Saturday, August 31, 2013

Golfing Highlights Column 8-23-13

The Power In A Golf Swing  

   Earlier this year we met National Long Drive Champion Brian Pavlet  and watched in awe as he wowed the audience at the Somerset New Jersey Golf  Show as he drove a golf ball through a one-half inch plywood board.
  This columnist along with golfers from the tri-state area who attend yearly this outstanding consumer golf show watched as he teed up the ball, placed the plywood board some 8 to 10 feet from the tee and launched a tee shot that took the ball all the way through the plywood.
  We captured this shot which shows the ball through the plywood and the pieces of wood chips flying in the air. 
  Is that crazy, or what?
  Brian's swing speed is 145 mph and his ball speed is 208 miles an hour, that's approximately .27 mach.......more than one-fourth the speed of sound.
  Officially the longest drive he ever hit was 462 yards and the longest unofficially drive was 520 yards to the back of a green on a par five....unfortunately is was downhill.
  Brian proudly lets golfers know what his Sunday set of golf clubs  can do, his drivers averages 350-yards, 3 mtl 310, 3 iron 255, 4 iron 240, 5 iron 225, 6 iron 210, 7 iron 195, 8 iron 185, 9 iron 175, PW 165, 52 Gap Wedge 150, 56 Sand Wedge 135, and 60 Flop Wedge 120.  Brian came to golf in a roundabout way as he spent his youth playing baseball well enough to earn a scholarship to the University of Nevada (UNR) at Reno. He arrived at UNR expecting to play catcher and outfielder. 
  That changed when his coaches discovered that Brian had one kidney instead of the usual two.  The University's athletic program considered his lack of two kidney's a potential insurance liability so they wouldn't let him bat and made him a pitcher. He threw in the 90's until he wrecked his arm ending all baseball hopes. Pavlett noted that "I was wild, anyway."
  At 22 he began to play golf and immediately amazed people with his quick hands, power and distance. It took him only three years to win the 1993 National Long Drive Championship.
  Brian has performed in over 1,200 shows worldwide and has entertained the troops in Iraq with the USO.
  His engaging personality and performance make him one of golf's premier showmen.
  I immediately went to a nearby photo shop next door and had several 8 x 10's made up and went back to the show to present Brian with one of the photos. He was amazed at how I had captured the ball going through the board and he was more than happy to sign his autograph to my picture which I now proudly hang on the wall in my office. 
  I signed a release and a contract with him so that he could use my photo in his advertising promotions.

 Ed's Outlook  

  Over $1,000 was raised for the scholarship fund at the recently held Twin Village Golf Club (TVGC) Memorial Tournament.
  TVGC annually awards scholarship funds to graduates from  the Roscoe Central School district. 
  Over $1,200 in golf certificate outings and prizes were awarded to tournament participants.
  Tournament director Chuck Husson gave special thanks to golfers, hole sponsors and to  merchants and golf courses who donated prizes and golf outings.
  Special thanks was offered to Tom and Marea Roseo of The Rockland House for another great happy hour and buffet dinner. 
  Tournament champions included in the Men's Division Tyler Schmidt and Collin Tallman, Ladies Division Jean Knickerbocker and Mary Austin, Mixed Division Becky Ackerly and Poppy, Men's Senior Division Watson George and Jim Gokie, Ladies Senior Division Sally Shea and Mary Day and Mixed Senior Division Anne Jarema and Cliff Albertson.

  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.

 Golf Tip
 By Robert Menges

  Prepare Our Mind For A Better Game
  We all have different ways of doing thing things on the golf course, which is why one technique or strategy might work for one person but not another.
  For example, some of us will visualize the shot we want to hit in our mind, because it helps us execute the shot. For others, they have to experience the shot. 
  With that said (or written in this case) it never hurts to try something new.
  So here are several "pep talks" you can create to help build your confidence for the next round.
  After each round of golf, take 60 seconds to sit quietly and replay three best shots of the round. Visualize them in slow motion and lock every detail into your memory. They'll come back to cheer you on in the future.
  Tell someone about your best shot of the day, but never talk about your worst shots. Professionals can usually remember every shot during a tlournament, but there is one shot they "just don't recall".....its their worst shot. Let the bad shots go, and never ever talk about them.
  After every shot, remember to say, "great shot" and mean it when you say it.....the results may not be exactly what you wanted, but the ball went where you hit it. So go do it again.
  Breathe before every shot or putt, remember to breathe deeply and softly. It will relax your body and allow you to focus on the task at hand.
  Make it a part of your pre-shot routine to consciously expect a great shot. As you pull the club from your bag, smile. As you look down the fairway or line up your putt, smile. As you stand over the ball, smile. Expect the best.
  Finally, but perhaps most importantly, have fun our there. Golf is a game. Yes, it can be very challenging and frustrating at times, but it is intended to be a form of enjoyment. Enjoy the day, the weather and the time with friends. Chances are, you'll enjoy the wonderful game of golf as well.
  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 or subject you would like covered, he can be reached at 845-292-0323 or via email at menges@hughes.net 

The Putting Tip
By Joe Bermel 

  Your opportunities will come for a 'green light', a realistic 1 putt attempt.
  Meanwhile, stay calm and patient, be reasonable, steady, conservative, get your solid 2 putts, and then when the time is right, the distance, the undulation manageable, you feel comfortable and most positive.
  Then you strike, like a cat on the prowl, stalking her pray while lurking in the shadows for that opportunity.
  For that opportunity that you knew was coming and you begin sinking those one putt shots. 
  Joe Bermel is available for private lessons, group, corporate, organization and golf shows-tournaments. He has two special edition DVD's, "How To Putt Well" and they are available by calling 631-589-1384, at his Web site www.ThePuttingDoctor.com or by email at joe@theputtingdoctor.com 
  
                        


                                

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