UPDATES.....

- This has been the longest winter yet since I happily -and I really mean "happily"- arrived in Elk City three years ago. Obviously, we had not had much play, but I can almost guarantee that we'll make up for it. In fact, lest have a "Season Opening Tournament" on March 15! Yes, 2-Man Teams. Invite your best friend! 

Kristie Kerr with her tip on keeping blade square

Square face

- Brad Dalke, #1 ranked Junior in the World Rankings is a neighbor of ours: he lives just 45 minutes away in Hobart, OK. He is the son of Bill Dalke who is the football coach in Hobart and former cornerback of Oklahoma University. The family is close friends with member Kelly Smith, who has hosted Brad a few times at Elk City Golf & C.C. I hope to see him often this summer, and I hope you all have a chance to meet him and if not play with him, at least watch him play. It'll be a treat that you won't soon forget! As we speak, Brad is in South Africa representing the United

Crenshaw: Square

States in a "World Junior Tournament". We'll keep you posted on his scores (71-70 so far as of this writing and two shots off the lead).

- After returning from Australia, Anya rested for a week and went to play in the annual Volvik Championship near Los Angeles, CA. Due to rain storms and time constraint, the tournament was shortened to two rounds. Anya had 71 (one third on Saturday, and two thirds on Sunday)-72 (Monday finish), 143 for a tie for 5th place.

Phil: Square

- PUTTING!!! Recently, one of my former students "texted" me that he was having problems with his putter, and said he was getting "too technical". I know the feeling. We, older people, often joke that "the older we get, the better we used to be", which, in all ways it is actually true. I can happily say that I did have my good days, and when I did, I never thought of technique, only of the ball rolling to the hole. I have always considered putting an art... like painting, or taking a memorable photograph, there is not one "right" way to come up with good results. People get too technical because they feel that technique has to be perfect, but just think of this, what if you invented an "Iron Byron" (just like the machine used for testing clubs and balls) whose putting stroke was perfect, just like a robot.... how many tries do you think it would take this robot to make a breaking 15 footer? Good putting is all about feel, and the only fact you need to know is that the putter face has to be aiming to your target line during impact. That's it! The rest is touch and feel. I hope my young friend goes back to his former feel. In fact, I know he will. There are many styles in putting, but all good putters only have one thing in common: keeping the blade square at impact and beyond. You may not be able to see this in the pictures I attached, but you'd notice if the face was turned.

Rory: Square

Inbee: Square

- CHIPPING... Please heed this: PUT AWAY YOUR 60 DEGREE WEDGE! People say that Jack Nicklaus was not a very good "short game" player. I guess not, he won over 100 times between the PGA Tour and internationally, 18 majors and 19 seconds in majors. He must have been "terrible" with the wedge and the putter, uh? What you need to understand is that he was not a "flashy" guy who hit flop shots over bunkers or mounds, he mostly chipped, and he mostly chipped with one club and got the job done. He was of the "school" of: "I rather be good with one club than mediocre with two or three".

There is the other "school of thought" that the closer you get to the fringe, the less lofted your club should be. That means you need to practice chipping with two or three different clubs. Jack hooded or lofted the blade as necessary and made the ball roll as much as it was possible for each circumstance and I think he did pretty good. What club do you use around the green? If you use more than 52 degrees loft, you are using too much loft... and probably hitting some terrible shots!