Wow..... Sullivan County golfers Charlie Winters from Liberty, Rodney T. Jester from Liberty, Dean Winters from Liberty and myself witnessed one of the greatest golf shots we have ever seen at this year's North Coast Golf & Travel Show when we had the chance to meet and talk with National Long Drive Champion Brian Pavlet and watched in awe as he wowed us and the large audience at the Edison 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.
And to top this experience off I and my long time photo experience 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 wood 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
The famous Hammer Golf Outing Tournament at Sullivan County Golf & Country Club in Liberty is scheduled this year for September 15.
The four Past Friends of the Links have not yet been announced.
This great golfing event is a tradition that keeps intact the late Keith Hamlin's expressed desire to hold an outing (now called the Hammer Outing) to share the many pleasant memories of past "Friends of the Links."
The Hammer tradition declares that the four Past Friends of the Links will be playing on that beautiful course in heaven with the mystical name Valhalla Course in the land of Asgard (the highest heaven obtainable and reserved for only the most noble men and women).
Keith was a well known and highly respected contractor doing business as the Hamlin Construction Company and loved the game of golf where he achieved the nick name "Hammer" for the way he drove the ball down the fairway.
The Hammer Outing is truly fulfilling Keith's desire as described in the Lore and Traditions of the Outing.
All previous players get an invitation but if anyone wants to play they are asked to call Kelly or John. The tournament has no preset foursomes, it uses a scramble format with ABCD handicaps.
Contact information for this event is Kelly Hamlin at 845-292-3590 or John Dunnigan at 845-292-3253.
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 tournament, 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 Glenn Sonnenschein
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.
Glenn Sonnenschein is a Class A PGA Professional and is Director of Golf at the Tarry Brae and Lochmor Golf Courses. He is available for private lessons at 387 Pleasant Valley Road, South Fallsburg. If you have a question or subject you would like covered, he can be reached at 845-434-2620 of by email at glenn@tarrybrae.com
Ed Townsend is a Public Relations Consultant to the Sport of Golf and brings over 60-years of sports journalism experience writing and compiling the information for the column. If you have league or tournament information, score a hole-in-one or score your age, let Ed know at 845-439-8177, email to edwardctownsend@hotmail.com or fax to 845-205-4474. View this column and Ed's photos at http://bght.blogspot.com We are also on Facebook and Twitter.
Long Driving Champion Brian Pavlet drives a golf ball through this one-half inch plywood board. The ball can be seen coming out of the back of the board as the wood splinters fly in the air.
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