Golf By David McPherson your execution and make myriad mental mistakes. While chasing perfection of the golf swing – or any skill for that matter – is unattainable, what is achievable for you this winter is continuous improvement and making your swing a bit better, so that you will enjoy your time on the course more. Before packing the car and heading down the highway, do some homework. Flip through a few back issues of your favourite golf magazine. Here, you are sure to find tons of tips…from how to drive the ball farther and straighter, to fixing the yips, to best practices on the putting green, there is no shortage of instruction and pundits’ opinions on how to improve. We live in a world of data overload and all of this information is often overwhelming. How can you sift through this minefield of data and choose what tip to focus on first? Take some time to think about your game. Jot down a few areas in which you want to improve; then, armed with these general tips, schedule a lesson this winter – or better yet – a series of lessons with a pro. Choosing the right pro is important. How do you find the right teacher? Before you head south, consult those same golf magazines. Most contain listings of the top teachers across the United States. Word of mouth is also a good place to start. Ask others in your winter community if they have taken lessons and, if so, would they recommend their teacher. Then, once you arrive at your snowbird destination, go into the pro shop of your favourite local course or several courses and talk to various instructors. Learn about their teaching philosophy. Do you feel any chemistry? Like any student/teacher relationship, there must be chemistry and you must share a vision of what you want to improve and work on, or you are wasting each other’s time. It will help when meeting with this professional to arrive with some of the following questions already answered: why are you taking a lesson and what specifically do you want to improve? Maybe you want to get more distance off the tee, or maybe it’s your short game that needs a tune-up? The instructor who is the right match will tailor their approach to your experience level, your age, and these goals that you’ve shared. To make sure that they are the right fit, ask them questions about their background and about their experience in teaching seniors.That way, they will teach to your specific needs and not as if they were instructing someone half your age with a different body type, different habits and a different swing. Don’t try to fix everything at once and set realistic goals, making sure that they match your current state of physical and mental fitness. The reality is, your mobility and flexibility are not what they used to be, so adjust accordingly. As we age, our bodies andminds change and we must be kind to ourselves and to our expectations. If youmaintain a positive outlook and keep these realistic goals top of mind, you are more likely to feel good about the incremental improvements which you achieve. Don’t compare to your younger self or to anyone else – especially not to the pros on TV or the person hitting next to you on the range. Virtual Lessons Golf Simulators, Podcasts and Audiobooks Have you tried an indoor golf simulator yet? Maybe playing Pebble Beach or St. Andrews is on your bucket list. With virtual golf, you can feel like you are at one of these famed courses. Whether you don’t want to miss a round on that rainy day, or you want to give your game a tune-up before your winter away and take a lesson with a pro at one of these facilities, golf simulators are a fun, social and educational experience. The data which they provide these days are phenomenal. Sophisticated 3-D cameras gather detailed information about your swing. You’ll get insight into such areas as the launch angle of your ball, the trajectory of your ball’s flight, and your swing speed. Armed with this information, you can head south with a game plan of what part of your swing needs work when you schedule an appointment with that local professional. If virtual golf intimidates you, or is just not of interest, why not try an audio book. During that drive south, grab an instruction tape from your local library and pick up a few tips while you are stuck in traffic with the other snowbirds. Or, what about a podcast? There are hundreds of these digital online shows fromwhich to choose. Get some golf insight and a few tips during your morning walk or while sipping your first cup of coffee. A final tip, too many swing thoughts leads to paralysis by analysis, so always remember to focus on just one tip at a time when you are on the course. Leave the rest of these tips, swing thoughts and other questions on the range, in the car, or written down to ask your instructor at your next lesson. Make this the winter during which you set some goals to improve your game. By making the investment in your golf swing, more enjoyment will follow and you will take a few more mysteries out of this game. CSANews | WINTER 2019 | 51
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