic@gmail.com
214-578-7921

Set Up For A Perfect Downswing

This is a simple comparison of two completely different backswing positions. The purpose of the backswing is to give yourself a chance to make a proper downswing.

The backswing on the left is a common problem among golfers. If you look closely, there are three major problems that will cause an "over the top" downswing, causing a ball flight with slice spin.

1) Width. Look how close his hands are to hit head on the left view, and how much space he has to work with on the right view. The right view will give his hands and arms a chance to fall down on plane in the downswing. In the left view, there would have to be many compensations in order to get the club into the proper position, and compensations equal inconsistency.

2) Position of the right elbow. In the left view, the elbow is more in a baseball position ("elbow up") and this causes the player to push the club forward in the downswing, contributing to the "over the top" move again.

3) Position of the club and clubface. In the left view, the club has gone too far past parallel, and the clubface is wide open. You can also see this by looking at the left wrist which has a slight cupping. In the right view, you can see the club pointing slightly left of target and short of parallel with a perfectly square clubface and flat left wrist.

From the position on the right, he has a chance to make a proper downswing and start striking the ball from the inside creating the draw spin that everyone desires.

If you need help finding the proper backswing position, please feel free to contact me. I would love to help you!

A Birthday To Remember

For the past two years, I have been invited to host a birthday party on the golf course. Caden Varner is one of my juniors from Prestonwood, and he loves golf. He has requested me to host his birthday party for the last two years and I love it!

Caden and his friends are only about seven years old, but they have a passion for golf that you wont find in most grown-ups. I mean, who would have their birthday party on a golf course in 102 degree Texas heat at age seven? Shouldn't he be at the water slides, or the bowling ally? That is certainly what I did when I was seven, I think...

But Caden wants a golf birthday party, so I provide. Even though its 102 degrees, these eight party goers lasted they entire two hours I was there, and spent another 45 minutes playing golf afterwards! They love the game, and I can only hope the passion stays with them their whole life!

First exercise was frisbee golf. They didn't know it, but they way I had them throwing the frisbee mimics a proper impact position in the golf swing. So even though they were throwing a frisbee, they were learning how to find a proper impact position as well!

Next was water balloon bunkers, where the kids learned the proper way to get a ball (balloon) out of a bunker. If the use the sand to lift the ball out of the bunker, the water balloon does not break. But if they catch balloon (ball) first, they will find themselves splashed with water. They really love this game!

Then, because it was 102 degrees, it's only natural for the water balloon bunker game to turn into an all out water fight! Above is me dumping a bucket of water on the birthday boy.

We ended the party with a fun an educational putting obstacle course game where the kids learned the rules of the putting green, had to wear funny hats, and also received some instruction on their putting.

Also, thank you to my wonderful wife Courtney for helping with the event!

The kids all had a great time, and I can't wait until next year's party!

Happy Birthday to Caden!

In honor of The Open this week....

This post is meant to give you a few pointers on how to play in the strong wind you might see at the British Open....or Texas...

First and most important is the old saying "when it's breezy, swing it easy". There is nothing more true when playing in the wind. I watched Luke Donald's press conference today and he said he hit a 114 yard 7 iron because of the wind. Any more club would have lofted too high into the wind, so he hit a smooth 7 iron. This is exactly the play that good players will make, and average amateurs will not. Average players will try to hit a hard wedge or 9 iron and almost always come up very short.

Playing in the wind is very tricky because it takes a lot of feel to judge the wind strength and direction. How much will the ball be blown to the right after I hit it? How strong is the wind into my face? 2 club wind? 30 yard wind? How do you know??

The feel comes from playing in the wind often, but one trick is to watch the flag stick and how it is blowing. As a general rule, if the wind is blowing hard enough to have the flag looking full, the wind is somewhere between 20 and 30 mph, so that would equal anywhere between 2 and 3 clubs depending on the shot you choose to hit. So use this as a starting point, and don't be afraid to play and practice in the wind to develop your feel.

2 ways to play in the wind:

1. I've heard Jack Nicklaus played this way for a while. He would judge how much wind there was and how much it would move his ball in the air, and he would hit a standard shot aiming to a point where the wind would blow it to the target. No special stance, launch angle or club selection, just estimating the wind direction and strength. I don't recommend this approach.

2. This is the way I suggest to play in the wind and the way almost all modern players play. KEEP THE BALL LOW. The only time I get the ball in the air is a downwind shot, and even then I am careful because the wind can knock the ball down instead of push it forward. The key to keeping the ball low is to take more club and swing smooth. Slower club head speed means lower ball flight and more control over the shot. To keep the ball low swing smooth, choke up on the grip of your club, play the ball a bit further back in your stance, and abbreviate your follow through. Use one or a combination of more than one of these factors in order to produce the shot you need to hit.

Don't be afraid of going to play or practice in the wind. However, if you are practicing in the wind, practice your wind shots, and not your standard shots. If you are playing in the wind, try not to get too frustrated, the more you play in the wind the better feel you will develop and the better you will be able to manage your game. So watch the British Open closely this week and watch the different trajectories of the shots hit by the players if the wind is blowing, and the different swings they use to produce those trajectories.

Putt Like The Pros

For those of you who missed this months Golf Magazine, there is a great article on how the best putters in the world put versus how amateur golfers putt. Some facts are intuitive, and some may surprise you, but all of them will be good for your putting statistics.

The first key involves the length and acceleration of your stroke. The majority of the best putters on tour have putting strokes where their backswing matching their follow through in length. Also, studies show that the putter (at impact) has stopped accelerating, but has not started decelerating, they are calling it a "flat spot" in the stroke. This is important because it will determine how well you can control your speed on different lengths of putts.

The second key for for your forearms to be aligned square to the target. It makes less of a difference if your feet are aimed at the target if your forearms are aligned properly. Most amateur golfers' right forearm sits too high and aims the forearms to the left of the target (hence the cut stroke). For proper forearm alignment, feel like your right elbow is tucked into your right side.

The third key is that all most great putters have an arch in their putting stroke and the putter approaches the ball from an inside path. There are very few good players that have strokes that cut across the ball and end up left of the target line. It is very difficult to have a "straight back, straight through" stroke, so let the putter swing naturally for better results.

The fourth key is to let the putter release. The old way of thinking is that golfers need to hold their leading wrist in front of the putter blade the entire time, even after the ball has been struck. It is much more effective, for speed and accuracy, to let the putter release past your hands after impact.

St. Lucia Golf

If you all didn't know. Courtney and I tied the knot last week and spent an amazing 7 days in St. Lucia. During our trip we had the opportunity to play a round of golf at the resort course where we stayed. 

St. Lucia has only 2 golf courses on the entire island, the one at our resort, and a private country club at the north part of the island. Our resort course was a 9 hole, par 33 with very tight holes. There were many nice par threes, but the par 4's and par 5 were terribly tight holes. The fairways were lined with jungles and creeks, but the grass was as green as you will see and the conditions were as good as I could have expected (greens rolling at about an 8).

Courtney and I each had our own caddie to fill us in on the local knowledge (and they were required), and I quickly learned that these guys have almost no clue what they are doing, but they act the part very well. The best part is when you ask them to read a putt for you, and he tells you a spot to aim for. But once you aim your putter to that spot and look back up to the target, he has moved the aim point a couple inches. I ended up trusting my own green reading skills (or lack thereof).

Aside from their green reading, the caddies were actually very nice. They pulled a fresh mango off a tree for us in between two holes, and we had the best mango I have ever tasted while walking down the fairway. You don't get that option at most golf courses! 

After the round, and losing about 6 golf balls in the jungle, we bought our caddies a Piton Beer (local brew) and talked about their lives and culture. 

It was a great experience for both of us, and I suggest it to anyone that visits St. Lucia. There are some pictures posted on facebook about of golfing adventure and the rest of the trip if you are interested!

Masters Tickets 2012

For the first time ever, tournament round tickets will be available straight from the Masters. Usually, you have to go through a broker, friend, etc. to get tournament round tickets. Not anymore!

The Masters has a lottery drawing for practice rounds each year. Anyone can sign up online and enter this lottery. The odds are slim that you will get tickets, but they are better than no odds. So now, you can sign up for tournament round tickets the same way.

Just go to www.masters.com and click on the tickets tab. From there you can follow the directions to applying for the lottery. You will be able to enter the lottery for 4 tickets each of the practice rounds, and for 2 tickets for each of the tournament rounds. I believe practice round tickets are $50 each and tournament round tickets are $75 each if you win. Beats buying them on Ebay for $900!

Good luck, and remember where you got this info when you do win the tickets! :-)

Golf Marathon!

I plan on playing 100 holes of golf in 10 hours on May 2nd. Why? To benefit The First Tee of Dallas. Although I didn't grow up in a First Tee program, I had countless opportunities to help the First Tee program in San Diego while I went to school. I would go there frequently just to practice my short game, but always got caught in a chipping game or entire match with five or six elementary school kids who wanted to beat me for bragging rights and golf balls (if you lose, you have to give the winner your golf ball).

The First Tee program is amazing, taking what would be troubled youth after school and setting up a golf program that will teach them the values, morals, rules and ethics that come from golf but are transfered over into their life. Aside from being great kids, they are fantastic golfers. Some of the kids had up to 20 holes-in-ones by the time they are 12 years old! Granted, it is a very short par 3 course, but it is still very impressive.

Once a year, our whole SDSU golf team would meet out at the First Tee San Diego and we would have a match against their best players. Sadly, as confident as we seemed, we always knew we had to "bring it" to actually beat these guys. And some matches came way too close in the end!

The bottom line is that I loved hanging out with these kids, and watched a lot of them grow into really great golfers in the 5 years I played there.

The First Tee of Dallas Golf Marathon is my chance to give these kids more than just my time. So please make a donation on my page if you can. I have personally seen how this money is spent and it does a great thing for our youth today. Everything from the practice facilities, training devices, classroom education, and even rides home at the end of the day are all covered and improved by your donations. I have already made my $100 dollar donation, along with the grueling 100 holes of golf in 10 hours!!!

Here is the link to my page! Thanks!

http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/chad-moscovic/The-First-Tee-of-Dallas-Golf-Marathon