On Wednesdays, I will be conducting full swing clinics for junior golfers, ages 10 to 17, from 3:30 to 4:30.  The cost is $15, plus your range balls.  Also on Wednesdays, I will be conducting Vital Signs putting clinics from 5:30 to 6:30.  The cost of this clinic is $15.

Next Saturday, September 11th, I will be conducting a Fix Your Slice clinic from 3 pm to 5 pm for $20.  This clinic is limited to twelve participants. 

To sign up ahead of time, call the Olney Golf Park pro shop at 301-570-6600.  See you there!

Scott Cole

After Saturday morning’s work with the veterans, I will be on hand to give lessons and tips while at the same time I will be working on some videos and such for my website.  If you have the opportunity, come and check out the Olney Golf Park this weekend, and be sure to say hello!

Scott Cole

Olney Golf Park has a terrific driving range complete with covered and heated stalls, higher quality mats, grass tee area, target greens, and pitch shot greens.  We also have a two bay indoor teaching studio where we conduct video analysis and club fitting. 

The practice putting green is massive and and rolls very smooth.  You can work on every short game shot imaginable, except your bunker play.  However, there is a separate wedge game area where you can work on this part of your game, as well as wedge shots up to 70-75 yards. 

Finally, there is a fully stocked pro shop and a terrific staff.  Jim Estes is the Director of Instruction, and there are several other instructors, including myself, that can help you with your game. 

Olney Golf Park is located about 10-15 minutes from Rockville, and 30 to 45 minutes from DC.  Come check us out!

Scott Cole

If you are an existing student here in PA, I will continue to have some limited availability as I will continue to travel between the two locations often.  PA students may schedule appointments by email… scottcolegolf@aol.com

I wish you all tremendous success in pursuit of a better golf game!

Scott Cole

I wanted to take the time to comment on this tournament because I noticed some very strong play, particularly on the first day.  There were five scores of par or better in round one, and several one over par scores as well.  Heydt was the only player to maintain form for in second round among the leaders.

What I did notice in this tournament is that most of the kids finishing in the top 20 play out of some of the best clubs in the state.  In fact, four of the kids in the top five play at clubs that have held State Amateur and State Opens.  Two of these kids play out of Merion and Oakmont.  You just can’t give a kid a better opportunity to develop his game.

However, I see a need for kids such as several of my students to have the opportunity to play at some of these facilities.  In the current economic environment, many kids just don’t have the opporunity to play or practice every day, much less play or practice at a U.S. Open caliber golf course.  As a result, they find themselves at a distinct disadvantage. 

I think it is time for a program to be developed to allow these kids more opportunity, so they are not at such a disadvantage when it comes to competing in these events.  This is something I intend to work on over time, and if anyone else out there has some ideas, I welcome them.

Scott Cole

More surprising to me was that Corey Pavin, at age 50, and probably the shortest hitter on tour, is able to compete with players like Watson on select venues.  I think most golfers should pay attention to Pavin and how he gets around a golf course.

Pavin does not have a pretty swing, but he is able to work the ball right to left and left to right, pretty much at will.  He has an excellent wedge game and is a great putter.  In the final round, on the 18th hole, Pavin hit is tee shot about 240 yards, while Watson hit his 390 yards.  The hole is 444 yards.  That is an unfair fight, yet the two were tied at the end of 72 holes.  Watson should study Pavin’s game if he wants to win more.

While Pavin is not a long hitter, he is in control of his swing.  He does not have a pretty swing, as I said, but he does not have the flaws of the typical golfer such as an over the top downswing, a reverse pivot backswing, or a reverse weight shift on the down swing.  Since he does not have these flaws, he is able to work the ball, which he needs to be able to do, since at his low ball speed, he can not hit the ball very high.

It is amazing to me how long some of these players like Watson, Dustin Johnson and J.B. Holmes can hit the ball, but they do not win much.  Even the pretty swingers like Adam Scott and Luke Donald do not win as much as they should.  It appears that they still need to learn how to manage their game properly and quit worrying about making a perfect swing. 

While it is ideal to have a nice swing that is on plane, it is more ideal to have the ability to get it in the hole quicker than the other guy.  Corey Pavin, at age 50, showed them how to do that this weekend.

Improving your golf game is a process.  Not all of the improvements will come at once.  It is important to focus on one or two things at a time, and then when you have made improvement to them, work on the next couple of things.  I feel that the student can progress much faster if they take notes as well. 

Anyhow, after 16 months, I feel like I am getting very close to my best golf, even while I only play once or twice per month.  I have learned so much about the golf swing and golf course management, that I don’t need to play every day like I used to growing up in order to play well. 

Today I played a nice golf course in Maryland, and played my best round since my lesson with Hank last year…an even par 72.  While I did make two long putts, I did have several three putts and missed another short putt for birdie.  I also had a couple unforced errors with wedges.  This course is more difficult than most I usually play locally, so I feel pretty good about the score.  If I were playing more regularly, there would not be as many three putts or missed greens with a wedge in my hand. 

Last year when I went to Dallas to attend that seminar, I really had no clue with my golf game.  Now, I realize that if I actually find more time to play and practice, I can probably be a better golfer than I have ever been. 

I am writing this post because I think it is necessary for students to track their results and performance.  If I can improve after one lesson with Hank, and some follow up feedback at this year’s seminar from two of his senior instructors, Brian Mahon and Doug Alexander, then any student can improve.  However, it requires time, patience, effort, and a willingness to make changes.  If you have some of that going for you, the sky is the limit! 

One final word…just like Ray Romano on the Haney Project, I find that many students think they will get worse before they get better following a lesson….that is utter nonsense.  Get that out of your head.  If you will do what your instructor tells you to do, assuming they are a good instructor, you should see improvement right away.  But, you must keep an open mind.  I started improving from Day One.  You can too.

Scott Cole

Garrigus, in spite of a not so great golf swing, was playing well all day, and his back nine surge put him in position to win.  Basically, all he needed was a bogey to win, and even a double bogey would force Karlsson to make birdie on one of the most difficult holes on the course.

So, Garrigus makes his worst swing of the day and hits his tee shot in the water left.  He was forced to drop short of the hazard.  He then proceeded to try a heroic shot toward the green with a mid-iron, and pulled it into a tree.  This forced him to chip out and he ultimately made triple bogey and fell into a playoff, which he lost.

First and foremost, Garrigus does not have a great golf swing that can hold up under this type of pressure, that is clear.  If he wants to take his game to the next level, he needs to change his swing.  Most tour pros are unwilling to do that since it takes time and effort, and they worry more about making a living.  The better players are able to do it because they can still compete when they don’t have their best game.

Secondly, with the water hazard to the left, Garrigus should be aiming well to the right, even if it means missing the fairway into a fairway bunker.  With a 3 shot lead, he might even consider an iron off the tee, or just blasting a driver as far down the fairway and to the right as possible.  The fairway opened up past the curve of the dogleg and driver may have taken the water out of play. 

But, Garrigus chose to play a 3 wood, and made a poor swing.  It was his next shot that made the difference.  Hitting 3 after his drop, all he needed to do was hit a wedge somewhere up the fairway, hit another wedge on and two putt for 6, which would have forced Karlsson to make birdie (Westwood was already in the clubhouse).  Instead, he tried a more heroic and stupid shot, and paid the price.

This is why most golfers shoot higher scores than what they are capable of.  They throw away shots all over the golf course with penalty shots, poor short game shots and 3 and 4 putts.  Since most people are unwilling to put in the work to really improve their golf swing, they should learn to manage their game on the golf course.  If they learn how to play within themselves and score better with the short game, they will see much lower scores.

Next time you are faced with a situation on a golf course similar to what Robert Garrigus faced, play within yourself.  Making sure you make 5 will save you many strokes.  Trying a heroic shot that is likely beyond your ability will only bring 7 and 8 into play. 

Scott Cole

I calmly step up and chip the shot with a 7 or 8 iron and with the first second ball, I am within 2 feet. 

We have all this information out there regarding the golf game from the internet to the major magazines, to a tv channel devoted to the game, and yet most people show no improvement.  Are they not paying attention?

Yes, there is an awful lot of information about the game to assimilate over time.  So, my best advice to the golfer who wants to improve is to take notes!

I studied Pai Lum Kung Fu for 8 years, and I have a notebook that is three inches thick full of typewritten notes on all the forms, techniques and details how to perform each.  Golf is similar in that there is a lot to learn.  But, how can you improve if you don’t remember the proper technique? 

You see, if you want to make improvements, you have to take accountability!  As a teacher, I can only bring the horse to water, but I can’t make it drink! 

From now on, take some notes, and when you go practice, take them with you!  I guarantee you will start to see better results.

Scott Cole