Online Golf Instruction Alert

As most of my loyal blog followers have figured out over the years, I tend to shy away from offering much in the way of swing mechanics and technical golf instruction advice. And that’s a good thing, trust me on that.

But at the same time, like most avid golfers trying to become better players, I do value good golf instruction. And as a result – I don’t mind sharing bits and pieces of swing videos and online instruction segments when I feel they’re worth passing along to my readers here, especially when I find the information very helpful and easy to understand.

Earlier this year I started following a few guys on Facebook who run a golf academy here in the UK, and I’ve been extremely impressed with 1) the way they present their online lesson segments and 2) the clear and concise manner in which they address various swing flaws.

Piers Ward and Andy Proudman recently launched the Me And MyGolf academy on YouTube, and I think it’s worth passing along to those of you who might be interested in checking out some of their stuff. By the way – in no way am I affiliated with them. I just really enjoy the way they present the information and use the Social Media to connect with golfers to try to help them become better players, and as a courtesy to some of my readers here, I felt it worth sharing.

Plumb-Bobbing Life: More than Just a Teaching Pro

It was another long day, as always, and he was ready to pack it in. Having spent most of the day on his feet, he sat down for a moment to rest, daydreaming of coming home, kicking his sore feet up on the recliner for a few hours and maybe catching a quick nap before his wife, Patti, had their evening dinner prepared. “I’m drained, I don’t even know what day it is,” he thought to himself as he stared in the distance at nothing in particular. “But I know that I gotta keep going, there’s still so many people needing my help.” With that last thought in mind, he summoned the energy to get back on his feet and log a few more hours into the late evening.

I met Nick Nicolich about a dozen or so years ago, by happenstance really. He and I were familiar with each other through words and emails only, as we both connected via a golf website online where we both shared a similar passion and viewpoint not just about Golf, but life in general. Through a keyboard, in what was more or less the infancy stages of what we now commonly refer to as the social media, a friendship began. A few years afterward, several of us who frequented the website from the Mid Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States decided to put together an informal golf outing, simply to put some faces to the virtual names from the website, at a neutral gathering place at a golf course in Colts Neck, New Jersey.

Per my usual norm, I got to the golf course early that day of the outing, and I was on the practice range warming up, trying my best to figure out how to somehow stop hooking the ball off the planet. It was unusually warm that afternoon, and within 20 minutes I’d already worked up a pretty good sweat. I took a small break, long enough to towel off and take a few swigs of water. That’s when I realized that he’d been observing me hitting balls, and he walked over to where I was. “Fighting the hooks, are ya?” he asked. I recall saying something to the effect of, “if you only knew” or something along those lines. “Hit a few more for me,” he said. “Pretend that I’m not even here, just keep doing what you were doing.” I hit about 5 or so more balls, and it was the same thing, hook after hook. He just stood there studying without saying a word. After about 5 more balls, I guess he’d seen enough. “Do you mind if I show you something?” he asked. “Please, feel free,” I said. He then says, “Look at your grip. Now, I want you to hold the club with the same grip, but looser.” I did as he asked, and then he made a slight adjustment, positioning my right hand to get the logo of my golf glove facing the target a little more. “There, how does that feel,” he asked. “That feels very awkward,” I replied. He chuckled and said, “I bet it does. Now, I want you to make the same swing, maintaining that grip but with a little more relaxed grip pressure.” I don’t know how he did it, but I can still feel that moment of “Eureka!” as I hit this beautiful iron shot that went straight as an arrow. “I bet you ain’t seen that in a while, have ya,” he said, smiling ear to ear. “By virtue of your left handedness, you must be Lefty. Lefty, I’m Nick – your old buddy on the golf forum. It’s good to finally meet you, sir.”

At that very moment, I was struck with two overwhelming thoughts. Thought number one, first and foremost, was that the Golfing Gods had sent an angel from the heavens to help me sort out my ailing golf game. Thought number two, which was a little more sobering, was that there was the possibility, albeit remote, that I had just befriended a serial killer who would slip something in my bottle of water with my back turned, and tomorrow morning the course maintenance guys would be fishing my dead body out of the pond near the 16th green.

Luckily for me, Nick wasn’t a serial killer. But you’ve already picked up on that, I’m sure.

That day would mark the first of many to come in which both he and I would walk the fairways together in the coming years, not only learning each others’ strengths and weaknesses with a golf club in our hands, but more importantly – appreciating the value of sharing a day on a golf course with a friend who would lend an ear to some of life’s problems. I learned early on in our friendship that Nick had the overwhelming ability to make people feel very comfortable around him, as though they’d known him for years. His friendly and oft times comical disposition made him easy to relate to, both on and off the golf course. But he also had an enormous competitive spirit that exuded confidence. That competitive, confident drive coupled with both his work ethic and his ability to relate to people would all work together in serving him very well later on in life, in both his career as an accomplished teaching professional and as a neighbor in a community that could rely on his undying compassion during times of need.

As it relates to his career more specifically, his ability to communicate with his students is a huge, huge part of his overall success as a golf instructor. But too, the ability to relate to his students and what they’re going through when they come to him for help also plays a key role. “Teaching can bring great joy, but it can also bring great frustration. The joy is obvious, but the frustration comes from within. It comes from the fact that I can see the student’s frustration, and I then try and assume it for them,” he states. “This game is so damn hard most days. I really do feel for my students during these times, but sometimes you have to let them go to the range, on their own, and work out the things we’ve covered. No different than that of a parent who’s preparing to see their firstborn leave the nest and make life on their own, so too is the struggle with teaching. It’s hard to let go sometimes.” 

I recall a conversation with him several years ago, as I asked him about a particular method that had become fairly popular that was being taught at that time, and sought his advice on whether or not it was something that maybe I should consider myself. Knowing my game as well as anyone, he didn’t pull any punches with his thoughts on the matter. “Hey, I don’t believe in the ‘one size fits all’ approach in golf,” he said. “Perhaps it comes from my wrestling background, but I’ve been very successful with understanding the body type of a student and their ability to work within the athletic frame they’re given. I’m not into teaching a method, but helping my students become better players based on the amount of flexibility and athleticism they have. That’s something that shouldn’t be overlooked, but often is when it comes to teaching. Again, there is no one size fits all approach as it pertains to hitting a well-struck golf ball.”

Nick didn’t answer my question directly, because he knew that it was ultimately my decision to either radically change my golf swing versus maybe working a little harder to make the swing I already had a little more proficient. But imbedded in his reply was the hallmark of a sound teaching philosophy, one in which he credits a legendary figure in golf instruction with helping him establish his own teaching style. “The more I teach, the more I try to find the simplest way to convey the message,” he said one afternoon, as we enjoyed a few beers and burgers at the 19th hole after the round. “From my earliest days as a player to this very day – I’ve been a Harvey Penick disciple. Mr. Penick’s words were simple to understand, and through his teachings I was able to find my own teaching style. We all know how hard this game is,” he goes on, “but I don’t believe that understanding golf instruction should be hard as well.”

Indeed, the game is hard most days. Sometimes the game seems so complicated that we lose our way, as we clutter our minds with hundreds of swing thoughts that begin with “maybe I should try this” or “maybe I need to try that.” Some days we’re left with only one of two options: either quit the game that we used to love, or find someone who can maybe help us sort through it all and start loving it once again. So as we continued our discussion over lunch that afternoon, I found the courage to ask him a question that I felt at that time might’ve been insulting. I was shocked with his response. “Do I take lessons, you ask? Sure, I take lessons,” he said. “I have certain struggles just like everyone else who plays the game. But too – I’ve had to hit a lot of golf balls in my life to get where I am today, and an even larger amount to stay here. I’m lucky in that I work with a great friend and even a greater instructor here at Harbor Links – Guna Kunjan, our head teaching professional. We work out a deal, he helps me take care of my full swing, and in return I help him out with his short game.” I kinda chuckled a bit after he said that, more from being caught off guard with his confession moreso than anything else. But knowing Nick as well as I do, and knowing how much pride he takes in working hard to maintain his skill level, it really shouldn’t have come as a surprise. “Shoot yeah, he gets me back on track where he wants me. I’m typically drenched in sweat by the time we get there, but in the end it’s all worth it.”

An ordinary day for Nick Nicolich typically involves correcting a few bad grips, analyzing a lot of golf swings, and trying to help players lower their handicaps at a little corner of the practice range at Harbor Links Golf Club, in North Hempstead, NY, where he’s spent the past decade of his life teaching a game that he loves.

But this long, unending day in particular, back in late October, was anything but ordinary. The people looking to Nick for help on this day weren’t golfers coming to his corner of the practice range at Harbor Links hoping to become better golfers, but rather neighbors and fellow citizens who were simply looking for a hot meal and some comforting reassurance in what appeared to be a hopeless situation. The Knights of Columbus hall in nearby Long Beach, not far from Nick’s home, became his temporary workplace for the next six weeks, as the hall had been converted into a makeshift relief shelter and soup kitchen for those in need. Just a few days earlier, Hurricane Sandy and all of her enormous wrath slammed into the Northeastern coastline, not just completely leveling homes, but wiping entire communities completely off the map. Nick happened to be one of the lucky few whose home was somehow spared from one of the costliest storms in US history, but the devastation was unlike anything he’d ever witnessed. “I’ve been here a long, long time,” he said, “and I ain’t ever seen anything like it. People that I know – friends, neighbors, relatives – they’ve lost everything.” 

As if things couldn’t possibly get any worse, the Knights of Columbus Hall there at Long Beach – which was still actively serving as a relief hub for those impacted by the storm and had somehow survived the storm’s devastation 6 weeks earlier – was destroyed by fire on December 10th. “That was really the low point for me,” he would tell me later. “As if looking around and seeing the enormous loss everywhere you looked wasn’t bad enough, we found ourselves in a situation where we could no longer help those who still needed help the most?

“I tell ya – golf was a distant memory at that time, my friend.”

The aftermath of the storm from last October with the trail of destruction it left behind in its wake is still present in some areas of that section of Long Island, nearly half a year later. But time goes on, and life goes on. I was reminded of this earlier this week, as I received the news that Nick was honorably mentioned as one of the top-50 instructors in America by one of the biggest junior golf programs in the country – the US Kids Golf Association. Nick has always had a niche for short game instruction, as his short game clinics and individual short game lessons continue to be one of the more popular teaching programs in Long Island, particularly with the younger players coming up through the junior golf ranks. His love of teaching the short game is quite obvious, as I’ve personally encountered on numerous occasions the art with which he can work a wedge and stroke a putter as we’ve played together over the years. If Golf were indeed considered Art, Nick Nicolich would be a modern-day Picasso, with the area from 100 yards and in to the green as his canvas.

But there’s another side to Nick that a lot of people saw firsthand the days and weeks following the disastrous storm that washed ashore on Long Island last fall, a side that I’ve been familiar with all these years I’ve known him. While his passion in life is teaching people how to be better golfers, he recognizes the importance of what happens beyond the golf course, like being a good neighbor and lending a helping hand in a desperate time of need.

He’s more than just a great teaching pro, more than just a great ambassador of the game we love. He’s a great friend and an even greater human being.

Feature Interview: Dr. Bill Kroen

Before introducing my good friend, Dr. Bill Kroen, please allow me a few moments to give you a little background.

Of course – he’s the author of the national bestseller – “Bill Kroen’s Golf-Tip-A-Day Calendar,” which is nearing almost 2 million copies sold. He’s also the author of “Golf: How Good Do You Want to Be?” which talks about both the mental side of the game and the basic fundamentals of the golf swing. Other notable works are: “Golf Dynamics,” “The Why Book of Golf” (National Sports Bestseller, 1993 best golf books of the year according to USA Today), “So You Think You Know Golf” (golf trivia), “Your Putter or Your Wife” (golf humor), and “Haskell McDivot’s Golf-Tip-A-Day” screensaver and planner.

Bill, who is a Ph.D. (Boston College) and licensed psychotherapist, is also the author of “Helping Children Cope With the Loss of a Loved One: A Guide for Grownups.” This book has won praise from all over the world and was awarded the prestigious Parent’s Choice Award and is a Parent’s Council selection. Bill has also published over 250 articles in major journals and newspapers in the areas of parenting, child psychology, education and golf. His works have appeared in such journals as Instructor, Teacher, Gifted Children Monthly, Parade Magazine, Golf for Women, Golf Illustrated, US Golf News, The Boston Globe, and Child Life among others.

Bill is a professional golfer who led his college team to four straight ECAC championships at Salem State College and was nominated to the school’s Hall of Fame. He joined the Marines and became an officer and platoon commander in Vietnam during 1967-68. Wounded in battle, Lt. Kroen received the Purple Heart, Navy/Marine Commendation Medal with a “V” for valor, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry and the Combat Action Award. In all, he was awarded seven medals for his service in combat. Upon returning to Camp Pendleton, CA, Bill played on the golf team and won All Marine honors in 1969.

Bill has retired from his position as a child psychotherapist for the Cambridge Public School System in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He turned professional golfer in 1986, taught at several facilities and has played on professional tours. He is a full member of the United States Golf Teachers Federation.

And with that…. please welcome my good friend, Dr. Bill Kroen, to our blog. Bill, thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to be with us here today.

BK:  “Scott, it is always a pleasure to speak with you, my friend. Thanks for inviting me.”

I guess I’ll start off by asking what exactly got you interested in teaching and writing about golf?

BK:  “Like many guys, I have had a lifelong love affair with the game. I started as a caddy at age 9 at Salem Country Club in Massachusetts – site of US Women and U S Senior Opens.  As I progressed in the game as well as becoming a psychologist, I felt I could put both together. I really enjoyed teaching the game and seeing people improve. They are always so grateful when you can help them enjoy the game more.”

How long have you been doing this?

BK:  “I began writing articles for newspapers and magazines in the late 70’s. I wrote a column on Golf that was carried by about five newspapers – so, I guess, that was the beginning. I wrote my first golf book in 1986 and then followed it up with “The Why Book of Golf,” which became a USA Today Top-Ten best seller. I turned professional in 1987 and still keep my card today. In 1992, my first “Golf-Tip-A-Day” calendar was published.”

Wow… that’s a long time. Let’s talk about your calendar and your books, give us some behind-the-scenes on how that all started.

BK:  “The calendar, which has sold close to 2 million copies, had an interesting beginning. I went to a bookstore to buy a golf calendar for another psychologist that I worked with. I asked the clerk if there was a calendar that had golf tips every day. When I was told there were none, I wrote ten tips and sent it to my publisher. They asked me to send 50 more and I did. The next thing I know, I have a contract and this is the 21st year it has been published. People write letters and ask me to sign autographs when they know who I am and it is a kick to still have so much fun with it. It’s the bestselling Golf calendar every year.”

You must have a fairly significant “Golf-Tip-A-Day” fan base after all these years of success with it, right?

BK:  “Yeah, we’re closing in on 2 million copies sold. It always gives me a lot of pleasure when someone writes to me and tells me how much they like the tips. I’ve had people tell me that they carry them in their wallet, in their golf bag and have them tacked to their walls. A few years ago, Simon & Schuster, my publisher, started putting little puzzles on the back. I got some letters from people who were upset with me because they used the back as notes in the office. I am not guilty, that wasn’t my idea (chuckling). Once I was playing South Shore Country Club in Hingham, Massachusetts and was walking to my car and had a guy come up to me and say, “Wait right here!” I wasn’t sure what it was about but he opened his trunk and brought a bag over to me. In it were all of my books and calendars and he asked me to autograph them. He said he knew I lived in the area and thought he would find me one day. Little creepy but he was a nice guy.”

Let’s talk about your latest hard book, “Golf: How Good Do You Want to Be?” Before responding, I just want to tell you that I reference your book no fewer than 10-12 times each season, it is a masterpiece for golfers who are inspired to improve. The first time I read it, I came away thinking that it’s almost like you wrote it specifically for me. I’m not just saying this, but when I read your book – I was going through some struggles managing my game…. I took the week off from playing, and spent about 45 minutes each evening that week reading your perspective on things. My next round out – I shot my low round of the season. So obviously your words resonated with me.

BK:  “Thanks for the kind words, Scott. When, I was writing “How Good Do You Want to Be?” I was thinking about the vast majority of golfers who want to get better but feel stymied. They try equipment, lessons and read instruction but the one missing component was the mental framework to change, how to go about making positive changes and exactly how to go about executing the plan to really make significant progress in the game. The concept of writing the book came about as I was reading that the average golfer will go through his entire life and never improve or get worse than a few shots either way of his/her handicap. I began to think of why this was so and then developed a plan where a player can break out of the comfort zone and make serious progress. I used my background as a psychologist to develop learning modes, different ways of thinking and specific ways to get better. The book got good reviews and has been well received.”

I heard a rumor that you’ve broached the digital reading market with your latest release, “The Complete Why Book of Golf.” This book is a more modernized version of one of your older books that is geared more towards interesting facts and trivia about the game of golf, correct?

BK:  “Yeah, “The Complete Why Book of Golf” is a new adventure for me. My agent, Andrew Zack, started an electronic book publishing company and asked me to write a complete update of the original version “The Why Book of Golf” which was my best selling book.  I worked almost a year on it and it recently was released. It can be downloaded on computers, tablets, iPads, Kindle, Nook etc. It can be found on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and KOBO to name a few sites. Also, I will have an app coming out that will deliver a tip a day to your phone, iPad or computer.”

Okay, let’s switch gears here and talk about the game itself. You’re an accomplished instructor and you’ve seen your share of bad golf swings over the years on the practice tee. But I’m sure you’ve seen some pretty good swings as well. What is the biggest difference, in your opinion, between the good players and the not-so-good players in your opinion?

BK:  “Good question, Scott. If I had to make one observation that separates good players from poor ones, it’s that good players have good balance and do not have excessive body movement. Often, a poor player will slide back and forth; lift up in an effort to get the ball into the air and struggle with balance throughout the swing. Good players stay over and cover the ball through impact. If you have limited time to practice, I would say to work on keeping the swing simple and stay in balance. Always try to finish like a Tour pro and you will find that this will go a long way to helping you maintain your balance. I often start my practice sessions by hitting balls with my feet together to help develop good balance.”

You’re an expert in the field of sports psychology, so this next question should be right up your alley. What are the most common mental hurdles that amateur players struggle with? For instance, a player is trying to get to the next level in his/her game, but just can’t seem to get over the hump. He/she has the skill, but for whatever reasons, be it emotionally or mentally – they just can’t break through. What would you tell players in that situation?

BK:  “I feel that the mental aspect of improving is vital. The biggest hurdle to making improvement is often one thing – change. Whether making a change in our habits such as smoking, diet or with even a corporation making a systemic change – it always comes with difficulty. Our bodies and minds resist change. It’s a natural phenomenon. Sometimes golfers think that if they go to the range often and hit a lot of balls they will get better. Unless you are making a change for the better, you will remain pretty much the same. After a lesson, you should practice the change that the pro has given you. Many players quit the change very quickly as they do not see immediate results, and then say the pro “screwed them up.” I hear that a lot. It is going to feel uncomfortable and you may struggle to get it but the good players stick it out and fight through it until the improvement comes. You should set your mind like a child’s when it comes to learning. A child will learn much faster than an adult because he/she is in a learning mode and not ready to color everything with his or her own ideas.”

Golf used to be perceived as a sport that didn’t require one to necessarily be an athlete, but with all of the focus now on fitness and core strength training that is evolving on the pro circuit – that’s obviously changing. What are some of the things that we amateurs can do to increase our own levels of fitness as it relates specifically to improving our golf games?

BK:  “I’m not an expert on physical training, but I did seek out advice from some physicians, chiropractors and most of all physical therapists. I belong to the Harmon Golf Club in Massachusetts, which has a state of the art training facility that is golf specific. I work mostly on developing my core muscles as, as you know, the swing’s power flows outward from the center. A strong core keeps your posture in place and allows for a good turn and balance. I work on flexibility in order to make a good turn. I do trunk twists with a club or broom handle over my shoulders. If you notice, many players do not make much of a turn. I try to get my left shoulder to point behind the ball at the top of my swing – this generates a lot of power. When I was playing on the mini tours, I asked some really good players who told me that power comes from the torque. A big turn of the upper body sets you to unwind with speed.”

Two more questions before you go. I know that you (like myself) follow Professional Golf and you’re abreast of the current hot topics surrounding the game at all levels. I’m going to put you on the spot here, because I’m curious to know your take on things. There’s been a lot of talk lately about belly and long putters taking over on tour, and that maybe the USGA should address this issue before it gets out of hand. What is your view on this long putter business?

BK:  “This is a difficult one. On one side, I can see the argument that the belly/long putters do not make a golf-like swing. Anchoring part of the club to the body to create a fulcrum just doesn’t seem kosher under the Rules. On the other hand, golf needs to keep golfers playing and have new golfers join the ranks every year. If we ban the long/belly putters, we may lose golfers. I think we should get some statistics that show that the long putters actually create a difference. I know that Adam Scott has had a resurgence since going to the long putter, but recently it was found that his putting stats were not really as good as before he made the switch. I think testing will answer the question. If the long putters offer a significant advantage over the traditional, I think they should be banned. However, if the results are similar, let them be.”

And my last question: Where can my readers find your books and calendar?

BK:  The “Golf Tip A Day” calendar comes out each August and can be found at Amazon.com, Calendar.com, Barnes and Noble and in stores such as Borders, and Kohl’s. “The Complete Why Book of Golf is” on KOBO, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or any site that sells eBooks. “How Good Do You Want to Be?” is also at Amazon.com (paperback).

That’s going to wrap up my interview with my good friend, Dr. Bill Kroen. Bill, as always, thank you for spending some time sharing your insights about this great game that we love here on the blog. Hopefully we can arrange to have you sit down with us again sometime in the near future.

BK:  “Scott, it has been a pleasure to chat with you and your readers. I read your blog and I’m one of your fans as well. Thanks for having me.”

 

***Note to all of my readers: If you’re interested in purchasing any of Bill Kroen’s books or calendars, just simply click on the image of the product you’re wanting above and the embedded link will take you directly to the product at Amazon.Com***

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Book Alert….

Dr. Bill Kroen

For those who don’t know, I get to rub elbows with a golf celebrity from time to time. I’m proud to call him a good friend, and he’s an outstanding Ambassador to this great game we love.

He also happens to be a best-selling author, Golf Instructor, and Sports Psychologist.

In addition to his annual Golf-Tip-A-Day calendar that I enjoy every day of my life, he’s also the author of a wonderful book that I refer to quite often… a book that has no fewer than a dozen dogeared pages and no fewer than 100 highlighted sections with a yellow marker. That book is called, “Golf: How Good Do You Want to Be?”

He has a new eBook that he just released, “The Complete Why Book of Golf: Fascinating Facts About the Greatest Game of All.”

You can find “Golf: How Good Do You Want to Be?” at Amazon.Com via hard copy, and you can also download his newest eBook with the link I provided as well. And, of course, you can find his Golf-Tip-A-Day at Amazon, as well as most major book retailers near you.

Check them out… if you’re an avid golfer, these are must-haves for your golf library!

“What goes up, must come down…”

The “down”, we know,  is easy. It’s the “up” that gets us in trouble!

So, you’re 110 yards out and you’re smack dab in the middle of the fairway and let’s say that it’s a perfect pitching wedge for you.  47* of loft and it’s a shot we all just salivate over right? Then why do you come up short so often? The answer is simple math.

The error that happens here is when the golfer tries to “lift” the ball. This lifting motion is done at the expense of the body’s rotation.  The body stops turning through and the hands then have no choice, but to flip the clubhead through the hitting zone. In other words, the clubhead outraces the hands.

When the clubhead gets in front of the hands the shaft leans backwards and we add loft to the clubface. Remember the 47* referenced above? Well depending on how hard you flip the clubhead, you could now be swinging a 49*, 50* or even as much as 52*+ of face loft. And you wondered why you came up short.

Just as in our Short Game, “ABA”  works here too. Only this time the acceleration is the acceleration of your body. Keep turning. Accelerate your body through the hitting zone and in doing so, your “Hands will win the race” and your shaft will be leaning forward. This will introduce your clubface at the club’s designed loft.

Play well,

Nick

Bill Kroen’s Golf Tip-A-Day Calendar

Anyone who loves the game of golf should check one of these calendars out… they’re fantastic. And I’m not just saying that because I’m acquainted with the author, but because it’s a really neat resource.

Here’s just a sample of how wonderful the tips in these calendars really are – this is a recent excerpt from my very own Bill Kroen’s Golf Tip-A-Day calendar:

Sunday, January 9th – Good Etiquette Makes for an Enjoyable Day

“When you play, always try to be someone with whom others want to play. Swearing, throwing clubs, temper tantrums, or talking only about your own game can be offensive to your playing partners. Avoid politics, religion, or giving unsolicited instruction to others in your foursome. Be quiet while others play and compliment a good shot. By being someone who is respectful and courteous, you will get to play with good golfers, be invited to play other courses, and will have no trouble getting a match. More importantly, you will feel better about yourself, and if you are in a good mood, your chances of playing well increase.”

They make great gifts for nearly any occasion for your golf friends, 365 great tips like this packaged in this neat little desk calendar.

You can get them HERE from Amazon, or in the calendar sections at most major bookstores. They’re great!

The first step to a better Short Game, Really!

If I had to put a figure on it, I’d say that 60-65% of my teaching time is spent teaching the Short Game. I’m fascinated with it. I’d rather flip a short-sided wedge to the lip than just about any other shot in golf. Bottom line is that to me, the Short Game is just downright sexy!

The “First Step” as I like to call it, is to “PLAY THE SHOT THAT’S GIVEN”.  How many times have you skulled a lofted wedge across the green to a back pin? Chunked a wedge when trying a mini-flop with no green to work with? How about the old tried and true double hit? Yeah, I know, you’re reading this and you’re thinking “been there, done that”. It all ends now.

The player’s first responsibility in any short game scenario is to analyze and select. All too often players “get out the cart” with their trusty “chipping club” only to find that they are stymied by the lie as it’s the lie that will dictate the shot they are about to play.  The problem here is that the player has a preconceived notion of the shot they want to play, but the lie simply won’t allow it. This is where the strokes begin to pile up. Let’s figure out how we can improve our odds at green-side success.

I’d like to offer you a little mantra that will act as an actual checklist for you when around the green. “Putt before you chip. Chip before pitch. Pitch before you lob or flop.”

Looking at our checklist we see that we aim to keep the ball either on the ground, putting, or close to the ground and rolling as soon as possible, chipping rather than trying to get a lot of air under the ball as in pitching and flopping. Again, let the lie dictate.

Reading the lie is itself the real key here. Tight lie, buried lie, grass direction, turf consistency, ball sitting up, sitting down, uphill lie, downhill lie, side hill lie, above your feet, below your feet and on and on and on. Whew! There’s a whole lot to process in such a short time, but yet players will ignore it all because they’re armed with their favorite “chipping club”.

In my next articles, I’ll go over our checklist and talk about some of the techniques we need for success. We’ll discuss the swing thoughts needed, club selections and of course, the standard “stuff” such as ball position and how it can aid us. Again, “one size doesn’t fit all.”

Play well,

Nick

Meet My Good Friend: Instructor Nick

As I mentioned briefly last week, I’m in the process of developing my blog into being just as much a valuable resource for my readers as it is a place to stop by and catch up on the latest news in golf.

I’m proud to announce that as of this evening, I’m now sharing the bandwidth here with a guy who has forgotten more about the golf swing than I could ever learn… a guy who has helped me immensely on my own game over the years, be it through a phone conversation, an email, or through one of our countless rounds together over the span of the past decade. Rounds that on more than a few occasions ended up being extremely valuable to my game, but more importantly – most invaluable in the context of a dear friendship.

Nick doesn’t need me building up his reputation here, but I do feel it worthy enough to tell you that he runs one of the most successful golf instructional clinics in Long Island as you’ll find anywhere. And he’s also an accomplished player in his own right, having competed in various professional events in the Long Island Senior circuit. He wouldn’t appreciate me adding that he was one of the top collegiate wrestlers in the country back in his youth, only one spot away from making the US Olympic team that year. Never mind the fact that it was back in 1940’s…. (just kidding) So I won’t mention anything about that.

I’ll just say, from personal experience, that he approaches the game in a manner that very few can possibly aspire to. A former athlete who understands the stress and the rigors of a highly competitive arena, but also one of the most effective communicators that I’ve had the pleasure of discussing the golf swing with.

Having said all that – whether your goal is to break 100 or to have the chance of someday winning your own club championship – Nick’s insight can help put you on the path to get there. He’s gonna be posting some feature articles for the blog in the coming months, and I challenge you to read them all. Post questions if you like. Discussion is good, learning is the goal.

If you click on the Golf Portal link in the upper right hand of this page, you’ll see Nick’s Golf Academy on the drop-down menu. Each current feature article Nick presents will be front-and-center, and his archived articles will be easily found there for later on. So if you would, please take a moment to venture on over there to his Academy and read his introduction, and then welcome my dear friend to the blog. He’s as good an egg as you’ll ever find. 🙂

Welcome aboard, Nick!

 

“Please allow me to introduce myself…”

With all due respects to the Rolling Stones, I really do wish to introduce myself.

My name is Nick Nicolich and I’m a Teaching Professional from Long Island, NY. I’ve known this blog’s owner for 10 years and have walked many fairways with him. He embodies all that golf is and his passion is what brings me here;  My passion to teach and his passion for the game. I hope to bring a fresh element to internet instruction. My teaching style is simple – “One size doesn’t fit all.” As different as we are as individuals, it’s also as different as our swings can be. It’s that thinking that guides me with my students and it will be that thinking that will guide me here.

Coming Soon: New Blog Ideas for 2011

With the new year finally here, I wanted to take a moment to thank all of my loyal readers out there for continuing to check in from time to time and reading my golf blog. It’s not always easy finding things of interest to talk about, but according to my year-end report – my blog was pretty successful, thanks to you!

One of the high points of the year was having one of my feature articles linked to a major online news sports publication – so at least someone thought that some of my stuff was worth passing along! But at the same time, I’m also reminded of that old saying about a 50-story window washer taking a step back to admire his work…

With that, I want to take a moment to share with all of you my plans for making my blog a better place for 2011.

Contributing Writer Coming on Board Soon!

I’m pleased to announce that I will soon be sharing the bandwidth here with a very accomplished teaching professional from Long Island, NY…. a guy that I’ve known for nearly a decade, and a guy that has put me on the receiving end of more on-the-course ass whippings than I care to mention. Suffice to say – he’s pocketed enough money from me over the years to return the favor here on my blog. He specializes in both full-swing and short-game instruction, and will be a contributing editor for the upcoming season. Please don’t hesitate to read some of his feature articles and join in on some of the golf swing discussions!

Golf Equipment Reviews

It’s not exactly official just yet, but I’m in the process of adding/updating a section exclusively for golf equipment reviews. I admit that this aspect of my blog is very weak, but I’m committing to devote more of my time this upcoming year on covering the ins and outs of newer golf equipment… what’s hot, what’s not, and the best-deals-going. We all know that more times than not it’s the Indian, but sometimes having better Arrows help too.

Golf Course Reviews

This is a biggie for me… I love playing different golf courses. I like getting a different look and a different challenge from time to time. I also like knowing what I might be getting myself into, particularly as it relates to price, course conditions, and service. My own focus will primarily be on the local venues here in the Lehigh Valley region, but I’m in the process of enlisting ghost writers to get feedback from other courses across the country as well, including private, public, and resort venues. You work hard for your money, you want to enjoy your golf experience on those rare occasions when you get out to play. You deserve the peace of mind in knowing what to expect when you head out to the course to play. I’m not just a blogger… First and foremost I AM A GOLFER. You will get no bull$hit from me.

Overall – More Stuff, Less Fluff

At some point in the near future, I might be migrating to a more professional blog…. one with more graphics, more features, and more options for you – the readers. Unfortunately, there might be a few annoying advertisement banners you’ll see from time to time as well. I guess it just comes with taking it to the next level, or trying to.

I enjoy golf, I enjoy blogging about golf, and I enjoy sharing opinions, stories, and discussions in general about everything involving the game – from the recreational level to who did what last weekend on tour. Until I get all of the potential migratory issues ironed out, it is my sincere hopes that you continue following me on twitter and here on my current blog. Ultimately, my goal is to transition from what is currently more of a general-interest concept to more of a viable resource for all of my readers.

Thanks again to my loyal readers, and hopefully 2011 will be everything that each of us aspire it to be!