The average number of putts (for those of you in double digits) is 3.1 times per round and that’s a generous number. What this means is that on an average day, on an average golf course, you will take somewhere around 40 plus swings with that trusty club.

With a club that takes on 3 times the duty of any other club in the bag; it’s surprisingly lonely on driving ranges all across Canada.

As someone who works in the industry; I see it every day. The intent, while well meaning, is to improve your game by getting out and practicing. Unfortunately, 9 times out of 10, the first club pulled out of your bag is the driver. I get it. I enjoy smashing balls too and there’s nothing quite as rewarding as the sound of that driver making solid contact with a little white ball.

Now if the primal urge in you is so great that your reward comes from pounding balls with all your might – then carry on. However, if that constant groaning on the golf course with your buddies and your frustration at the missed 4th putt is grinding everyone down – maybe it’s time to consider that hitting balls with all the furor trapped inside – won’t do anything to reduce your overall handicap.

Putting is an art. The dedication it takes to understand subtle breaks, slope and the pace of your swing is and can be technically daunting. The professionals make it look easy and under the pressures put on them by tournament play and the distraction of fans, cameras and the money they’re playing for makes what they do even more remarkable. It’s not easy. You know it isn’t yet, in all your desire to take that double down to a single – you ignore what should be the closest and friendliest ally in your bag.

Now go get that putter out of your bag. Give it a hug. Get to know it again and take it on a date. It might be the single most important thing you do for your game this year.

John Landry
National Golf Academy

Everyone has one and even if they don’t – well that’s a routine unto itself. Get up, get dressed, have a bite to eat and go to work…or school or not. No two routines are alike and once we find a routine, it’s something that stays with us for life.

When it comes to our golf game however, it’s difficult to find one routine and stick with it. With the constant barrage of new training products, equipment and, philosophies on swing mechanics – the task of finding a routine can be next to impossible. Further hindering a good solid routine is this thing we call winter. No matter what our skill level; winter gets in the way. A week, a month and sometimes longer can pass before a switch goes off and we start thinking about our swing groove as we battle with the short days, the cold and the general lack of motivation brought on by that cold.

Exactly how critical is a routine when it comes to improving your game? That probably depends on what your goals are as far as what you want to achieve. There are all types of players out there: The professional, the weekend warrior, the enthusiast, the retiree and lastly – the delusional.

It goes without saying that the professional owns routine. You can’t achieve any kind of professional status in a sport without it and it’s easy to forget just how hard a professional has to work to make his or her sport look easy. Tiger Woods has one of the best examples of what a golf routine looks like and, while it would be impossible for many of us to emulate that routine since his routine is how he makes his living, it demonstrates just how critical a routine is. On the other side of the spectrum is the delusional player – this is the person that has some natural ability but shows up to the range with a bag full of clubs and hits their driver for an hour before calling it a day. This is the same player that will tell you that they’re going to turn that 15 handicap into a tour card one day. Nothing wrong with dreaming, is there?

For the rest of us, it’s finding that perfect balance. How much time can you commit? Are you looking for consistency? Longer ball flight? There are a lot of considerations and ultimately, improvement will come when you know what it is you want to achieve. Then it’s just a simple matter of setting a goal and working with your local professionals to reach that goal.

If you’re an intermediate or advanced golfer, some private lessons can get you back on track in a hurry and your professional can help build a routine that will get you one step closer to your goal. If you’re a beginner – you’ll probably want to consider group lessons where you can get a good foundation for your golf swing in a fun, social setting. And here’s the really important key no matter what your skill level – have fun!

The National Golf Academy has some of the top teaching professionals in Canada at your disposal. Contact us today to find out how we can take your game to the next level. If you’re ready to get started – we’re here to help.

If you’re a novice or intermediate you’ll want to have some fun on the weekends – check out couples night on Saturdays from 7 until close. A resident professional will be on hand to give free instruction and the cost is $40.00 per couple with unlimited balls all night long. Space is limited so contact us and reserve your spot today!

Many Canadians are purchasing winter vacation homes in Phoenix, Arizona and do not know a local realtor.  I want to introduce you to Don Graham who is a personal friend, member of the PGA of Alberta, and a native Canadian.  He has lived in Phoenix for over 40 years and has been involved in real estate for 30 years.  As most real estate sales are based on personal relationships and professionalism, we are looking to provide our students a contact source to meet all your real estate needs on the Phoenix market.  Do not hesitate to call myself or Don at Graham Realty (480) 308-8658 for his services or view more about him on his website at www.dongrahamproperties.com.

Thank you for your consideration & Happy Holidays,

Terry Carter & Don Graham

The winter blues are as much a part of life as taxes and heating bills and unfortunately, it can force a lot of us indoors for extended periods of time. A little snow, a dip in the temperature or an impending storm will make us shut the blinds, crank up the heat and wrap ourselves in a blanket – hunkering down for a steady diet of television and comfort food.

It feels good so we do it. That’s what our mind tricks us in to believing but the real secret is that becoming a shut in during the winter months hurts us. The lack of activity can give you a false sense of security while the comfort of your warm blanket tells you that all is right with the world. That lack of activity actually compounds the problem. And, it becomes a vicious cycle as we put on a few extra pounds and beat ourselves up for being lazy.

The real damage however comes in the spring when we start thawing ourselves out and try to pick up where we left off. All that down time not only hurts the swing, it hurts the muscle groups that spent all that time taking you around your local course for the six months prior to winter. Anyone that’s gone through this knows that it becomes the one thing they dread at the opening of golf season. The mental game is gone from hibernating for 5 months and the physical game has tanked, making every shot feel like an exercise in masochism. The next month has you cursing your swing, the game and ultimately your desire to continue on – pondering ideas of taking up shuffle board or lawn bowling instead.

It doesn’t have to be like that. The commitment over the winter months is probably less than you think. Two or three days a week at the range can not only keep that swing going and ready for spring, the benefits will benefit your mental health as well. Exercise 30 minutes a day is proven to help beat off those blues and, the best part is that you’ll be less inclined to snack on those bad, high salt, high fat comfort foods. There is no substitute for sunshine and fresh air but when those aren’t available, a good routine of physical activity can keep those brain cells firing on all cylinders.

And hitting balls doesn’t have to be a chore. There’s a variety of different practice and training aids that can make your commitment to the sport you love – fun in the winter months. Drop down to your local indoor facility and talk to a pro today. Find out what programs will keep you active over the winter and be best suited to your game. I promise you this; you’ll find a few extra strokes you didn’t know were in your bag this coming summer.

National Golf Academy
John Landry