Nemacolin Blog
Nemacolin Blog
Nemacolin Blog Nemacolin Blog
Showing posts with label Golf. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Golf. Show all posts
General, Golf, Meet Our...
Meet our NEW Director of Instruction...


Meet our NEW Director of Instruction - Brian Rogish

Meet Brian Rogish!  Our new Director of Instruction at the Nemacolin Golf Academy. Brian has dedicated his career to helping golfers play better and enjoy the game.  Recently, Brian was recognized as "One of the Best Young Teachers in America," through his nomination for the Top 40 Teachers Under the Age of 40 List. Brian’s 360° approach is practical, focusing on the goals and needs of each golfer through customized instruction.

Tell us a little about yourself?

I’m originally from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania but recently moved to Farmington, Pennsylvania from Cleveland, Ohio. I eat, sleep, and breathe the game of golf. During the times I’m not around the game, I love being outdoors, at a baseball game, fishing or spending time with friends and family and a new member, my dog, “Arnie” (yes, after Arnold Palmer).

When did you start golfing and who introduced you to the game?I got into golf a little later in life than I think most of my Professional peers did.  I started when I was 19 years old, which by comparison to the youth of today, is pretty late. I was into other sports growing up, mainly baseball and basketball.  Like many golfers, it was my father who first introduced me to the game and I was instantly addicted. I honestly never really considered the idea of a career in golf until about a month before I graduated college, but at this point I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.  It’s funny how life works itself out.

How would you classify your teaching style, and why do you think that it is best?
I would classify my teaching style as practical.  I’m very goal oriented with my students and always try to help them work within their individual goals. Every person plays the game for a different reason and wants different things from the game. My approach is to help each person that comes to see me; accomplish their goals. I incorporate various technologies, like TrackMan, to make each golfer’s lesson experience more productive.  I wouldn’t necessarily say that my style or approach is the best, it is just the method I have had the most success with helping students reach their goals. I consider myself a life-long student because I am constantly learning things from a number of great instructors I have been lucky enough to be around.
To date, what is your proudest golf accomplishment?
I think that the accomplishment I am most proud of is any time a student tells me about a career low round or a goal they have reached. I receive much more personal enjoyment from helping others enjoy the game more than I ever could from winning a tournament. I love to work with the frustrated golfer who is on the verge of abandoning the game because I know it is a chance for me to bring a lot of happiness back into that person’s life by helping them play better.

In your opinion, what is the most exciting new trend in golf instruction?
No question, it’s the evolution of technology. Technology like TrackMan has truly changed the face of golf instruction and that is only the surface. There is technology that exists now that can tell us things about a golfer’s swing that were physically impossible to see with our eyes and even video. It’s really an exciting time to be an instructor, because the technology continues to get better and better and that translates into better lessons for the student.

What is your favorite club in your bag and why?
That’s a great question. I don’t know that I actually have a favorite club. I’m not really attached to any one club in my bag, but I guess I should show a little more love for my putter considering what is has done for me in the past!

Dream golf foursome (living or dead)?
Tough to narrow that down to just 4, but I would say my parents because they taught me how to be me, and have done so much for me in my life, and then Arnold Palmer because he has arguably done more than any one person for career golf professionals. I’d just like to tell him, “Thanks.

What is your favorite candy bar?
I’m not much of candy person. I would opt more for a Nature Valley bar.

What made you want to join the Nemacolin team?
Nemacolin offers such a unique combination of a Forbes Five-Star Resort that still knows how to smile and enjoy life.  I felt that matched well with my personality and goals in life. The uniqueness of the property here is the truth to that. I don’t know of any places off the top of my head that have Forbes Five-Star lodging and dining, along with exotic animal habitats footsteps away.

You have been at Nemacolin for a few weeks now.  Any “WOW” moment?
Without a doubt the “WOW” moment happened during my first week here.  I was practicing at the Golf Academy around 8:00PM when I heard a loud rumbling. At first I didn’t pay much attention, but when I listened closer I realized it was the roaring of the lions!  It was amazing to hear in person and I realized that I am probably the only Golf Professional in America that gets to experience the roar of a lion while hitting balls on the range.

Interested in Booking a Lessons with Brian at the Nemacolin Woodlands Golf Academy? For more information or to schedule a lesson, please contact the Nemacolin Golf Department at 724.329.6111.

General, Golf
Slicing - Tip from Dennis Clark



75% of all golfers slice!  This costly shot is caused either by a poor grip, too steep of an angle of attack into the golf ball, or both.

Image courtesy of TrackMan.com

Check the position of your hands on golf club.  The “V” formed between your left thumb and left index finger should point at your left shoulder.  If it does not, move your hand to the left.  You should see at least two knuckles on your left hand from your address position-in some cases three knuckles is OK.  Also, lighten your pressure and feel the club more in your fingers than your palms.  All these things will help your slice.

If your grip is good, and you are still slicing, the cause is most certainly in your swing. When you approach the ball from too steep of an angle, you will be forced to open the clubface to compensate. (This prevents a pull and helps you avoid hitting the ball fat). You need to shallow out your attack angle.  Try hitting some golf balls on a side hill with the ball above your feet; more like a baseball swing feeling.  This arc naturally promotes a release position as you come into impact.  Your forearms can rotate and you can release the club.

You can stop slicing; even if you hook for a while, it would be better than a weak slice.  In fact, hooking the ball for a while will change your habits enough to fix that slice.

PGA Master Professional
Nemacolin Woodlands Resort

Golf
Sweater Vest Versus ( and?) Cardigan


“No, it’s a cardigan but thanks for noticing.” Ah, one of the greatest lines in cinema history. 1994, Dumb and Dumber. Completely not golf related, but still ridiculously funny to me.

I don’t know exactly where I planned on going with those first few sentences, but the gist of this blog is to help you decide the begging golf attire question… sweater vest or cardigan? Big decision, I know! We are slowly climbing down the downward spiral to cooler temperatures and have to start thinking about fall fashion on the golf course.

I’m not talking about drenching yourself in a bright orange polo with an even brighter orange pair of pants with “matching” orange shoes and an even brighter orange hat. Which, I should mention is brighter than the bright orange pants. That’s a bit much to see on TV let alone in person. Let’s be a bit more congenial towards your fellow golfers and dress a little less loud. (On the other hand, if you can pull off the Loudmouth golf pants, hey, go for it!)

To me, the big decision for this fall is sweater vest or cardigan. I am a big fan of sweater vests. Always have been and always will be. But where did this newly popular cardigan come from? I’m a fan… but please don’t tell my sweater vests that are safe and secure in my closest eagerly awaiting to be released with the cool temperatures ahead. In fact, one of those sweater vests just might have the chance to be broken out this week (high of 71 degrees in the mountains). I’m not going to lie, I have missed that extra layer! I’m perplexed though…wearing a cardigan is a brave move, at least for me. The last time I wore a cardigan was in elementary school and it was not by choice. Do I free up a hangar in my closest for a nice, new cardigan? (Maybe if I start smoking I can pull off a cardigan?)

Ah, this is more the look I am going for…a classic look, but young. At this point, it’s not sweater vest VERSUS cardigan… it is sweater vest AND cardigan. Now the big decision is, do I start accumulating the same amount of cardigans as sweater vests or stay true to what I know? I’ll figure it out as time goes on I suppose (or until my wife goes shopping for me next).

I don’t claim to be an individual with vast fashion knowledge. Heck, I wear socks with sandals and horizontal striped Polo's with vertically striped pants and I don’t think twice about it. But what I do know is that if you don’t play golf well, at least dress like you know how to play. That’s my mantra and I hold true to it ‘till the very end of each season. Then I break out my tan cords for the winter. The End.

Ryan Carmen
Golf Operations Manager
Nemacolin Woodlands Resort

General, Golf
Remembering MY Hero – The Dave Wieger Memorial Golf Event


November 2, 2007, Red Lobster in Greensburg, PA. My wife and I have just sat down at our table. My phone rings. It’s my brother. I answer, he talks. My heart drops to my feet, my face turns pale white, my wife looks at me with a questioned glare. I look back at her with a tear in my eye. My best friend from high school was killed in action in Balad, Iraq just a day earlier.

Air Force Special Agent, Staff Sgt. David A. Wieger lost his life protecting countless other soldiers and civilians on Nov. 1, 2007 in Iraq. Born and raised in North Huntingdon, PA, Dave came from a very humble, happy home… a typical Pittsburgh family; work hard at what you do and you will succeed. Dave was beyond successful. He worked his way through the ranks while in the Air Force and eventually was invited to become a Special Agent with the OSI (Office of Special Investigations). Not just anyone is invited into this elite team… only the best of the best. Dave thrived in this new position; he loved the danger of it. He aided in the capture of over 20 individuals responsible for terroristic threats/actions while in Iraq. What eventually took Dave’s life was what he tried to fight… a road side bomb otherwise known as an IED (improvised explosive device). What an ironic turn of fate…


Fast forwarding to present day, The Dave Wieger Memorial Golf Event, which is entering into its fourth year, is continuously growing. It is on the brink of becoming a nationally publicized event thanks to The Folds of Honor Foundation with which all proceeds from The DWMGE are donated to. The FHF provides post-secondary education scholarships to children of fallen or injured soldiers. This was a carefully researched foundation due to the fact that Dave loved being around children and teaching them. While in Iraq, he would visit different towns and give the kids’ crayons and books; soccer balls and other toys. It’s not all guns and grenades over there… Americans are making a difference in a positive way and that is exactly what Dave, on his own time, set out to do while in that foreign land.


This year’s event is scheduled for Saturday, May 28th at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort once again. Due to the increasing popularity of this charitable event, we have opened both Mystic Rock and The Links for participants. The 2011 event will include a presentation by Major Ed Pulido, VP of Public Relations and Veteran Affairs for Folds of Honor. Major Pulido is a former soldier who had his leg amputated after encountering a roadside bomb in Iraq – the same scenario that cost Special Agent Dave Wieger his life. Major Pulido’s two daughters are Folds of Honor scholarship recipients.


Anyone and everyone are invited to play in this event. If you are interested and are willing to join us for a fun day of golf, food and brewski’s, please visit www.ourherodave.com or the Nemacolin Events Calendar or contact me directly at 724-309-4405.



CLICK HERE
to view a video tribute!





Thank you for your time.



Ryan Carmen
Golf Operations Manager
Nemacolin Woodlands Resort

ryan.carmen@nemacolin.com
724-329-6474

Golf
Bring Back The Bunker...


Wouldn’t it be fun to see the greenside bunker really be a hazard again? The way it is now, most top level players would rather be in the banker than on the grass that surrounds it. The shot has become a fairly easy task. The sand is such good texture and so well cared for that a player simply hits a few inches behind the ball and up it goes on the green for a tap-in par! Add to that the 60-degree wedges available now, and the bunker is anything BUT a hazard! Why have bunkers at all if they are not hazards?

Professionals and top amateurs actually aim to get in bunkers when they know they can’t reach or get on a green. This drastically changes course strategy, and bunkers, once regarded as a place NOT to be, have become a safe haven; not to mention the cost of maintaining them for the individual facilities and the time it takes players to rake them.


What if we left them alone? How would golfers handle un-raked, unkempt greenside bunkers? Well I have to believe that area would again be a place to be avoided. Would tour players be firing right at hole locations tucked behind bunkers if they knew it was a mess in there? Would they wail away on a par-5 thinking, “the worst thing that happens is I’m in that bunker”any longer? I don’t think so. Might be fun to see how strategies and scores might change.


Notice I said nothing of the fairway bunker. Fairway bunkers are still enough of a hazard that they are avoided at all cost; (which is the definition of a hazard anyway). Golf course architects still use them to intimidate players on the tee, make them play AWAY from the bunker, not hit AT it! So we continue to rake and maintain those. But let’s bring a herd of buffalo in on Wednesday after the pro am, have them stampede through the greenside bunkers and don’t rake them until Monday morning when the members play again! Only kidding about the buffalo, but I am serious about golf course strategy once again being a part of tournament golf. It would be fun to watch!


Dennis Clark

PGA Master Professional
Nemacolin Woodlands Resort

Golf
2011 Membership Program Announced...


Nemacolin Woodlands Resort Golf Introduces New Membership Program for 2011


2011 Links Memberships:

  • Individual Memberships - $500
  • Family Memberships - $1,000
  • Junior Memberships - $200

    Plus, new for 2011... a Practice Facility Membership for just $100 gives you use of the Links Practice Facility, 10% discount at the Gazebo and CaddyShack Restaurants and Bag Storage.

    DOWNLOAD the 2011 Links Memberships Brochure. Join and pay before
    December 31, 2010 and receive up to $200 savings on select memberships.



    2011 Mystic Rock Memberships:

  • Individual Memberships
  • Rock Corporate Memberships
  • Boulder Corporate Memberships

    DOWNLOAD the 2011 Mystic Rock Memberships Brochure to learn more.

Golf
Winter Golf Tips


So we know it is not "officially" winter; however, with the chance of snow tonight and tomorrow we know it is coming. Our Director of Golf, PGA Professional, Dennis Clark shares golf tips for the winter season.

There are things you can do to keep your game sharp in the off-season. Short of going to Florida on a regular basis, let’s consider a few of them:

  • Stay in Shape: The best thing any of us can do is stretch and strengthen our bodies. Pilates seems to be a very popular thing on the PGA Tour these days. There are a number of golf specific stretches within that discipline.
  • Train New Habits: Hitting into a net is effective if and only if you are practicing the right way. Many golfers groove BAD habits by practicing their old, flawed swings. The off-season is a great time to train NEW habits by doing drills. Take a fall lesson and seek efficient drills from the pro.
  • Television and magazines are fun but not always helpful. Knowing which of the tips applies to YOUR swing is vital.
  • If you purchase new equipment, make sure it is fitted properly!
  • Stay warm, healthy and safe.

I’ll see you in the spring!

Dennis Clark
Director of Golf, PGA Master Professional
Nemacolin Woodlands Resort

Golf
Golf Is A Reaction Game


To most of us golf seems like a deliberate, planned exercise where we act on the ball or we initiate the motion. Unlike baseball where we react to the ball hit our way or the pitch thrown at us; or tennis where we react to the serve of the opponent, in golf it seems there is no need to REACT simply because the ball is just sitting there. You could not be more mistaken.

In golf every shot we hit, every stroke we make, is a reaction to one of two things:

  1. Either the shot you have just hit.
  2. Or the shot you usually hit!

If you slice the ball, you will instinctively aim or swing to the left. If you hook the ball, you will instinctively aim or swing to the right. What’s more, these are involuntary responses; knee jerk reactions, not at all dissimilar to ducking from something coming directly at our head!

This is the very reason you are having difficulty with your alignment. I see no end to golfers on the lesson tee who think they are aimed at the target and, in fact, are not even close. And it’s not just aiming that is the problem. If, for example, you release the club too early in your downswing, you will instinctively pull up through impact. The problem is you are not aware you’re doing this! Unless it’s observed in a golf lesson or on video, you will never know the problem or the extent of it.

What to do? First of all, take a lesson. Get a look at your swing on video. You will be amazed at what you see! The only way to properly correct these flaws is to change the ball flight that causes them. The correction for a slice is hook. If you want to change your left-aiming, left-swinging habits, you need to start drawing or even hooking the ball. Your pro will help will this, but the sooner you do it the better. You probably have years of that ugly, over-the-top move that has held you back for so long, so get started with a lesson to correct it.

Remember this: YOUR DESIRE TO HIT THE BALL AT THE TARGET WILL ALWAYS EXCEED YOUR CAPACITY TO AIM AT IT!


Dennis Clark
Director of Golf, PGA Master Professional
Nemacolin Woodlands Resort

Golf
Nemacolin Hosts 97th Pennsylvania Amateur Golf Championship




Pictured are Cory Siegfried (Champion on Left) and Chuck Dannenberg (Assoc. President on Right


This past week the Mystic Rock Golf Course at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort played host to the 97th Pennsylvania Amateur Golf Championship. Cory Siegfried, who plays out of the Philadelphia Country Club, was the champion. He posted a 54 hole score of 208 that was 8 under par for the three days. Grant Martens, from Wildwood Golf Club, placed second at 5 under and Anthony DeGol, Scotch Valley Country Club, placed third at 4 under. The event was a huge success, thanks to the great weather and the volunteers and staff of the Pennsylvania Golf Association!

Click Here for more event details, including course stats and scoring.


What is next?

The Mystic Rock golf course will play host to the 2012 Pennsylvania State Open. The State Open was last held at Mystic Rock in 2006 where Kyle Davis (A) posted a 6 under to win the championship.

Golf
Golf and Life


Golf & Life
By Dennis Clark, Director of Golf, PGA Master Professional

I have been at this wonderful game for a big part of my life and there are days I still feel as though I have no idea what I’m doing. And other days that I feel like the best player in the world. But most of the time, like everyone else, I’m somewhere in between… I know all too well my imperfections: That same old, ugly backswing that has been my “trademark” for so long is still there. So are the early release and the occasional hitch at the ball. But somehow, through all my many foibles, I keep going and I keep trying to get better. Maybe this, my 61st year of life and 45th year on the course, might just be my year…

I keep going because I love the struggle; I keep going because I love the mystery. I love to try to solve the puzzle that can’t be solved; perfect the game that can’t be perfected. Why? Because on those days and in that very moment when it all comes together, there is nothing like the feeling a golfer gets from a well-hit golf shot. The same thing that some folks see in art, golfers see in the flight of a little, white ball against the big, blue sky. It is the flight to the unknown, abounding with all the innocence of our youth and with all our hopes and dreams riding on every shot. The fascination is still there for me after all these years, and that very fascination remains unsullied millions of shots later. Lose that and I’m afraid my race is run.

But little did I know that in my quest to improve, I was learning something much more valuable. I learned that golf can be a metaphor for life itself. The very core values that have sustained me at various times throughout my life were often revealed on the golf course: respect for others, honesty, integrity, fortitude.

Bobby Jones once said, “Golf is not always fair, but it is equitable." The breaks don’t always go our way but, in the end, they do balance. It took me a good while to realize that the world was not against me, nor was every misfortune “just my luck." I learned that on the golf course.

Ever thought about the difference in golf and some other sports? Well try this: On days when we play poorly in say, baseball or football, the manager or coach simply takes us out of the game. Not so in golf: we just keep hitting our ball until it goes in the hole. Don’t give up, do the best you can on every shot. I learned that on the golf course.

We police our own game. There are times when it would be easy to improve the lie of the ball, mark down a four when we made a five, or “shorten” our putt a little. But who am I cheating really? Myself, of course. How can I ever improve at a game when mendacity is rooted deeply in my soul? Good golf demands brutal honesty, there is no substitute, there are no shortcuts. I learned that on the golf course.

We share this planet. No man is an island, and everyone has the right to be here. It is incumbent upon each one of us to respect and honor that right. The same is true for the consideration we afford others when playing golf. They have every bit as much right to my considerate actions as I do theirs. I learned that on the golf course.

So go play now and have fun. Try on every shot, be courteous, and let the breaks fall as they might. And remember this: You’re playing the greatest game ever known to mankind. You’re part of a community of kindred spirits who understand this little secret: It’s not winning, losing or shooting lower scores, but how we play the game that makes a difference. Like life, the game has its ups and downs, its peaks and valleys. And the real test of our character is not how well we handle the peaks, but how we conduct our affairs while in those valleys.

Dennis Clark
Director of Golf, PGA Master Professional
Nemacolin Woodlands Resort

Golf
Over The Top!


The oldest, most familiar expression in golf (after keep your head down) is “you came over the top." Let’s explore that prepositional phrase…

To understand what is meant by “over the top;” we need to know about swing plane. Swing plane is a cone shaped area. The perimeters of which are a line which would run through the shaft of the golf club at address and a line that would run from the golf ball through the shoulders of the player. These two lines are the upper and lower boundaries, for lack of a better term, of the golf swing. In other words, if we can stay within that that cone-shaped area, we have the best chance of hitting good golf shots. When our golf club swings under the shaft line (bottom end) we are said to be “under the plane." When we swing over the line running through the shoulders, (top line) we are said to be “over the plane,” or more commonly “over the top. ” (Golf pros love prepositional phrases).

Over the top is categorically the number one flaw in almost every amateur’s golf swing! At least 80% of the people I teach suffer this malady. It never, I repeat never, causes anything good to happen at impact. Typically golf shots are pulled, sliced, shanked and topped from that position at impact. The most one can hope for is a slice that starts well left of the target and curves weakly back in play; a major power outage!

What causes this? Well, like everything else in golf, probably a myriad of things. But here’s one you may not have considered: Golf is one of the few games in which we do not face the target. At address, we are angled 90 degrees away from our target. Think of a basketball player trying to make a basket or a bowler trying to hit pins in that position. Then the instructor has the audacity to tell you to turn your back to the target at the top of your wing. Now you are literally facing 180 degrees from your intended target. Is it any wonder your first move from the top is OUT, not down? And of course, some well intended, but often misinformed, friend says, “Hey you came over the top.”

Correction: Learn to hook the ball for a while. (The reason you come over the top is because you slice) This will begin to create a better habit whereby you swing more from inside the ball-target line and more on plane in the downswing. Try a stronger grip and freer release with the right hand rolling over the left through impact. Shortly after your golf ball starts to curve from right to left, you WILL stop coming "over the top."

I believe you have to SEE this on video to fully comprehend it, especially the extent to which you may be doing it. The real problem is this: This single error, coming over the top, causes the golfer more compensations in the downswing than any other; standing up, opening the face, releasing too early (more about that in another lesson) and losing balance are all a result of coming “over the top.”

It won’t be easy to lose this bad habit, but you can do it with a teacher who understands the problem.

Good Luck!
Dennis Clark
PGA Master Professional
Director of Golf
Nemacolin Woodlands Resort

Golf
Why can’t you fix that old, broken down swing?


I always enjoy going to the range and watching new players. They get a golf club, a bucket of balls and head to the tee. After some minutes of trying to fathom how to hold this alien object, and stand in such a way that there seems to be at least a fighting chance of reaching the ball, they are ready to hit the ball.

The first few swings are always predictable. They miss the ball, dig up turf, hit ground balls, shanks, you name it. But suddenly and without warning, they hit the ball and it goes in the air somewhere in the direction of the target! WOW, and at that very moment something very powerful happens in their sporting life... they become a golfer!

They were not golfers when they were missing the ball or hitting it on the ground, but now they have joined the fold. Now I’m not sure anyone would sponsor them on the PGA Tour at this point, but by definition of the game, they are officially golfers! Unfortunately, this is a bittersweet moment. The positive reinforcement that we all get from the golf ball behaving as it should, might be the curse of every single one of us. The new player is convinced that the series of motions they just went through HAD to be correct, because the golf ball behaved.

Motor skill learning is highly dependent on reinforcement, so the golfer repeats what were essentially a series of errors. The golfer who raises a foot above the ball in their backswing for example and drops down exactly a foot in the downswing will run into the ball... ON THAT SWING! Unfortunately, their chances of repeating that swing are poor at best. How compelling are those early efforts? Well after 30 years of teaching the game, I believe that at least some of them stay with us for the rest of our golfing life, even if we become expert players!

That is why golfers need guidance and professional instruction. The game, the actual act of hitting a golf ball is so counter intuitive that I know of few people who can teach themselves to do it well. It is the professional’s responsibility to let you know that although the result of a particular swing was successful, the process of achieving it may not have been. It is paradoxical, often confounding, and I see far too many people who give it up before they try to learn it the right way. Once the reinforcement kicks in and the old bad habits are entrenched in the swing it is difficult, if not impossible, to get rid of them completely.

Is this a doomsday forecast? Not really. The professional instructor can work with what you have and help you hit the ball better. This is what I refer to as a compensation lesson and I do them all the time. We are essentially trying to “balance your personal equation." But there is no substitute for learning the game the right way from the beginning.

Dennis Clark
PGA Master Professional
Director of Golf
Nemacolin Woodlands Resort

Golf
Golf Tip - Are you trying to smell the ball or hit it?


One of the truly great myths perpetrated about the game of golf is “keep your head down." This single tip has ruined more golf swings than any advice ever given! Not only does it wreck your swing, it hurts your neck. By the time I see people for a lesson, I’m not sure if they’re trying to smell the ball or hit it! I usually ask my students to stand up straighter because I’m worried that all the blood will rush to their head and they will faint even before the lesson begins!


The worst of all, of course, is when you top the ball all the way down the 9th hole. You stop for a hot dog at the turn, and the attendant says something like: “Hey, Mr. Clark, I saw you struggling to get the ball in the air there on 9; maybe you should try keeping your head down”! It is truly embarrassing when the hot dog vendor has to give you tips!

Keeping eye contact with the golf ball is important but don’t misinterpret that to mean “keep your head down." It ruins your posture, and limits your ability to turn your shoulders in the backswing. Keep your chin off your chest while looking at the ball during address. This will enable you to be more athletic and free up your body to pivot properly. It also helps your balance; obsessing on keeping your head down will make you “top heavy” and you will lose balance.

Have fun, relax and enjoy this wonderful game. And for good golf’s sake…KEEP YOUR HEAD UP!

Dennis Clark
PGA Master Professional
Director of Golf
Nemacolin Woodlands Resort

Nemacolin