76 in FL

Yesterday I posted an away score of 76 at my home club in Michigan for the round I played at the Ritz Carlton Course on Amelia Island in Florida.  I played with very nice doctor from New York named Gary who is a neurosurgeon, (his wife is a vascular surgeon, I actually googled this on my Blackberry because I didn’t know what it was) and Gary’s 6 year old daughter Elizabeth.  Elizabeth spent the majority of the day on her ipad playing with some application matching the names of bones in the human skeleton.  She hit a few decent shots for a 6 year old but I was more impressed with her knowing the majority of the bones in the human body.  On the flight home I could only think of 12.

I’m a 9 handicap and I couldn’t wait to get home and post this score.  I texted my wife, all my buddies and my father the second I hit the fairway on 18.  “It’s going to be 74 or 75 guys!” I ended up making bogey for a 76, never did I think I was going to miss the green but I did.  To be honest had Elizabeth not been there Dr. Gary would have heard the loudest F-bomb ever when that putt lipped out for par.  Whatever, 76 is still a top 10 round of my life and everyone was going to hear about it. 

Point of this post is that I know damn well we are all thinking about those same guys at our local courses and clubs that would have burnt that score card like a receipt from the strip club.  Hiding it from even your closest friends under the fear that god forbid your precious inflated handicap drop from a 13 to 11.  If you’re that guy you should be ashamed of yourself.  You’re a disgrace to the game of golf and I hope every one of your rounds ends like Van de Velde’s 18^th at The Open in 99’. 

There is one of these guys at my club whom I can’t stand.  I said, “hey bro.  How do you manage to always shoot 4 shots below your handicap in tournaments?”  This loser looks me right in the eye and says, “Well, when I play with my wife and kids, I don’t line up putts so I shoot higher.”  Are you kidding me??!!  This is the definition of sandbagging!  This clown is either the stupidest golfer on the planet or the biggest cheater since Barry Bonds.  In any event the word got out and I occasionally see him playing with all his friends, which is by himself late on the weekends or with his wife.  Funny story, his wife changed a 7 to a 5 in the Women’s Member/Member and got caught…. Nice family.               

Golf is a true game of integrality and it’s up to us, the men and women who love this crazy game so much to make sure these people don’t ruin it.  I always say that you can tell the people I truly don’t like because I don’t talk to them (and I talk to everybody).  I don’t even acknowledge their presence.  You want to make the game better, don’t play with these losers. 

Why does Couples Average 293 off the Tee?

Exercise and golf?  Not Really.

Unless we’re carrying our own bags at a Las Vegas course in July, none of our significant others are going to buy off that golf counts as a true physical workout; I won’t even get into food at the turn and the “1” drink after the round.  Yes, I put “1” on purpose since it’s never really “1.”  Even his Excellence Mohamed Gandhi allegedly has a few.  But in all seriousness, you’ve got to stretch. 

You know how big Fred Couples is?  According to the PGA, he’s 5’11” and 185 pounds….. Oh yeah, and 51 years old.  You know what he averages of the tee?  Its 293.7.  I don’t know Mr. Couples, but I’m going to venture that he doesn’t bench press 375 and cannot squat 600.  What I will tell you is that he has a distinguished back swing that allows him to generate a ton of club head speed.  This is done by years of practice (which most of us didn’t do) and stretching (which most of us should do).  Golf stretches loosen your muscles and prepare them for a day on the course. And there's more. Golf stretches can promote a fluid, full golf swing and help prevent injury.  I know this is boring, but with a few simple changes in your pregame routine you could save a shot a side. 

·         When you bend over to tie your shoes hold that forward bend for 10 seconds.  Breathe deep and try to relax your lower back and shoulders.  Your swing is all about the torque generated within your core.

·         Get a practice weight for an iron (not the driver you steak heads!) and spend 5 minutes simply swinging the club back and forth.  This will allow you to gradually loosen up your swing and warm up the muscles used in your swing.

I could go on about doing yoga, strength training and professional trainers but let’s be honest…. If we all had time for that we would just play another round of golf.  Stop by next week when we’ll talk about using golf to increase your business and if you should ever let a potential new client win.

Play golf for the health of it.

Alex Nefouse

*Alex Nefouse is not a golf professional of any kind, he’s just a 9 handicap who plays 100+ rounds a year and loves the game.

Welcome!

You asked for it, well you got it!  Since so many of our online customers write us regularly with topics, ideas and questions, we will be launching the jplann.com blog.  Not only will we update you via a written blog, we will also be introducing a video blog!  Follow the JP LANN crew as we discuss everything golf.  Yes, we will definitely rant about our own tournament play, great shots and fascinating golf chronicles.  We enhanced our website for you!  So stop by every week for updated coupons and discounts on golf products, courses and equipment.  JP LANN has always been a world leader in golf accessories, now you can follow us actually talking true golf. 

Remember, blog almost spells golf backwards…. So it has to be cool.  Check it out!

Carl's Golfland Demo Days

Don't forget the Carl's Golfland Demo Days on March 12. Golf Pride will be there sponsored by JPL putting on 1 free swing grip per person. At the Plymouth Road Store. Good deals too.