Volume 50, September, 2014

Ask the Pros

Q: Should you hit down on the ball with your hybrid, or sweep it off the turf? Asked by Golfshot Member John R.

A: The hybrid is a long-iron replacement; therefore, it should be hit like an iron, with a slightly forward leaning shaft and descending angle of attack (2-3 degrees down). Each hybrid has forward lean built into the shaft, so if you’re able to maintain that lean through impact you should hit the ball solid on a nice, high trajectory. As a general rule of thumb, sole the clubhead on the ground so that the leading edge matches the turf, then walk into the shot, setting your body so that the shaft points to the first belt loop a couple inches left of center. If you do this, not only will your ball position be correct every time, but conditions will be favorable for you to hit down and compress the ball. Just make the same swing you would with a 9-iron, and watch your ball soar majestically toward the flagstick. – Todd Jones, Master Instructor, TOURAcademy TPC Sawgrass

Get Out and Play

Are You Sand Savvy? To calculate your sand save percentage, or your ability to get up-and-down in two shots from the greenside bunker, touch the SCORE tab/arrow on the bottom right-hand corner of the main GPS screen, and then the ADD SCORE tab on the following screen. That takes you to the main scoring screen for that hole. Enter your score in the far left-hand column by scrolling up or down to the appropriate number, and do likewise with the number of putts. Then scroll to the second- to-last-column on the right and enter the number of sand shots you took on that hole (see image, near left). Golfshot will figure out your percentage based on your score, how many bunker shots you attempted, and the number of putts you took. If you go to the main STATISTICS page and then tap on the Recovery header, you’ll also find your sand-save percentage for all rounds you’ve played to that point, even down to the last 5 rounds you’ve played (see image, far right). Featured Course

Gleneagles Hotel (PGA Centenary) Perthshire, Scotland

The host venue for this month’s , The Centenary Course is one of three 18-hole courses at Gleneagles. Designed by 18-time major champion , The Centenary was originally known as The Monarch’s Course upon its opening in 1993. It was renamed The PGA Centenary Course in 2001 and awarded the Ryder Cup that very same year. Set in the heartland of Scotland—a.k.a., the Home of --Nicklaus described the course as "the finest parcel of land in the world I have ever been given to work with". The course offers up spectacular views of the surrounding countryside, including the rich Perthshire river valley and rugged Grampian Mountains.

It will be a homecoming of sorts for the Ryder Cup. Not only is the biennial match between the U.S. and Europe returning to Scottish soil for the first time in more than 40 years (, 1973), but Gleneagles was the host site of the very first international golf match played between Great Britain and the U.S. in 1921, won by the Brits, 9-3. That storied British team included such legends of the game as , , and Ted Ray. The first-ever Ryder Cup was held six years later at Worcester CC in Worcester, Mass. Signature Hole

16th Hole, Par 5, 543 yards Gleneagles (PGA Centenary Course)

One of two par 5s in the last three holes, the 16th hole—nicknamed “Lochan Loop”--is reachable in two by the longest and courageous of hitters, and therefore could provide some drama in the closing stretches of matches at the Ryder Cup. From the yellow tees it plays a slightly more manageable 490 yards, although still a three-shot hole for most amateurs. Off the tee, the ideal line is just left of the center fairway bunker, or short of it. From there, the logical play is to lay up short of the water, or lach, some 100 yards short of the green. This leaves you with a short or mid-iron approach into a heavily contoured green surrounded by massive bunkers on the left and right. If you’re going to miss this green then miss it short, otherwise you might be left with a very delicate pitch back down the green.