Maria Palozola's St. Louis Golf Blog

The Lou’s Lefty Langley had an incredible start to his professional career with a 3rd place finish at the Sony Open this past weekend.  After leading for 3 days Scott fell away a bit on Sunday while Russell Henley charged ahead for the victory.  Some might think Scott’s final round of even par was pretty steady after holding the lead for 3 days.  Especially with the pressure of being in his first event as an official card holder on the PGA Tour.  I mean, it’s not like he bombed it and came in 5 over, but with Russell’s 7 under, it just couldn’t hang.

We as St. Louisans love to see one of our own make it to the show.  After all, few have from this area.  Everyone knows the Midwest is definitely not a golf mecca.  Players from the South, California and Arizona are definitely at an advantage with year round warmth and ample courses to play – not to mention strong competition.  The fact that Langley grew up here with cold winters and beating it around at public facilities shows you that anyone that has desire and talent can make it happen.  This should be particularly encouraging to juniors and their parents if golf is their passion.

One thing that would benefit St. Louis golfers is to realize that golf is a year round game.  I spent 10 years teaching in Chicago and was always impressed by how golf nuts my students were up there.  In a climate much colder than here and with a much shorter season, they just never stopped.  I gave many lessons on 20 degree, windy days.  They were die hards.  Golf after all is an outdoor game.   With the opportunity to hit at heated ranges like the one at Big Bend and the advances in gear that keeps you warm, yet flexible there really is no excuse for at least keeping up your practice routine.  Laying off over the cool months and starting up again right before the season begins does nothing but add stress and frustration.

Take advantage of the heated tees at Big Bend and if you don’t have time to make it out at least practice at home.  Here is a long list on MyGolfInstructor.com of indoor drills that can easily be done in your house to keep you on track during the off season:  http://www.mygolfinstructor.com/instruction/practice/drills/

What are you doing for your game this winter?  Most likely not a whole lot.  What the cold weather is so useful for though, is creating your game plan.  When the weather doesn’t cooperate, fight back by letting the course know it’s not going to get the best of you this year.  This year you come prepared!

How many great players are great without practice and preparation.  The answer…none.  Of course there is natural ability, but the players that make it to the top and are impressive got there with a plan and a lot of hard work.  The first excuse is usually “Well, I could never play like a pro because I don’t have time to practice like one.”  While that is a very valid point, it is even more reason to design a plan.  If you, like the rest of us, are scheduled from the moment you wake until the moment your head hits the pillow, then every minute counts.  It’s the players who practice the least that need the best game plans.

What should your game plan entail?  Basically you need to look at every area of your game.  Think of a pentagram.  You have 5 points.  The points and not in order of importance are:   1) Fitness 2) Mental Game 3) Equipment 4) Technique or Instruction and 5) Course Management.

Start by making a chart with each point listed at the top.  Next, make a list underneath it of what your goals are for each point.  What do you want to do with that part of your game?  What do you want to do differently?  What do you want to improve on?  How can you make the improvements?  After this you now have your road map for success.  All you need to do now is put in in action by scheduling the time and enlisting the help of a quality pro for assistance.  Charting your progress in each area is a really good idea.  The first step of making the plan is easy for everyone.  It’s sticking to it that’s difficult.  Seeing your progress right in front of your own eyes is nothing but encouraging.  By charting it you may also catch yourself slacking in certain areas.

Once you are set with a game plan I recommend setting up your free Game Tracker and Practice Planner on MyGolfInstructor.com to help track your progress and formulate a complete picture of your golf game.  Here is the link so you can get started today:  http://www.mygolfinstructor.com/

I’ve stressed many times that the “off-season” is the best time to work on your game.  The reason being is that you aren’t playing much at all and therefore, the pressure and expectations aren’t there.  Instead, the focus can be on changing your technique as opposed to where the ball is going.

But coming out improperly dressed for lessons or practice during the winter can be quite a turn off.  I’ve seen many come out to the range on a freezing day dressed like it’s 60 out and after being miserable for an hour, they hang up the sticks until spring.  If you come prepared, you will not only have fun and enjoy your practice session, but it will be more productive.

Since I am the one standing there, I bundle up like I’m going sledding, but my students are often able to shed layers as they warm up into their practice sessions.  Non the less, dressing “too warm” from head to toe is the best way to go as you always have the opportunity to take layers off.

So what are the tricks to staying warm?

1)  First and foremost is the knit cap.  Your mom probably always told you to keep your head warm and that heat escapes if it’s not covered.  Knit caps are great for golf and make a HUGE difference.  They are comfortable and don’t get in the way so it’s a no brainer.

2)  Next, wear Under Armour or some other warming clothes underneath your layers.  Picking shirts that are designed to keep you warm will make a huge difference.  The same goes for leggings.  At the very least wear a layer of long underwear and on top of your pants a good storm pant will make a difference.  I am on Adidas staff and they make a great storm pant that I slip on over my golf slacks.

3)  Winter gloves.  Are they a good idea?  I find them bulky and annoying, but some practice is better than no practice at all and they do keep your hands from freezing.  Technology has come a long way since they first came out so not only are they thinner, they are warmer and more comfortable all around.

4)  Hand warmers.  These are great for sticking your hands in your pockets in between swings and warming up your finger tips.  I also stick them under my toes in my shoes and it works like a charm!

5)  Proper shoes.  Many tennis shoe designs are for keeping your feet cool.  They are like nets that allow your feet to breath.  This is not good for cold blustery conditions.  Leather golf shoes are much better.  So even though you may like to hop out of your car and practice in your sneakers, take the time to put on golf shoes.  Better yet is a good outdoor hiking shoe designed to keep your feet warm in cold conditions.  I have had both Keens and Merrells that have both been much warmer than tennis shoes and kept my toes warm while I was standing out on the range all day.

Golf is a year round game.  Remember that it was invented in Scotland where it is often cool and damp.  Just because we have 4 months or so of cold doesn’t mean you should let your game get rusty.  Be prepared, dress warm and you will have fun.   The Big Bend Golf Center now has wind shields between the stalls to make your practice even warmer on windy days.

Just when things are getting cooler outside, the Big Bend Golf Center is warming up for winter.  Mr. Kim has made improvements to the covered tee line that will surely keep you warmer this winter during  practice.  He has built new walls and fully enclosed both ends of the covered tee to keep the cool winds from blowing in.  An extra door has also been built at the bottom of the stairs that lead to the pro shop.  That area was particularly drafty in past winters as the north winds would blow down the stairs that lead to the ball machine.  The tee line feels air tight and fortunately the open side of the tee line on our range faces south.

There is talk of lowering the heaters down for more warmth this winter and replacing them with longer, warmer ones next year.  I tell all my students if you wear a knit cap and Under Armour you won’t be cold on any day above 35 unless it is extremely windy.

Did you notice the new striped target poles?  The Kims have added a few new targets and took down some of the “not so attractive” ones that dotted the range.  The next step is for me to laser the yardages so we can mark each bay individually providing you with accurate yardages from your matt.

Be sure to come by and check out the improvements.  Don’t let your game freeze over the winter!

Last week when Brandt Snedeker was interviewed on t.v. he said something I thought was oh, so important.  I’m not sure anyone else really noticed it though.  It was the night before he won the Tour Championship and the Fed Ex Cup.  The newscaster made a comment about  Brandt’s outstanding putting.  He asked Brandt “what in his opinion would he credit for his great performance on the greens.”  The FIRST words out of Brandt’s mouth were “I practice it alot.”

Those are 4 words I think every student of the game should take to heart.  These guys weren’t just born great.  They put in a tremendous amount of time, work, effort and concentration to improving every facet of their game.  Through my years of competing I never knew a great putter who didn’t put in hours and hours on the greens.  You could actually spot the best putters in the field before you even teed off  because where were they…on the greens.  They didn’t practice just because they were good at putting and enjoyed it so much.  They were good and enjoyed it because they practiced.

Back in the days of competing it was common for collegiate players and young pros to pull their cars up to the putting green, crank on the lights and night putt.  If you really wanted to be good, you never stopped.  While playing in tournaments we would putt and chip in the hotel rooms, even using the lines on the tiled floors in the bathroom to perfect our strokes.  What’s great about putting is all you need is to put in the time and you can do it almost anywhere and any time of the year.  You don’t have to be really strong, athletic or coordinated, you just need to practice.  I just asked a student yesterday when was the last time he spent an hour on the green practicing putting.  The answer….”never.”   Believe it or not that is the answer I always get!

Back to Brandt for a minute though.  What has all his hard work and putting practice gotten him?  The largest winning in golf history for one thing.  $11.4 million was Brandt’s take home pay last week after winning the Tour Championship and capturing the Fed Ex Cup!  Brandt is currently 3rd on the PGA Tour money list this year, first in Fed Ex Cup points and of course earned a spot on the Ryder Cup team.   Brandt is first in strokes gained putting and 2nd in total putting,  proving that his tremendous putting is to credit with most of his success.  What can you learn from Brandt?  Practice it a lot!!!

Whether you’re a fan or not, you have to admit things seem a bit more interesting when you see Tiger’s name up on the leader board.  The post season has been extra exciting this year in my opinion because of all the top names including Tiger.  Having names like Rory McIroy, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Luke Donald, Ernie Els and Sergio Garcia topping the leader boards routinely has made the race for the Fed Ex Cup and the post season the most interesting part of the year.  Just a few years ago I never paid much attention to the post season.  In fact it wasn’t until 2 years ago when I had a radio show and had to pay close attention that I really even understood it.  Now it’s something I look forward to and having fan favorite Jim Furyk take the cup last year was worth the wait.  We’re rooting for you again this year Jim!

I like how so many tend to rule Tiger out with comments like “he’s done, it’s all over for him” forgetting the fact that he won 3 times on the PGA Tour this year.  Winning 3 times in a year on tour isn’t just good.  It’s great!   Even if you’re not a fan you have to admit when you see his name up there it does catch your attention.  He has been in the hunt often this year.  Again, that’s not just good.  It’s great.  Think of how many players on tour not only don’t win and struggle to keep their cards, but never even get in the top 10.  In Tiger’s case, he’s been right there.  Now grant it, he has had a hard time closing things out that’s for sure.  He seems to come out roaring and then his putting and his mental game let him down.  He’s definitely not draining putts like he used to and the dramatics after missed hits show that his mind is not entirely in tune.  I understand the dramatics when your young.  It’s part of showing that you really care and that you obviously believe your better than that shot.  It’s kind of a cocky show of confidence.  Dropping clubs on every round and bending over like your constipated and in pain though, just doesn’t help anything once you’re out of your 20′s, especially your image.  By this point you should have already proved to yourself and others that you know you can do better.  What’s more important at a mature age is showing that you’ve got it all together.

I actually think Tiger does have it all together, but he just doesn’t believe it.  With some extra work on putting and some work on his confidence, Tiger could easily come out next year like his old self.

That’s right.  Fall is the preferred playing season for most St. Louis golfers.  In fact, I always have a large number of students that don’t even play golf until fall.  They want to avoid the heat and the crowds.  Something about fall and getting kids back in school makes most think of football and soccer season so they unnecessarily hang their sticks up too soon.   True golfers however know there is no better time to play than fall.  The weather in September and October is typically wonderful.  Dry weather in the 70s or 80s is unbeatable around here and hard ground gets you way more roll and makes playing during this season fun.

What’s always interesting to me is how the lesson book slows a bit especially compared to the torrential rains and cold temperatures of the spring.  I guess in spring people want to get a head start, but in reality in St. Louis, golf is mostly a year round game.  The number of days below 40 where even if you’re bundled well it’s too chilly, are few and far between.  Since things tend to slow in the fall I always run a fall special on lessons to get people out to see how great golf can be this time of year.

With the improvements going on at the Big Bend Golf Center, game improvement will easily extend beyond the fall.   Along with the  extensive painting that has been going on, improvements to the covered area are also being made.  After the new mats arrived Mr. Kim and Jose tore down the dilapidated walls at each end of the shed and are going to put plexiglass in instead of a solid wall.  This will open up the view to the grass tee as well as let some light in on those dark winter days.  The plan this year is to lower the heaters so they are easier to feel and possibly replace with larger ones next year.  There is no excuse to not getting out and keeping your game sharp!  Get your lessons in and work on your game while the weather is fantastic and the prices are low.

How do your shoulders affect your swing plane?  The answer is A Lot!   Having two students today at the Big Bend Golf Center who were struggling with coming over the top of the swing plane on the down swing made me wonder.  I wondered how often golfers think about what it is that is actually causing their club to get off plane.

Like anything in golf, there are many factors that can affect any number of things in your swing.  If I told you that your grip or ball position affects your swing plane would you believe me?  Well they do, as well as alignment, weight distribution, weight shift and hoards of other factors,  but for players who really struggle with coming over the top and hitting a wicked slice or pull hook, I think more thought needs to go into what plane their shoulders are moving on during the back swing and even more importantly, the down swing.

The first golf lesson I ever took from a top named professional was from Michael Hebron who was PGA National Teacher of the Year in the early 90s.  His shtick at the time was “the inside moves the outside”, basically saying that your core and big muscles move your arms and hands and small muscles.  He loved to say “the dog wags the tail”, rather than “the tail wags the dog”.  Makes sense right, but what does it mean for you?  If you are a slicer or pull hooker it should mean a lot.  Wherever your shoulders go, your arms an thus the club will go.   If you start your downswing while spinning your shoulders open before your arms have had a chance to drop on plane, your only choice is to swing over the top of the plane.

Try keeping your back at the target longer while your arms have a chance to start dropping down on plane.  Don’t be in such a rush from the top to get the swing over with.  This particular swing plane issue is not a position issue, but rather a sequence issue.  Get the arms down on plane and then worry about turning towards the target.  If this is a big problem for you over exaggerate it until you start striking the ball from the inside and starting it out to the right of your target.   You would be well served to even feel like your shoulders are closed to your target line at impact.  The biggest problem I see with golfers who chronically come over the top is that they don’t over correct enough.  Go a little crazy, exaggerate, have some fun and I think you will be surprised at the results.

As the heat keeps a lot of golfers indoors, improvements are moving right along at the Big Bend Golf Center.  Jose and Mr. Kim have been systematically sanding and painting the old rusty handrails.  It is a big job as there are a lot of them!  The next plan is to paint all the steps and columns under the shed.

While teaching today I noticed a big white truck with a huge crane.  A few moments later I saw a man at the top replacing burned out lights.   That should really help improve night practice and give you a better idea of where your ball is coming down.  There is nothing worse than straining to see your ball as you address it and not to seeing where it lands.

Oh…and I forgot to mention the new flags hanging from what used to be bare metal poles!  I’m very pleased with the swiftness of which improvements are being made by Mr. and Mrs. Kim.  Again, new mats are on the way and I’ve been talking to them about a putting green.  As new owners, they are very excited to make changes we can all be proud of.

St. Louis is sweltering in this heat wave, but I must say I actually have not been hot under the shed and with the fans.  Big Bend will keep you cool and out of the sun so don’t let this heat make you slip out of your practice habits!

In case you hadn’t heard, the Big Bend Golf Center has new owners.  Mr. Choe decided to sell the golf range after a number of years (I think around 14) to put all his energy into his new sports bar.  The new owners Mr. and Mrs. Kim could not be nicer or more enthusiastic about making changes and updates.  I have been amazed at how they have taken every suggestion I have made to heart.  And they move fast!  Only a couple of days after suggesting that they tear down that old dilapidated shed that blocked the view of the grass tees, they had Jose out there knocking it down and trimming trees.  It was so exciting to see!

New balls have arrived (at least half the balls are new) and they have begun to paint the old rusty handrail.  Possibly the biggest change is that they completely cleared out all the junk in the proshop.  I had no idea it was so roomy!  For those of you that haven’t been there for a while, you won’t recognize it!

Plans for new mats, more painting and even a putting green are under way!  With it’s prime location and roomy covered tee line, Big Bend is on it’s way to being one of the top practice facilities in the St. Louis metro area.