What can you learn from Ricky Fowler?

Friday, 28 September 2018

So Tiger is officially back after winning the season ending Tour Championship, who would have thought that this was possible a year ago? The debates in the press and on social media about it being the greatest comeback in sports history will continue and I am sure you all have your own views.

From my point of view, this event with only 30 players (all be it the top 30) is quite a way off from a Major Championship and while he did play absolutely beautiful golf we shouldn’t buy into the hyperbole yet.

What was disappointing was the way McIroy played on the last day, hopefully he will be highly motivated to prove this wasn’t his best at the Ryder Cup this weekend.

We had the pleasure of hosting Access Medical for their company clinic. For most of their staff this was the first exposure to golf and by all accounts it was a wonderful day.

“Hi Monica, many thanks to you and your staff for the excellent service. Bobby, Sipi and “Bullet” were all very helpful in setting up, cleaning and providing coffees and lunch in a very pleasant and efficient manner. Congratulations”!

– Colin Powell

If you would like information about corporate days/ team building events at the Range, please give us a call.

A few quick points that you can learn from arguably the best putter in the world, Ricky Fowler.

No improved performance? No purchase. That’s the beauty of a driver fitting.
You’re not buying a new driver, you’re trying to buy a better tee shot performance.

We get golfers, especially those who were fitted for the correct launch DNA, playing drivers several
years old that still perform as well as the latest and greatest.
In that case, there’s improvement elsewhere we should be looking for.

There’s a Driver DNA – ball speed, launch angle, & spin rate. We need to match those when fitting you for a Driver.
How close is your Driver to your Launch DNA now? Do you have 20 metres or more of performance in the right DNA?
Come and see us. Let’s unlock your potential to thrill.

Over the first three weeks, we covered the importance of using bounce correctly.
It certainly improves consistency on chip and pitch shots.

The final most important feature of bounce is helping you get up and down more often from the sand.

To play a splash bunker shot and get out the bunker stress free you must use
Your bounce by approaching the ball with the correct technique.

You’ll often read, “Enter the sand between 1 and 2 inches behind the ball.”
It’s almost useless advice, if you don’t know how to use the bounce on your wedge to allow the
sand to drive the ball out and onto the green. This is a fundamental you should all learn.

Happy golfing!
Steve

Your pitching can be worth R2k

Thursday, 20 September 2018

A fantastic performance by the Boks

I am still, like I am sure like many of you are, trying to recover from the miracle in Wellington last weekend. What a superb effort the Boks gave amidst such a negative build-up, to beat the All Blacks in their own backyard was great to watch. It just shows the wonderful spectacle that sport can be, and that on the day in the heat of battle you never know what is going to happen.

With that in mind, I hope you all enjoy a wonderful Heritage Day Long Weekend!

2018 FedExCup

So this week all the golfing superstars get the chance to fill their coffers in the Tour Championship and the last event of theFedExCup. I am still not sold on this event, and to be honest the money on offer is just ridiculous, but that seems to be the trend in sport these days. I know one thing, no matter who wins it wont make me jump like I did at the end of last week’s rugby.

The Pitch for Cash kitty goes up to R2k!

We had a few close calls with our Pitch for Cash Competition, and one of the closest was PGA legend Hugh Inggs. In the end however no one won the cash and so next month the prize fund will go up to R2k!

There was a winner in the putting comp, young Ethan Kisten

Old friends meet again 

It was nice to see Hugh Inggs and Bob White reminiscing about the golfing days in Zimbabwe. Hugh was the Pro at Bulawayo GC in the 70’s and Bob was an amateur legend playing for Mashonaland. Bob unfortunately can’t play golf anymore due to a bad leg, but told me the other night that he has been to each of the Major Championships and several top amateur events including the Walker Cup. His only regret is not seeing the Ryder Cup live but assured me he wont be missing a moment of next week’s coverage.

So we have a new world number #1 in Justin Rose, and I must admit the Durban Born star’s consistency and excellence has justified this ranking. I still remember his finish at the Open Championship in 1998 where as an amateur he holed his second shot on the last hole to finish in 4th position. Although he seemed destined for greatness, the start of his professional career was anything but, 21 missed cuts in a row signalled a potential mental problem but he overcame this as real champions tend to do. This is a great boost to Team Europe ahead of the Ryder Cup in two weeks’ time, and I think they will need all the help they can get.

Many better players have a lower trajectory with a slight draw; and lots of run out.
While they may be consistent; the challenges of the hole, rough, trees, bunkers and water;
often get the better of them because of their longer run-out.

The extra 19 metres matter. They turn #5 iron approach shots into #7 irons.
But the 35-metre improvement in carry distance will allow the driver to be used on more holes,
turning #4 irons into #7 irons. That’s a game-changer.

There’s a Driver DNA – ball speed, launch angle, & spin rate. We need to match those when fitting you for a Driver.
How close is your Driver to your Launch DNA now? Do you have 20 metres or more of performance in the right DNA?
Come and see us. Let’s unlock your potential to thrill.

Hitting chip and pitch shots closer, more often, is easier when you’re consistently striking the ball cleanly.
Bounce is designed to make that easier to achieve.

Without bounce, if you strike the ground, slightly behind the ball, then the leading edge would dig
into the turf or sand quickly, and the ball will go nowhere.

With bounce there’s no digging. It acts as a skid plate sliding through the grass and under the ball.
The strike doesn’t have to be so precise to get a great result.

Learning how to use your bounce will increase forgiveness on chip and pitch shots.
It will also increase the range of greenside shots you can play. Your confidence improves, whatever type of lie.

Remove anxiety when playing chip and pitch shots, especially when playing off a tight lie.
By the way, less anxiety means more relaxed muscles and a better stroke.
Learn to use the forgiveness of your bounce. Eliminate those silly shots.

Claire Smit broke 90 for the first time. You can too!

Wednesday, 12 September 2018

So we have a new world number #1 in Justin Rose, and I must admit the Durban Born star’s consistency and excellence has justified this ranking. I still remember his finish at the Open Championship in 1998 where as an amateur he holed his second shot on the last hole to finish in 4th position. Although he seemed destined for greatness, the start of his professional career was anything but, 21 missed cuts in a row signalled a potential mental problem but he overcame this as real champions tend to do. This is a great boost to Team Europe ahead of the Ryder Cup in two weeks’ time, and I think they will need all the help they can get.

Please remember that this Friday we have the Pitch for Cash and Putt for Dough Comp in our monthly Friday night under lights event.

Make sure to book – call Monica’s on 031 833 0761.

– Fun pitching and putting comps
– Live music
– Happy hour from 5pm to 6pm
– Menu specials at Monica’s

It was nice to have the SHAMS with us!

On Saturday 8th September, we were honoured to be able to host the SHAMS (Saturday Huletts AM School) party. Once a year, the men have a party for their “better halves” and we were part of this celebration this year. The SHAMS have been going for about 30 years now and was started by the “silver fox” John Cook. Thanks to Keith, Cooks, Keran, Steve and Mark. Hope to see you back next year.

Claire Smit broke 90 for the first time! You can too!

Hi Steve,

I played on the The Lakes yesterday and scored 41 on the first nine and although the standards were not as high on the second nine, I scored 88 in totals – first time I have broken 90!

I’m very chuffed that all the work on the Range has finally paid off on the course. At last I know I can do it!

Thanks for all the help.

Claire Smit

We are here to help make your golf dreams come true. Contact us to book a lesson so we can get started.

If you’re playing with a driver over 5 years old, then the opportunity for us to
add huge distance is on the table. Manufacturers no longer have to compromise
between forgiveness and other performance features. The result of lower spin for instance,
can be added distance and less deviation offline. There’s a win.

Never mind the 36 extra metres, the tee shots were straighter.
Bringing down spin also reduces the amount of deviation in ball flight.

There’s a Driver DNA – ball speed, launch angle, & spin rate. We need to match those when fitting you for a Driver.
How close is your Driver to your Launch DNA now? Do you have 20 metres or more of performance in the right DNA?
Come and see us. Let’s unlock your potential to thrill.

To lower your scoring, you must be a confident greenside player.
Without using your bounce it is difficult to make consistent contact to build that confidence.
Different coaches will teach different chipping techniques to different golfers,
depending on skill level and how much time they have to perfect their technique.

A ‘classic’ approach is to take up a stance with the hands forward and the ball back in our stance,
and then make contact with the ball with the hands still ahead. This method is simple to understand,
but requires perfect contact. Do you get to practise everyday?

If you can learn how to use your bounce it becomes easier to make solid contact, even if you’re stroke is slightly off.
It’s perfect for weekend golfers who don’t have the time to practise everyday.

Using the bounce on your wedge makes chipping off all lies a lot simpler.
Are you working with your wedge design?