The Villages Daily Sun | Tuesday, March 26, 2019 | b3

In the villages Registration Open for golf central This Year’s Upcoming Ladies Village Cup Ladies interested in playing in this May’s Ladies Village Cup can register now through March 30. “(Jennifer Song) told me Dustin (Johnson) hit so bad The Ladies Village Cup is a team competi- tion that pits 12 groups against each other in a Ryder Cup-style format. The tournament starts and he didn’t get angry. So, I tried like Dustin. I just at Belle Glade Country Club with elimination rounds on May 7, 8 and 10. The finals are May 14, tried no angry, no happy, just focus.” 15 and 17. To sign up or get more information, contact Barb Johnson at 815-626-6666 or email [email protected]. Jin Young Ko, on rallying to come back from a five-stroke deficit to win the Founders Cup Sunday.

A Lesson from a Villages Golf Academy instructor | On putting the instructor Master strokes

It is an adage as old as golf itself, a putt counts the same on a scorecard as a tee shot. So while amateur players are constantly seeking to get more distance out of their swing, it is important to remember that having good practices on the green is perhaps a more realistic way to lower your Wade Martin handicap. Wade Martin, an instructor with The Villages Golf Academy, walks you through some teaching aids and drills you can perform to make Wade is a dedicated sure you address the ball correctly, create a square face at impact and develop solid contact — all of which will lead to more confident putting. Class A member of the PGA of America. Since coming to The Villages, Wade has been heavily involved in drill one drill two drill three drill Four junior golf and instrumental in building the current junior golf program offered by The Villages Golf Academy.

How did you get into instruction? Growing up in a small town, there were no golf professionals in the area, so like a lot of people, much of what I learned came from reading books and magazines or from other golfers hanging around the course. I realized that many things I read or was told didn’t always fit me. Because of that, I wanted to learn as much as I could about the golf swing, how to teach it and how to adjust for the golfer rather than giving random tips that may or may not be effective. What is your instruction philosophy? When it comes to the swing, every golfer is different and, therefore, must be taught differently. We all have different body types, learning styles, physical challenges, etc ... Photos by Bill Mitchell | Daily Sun so there is no one way and certainly no one “right” way to swing a golf club. Even Check with SAM Get over your line Make square contact Go through the gate more important is the short game. Every golfer could The Villages Golf Academy uses Consistently setting up properly Players should strive for square One thing a lot of amateur putters do lower their scores if they a SAM Puttlab machine to give over a putt is the first step toward contact with a ball when putting. is make contact with the ball outside spent more time learning players real-time and hyper- making more accurate putts and That way you can be confident the of the center of the club face. This drill about and practicing the accurate feedback on their putting cutting down strokes. The player’s ball will follow its intended line. A — one used regularly by Tiger Woods short game. stroke. One of the many pieces eyes should be directly over the good drill to make sure you are — helps correct that. Place two balls, of data the SAM can offer is the target line at set up with their making square contact is to hit two or tees or other makers, apart at a degree to which the putter’s face is shoulders parallel to that line. One balls sitting next to each other at distance just wider than your putter open when a player makes contact way to make sure you are doing this the same time. If they roll next to face. Then practice striking a ball with a ball. The average PGA Tour is by using the Eye Line training aid. each other, square contact is being while avoiding the markers. This Book a lesson player strikes his putt with the Practice approaching the ball and made. If the ball toward the heel rolls ensures you are pulling the club back The staff of The Villages club face open at .3 degrees. The setting up properly over it before out farther, your club face is open at and then following through on a Golf Academy wants to average amateur should aim for a putting and repeating the process to impact. If the ball near the toe rolls straight path, which promotes square help you with your game. .7 degrees open or closed. reinforce the routine. out farther, your club face is closed. contact in the center of the club face. To schedule a session with an instructor, call 352-259-8121 or bottom line | mix up your putting drills to keep your short game tidy 352-259-2077.