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Private GatedCommunity 18 hole Championship Golf Course Active Clubhouse 519. 657.4333 RiverBendGolf.com Golf Tips from the Pros AS TOLD TO JEFFREY REED Editor, LondonOntarioGolf.com f anyone thinks that golf is simply a sport and not an art form, then perhaps I Bob Dulong, Head Golf Professional, they should heed the words of The Oaks Golf Club the great Arnold Palmer who once quipped, “What other Putting Practice Makes Perfect people may find in poetry or Although you will see many different art museums, I find in the grips, setups and strokes amongst every- flight of a good drive.” one from club players to touring pros, there are some putting basics which ev- Practice makes perfect is the ideal lesson eryone should incorporate in their game for all golfers, amateur and professionals in order to be a consistently successful alike. Even the great Lee Trevino once putter. It all starts with the grip. Today, joked during a poor spell on the links, there are a myriad of grip techniques. “I’m not saying my golf game went bad, I prefer to see the player’s palms facing but if I grew tomatoes, they’d come up each other. You then have both hands sliced.” working together, and thus can better With that in mind, here are some tips control the club face. from a group of local golf professionals to Next, you’ll set up to the ball by tak- help you with your swing thoughts this ing your stance with your heels about season. shoulder width apart, and your front toe slightly open to target. From this posi- tion, you will bend from the waist to get LONDON FREE PRESS GOLF GUIDE 2018 3 Jeff Sutherland, Head Golf Professional, West Haven Golf & Country Club The Scoring Clubs: Chipping Basics One of the biggest differences be- tween an amateur’s golf game and a professional’s game is the ability to chip well and on a consistent basis. Yet not enough amateur golfers practice their your eyes over the line of your putt. short game, including chipping. Here Flex your knees slightly for comfort. are some basic tips to lower your scores Your arms should hang down naturally, this season. creating a triangle across your shoulders With your sand wedge, or preferred with your hands below your chin. wedge, angle the shaft toward the hole. The ball position is at the middle or This will close down the club – or de- slightly ahead of middle of your stance, loft it. Another option is to use an 8 iron with the putter face now square to the and keep the club in a standard posi- line of your putt. Your hand should be tion. The closer you are to the green, the at or slightly forward of the ball posi- less loft you need; the further away you tion. Note: your putting line is not usu- are from the green, the more loft you ally straight at the hole; rather, it is the need. Consider a lob wedge, which has line the ball must start on to roll into the more loft. Be sure to narrow your stance hole. You should have your shoulders slightly, and put more weight on your square to the intended line to help your front foot; this way, you will feel like you swing path stay on that line. are leaning toward the hole. The most important thing in putting Be sure to take a putter-style stroke, is to have good distance control. This is and brush through the grass – use a created by the triangle you create with pendulum motion. Take a short back- your shoulders, arms and hands. The swing, and accelerate toward the hole; triangle only moves when you rock your never decelerate on a shot. Do not break shoulders, creating a pendulum motion. your wrists; keep the upper wrist fairly The stroke should be even in length on firm, and hold your hands ahead of the both sides of the ball and steady in pace. clubface through impact. 4 LONDON FREE PRESS GOLF GUIDE 2018 It’s easiest for most amateur golfers to Rick Pero, Director of Golf, just keep the ball low, and barely hit it over the long grass; there is no need to Highland Country Club carry the ball all the way to the hole. If Wedge Selection: you do hit the ball past the hole, then watch the break: this will give you valu- Bounce Is Your Friend! able information on your upcoming The wedges in your bag are your scor- putt. ing clubs. During a round of golf, you Jason Wyatt, Head Golf Professional, will hit more shots with your wedges (minus your putter) than any other Sunningdale Golf & Country Club club. Whether hitting a second shot onto the green on a par-4, or reaching The Bunker Shot: Easiest Shot in Golf the green on your third shot at a par-5 – or even trying to save par on a missed The bunker shot is one of the most green at a par-3 – having the proper feared shots amongst amateur golfers, wedges in your bag is imperative. When but it shouldn’t be. In fact, with the selecting wedges, the clubs must look proper technique it is arguably golf’s good and feel good, the minute you put easiest shot. Here are some tips to help them in your hands. If you don’t feel with your confidence and technique confident right away, then you won’t hit from the bunker. good shots. First, open your body and feet, in From pitching wedge to lob wedge, relation to your target line. Place the ball these scoring clubs are available in a more forward in your stance, and keep wide variety of lofts. When choosing your weight on your front foot. Second, loft, look for loft degrees that suit your open the club face, then establish your game, and that also blend properly with grip. Too many golfers open the club your set of irons. Consistent gapping face with their grip already established: of lofts – the difference in distance that this causes the club to close during you hit each club – is important, as is the swing. Opening the face first, then knowing the type of shots you like to establishing your grip will promote the hit around the greens. In general, you bounce, rather than the leading edge of are looking at 10 to 15 yards distance the club. between each club. Next, remember that the swing path Look at the loft degree in your pitch- of the golf club should follow your ing wedge, and understand how far you stance. This means the club will start hit that club. Knowing this will help outside, and then cut across the ball you determine the loft you need for with an open face. Now, you’ll make im- your game. If you like to hit flop shots pact – but you will hit behind the ball. around the green, then you may need a The golf club does not come in contact higher-lofted club. But if you are more with the golf ball during the swing. It of a pitch-and-run player, then perhaps is the sand that lifts the ball out of the less loft should be considered. bunker. Finally, remember to follow A wedge’s bounce should also be part through: keep the club face open, point- of the equation. Bounce is the angle ing to the sky. on the sole of the club, from the lead- To control the distance the ball travels, ing edge to the trailing edge. Bounce work on different arm speeds through provides forgiveness on your shots, as it the sand. The slower your arms travel, reduces resistance to the ground or sand the short the ball will travel. The faster when hitting a shot. In general, your your arms move the club through the bounce angle should be based on your sand, the further the ball will travel. swing type: a steep swing (deep divots) LONDON FREE PRESS GOLF GUIDE 2018 5 needs higher bounce; shallow swing (no comfortable on the first tee. divots), less bounce; and normal swing One of the first things I do to help (small divots), standard bounce. In ad- athletes perform well is train them dition, consider this: firm fairways, less in pressure simulated competitions, in specific with high heart rates. For Charles Fitzsimmons, example, I’ll get them to do an exercise before hitting a shot, so they can learn 2017 St. Thomas Early Bird Champion to hit a good shot with a high heart rate. & Team Ontario Sports Psychologist That simulates some of the actuation of nerves when you are feeling nervous. Fighting First Tee Jitters For those athletes, it’s a good way to learn how to play through nerves, and bounce; soft fairways, more bounce. how to calm yourself down. So for the The first step to getting past the amateur golfer, remember to do some first tee jitters is acknowledging that deep belly breathing – a classic way of nervousness is not necessarily bad for calming down before you hit the first tee performance.