GEORGIAPGA.COM GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM «« JULY 2011 2011 PGA Championship Expect a fantastic finish at Atlanta Athletic Club holding it in late February in By Mike Blum south Florida in 1971. The olf’s 2011 major champi - next year, the championship onship season concludes in was returned to its more accus - Atlanta for the first time tomed spot on the schedule, and in a decade when Atlanta has been played in August ever since. AGthletic Club hosts the PGA Over the years, the PGA Championship. Championship has gradually reduced 18th Hole, Highlands Course This year’s tournament is scheduled the “stature gap” between it and the for Aug. 11-14 and precedes the Tour other three majors. One of the reasons is Championship at East Lake by six the increasing strength of the field. The Championship’s increased visibility has the next year at Hazeltine, with his late weeks, making for a busy stretch of PGA has reduced the number of club been its penchant for producing some of surge down the stretch thwarted by the world class golf in Atlanta. The PGA professionals who compete in its cham - the most dramatic finishes in recent unheralded Rich Beem. Tour will be back in Georgia several pionship to the current number of 20, major championship history, ranking Since then, the PGA Championship weeks after that, when the McGladrey which has resulted in the event sporting with the Masters for late Sunday after - has featured great finishes by players Classic returns to Sea Island Golf Club the strongest field among the four noon drama. well known (Mickelson and Padraig for a second time. majors, and the deepest field among any The tournament that began the PGA’s Harrington ) and little known ( Shaun The PGA Championship is one of tournament in the game. seemingly annual down-to-the-wire Micheel ), two wild and wooly final golf’s four grand slam events, and has The PGA Championship is the only finish was the thrilling Tiger Woods- rounds at Whistling Straits that both generally been placed at the bottom of event that invites every player ranked Bob May duel at Valhalla in 2000. ended in playoffs, and the tournament the major championship pecking order, among the top 100 in the World David Toms and Phil Mickelson staged that will be looked back on as the one as well as being the last on the calendar. Rankings, which has made its field one of the greatest head-to-head battles that ended an era – Hazeltine in 2009 The PGA made an attempt to change much more representative of the in the final round of a major at Atlanta when Y.E. Yang took down Woods, the event’s status by altering its position changing geographical state of the game. Athletic Club in 2001 (see story, page on the major championship calendar, But the biggest reason for the PGA 12), and Woods returned to the stage [ See PGA Championship, page 6 ] RRegistergisteri t tot Win Register 3 days and 2 nights of Unlimited Golf for 4 at St. Simmons Isla for this Sea Palms Golf & Tennis Resortsort month’s contest online at Register at www.goloregeorgia.com. Drawing will be held on August 5, 2011.. goloregeorgia.com! *The package includes 2 rooms and unlimited goolf. (Food, Beverages, and taxes not included). 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C O M 3 Instruction Fore You 3021 Kalah Place, Marietta, GA 30067 770-933-04GA • 770-953-6638 (Fax) golfforegeorgia.com • [email protected] tance where the fairway is the widest. It may PUBLISHER Golf Media, Inc. • John Barrett leave you a longer shot into the green, but EDITOR Mike Blum Course Management that shot will be much easier when playing SOCIAL MEDIA / CREATIVE SERVICES out of the fairway. Consider the way you HughesMedia, Inc. hit the ball and make your selections CONTRIBUTORS a key to improvement accordingly. Chan Reeves Steve Dinberg By Chan Reeves with his thought process on this hole. Al Kooistra Lake-Finlay Image Group PGA Director of Instruction First of all, he decided to lay up, and then Maximize Your Georgia Golf Course Owners Association Atlanta Athletic Club chose to leave the ball in a spot that was the MARKETING & ADVERTISING perfect yardage for him. He left himself a full Strengths John Barrett, Sales I need help with my swing! That sand wedge in the green which Take the time to have a thorough self- Rick Holt, Corporate Sales is the most common thing I hear he hit to 12 feet or so and then assessment of your golf game, and ART DIRECTOR Lori Montgomery when working with someone holed that putt to win the recognize your strengths and weaknesses. with the goal of improving their Championship by 1 shot over When you realize what those are, always GEORGIA SECTION , golf game. I give many golf les - Phil Mickelson. play to your strengths , and away from PGA OF AMERICA OFFICERS sons a year with the majority of It is obvious that David used your weaknesses. President them focusing on the full swing. his finely tuned course manage - For instance if you struggle with 40-yard Patrick Richardson, PGA • [email protected] Vice President A few of my students also ask ment skills to win his first and wedge shots, then make sure not to hit a Brian Stubbs, PGA • for help with some aspect of the only (so far) major champi - fairway wood second shot on a par 5 that [email protected] short game whether it be pitching, chipping, onship. Understanding some of the key leaves you in that awkward distance. Hit a Secretary putting or bunker game; although I feel points of course management can put you second shot with a long iron or utility club Mark Mongell, PGA [email protected] the priority should be reversed with short in a position to score your very best as well. that will leave you a yardage for your third Honorary President game being worked on more than full swing. that you’re very comfortable with such as Jim Arendt, PGA • [email protected] While it’s obvious that the ability to swing the 80-100 yards. golf club correctly can not be overlooked, Club Selection Another example is when you find your - CHAPTER PRESIDENTS one huge aspect of learning to become Each and every player must decide “what self in trouble and can’t reach the green, Central Chapter President Jarred Reneau, PGA • [email protected] a better player is rarely recognized – Course is the best way for me to play this golf you don’t have to just punch the ball back East Chapter President Management. course.” Deciding what club to use off each out into the fairway every time. If greenside Steve Godley , PGA • [email protected] With the PGA Championship coming tee to set up the second shot is crucial. Just bunker shots are a strength of yours, then North Chapter President Ted Fort , PGA • [email protected] back to the Atlanta Athletic Club in August, because everyone else plays a driver off try and put it into the greenside bunker much of the talk around the club involves the tee box doesn’t mean it is the best play and once again play to your strength. AT - LARGE DIRECTORS comparing how the course will play this for you. Daryl Batey, PGA year versus how it played in 2001. One of David and Phil didn’t play the 72nd hole [email protected] the more memorable moments in 2001 at the PGA in 2001 the same, but they still Roger Cherico, PGA Shot Selection [email protected] involved the way in which David Toms made the same score on that hole. Most Learn how and when to hit specific short John Crumbley, PGA chose to play the 72nd hole of the players hit the ball different distances; game shots from around the greens. [email protected] Championship. therefore your game doesn’t have to be Knowing when to hit a low running chip Jeff Dunovant, PGA With a one shot lead, David drove the ball played the same way as everyone else in shot, or when to hit a high, soft pitch shot [email protected] John Godwin, PGA on the par-4 18th hole in the first cut of your group. is critical in helping you bring down [email protected] rough on a bit of a downslope, and rather If you are a long hitter, and the fairway your scores.