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| Where is the coach this week? |
A great interview today with author, Roy Palmer. His latest book, Golf Sense [Practical Tips On How To Play Golf In The Zone] was the topic of our discussion. His book covers a wide variety of mental and physical exercises designed to put you in “the zone” – a sublime state where life and sport do not seem quite so complicated.
Portsmouth, VA - Professional golfer, Clint Moody, has won professional golf tournaments, set scoring records and holds the Montana state scoring record of an amazing 13 under par 59. He has been featured across the country in national publications, talk shows, golf blogs and radio. Clint is becoming a household name in the golf social networking world. If you ask him to share his greatest accomplishments he simply responds, "Never forgetting where I came from and giving back." Currently attracting a lot of attention as a premier up and coming golf star he also has found time to support a project close and dear to his heart.
Clint Moody will be calling upon his sponsors, friends, and fans to support his latest endeavor, The Urban Outreach Center. This is a division of Sanctuary of Hope in his hometown, Portsmouth, VA. This charity is supported entirely by donations. It counsels and encourages high risk kids toward a better future. "This is my hometown. These kids are me, 25 years ago. We have to step up and make them realize dreams do come true. We are never destined to become what we are expected to be. These young folks need a breath of confidence and someone who believes in them. I am here to share a story, and hopefully motivate some to chase their dreams." he recently stated.
Is there anyone out there who does not realize the wheels have completely come off Tiger's life on and off the golf course? Add to this, the departure of his recent swing coach, Hank Haney, and it is easy to see the train wreck his life has become. Where does this once invincible golf superstar go to put his game back in order? It has been said your true personality comes out on the golf course. Tiger's game will settle down once he resolves his off course issues. Tiger's life and swing are so filled and riddled with technical overload it is no wonder he has back pain.
What about his next coach? He needs someone to guide him back to his winning ways. Someone to guide him on a new and refreshing path. He needs Eben Dennis, the golf coach who stabilized Nick Faldo's game and resurrected him from the technical overload that was suffocating his game. Eben learned the game from observing Hogan, Demaret and Burke. He is a teacher of the game with respect for the past and with an eye on the holistic approach. Vision, feel, & trust are just a few building blocks he emphasizes. He got Faldo back on track and Tiger needs Eben Dennis now. 
Join me this Wednesday at 10 am on my radio show as I welcome special guest and world renowned golf teacher and coach, Eben Dennis. Eben learned the game through the tutelage of greats such as Ben Hogan, Jimmy Demaret, and Jackie Burke and now shares his insights in his special book, "Power Feel Golf." A golf swing takes about 2 seconds, and the club goes from a dead stop up to 100 miles per hour. As Eben is fond of saying, "Do you really think you can control that?" Meet Eben Dennis here and learn how you may improve your score and start having fun again on the golf course.
1. Why do people say golf is so difficult and unnatural?
You are invited to join me this week on The Retired Coach Radio Show as I welcome golf course architect, Ken Gibson.
My radio show this week will feature former LPGA and Curtis Cup star, Mary Hafeman. She is the president and owner of Fore in One Golf Services, and is a highly regarded, accomplished player, instructor and operations specialist within the golf industry.
growing network of people interested in all facets of the game. Mary Hafeman Golf Experience provides a realm of experiences, from exceptional golf instruction, inclusive player development programs, customized travel, tournaments and outing series, to social networking opportunities for players of all levels.
My radio show this week will feature Jay Turner, owner of RedBird Sports. Their pursuit of crafting and fitting the finest custom made golf clubs for enthusiasts of all shapes, sizes and abilities remains the same and originates from this simple thought — "You didn't come off an assembly line. Why settle for clubs that do?" They are celebrating their 25th anniversary this year.
Jay and Fred Couples grew up together in the same Seattle neighborhood and relished their competitive rounds at Jefferson Park. Jay currently maintains a 2.9 handicap index. Wow, a great golfer making golf clubs. What a combination: a master craftsman with a passion for the game. Hard to beat, wouldn't you say? Discover why custom fitting is so beneficial and how your game will improve when you play with clubs made just for you. 
She started a quest last year to become a single-index handicap and hopes to reach that goal this season. If the weather ever decides to cooperate. Previously Heather was a Washington, D.C. editor for a variety of agribusiness publications and an agricultural lobbyist. So glad she escaped the muck and mire inside of the beltway and now all golf benefits from her charming and entertaining contributions.
Well, I must admit to being lax about regular additions to this blog. No excuses. Did you miss my posts? Did anyone? Actually my time away from here was spent learning how to produce, promote and deliver a weekly radio show by the same name as this blog. Audio blog maybe. Actually have produced and conducted 3 shows already and will do show #4 this Wednesday, March 24th at 10 am.
Greg D'Andrea, co-founder of Golf Stinks will be my guest. His social media site caters to average regular guy/girl golfers. You will remember Rodney Dangerfield (left photo) in Easy Money, the movie where he introduced the world to the "regular guy" look and apparel. Social media and golf. How lucky can we be? Golfstinks' job is to help you get the most fun out of this great game as you possibly can. Period. And they are about to produce a pilot for TV as well. Rodney would be proud of Greg and his team for sure.
I guess it could boil down to 2 areas: Golfers who honestly do not know the expected behaviors and golfers who know the etiquette principals and still commit these egregious faux pas just to get under your skin or make us miss a shot. There is no room for these folks in my foursome. What are some of the etiquette violations that bother you the most? Leave your answers in the comment section below.
No, this is not about Tiger or those who stray from the nest. It is about golfers who do not play by the rules. The ones who cheat. The ones who see no fault in improving their lie or score. This sort of thing irritates the hell out me.
My bite is worse than my bark. That is, when I encounter someone cheating the game of golf while playing with me. Now, do not get me wrong, there is a place for a mulligan in a friendly, no wager, no score golf outing. Just not when playing in club tournaments or even a $5 Nassau. Actually, it should never be permitted or tolerated. In a tournament or a round with a wager, I do call out someone who improves their position or score by being less than honest. Tough to do, but for the golfer who plays the game the honorable way, it is a must. If not, we enable the cheater to disregard us and the game.
Two of my favorite all time golfers are my son, Tucker (left), and my son-in-law, Billy. Both whom have broken 100 just once. They count every stroke, relish every par, respect the game, and it's legacy. No one was more excited than me, when they shared their record breaking scores. I just knew in my heart these benchmark scores were valid and helped make golf the special game it is. Milestone scores can only be celebrated by those who play the right way.
Let me spit it out right now. S-L-O-W play is the number one reason golfers go ballistic and meltdown on the course. At least, according to a discussion group I initiated and moderated on LinkedIn last fall. Hundreds of golfers worldwide opined on the reasons and remedies.
1) Slow play 2) Cheating 3) Lack of etiquette 4) Getting hit into
A sage course marshal told me the first 6 holes of every course set the tone for pace of play for the remaining 12 holes. If the course is clogged on these holes, it is going to be a very long day. Be ready to play at a good pace on your first 6 holes to keep it all moving. 
Soon after takeoff I reached for my copy of Ben Hogan's "Five Lessons" with plans to re-read it for the 5th time. Yes, the 5th time. You see, the first lesson, "The Grip" is 18 pages long and must be mastered before moving to the second lesson.
No sooner do I open the book when the passenger next to me says, "That sure is a great book." I nod and continue reading without commenting. "What do you shoot?" he asked next. "Low to mid 80's" was my reply. I am not anti-social, but I make it a practice of not engaging in small talk with strangers while flying. His next comment really caught my attention when he mentioned he "shoots par every day." The way he said it intrigued me. "You mean you have shot par or occasionally shoot par.", I replied. "No, I shoot par every time I play."
Rob now runs golf fundraisers nationwide. In fact, I have already volunteered to work at his August event in Richmond, VA. Back9Promotions is about helping others in the back 9 of life that need a mulligan. Those who need a good bounce of the ball and a sense of hope in a sometimes hopeless situation is what Back 9 Promotions is all about. Their admirable goal is to assist charitable organizations raise funds via golf to enhance the lives of others who face overpowering challenges in their lives.
Last Monday I traveled to Charlottesville, VA (some 80 miles) to take in the Maryland vs. Virginia women's basketball game. As a season ticket holder this was nothing exceptional on my part. Plus I was in need of a break from my golf social media assignments. This promised to be a close encounter with both teams sporting very young lineups. It was. UVA shot 31% from the floor and Maryland had 28 turnovers but the Terrapins still won by a single point. The night belonged to Virginia fourth year superstar, Monica Wright, who set the Virginia total scoring record and surpassed Dawn Staley's long standing milestone. Staley is now the head coach at South Carolina.
The game was on ESPN and I had the opportunity to meet and visit with two of the folks I follow on Twitter. Having lived in Connecticut for many years I naturally became a fan of the UCONN women's highly successful basketball team. The first recognizable star and ambassador of this program was Rebecca Lobo who was serving as the sideline reporter for this game as well as tweeting updates on the contest. We chatted for a few minutes after the game and I shared with her I was one of her 12,394 followers. Hey, how many of them actually met her, like me? I congratulated her on her recently announced induction into the collegiate basketball hall of fame and mentioned how much I enjoy her commentary.
Also spent some time with Carolyn Peck, ESPN analyst. As one of her 1,927 followers, I mentioned how much I enjoy her tweets, especially her trials and tribulations traveling to all her games. Peck, a former coach, led the Purdue Boilermakers to the 1999 women's national championship. 
This past Christmas I presented my classic, original green weenie to her, along with instructions on how best to use it. Ava is now the keeper of this family sports heirloom. She has the perfect make-up to manage this artifact: curiosity and spunk. After all, who really chases sea gulls at the beach besides Ava? She put it use immediately.Took it with her to her first Globetrotter's basketball game and pointed it at their opponent, the Washington Generals. She called me right after the game to let me know the Original Green Weenie was working very well. It's in her hands now. It will be just fine.
