In the Dirt, by
Tim "The Golf-Meister" Flaherty

May23 2010

Golf Intelligence

The tour players that I get lots of golf intelligence from are telling me that the new Taylor Made Wedges with interchangeable faces are just as effective with the “V” grooves as with the “U” grooves. The great thing is that you can switch from “V” to “U” grooves or just update the face as the grooves wear down. The funny thing is that as you practice, your grooves wear down and work against you. Taylor Made allows you to screw in a whole new face prior to your tournament round. This wedge is even featured in Popular Science this month. This is quite a gem of intelligence.

The other factor is figuring out your optimal lie angle and bounce with each wedge. I have been carrying 3-4 wedges in my bag since 1986. From 100 yards and in is where your scoring occurs. It’s funny that golf club makers give you 11 clubs to hit the ball from 300 yards to 100 yards and only a putter, pitching wedge and sand wedge to score from 100 yards and in, where 80% of your scoring occurs. Putting alone is 43% of a average golfers scoring game. Think of all of the ground conditions that occur within 100 yards: hard ground, soft ground, uphill, downhill, sidehill, sand bunker, waste area, and water. You definitely need an arsenal of tools for all of these delicate shots.

Most tour players I know spend 85% of their time from 100 yards and in. I suggest as amateurs you need to at least give “equal time” to all areas of your game. Most guys just keep practicing in their strength areas and forget to improve in their problem areas. I would suggest you ask yourself this question: How Can I Get Better?

Start on the green and work backwards, and I guarantee results if done intelligently.

Golf is a game of patience and quiet strength. The best players have dozens of secrets over the amateurs. This is what separates pros from amateurs the most: the head knowledge. If you don’t believe me, just watch a program of “Playing Lessons from a Pro” on the Golf Channel. You’ll gain access to the mental thought process of the pros. They have a strategy before even addressing the ball that is basically non-existent in most amateur’s mindsets.

Having a playing philosophy, and practicing, drilling and rehearsing intelligently will give you traction toward your personal best round this year in 2010.

April 23 2010

It was tax time again last week...

I started my Golf Season by Teeing it up at my CPA’s golf course (Crystal Lake Golf Course in Lakeville, Minnesota). We fought off a 4 club wind. But my putter was un-effected. I had 5 one putt’s on the front side. I finished the round with 29 putts. The putts make up for a lot of missed shots. I still managed a 9 foot approach from 139 yard, a 2 foot approach from 80 yards and another decent approach iron. The first round of Golf is humbling as your brain remembers your capability at the top of last years’ season. This week I worked hard on my swing motion in the DreamSwing and my 3 foot club recommended by Tom Bertrand author of The Secret of Hogan’s Swing. Last year I conducted an internet television interview with Tom that was preceded by an historic 3 part radio podcast.

May 1st I am flying out to San Diego to work personally with Tom Bertrand. Tom conducts one day One on One’s with Tom. I have studied his original two video disc’s of his Legendary Golf Swing System. I have carefully studied with care his book The Secret of Hogan’s Swing. But his videos give life and motion to his book. I helped put together a 7 page e-book that is FREE to all golfers registering at our site at PlayOnGolf.com. Tom’s information was handed down from his mentor John Schlee who was instructed inside of the grill room of Shady Oaks Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas by Ben Hogan. When John won the Hawauian Open on the PGA Tour Ben Hogan sent him a cable saying That A Boy. If it was not for a final round 63 by Johnny Miller in 1974 John Schlee would have easily won something like 2/3’s of all other U.S. Opens played to that point with the score he posted.

My point it is: Tom Bertrand Knows. Tom know’s not only what Hogan’s Secret was, but what many of his other Secrets were that compiled Hogan’s legendary victories. Today, ten days before my trip to see Tom, I saw my Mental Coach Cindy Locher, clinically certified sports hypnotherapist, to program my subconscious with the ability to learn better from Tom when I see him. She also eliminated first tee jitters that I occasionally have by programming my sub-conscious mind to be relaxed and ready to perform. Hogan talked about Relaxed Activation and Moe Norman (a ball striker on par with Hogan) talked about playing golf from an attitude of Alert In-difference. These are all concepts I am leveraging to produce sub par rounds at my home course. I have a playing plan to score 3-4 under at my Home Course during Men’s Club Tournaments. Ultimately, I plan on having an even par or better round at Hazeltine National (Site of last years PGA Championship) as I advance from local to sectional qualifying for the US Open being conducted at Peeble Beach Golf Links in California. Golf is about having a game plan and then going and doing it at will.

Yes, that is what the 2010 year of Golf means to me, The Year of Hogan sixty years from the comeback after his life threatening head on bus crash. Please feel free to listen to my 3 part radio interview podcast here.

Tim "the Golfmeister" Flaherty