Saturday, November 7, 2009
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Honda must be a lucky charm for Tadd Fujikawa. This past March, in The Honda Classic at PGA National Resort and Spa, Fujikawa made the cut. It’s the first cut made by Fujikawa outside of Hawaii since turning pro. He took home over 12 thousand dollars for his T 52. After two steady 1-over-par 71, he caught a 73 but turned it all around on Sunday shooting a 69.
| Audio Clip (.mp3) |
| Click here to listen to Tadd Fujikawa talk about his "The Honda Classic" experience |
CONFIDENCE BREEDS SUCCESS
Tadd Fujikawa easily made the cut at the Puerto Rico Open presented by Banco Popular the following Saturday. Shooting a 70 followed by a 68, Fujikawa went into weekend play tied for 12th.
Fujikawa always said it would be nice to be able to get into a rhythm, to be able to follow a good experience on the Tour, with another week to keep the momentum, to follow up on the good things he felt the week before. Sometimes relief gets in the way and maybe that’s what happened after he made that second cut in a row. Or maybe it was just golf. A rough bounce here, a tight lie there, or those putts that just won’t go in. That’s when the 75 reared its head.
His third round 75 hurt. He finished Saturday, March 14, tied for 37th.
Fujikawa pulled it together on Sunday shooting a 2-under-72 and finished the Puerto Rico Open tied for 31st. That gave him a $19,850 paycheck. Add that to the Sony Open and Honda Classic money, and he's pocketed a little over $60,000 this year. But that doesn’t mean straight income. There are a lot of expenses to be paid by the player – just room, board and travel – will wipe out your bank account in months.
"For it being my first two PGA Tour events in a while on a sponsor's exemption, on a scale of 1 to 5 I was maybe a 3 1/2," Fujikawa said of the last two weeks. "At least I made the cut, which is nice. At least I put myself in contention this week after two days.
"It's a learning experience. It's like me going to college right now. I'm really learning how I can stay focused and in a tournament. I really enjoy being out here first of all. I'm learning so much and improving, which is really nice to see."
"I hit it well (Saturday) and just putted terrible," Fujikawa said of his round of 75. "I missed two putts from three feet and in. It was not a very good day for putting. You're going to have days like that."
"What I'm trying to do now is learn from the mistakes I make and be able to control that the next time I go out. Hopefully, I'll improve and do better. It's tough out here when you're trying to make a living and still learning, but that's what I have to do."
Fujikawa led the field with 11 bogeys after three rounds, but had just one in the final round. Fujikawa said he worked on his tempo after Friday's round, when he found his rhythm quickening in strong wind.
He played with Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin Saturday and Rocco Mediate Sunday. Both are some 30 years older and while Pavin is quiet and analytical, Mediate never shuts up. Fujikawa loved it. "He is one of the greatest people you'll ever meet," Fujikawa said. "He talks a lot, but it's good talk, not irritating. I had a lot of fun. He was a true, true champion. He didn't play well (77), but he was still supporting me. It was a lot of fun."
Fujikawa spent much of the week with Puerto Rican hero Chi Chi Rodriguez, still a member of the Champions Tour at 73. They did a clinic together and Rodriguez and wife Iwalani (from Hawai'i), followed Fujikawa every day.
"If you want to see someone who knows everybody and everybody knows him, it's him," Fujikawa said. "It's unbelievable."
Notah Begay had his own unbelievable moment in Puerto Rico.
Fujikawa’s next confirmed event is The Crowns, next month on the Japan tour.
HONDA GOOD LUCK CHARM
The Honda Classic isn’t the only Honda sponsored event Tadd Fujikawa has done well in. Right after finishing the Sony Open in Hawaii in the top 20 two years ago, Fujikawa won the Pearl Open in Hawaii sponsored by Honda. But Fujikawa was still an amateur that year and Gregory Meyer took home the money.
(Today, Meyer is recovering from a back injury and didn’t play in the Pearl for the first time in years.)
Fujikawa played well in Pearl Open this year, but not good enough for the win. He finished tied for 22nd with a 67-74-71.
31ST HAWAII PEARL OPEN
It was another beautiful week for the Pearl Open in Hawaii. Some rain but not enough to alter the course terrain, as has happened in years past. Players from across the mainland and from Asia rounded out the large field of local professionals and amateurs who look forward to the Pearl Open every year. And it was one of the mainland guys who took home the big bucks.
Jesse Mueller, a 25-year-old pro from Arizona, holed out for eagles on the par 4 8th and par 4 11th holes at Pearl Country Club heading for an eight-stroke victory at the Hawaii Pearl Open golf tournament. Mueller ended up firing a 7-under par 65 for a total of 19-under par over the 54-hole competition, tying the record low for the 31-year-old tournament. This was Mueller's second time playing in the HPO, finishing tied for eighth place last year.
Second place went to Japanese pro Makoto Endo, 27, who was the first round leader after firing a blistering 64 after having his clubs stolen from his rental car. The story of how Pearl CC's David Ishii and Titleist rep Les Tamashiro helped to replace the clubs grabbed the news headlines earlier in the tournament. Endo upheld their faith in him by putting together rounds of 64-72-69--205 and sole possession of second place.
For the second year in a row, low amateur honors went to Punahou junior Bradley Shigezawa, who turned in a solid 68 final round to finish at 6-under, 210, overall.
Second place finisher Makoto Endo quickly became a crowd favorite as the story of his stolen golf clubs was picked up the media. Here he flashes his ever-present smile and Titleist logo cap (his replacement set).
The before-its-time HPO field (note: we had the opportunity to see Ryo Ishikawa before he became the first 17 year old to be the top 100 golfers in the world at the Pearl Open in Hawaii), included three female golfers from Japan. This is 19-year-old Kumiko Kaneda, one of the fastest-rising stars on the JLPGA tour.
ANOTHER LOCAL BOY SEES VICTORY
Anthony Kang lives in Arizona. Back in the early 1990’s, Kang decided to leave Hawaii and check out playing golf for a living in Asia. It was only going to be a couple of years. In fact, Kang has been toiling away, making a good living playing golf, ever since.
Kang jumped into the golf pool before Tiger Woods made it “cool”. He was following David Ishii, who started on the Japan Tour in the 1980’s. But Kang was a grinder, like so many other good professional golfers who keep on keeping on. He kept chasing his dream. Just like you and me, doing what we do best and what we love (if we’re lucky) plus taking home a paycheck. No glory but job satisfaction.
That is until February 15th, when he ended his eight-year drought by getting a birdie on the final hole to win the Maybank Malaysian Open by one stroke. Kang’s 5-under 67 gave him a four-round total of 17-under 271, putting him a shot in front of four players in the jointly sanctioned Asian Tour and European Tour event. Kang won back in 2001 at the Myanmar Open and the 1999 Philippine Open.
"It's wonderful. I've been playing in Malaysia since 1996 or 1997 so to finally win this event. I'm speechless. This feels like where I started to play golf so to win here is just beyond beautiful."
This win was special. This course, Saujana Golf and Country Club Palm Course in Kuala Lumpur, ate Kang up the first time he played it.
“I actually dreamt last night that I won the tournament, but I have those sort of dreams quite often. It feels great to have beaten a strong field here. It hasn’t quite sunk in yet, but it is an amazing feeling.”
It was a strong field. Anthony Kim was playing, but the world’s No. 11 had an opening round 78 and never really recovered to be in contention. Kim finished 10 shots behind Kang, even after his finishing 67.
SOUTH KOREANS SWEEP THE LPGA AND PGA TOURS
Y.E. Yang says he was so happy to win The Honda Classic, he wanted to “clap” hands with every person watching him at the 18th green just to thank them for being supportive.
Great article from Doug Ferguson, who writes for the Associated Press, about the importance of the PGA Tour to golfers around the world. Golf may have gone global, with the European Tour, Asian Tour, Japan Tour, etc, but regardless of where players come from or how well they do on their respective Tour, winning on the PGA Tour in the United States is still THE goal of international players.
| Audio Clip (.mp3) |
| Click here to listen to Y.E. Yang on hi The Honda Classic victory |
That same weekend, South Korea’s Jiyai Shin won the HSBC Women’s Champions for her fourth victory LPGA Tour in eight months.
The 20-year-old Shin, five strokes behind Katherine Hull at the start of the final round and four back with nine holes to play shot her second straight 6-under 66 for a two-stroke victory.
On the Champions Tour, Eduardo Romero shot a 3-under 68 to win the Toshiba Classic by one stroke over Joey Sindelar and Mark O’Meara. (O’Mearas’ good friend Tiger Woods officially announced he was playing in the Doral. But we knew that because World Golf Radio Bob Bubka told us Tiger was playing the Doral on “The Golf Club” February 28th. As you are reading this, Tiger is playing at Bay Hill and getting ready for the Masters. Whether he wins or not, it’s great watching him play.)
On the New Zealand PGA, where Daniel Chopra was playing, New Zealand’s Steve Alker won the New Zealand PGA Championship, closing with his second straight 5-under 67 for a two-stroke victory over Josh Geary and David Smail.
TIGER AND ME IN ARIZONA
Arizona.
The adopted state of Dean Wilson, Parker McLachlin, Anthony Kang, Kimberly Kim, and Chan Kim, just to name a few of Hawaii's golfers who moved to be closer to mainland competition. What's it like to leave Hawaii? I often wondered what it was like to make the transition from the islands to the desert.
There's no ocean or significant body of water in sight to soothe the soul with the pulse of the tide rolling up the sand or running through the pebbles. There is no Koolau range, blanketed in green and gentle misting clouds, to rest the eyes.
It's the desert, what I imagined to be a stark landscape, with miles of flat land, and off white in color. Blinding in the hot sun with no Banyan trees with their giant limbs for shade. Just cactus and low-lying scrubs and the unrelenting sun burning down on me.
I had absolutely no expectations when we headed to the Greater Phoenix area last month. I just didn't want to encounter any reptiles and I wasn't going to retrieve a golf ball if it left the course.
What a wonderful surprise.
Today, I am looking forward to going back.
The first stop on my "discover Arizona" journey took me to the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort and Spa. Wow.
The entire resort is designed around the ancient culture of the Pima and Maricopa Native American people. Talk about feeling right at home. Their philosophy about land ownership and the power of the elements around them made me feel like they were related to Hawaii's native people.
I can handle a horse pretty well and as soon as I saw the Koli Equestrian Center, that’s where I was headed to get a feel for this new world.
HENRY’S THROUGH-THE-FENCE
It’s beautiful.
The desert life force feels kind of like the mountain force, only more peaceful.
Cowboy Jeffrey, who has been hanging out in this area for close to 40 years, tell us “Koli” means corral in the Pima language. He also explained to us how the people who have lived here for over 23 hundred years got their “English” name.
“Pima” came from a few words the people here said when the “white folks” came through. The settlers kept asking the native people questions. The native people didn’t understand and they said so. They were saying, “We don’t know what you are saying”. “We don’t know what you’re saying,” sounded to their ears like a word longer than but starting with “Pima” to the English speakers and hence the name.
Our horses were saddled and as we were getting to know Jeffrey, and our mounts, Jeffrey gently asked how experienced we were as riders and guided us to the animal he thought best suited each of us. We mounted up and off we went, not nose to tail but side-by-side, talking and learning as we rode.
Cowboy Jeffrey took us through the desert wash, still wet from the rain, several weeks ago, through the desert sage and told us stories about the birds and other animals you’d never know were there except for the holes in the ground.
There are over a thousand wild horses still roaming the Pima and Maricopa lands. You may not see them but they are out there. We just got lucky because one of the tame mares in the “koli” was very attractive to the wild mustang stallions.
Let me introduce you to the white horse I am looking at. Meet Henry, one of the wild horses that roam the land. Henry is believed to be the father of two foals, both of which came from mares still on the inside of their corral. How he accomplished this is the question. When we returned from our ride, we did find one of the other wild mustangs inside the corral. He was upside down. His hoof was stuck in the fence. Cowboy Jeff freed him. No harm done, except maybe his pride.
Can you see the horse down next to the corral closest to the bottom edge of the photo? He jumped in where wild stallions are not intended to go. Amazing that he got in and wasn’t hurt. (Photo Rick Gray/The Golf Club
DEVIL’S CLAW
I had the pleasure of playing my first desert course at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa, the Whirlwind's Devils Claw, with a group of true gentlemen.
These guys had game. It would have taken me three strokes to their one drive. Instead of holding them up, I played from the green. It worked out really well that way. I was thrilled just to be able to watch and learn. They were racking up birdies and eagles and I was definitely out gunned.
The first thing I couldn't help but notice was their consistent pre-shot routines and their complete confidence. Their experience made me feel confident. Not ready to play with them since they were playing to a 5 or even scratch but confident to be on the course with the guys.
I can't stress this enough.
If we want to get more people into this wonderful game of golf, we need to let the less experienced and less confident ride along with their friends. There is no shame in picking up your ball so as not to slow up play for those who are simply really talented and in their rhythm.
TROON GOLF
The Whirlwind Golf Courses, Devils Claw and Cattail, are managed by Troon Golf, as are the Phoenician, the Troon North and the Kierland Golf Club in the Greater Phoenix area.
The putting surfaces on the Whirlwind courses were flawless. The ball ran true and the grass was beautifully manicured. Troon golf has switched to the tif dwarf or the tif ultra type of grass on the greens and it makes a huge difference in how the putt feels. But local knowledge is a must if you plan to play on more than one resort.
After playing the Whirlwind, we played the Phoenician. Pretty much the same grass and conditions but I couldn’t get the groove going with my putter.
Joe Passov, senior editor for Golf Magazine, gave me the low down. As long as you know where you are relative to Phoenix, that’s the way the ball is pretty much going to go. Phoenix is at the bottom of the valley with the many golf resorts surrounding it.
I’ll know next time.
RAWHIDE
You really work up an appetite playing a couple rounds of golf. Once you finish Devil's Claw, you can work out the kinks on Cattail.
But don't give in to the urge to snack at the clubhouse if it's close to dinnertime. Ya'll need to keep that appetite for Rawhide.
Rawhide is more than just a restaurant.
It's a little frontier town with lots of shops with leather goods, like a great jacket with long fringe or baskets made by the Maricopa people or something made of the best cotton available made by the Pima people.
It's a party, with live music and line dancing. And the band likes to take requests. While we were waiting for the huge trays of appetizers to come, including some rattlesnake, we were invited to join a huge group who were ready to kick up their heels. It was very cool.
The food is hearty. Besides the delicious appetizers, there is something for everyone. You can order an excellent cut of beef, or scallops or for us vegetarians, meatless lasagna. The salads are exceptional and so is the balsamic dressing. But never fear, there is good old ranch dressing to quench the need for carbs and charge up the batteries for tomorrows round of golf. Got to get your carbs in.
The beer and spirits are generous pours.
Before I go any further, don't let me forget the best part of the excursion to Rawhide.
You get there via riverboat. And after dinner, the boat glides you gently to the next stop, the casino. The boat will take you to the Wild Horse Pass Casino. Other casinos in the area include VeeQuiva and Lone Butt.
Coming home late after the boat stops? There's a shuttle to get you to the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort and Spa from the Wild Horse Pass Casino.
AJI SPA - SANCTUARY
I had one of the most memorable spa experiences in the Aji Spa at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort and Spa.
"Aji" means sanctuary in the Pima language. I couldn't describe the feel better inside the adobe like structure. The delicate sounds of a nose flute set the tone inside the thick walls. The sun was bright outside the windows but muted by the windows.
After being greeted by a host, I was shown into the women's area. Inside the changing room, where I was given my bracelet key to my locker, I was shown the complete bathing facilities. All of the toiletries including lotions and shampoo made by the native people included desert sage or creosote. It's said this plant is the oldest plant on earth. The smell was deep reminding me of a combination of sandalwood and eucalyptus but more subtle.
I was given a thick, soft, hooded robe to get comfortable in but first I was offered the whirlpool hot tub, the steam room and the sauna. Guests scheduled for a massage are encouraged to arrive at least 30 minutes early.
I realized, 5 minutes after walking through the door, that I was still moving on "hurry" mode. I had quickly changed into my robe and went to wait for the name to be called. I looked at the clock. I had 25 minutes. AHA. That's why I was shown the ladies only hot tub. (Guys have their own personal room with all the amenities.)
Instead of going into the relaxation room with the delicate tea and snacks, I retraced my steps, dropped the robe and sat - laid - in the hot tub made with a "couch" like section so the water jets went directly onto those tight tendons right below my neck.
Wow. I was melting away before they even started the Aji massage.
WESTIN KIERLAND
Imagine playing your round, heading toward a "loch" and hearing the sound of bagpipes in the distance. You can add a kilt to that picture. Yes, you can have the ultimate Scotland experience at the Westin Kierland Golf Club.
You can rent a kilt and arrange to have the bagpipes playing for you as you are playing in, with the thrill of the sound stirring your soul.
Or if you prefer something modern, rent a Segway instead of a golf cart. They’ve been specially modified to hold your golf bag with tires to speed you to your ball – as long as you keep the Segway out of the bunker and off the green. Talk about speeding up you game.
SCOTCH TASTING
On Saturday, in the Westin Kierland Library, they'll set you up with three shots - Johnny Walker Gold, Blue and Green. The mystery of blended and single malt, regions where different Scotch comes from, and the origin of the "Dram" will be revealed. Just a shot of the best Scotch with the requisite capful of water. Seriously, that’s how you are supposed to taste scotch. You’ve got to experience this.
Now take your favorite selection down to the courtyard where the bag piper is now playing for all of us and have yourself a cigar rolled for you.
Nice way to get ready for dinner in Molly Cashman's. That's the name of the restaurant we not only enjoyed a terrific four-course meal at but also had a beer tasting. A different beer served with each course, from appetizer, to salad, the main course and desert. A pilsner went with the appetizer and a dark German style with desert.
FORE-MAX
My trip to Arizona was truly one of discovery. I found another place Waikoloa’s Parker McLachlin hangs out when he’s not in Hawaii. It’s Steve Hellers’ gym, at the Westin Kierland next to the Agave Spa, the headquarters for Heller who developed the Fore-Max program.
In the 1990's, top 25 golf instructor Michael LeBauve got in touch with Steve Heller who was working as a physical therapist. That was long before it became "fashionable" to talk about the core strength, Lebauve was looking for a way to improve the physical condition of his golf students. Lebauve knew the physical condition of the person would improve their ability to get out of a difficult lie and gain tremendous distance off the tee.
When the Westin Kierland opened in, the Agave Spa became the base for Heller. LeBauve was on site with his LeBauve Golf Academy and since then the two have been working for PGA Tour, LPGA, Nationwide and top junior golfers.
The program they created is called Fore-Max. And it's for all of us. Fore-Max improves your balance, your overall fitness and your game. This is a golf specific physical fitness program but Heller is perfect for anyone who doesn't want to hurt himself or herself playing golf or just wants to stay fit, regardless of their age.
Fore-Max covers three specific fitness concerns:
1)Flexibility: One of the most important aspects of any good golf-training program. Used to increase the golfer’s upper and lower body flexibility. Increased flexibility will not only provide greater rotational abilities for the golfer, it will also aid in prevention of common injuries such as lower back pain, shoulder and neck soreness.
2)Strength and Power: The most basic need for any level of golfer Weight machines, free weights and medicine balls are combined to develop the specific muscles used in the golf swing. Body “trunk” strength as well as abdominal strength is the utmost importance to any golfer. These aspects will be targeted directly through various strength exercises.
3)Aerobic Conditioning: An often overlooked aspect of golf-specific conditioning Super High-Speed Treadmills and bikes are used to provide unique interval training that will improve the overall aerobic fitness level of the participant. Aerobic tolerance will make the golfer more resistant to fatigue on a golf course.
If you can get to the Westin Kierland Resort, you will enjoy the workout with Heller, who is really cool to work out with. He'll talk to you about exactly what you want to accomplish, what your limitations are and work out a customized program for you that doesn't require a bunch of equipment.
After a good sweat, there is nothing as sweet as the whirlpool, the eucalyptus steam room and the sauna. Or maybe you'd like full body massage and a facial. It's all waiting for you at the Agave, the Arizona Spa, just out the door from Hellers' workout room.
If you can't make it to Arizona, you can get the Fore-Max Golf Training System on DVD. It's got everything on it. Just go to WestinKierland.com.
On the DVD, there's over an hour of exercises and information in six different areas: Full
Stretch, Active Dynamic Exercise, Strength and Conditioning, Fore-Max Pool Exercises, Golf Specific Exercises, and Nutritional Guidance.
The resort also shares the property with the Kierland Golf Club and the LaBauve Golf Academy. Top Tour players who have trained with Fore-Max include Miller Barber, Ian Leggit, Ricky Barnes, Parker McLachlin, Jeff Quinney, Grace Park and Pat Hurst.
THE TIGER PART
Earlier in this newsletter, I mentioned “Tiger and me in Arizona”. That was because the same week I was in the Greater Phoenix area enjoying sun and golf, Tiger Woods got back in the saddle and teed it up for his first PGA Tour competition since undergoing surgery over 8 months ago.
| Audio Clip (.mp3) |
| Click here to listen to Tiger Woods talk about how he felt back in competitive golf |
Woods chose to start back on the path with at the Accenture Match Play in Marana, Arizona. He followed that with his decision to play in the World Golf Championship – CA at the Doral.
He was beat in his first match at the Accenture and he was fair to midlin’ in his first stroke play event at the WGC-CA.
But did you really expect him to come back and WIN his first time out?
I read this one article about Tiger being back but you’d never know it because he was so far out of the running. Funny, about the only pictures I saw were of Woods. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen so much emotion, so many different emotions, so many different expressions through body language and isn’t that part of the beauty of Woods. Smiles, grimaces, body bent at a right angle trying to see where his shot went, hung head, tip of the hat, relief at the drop of a ball, the frustration into the rough and the bump with caddie Steve Williams when one goes correct. None of it is staged. None of it is expected.
Woods embodies intention and calculation. He has every intention of winning, whether it be the event or eliminating the problem that is getting in the way of that winning.
He calculates his best options and follows through with determination most of us can’t even fathom.
PUT SONICGOLF IN YOUR – GRIP
That’s right. After talking and writing about SonicGolf for five years, and a lot of hard work, patience, determination on the part of its creator, Dr. Robert Grober, golfer and the Frederick Phineas Rose Professor of Applied Physics at Yale University, you can now buy your very own SonicGolf.
Here’s the story: Dr. Grober decided to make ten prototypes of his invention. And one of them fell right into the hands of the perfect test subject.
Fred Funk was on the driving range with Vijay Singh, who was hitting the hundreds of golf balls as is his routine. There was another golfer on the range, a friend of Dr. Robert Grober, using Grobers’ SonicGolf prototype that earned Dr. Grober Golf Magazines Innovator Award last year.
Days later, after a phone call from Singh to Grober, a prototype was in the hands of Singh. Heavy hands. You might call Singh the perfect stress test for this wonderful invention.
What is SonicGolf and how does it work?
The Sonic Golf System-1 uses accelerometers, wireless signals, and music processing chips to convert your swing motion into musical tones. Slow swings are low pitch, quiet tones. Swing faster and the pitch and volume gets higher. With each swing you hear your rhythm and tempo, backswing/downswing transition, and the timing and speed of your club head release.
Vijay Singh now credits three things with helping him get back on track to win the FedEx Cup in 2008 and the with helping him 2009 DeutscheBank: getting more physically fit, thinking positive and SonicGolf.
Here’s what Singh said during a news conference last year: "Freddie Funk introduced me to one of those gadgets in Ponte Vedra, and it's really used for rhythm. I mean, you put it on and there's no sound to it. The device goes on the back of a club, and it needs a special grip, so the device comes off and on. You can put it in different clubs as long as you have the right grip, and there's a wireless sensor that you have in your pocket and your headset kind of gets -- you hook your headset to it.
When you're swinging the club, if you keep the club still with the device in it, it doesn't make a sound. But if you actually swing it there's a rhythm to it, and it's according to your rhythm. If a fast swinger would have that, he would listen to a fast rhythm. All it does is listen to your own rhythm, and that way you can figure out the top of the backswing and the start of the backswing and the top of the backswing and obviously through the ball. It's like a symphony. It really just hums to your rhythm. The more you do it, the more consistent you get with the same humming sound, and it just helps you with your rhythm, and that's the only way I can describe it. It's the best device I've ever used. I've been using it since the U.S. Open, and I think it's one of the best training aids. When it does come out on the market for any golfer or pro, amateur or even beginners -- it's one of the best things I've ever used. It's called Sonic Golf, and you can actually go on line and type in http://www.sonicgolf.com/ and get all the information you want."
And after winning the DeutscheBank:
Okay but you’re not playing like Singh? It doesn’t matter. Dr. Grober:
“It's useful for all levels of golfers. Novices, for example, can focus on grooving a smooth, uniform swing speed; better golfers will want to ensure that their top speed occurs at impact; and Tour pros, like Vijay, can analyze the transition between their backswing and downswing by listening for a brief pause in the tone. When a respected player comes up to me and asks how quickly I can get him a system ... man, that's cool."
You can see the demo at http://www.sonicgolf.com/
What is included in the Sonic Golf System-1?
The Sonic Golf System-1 Pro Edition includes the following components:
The Sonic Golf System-1 Solo Edition includes the following components:
How is this different from other swing training aids?
No other product has ever 1) provided immediate, real-time, and continuous feedback on your own tempo, rhythm and timing, 2) used a real club – any club – for use on the range or the course, or 3) been helpful to the broadest range of golfers, from PGA Tour professionals to complete beginners. Metronome products can play a tempo, but you don’t hear your own swing, or receive any feedback. Clubs that break don’t teach proper tempo, don’t allow you to use your own clubs, and don’t allow you to see the different results of different swings. Other swing trainer products don’t allow you to actually hit balls with your own clubs.
With Sonic Golf System-1, you can hear good tempo and bad tempo in your swing. You can hear precisely if you are “casting from the top” and releasing early and you can gradually “move the sound” forward. You can hear if you are making a nice, smooth transition at the top, with the club going quiet and your body moving underneath. No other product has been able to do these things, and the results are striking.
Is it wireless?
Yes, the Sonic Golf SX-1 shaft insert communicates wirelessly to the RX-1 audio processor unit. The whole Sonic Golf System-1 runs on a single AAA battery in the shaft insert and two AA batteries in the audio processor.
How heavy is it and will it change my club’s swing weight?
The Sonic Golf System-1 shaft insert is so light and strategically placed that it is not noticeable during practice. The shaft insert weighs only a little bit more than a single AA battery and that weight is located under and behind the hands. We have tested System-1 with hundreds and hundreds of amateur and professional golfers, and the unanimous conclusion is that once you are swinging and tuning in to your swing tempo, you completely forget about the electronics.
Can I use Sonic Golf System-1 with my own clubs?
Absolutely! This is one thing that makes Sonic Golf unique. You simply re-grip your own golf club with the custom Golf Pride® Tour Velvet grip made specifically for the SX-1 transmitter insert. The grip has a removable cap so you can easily insert the SX-1 transmitter for practice and remove it and cap your grip for playing. You can install the custom grips on as many clubs as you wish and transfer the SX-1 transmitter to the club you wish to practice with.
Instruction
How do I learn how to use Sonic Golf System-1? The best way is to go see Bill Greenleaf at the Dunes at Maui Lani where he teaches and uses the SonicGolf system.
If you purchase one for yourself, it is remarkably simple and straightforward. Swing improvements are almost immediate for golfers from first-time beginners to Tour Pros. Sonic Golf has created an instructional video at http://sonicgolf.com/ that you will find on our website that provides instruction and tips for using the System-1.
Who can hear my swing? Can an instructor listen to more than one student?
Because the sound is coming through headphones, you won’t disturb anyone on the driving range. An instructor with a receiver and headphones set to your channel can listen to your swing. For practice at home or in a dedicated facility, you can easily connect the receiver/audio processor of Sonic Golf System-1 to powered speakers. System-1 has 10 channels, so multiple students at a practice facility can each have their own channel. An instructor with a receiver can move down the range, changing channels to listen to each student.
STRIPPING IT LIKE STENSON
One of the many things I learned playing in Arizona with those scratch players was to play each shot on your own time. I don’t mean wasting a bunch of time and waggling and stepping away and driving your playing partners crazy. I mean taking the time to check the wind speed and direction, if you think it’ll impact your shot. Get into your pre-shot routine with all of your shots and stick with it, no matter the outcome. You may get frustrated with your swing but your pre-shot routine gets you back into focus. So don’t hurry yourself.
You know what I mean. It happens to Tour players. I heard some golf commentator make a reference to one Champions Tour player recently who was obviously not happy with his round and he was rushing his putts by pulling his head up too soon.
So when Henrik Stensons' tee ball found the mud on the par-4 third hole, he did the only thing he thought he could do. He got comfortable. He stripped down to his underwear.
"Because of the mud, I couldn't really afford to play in any of my clothes as they would have been a real mess down the last six or so holes."
As for how he and caddie Fanny Sunesson came to the decision on how to hit the shot, the decision was all Stensons'. "It wasn't quite like a club selection discussion," he said. "She didn't say 'I think you should take your shirt off' or anything like that or I should go for the Full Monty.”
"I was only wearing two things when I hit the shot, my jocks and my golf glove, just the way God created me," he said. "After this I might have a new endorsement with PlayGirl or something."
It’s not every day we’ve got a beefcake pose in this game. Couldn’t resist.
WOODS, WIE AND KIM
Anthony Kim, who won his first two PGA Tour events last year and is ranked 11th in the world, signed a multiyear deal with the Royal Bank of Canada. Part of the deal requires Kim to play annually in the RBC Canadian Open and he’ll have RBC’s signage, including the lion logo, on his golf bag. The Nike swoosh will be on his shirts, shoes, hat gloves and golf clubs. Nike usually doesn’t allow that sort of thing. The exceptions are Tiger Woods, who has AT&T on his golf bag and Michelle Wie who has Sony on hers.
While RBC, the largest financial institution in Canada, the fourth largest in North America and the 10th largest in the world, is adding to its stable, other banks are pulling the plug.
UBS AG will stop sponsoring the Hong Kong Open golf tournament, while HSBC Holdings Plc may not renew its backing of Asia's richest women's event.
UBS, Switzerland's second-largest bank, won't renew as title sponsor in Hong Kong after November's edition, the Zurich-based company said in a statement today. HSBC, Europe's biggest bank, will decide in the next two months whether to continue backing the HSBC Champion women's tournament, held the past two years in Singapore, said Giles Morgan, head of sponsorship.
Another golf publication bites the dust. Travel + Leisure Golf is being shut down by American Express Publishing. The 11-year-old magazine’s advertising was down 13.9 percent in 2008. Last issue is March/April.
Okay. So there was a lot of information this month. And that’s why. It only comes out once a month and a lot happens in a month in the world of golf. Tiger came back to play after at least 8 months off. Plus I was on the trip to Arizona. And SonicGolf is now officially available for purchase. You’ve got all month to take it all in.
If you want to hear more about SonicGolf, or Steve Heller and Fore-Max, or 3 Trak – check out all of “The Golf Club” radio shows at http://www.radiogolfclub.com/.
In the meantime, thank you for your Mana and may you hit the sweet spot every time.
Danielle
