Saturday, May 11, 2013

Golfing Highlights Column 5-10-13


Tigers Two Stroke Penalty

  Was it a good thing that Tiger Woods didn't win the Masters and who could it have been that called in on Tiger?
  The professionals we talked to and even some of the common golfers say that had Tiger won the controversy would never end.
  He was correctly given a two stroke penalty for an improper ball drop that he took during the second round.
  It was explained that Woods was correctly awarded a two-stoke penalty awarded for the infraction...the score card he signed was incorrect and did not reflect the two-troke penalty....the signing of an incorrect scorecard is disqualification, yet Tiger was allowed to stay in the tournament.
  Sound a little complicated because the bottom line as explained by officials is that one is normally disqualified for signing an incorrect score card.
  Did the rules committee in this instance call a mulligan on itself since they had been informed that there was a possibility that Tiger made an improper drop on the 15th hole, but didn't tell him......basically ruling that there had been no violation.
  The glitch here and what some golf professionals are saying is that if the committee had any lingering thought that the drop was a rules infraction they should have informed Tiger and he would have waited for a ruling before signing the scorecard.
  Bottom line here is that the rules committee allowed Woods to sign a scorecard without informing him that his play was still under review and might be subject to a penalty.
  The committee awarded Tiger his two-stroke penalty a day late and did not disqualify him for signing the wrong scorecard because of their error.
  Rumors were flying around everywhere as to who is might have been that called in on Tiger to report the penalty.
  These rumors included the ex-boyfriend of Tiger's current lady, Lindsey Vonn....nope wasn't him.
  Sixty-one year-old Champions Tour player David Eger was the man that called a tournament official he knew was working for the Masters to tell of the illegal drop.
  Eger has won four times in his career on the over-50 tour is reported to be a great golfer and a former tournament director who has worked for the PGA Tour and the USGA.
  According to those in the know Eger is one of the most experienced tournament officials in U.S. golf and an expert on the rules.
  What Eger did when he was watching the Masters and saw the illegal drop by Woods was to scroll through his cell phone and call Mickey Bradley, a rules official he know was working the Masters.
  This is indeed an incredible story and it was interesting to find that that a guy that knew something went wrong acted as quickly as he could to maintain and  keep up the integrity of this great game.

Ed's Outlook

  How would you like to increase the distance on your golf shots and also bring down your handicap.
  Leo "Rocky" Lee, president of Golfmasters, LLC showed us an interesting tool at the Northeast Golf Show in Somerset, NJ several months ago and described the Speedflex Pro "as a teaching tool that is easy to use but that you have to discipline yourself to swing it on a daily basis."
  Rocky noted that the Speedflex Pro gives "the golfer the ability and confidence to deliver a faster, more accurate swing each time by helping golfers with club head speed, flexibility, release, balance and weight shift."
  In pointing out the key gains you get from the Speedflex Pro Rocky noted that "club head speeds translate to shorter hits and this tool helps to train the 22 muscles involved in t he golf swing resulting in faster swing speed."
  As to flexibility Lee pointed out that "a full swing relies on flexibility and strength and out product helps you stretch muscles, increase flexibility and achieve a better swing length and club head speed."
  In the release category Lee said that the "improper club head rotation weakens the swing and decreases accuracy but with the Speedflex Pro your muscles will learn to rotate properly through the swing arc giving you squarer contact with the b all and improving accuracy."
  Better accuracy is accomplished according to Lee because poor balance changes the swing arc as it contacts the ball resulting in bad shots. This is where the Speedflex's heavier weight creates the better balance.
  A leading factor in the Speedflex Pro according to Lee is that the club distributes a better weight shift pattern in the swing for full power shots with greater distance. 
   Some very interesting information. We are attempting to use this training aid on a daily basis and for best results you must commit to this routine. Additional information and the model best suited for you can be obtained from Lee at 1-866-868-7348 or leeleol@aol.com or leo@speedflexpro.com 

 The Golf Tip
 By Robert Menges

  Preventing the Flying Right Elbow:
  The flying right elbow is one of the game's best known negative touchstones.
  It occurs in the back swing when the elbow juts out behind the player so the right arm forms the letter V or L, depending on the angle from which you view it.
  What's wrong with a flying right elbow?
  It restricts the width or arc of the back swing, for one thing. It also make it difficult to get the shaft parallel at the top of the swing with the longer clubs, a  restriction that reduces power.
  Finally, you don't want the elbow jutting out in the downswing because this also limits power and adds inaccuracy to the mix.
  So, you must drop down and in toward your right side. This connection is an extra move that must be made in less than a second of real time.
  However, trying to keep the elbow in close is too restrictive. It prevents a free-flowing overall swing motion and narrows the width of the back swing, both of which costs power.
  The right elbow can move away from the right side so long as it remains pointed down toward the ground and in a viable effective position. This will generate fluidity in the swing and allow the elbow to easily and readily return to or near the right side of the downswing.
  You do want the elbow close to the body in the downswing because it keeps the club moving from the inside.
  To put it another way and more meaningful, it prevents the club from going "over the top" and cutting the ball from outside to inside the target line at impact.
  Which is to say, with the right elbow in close to your side at impact, you are much less likely to hit a slice.
  Indeed, there is a very good chance you will get a  nice little draw on your ball.
  Robert Menges is the head golf professional at the Swan Lake Golf & Country Club, Mt. Hope Road, Swan Lake. He is available for private lessons and if you have a question he can be reached by phone at 845-292-0323 or via email at menges@hughes.net 

 The Putting Tip
 By Joe Bermel

  The miscue of golfers is that on short putts, especially, they decelerate on the forward stroke.
  Golfers need to do the exact oppoite, that is accelerate on the forward stroke.
  Short putting is from a tap up to six feet, the "holy grail" of putting.
  Paramunt to be proficient here.......your second putt on every hole is between a tap in and up to six feet.
  How many of these 18 you make or do not make will determine your score.
  Joe Bermel is available for private lessons, group, corporate, organization and golf shows/tournaments. His special edition DVD "How to Putt Well" is available by calling 631-589-1384, at his web site www.ThePuttingDoctor.com or by email at joe@theputtingdoctor.com 

     Ed Townsend is a PR consultant to the sport of golf. Ed writes and compiles the information for this column. If you have league and tournament information, shoot a hole-in-one or even shoot your age, let Ed know at 845-439-8177, email at edwardctownsend@hotmail.com or fax at 845-205-4474. View this column and all of Ed's pictures at http://bght.blogspot.com  We are also on Facebook.

                                                        




Identification of photo

Leo "Rocky" Lee, left,  from Golfmasters, LLC demonstrates the Speedflex Pro to well known Sullivan County golfer Donald Winters who now practices daily with this golf training tool. 

                                                    

                                     


        

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