*Do not respond directly to this blast. If you wish to contact Pete, email him at pdunhampga@hotmail.com

In This Blast:

-Golf Lessons make great gifts!!!
-Jr. Golf Programs with Brian Altman
-Preparing for Winter Golf

GOLF LESSONS MAKE GREAT GIFTS!

This Christmas, give the gift of better golf!

One Lesson- $50

Series of 3 Lessons- $140

Series of 6- $225

**super special SERIES OF 10- $300
(Use for yourself, or share with the whole family!)

DRIVER DRILL CLUB - $225 (A 10 week program!)
(*Begins in February)

I've also got GRAVITY GOLF books and DVD's on sale!!!

This is a great way to check out the major principles I use in teaching golf. David Lee is the founder of GRAVITY GOLF, and I have no doubt he is the greatest golf mind in the world today.

GRAVITY GOLF BOOK - $15 (Christmas Special)
DVD Package - $25 (Holiday Special)

By both for just $35

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AFTER SCHOOL JR GOLF PROGRAM

Brian Altman, PGA Professional has begun a fantastic Jr Golf Program for the kids! He's using the SNAG golf system of learning and the kids just love it! Check it out!!!

Tuesdays and Fridays from 3:30-4:30pm

Call the pro-shop at 884-2600 or email Brian @
BALTMAN@PGA.COM

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Preparing for Winter Golf

*You may want to print this out before reading.... It ran a bit longer than I originally anticipated. Sometimes I just get all fired up about a subject....

Winter golf is fast approaching, and for most golfers, that means "BAD GOLF" is also on the horizon. Very few, if any golfers lower their handicaps over the winter months... Most of us see our trends spike upwards until late spring!!!

There is no doubt that conditions are tougher, but with some sound strategies, I know you can play better golf!!!

Cold weather absolutely affects how we play golf. The ball flies shorter distances. The dormant (often wet) grasses magnify swing errors. Our body's tighten up as the blood leaves the extremities in order to keep the organs warm. Let's now discuss how to combat each of these issues, leading to the best golf you've ever played in the cold months!

First, how do you combat the ball flying shorter distances? The obvious answer is to take plenty of extra club on all your shots. It's obvious, because it is CORRECT! Focus on SOLID shots into FULL BALANCE, rather than swinging hard to make the ball go further.

How about the tight dormant lies? Wow, these are tough. Well, for full swings, it's about trusting the club. It's about swinging freely and allowing the ball get in the way of the swing as you finish in FULLY ROTATED, RELAXED BALANCE. The goal should be to swing through the shot, and it's important to recognize when you are trying too hard to HIT the ball. One of the great errors I see made on tight lies is the INTENT to focus everything on swinging at the ball, rather than through the ball....

*side thought: MANY of you will have trouble hitting your 3 wood on tight lies in the winter.... Here's the solution: HIT YOUR 5 WOOD/7 WOOD or hybrid instead! You will have a net gain in distance, I promise, because a topped or sculled 3 wood does not travel very far... and it's hard on the ego! This is an important solution that will improve your confidence on the course!!!

The short shots off tight, dormant grass are difficult for the best of players. While pro's and low handicap golfers will relish the fairways in the winter months (I love them!), we also struggle around the greens. The most important thing to understand is that it is a PRECISION issue. The skills of impact become more and more critical as the lies get more difficult. Most golfers will work against themselves by trying harder and harder to HIT the ball, or to STEER the club through the ball.... These efforts DESTROY PATH integrity and frustrate the heck out of golfers!!!!

I have two suggestions: 1. Learn the correct technique to improve your impact with short shots (allowing the arms to fall as the body ROTATES the arms and club through the ball... the ball gets in the way of the circle, even on small shots!). After you learn the correct technique, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE.... and then PRACTICE SOME MORE specifically on your skills of IMPACT and rotation.

2. Until your skills are very high in terms of IMPACT, look for other options on your short shots!!!! The putter, your Hybrids, or your 7 iron. Use a club that will run the ball onto the green. These clubs can mask errors in the swing. Bad technique can still turn out decent results with these clubs. Since the goal should be lower scores.... GO FOR IT! Practice putting and using your hybrid off the green. It won't take long for you to get comfortable and I know it will have a positive affect on your game!

*Now at Snee Farm, there are times where you simply have no option other than hitting a lofted wedge shot. Wow, that's tough in the dormant grass. My suggestion is to look hard for a safety option (putting, etc...) and to also invest in some short shot lessons to improve that technique!

**Be kind to yourself when you hit a poor short shot. It's hard for everyone, and getting upset will only add to the drama of the next shot. Shrug it off, and PRACTICE HARDER before your next round of golf...

Another reason golf in winter is so difficult is because our body's are tighter!!! In an attempt to stay warm, the muscles kind of "clench up", making it harder to use the big muscles in the swing. This is a truly important issue. So often I hear golfers grumble about how stupid they were on the course in cold weather. "I swung so fast", "I lifted my head up", "I lost my concentration...", etc.... They blame their coordination and focus and this leads to a loss of confidence down the road.

The truth is, a body that won't turn freely will CAUSE the arms to fire too fast!!! When the outside (the arms) pulls, the reaction is often to lift the head up!!!

"When the brain senses an improper power supply in the backswing (due to lack of core rotation), the brain will involuntarily tell the arms to pull in the downswing to 'help' create more power in the swing..." -David Lee

If you don't use your core, you are at the mercy of involuntary reactions caused by the subconscious!!!

The greatest reason people play bad golf in the winter is because they stop turning, which in turns causes swing path problems when the arms pull in the downswing. Each shot becomes even more unpredictable!

So, here's how to improve your WINTER GOLF!!! Warm up faster(to warm up the body), better(doing drills that specifically help your turn), and longer(to build skill) on the range. Learn GRAVITY DRILLS (core dominated) and warm up that way!!! On the course, take lots of free flowing practice swings to stay limber. If you know the drills, do those on the course in between shots to keep the body turning! If you use the strategies I've outlined, you will swing more efficiently.

Summary:

-TAKE EXTRA CLUB AND SWING FREELY AND INTO BALANCE

-LOOK FOR OTHER OPTIONS IN THE SHORT GAME. IMPROVE YOUR PUTTING AND RUNNING SHOTS FROM OFF THE GREEN

-SHORT SHOTS DEMAND HIGH QUALITY OF SKILLS. PRACTICE HARD AND LEARN CORRECT TECHNIQUE.

-WITH FULL SHOTS, WARM UP THE CORE TO HELP YOU TURN MORE!

-UNDERSTAND WHAT MAKES WINTER GOLF TOUGH, AND WORK ON STRATEGIES TO KEEP YOU IN THE GAME!

Happy Holidays. Now GO PLAY GOLF! Stop THINKING golf swing!!!

Pete Dunham

PGA Teaching Professional
Certified in Instruction
Snee Farm Country Club