Pro’s Corner

LETS MAKE GOLF FUN AGAIN

AN OPEN LETTER TO MEMBERS AND GUESTS

Lets make golf fun again.

I would like to ask you an honest question;  “How many USGA National Championships or L.P.G.A. Or P.G.A. Tournaments did you play in last year or this year?” I bet the answer is zero. That is even true in my case and I am a PGA of America Professional.

How about a handicap. Do you have a real established golf score handicap as issued by a state golf association?

Do you know what the “Par” of a hole means. It means that is the score that an EXPERT golfer would likely get on that hole. I know that we are all trying our best, but are we really “expert” golfers?

Golf holes were designed with a specific number of shots in mind. A par 3 hole is designed so that players land their tee shots on the green in one shot and take 2 putts to make a “par”. A par 4 hole is designed so that you reach the green in 2 shots and make 2 putts for a par score.  A par 5 hole is designed so that you reach the hole in 3 shots and make 2 putts for a score of “par”.

With that in mind, then who should decide where we should start on each hole. The “traditional” standard was that men play from the middle tees, Ladies play from the Red (forward) tees and seniors play from the “senior tees”. Now comes the big question for the day. Why do we have to play from any of these tees? Are we having fun playing from the set of tees we are supposed to play?

For years I have been thinking, how much more fun would golf be if everyone had a chance to be on the green in the same amount of shots as an “expert” is expected to be.  Would more people play the game if it was fair for everyone.? By “fair”, this is what I mean. If I play hole # 1 at our course here and I hit a driver, I will have a Pitching wedge left to the green. Now I hit my P.W. EXACTLY 145 yards. That is NOT how far YOU hit your PW. So lets ay that you hit your P.W. 70 yards. Why dont you find a place to tee off from that gets you to 70 yards from the green. Then we are both hitting the same club and have the same chance to make it on the green in 2 shots and have a reasonable chance at “par” We could do this on EVERY hole. Lets say a “good” drive for you is 225 yards. NOT your BEST drive ever but your average good drive. Add 225 and 70 and you get 295 yards. On our hole #1 that is somewhere between the gold and the white tee markers. Find that spot and play from there.

Lets start making this game fun again. We are all getting older. It sure beats the alternative. Lets not beat ourselves up by playing golf from tees designed for EXPERT golfers. A senior golfer should not have to hit a driver  then 3 wood then 8 iron to reach a par 4 hole. That was not the intention of the designer.

Do you know why PGA and LPGA players score so well? It is not because of the distance they hit the ball. Its because they KNOW the distance they hit the ball. They know EXACTLY how far each club will travel in the air and how much it will roll. Spend a little time finding out EXACTLY how far your shots travel. Then find out how far your average “good” drive will travel. When you know these distances, then you can begin to have fun again.

I will tell you what club I hit on each hole on average at Hayward National. I want you to find a spot on the fairway or tee that will get you to the yardage that you will hit the same club into the green as I do.

Then we can begin to really be competitive and enjoy the game again.

Here is what on average I hit at Hayward National

Hole #1: Driver and Wedge

Hole # 2  Driver + Hybrid + Sand Wedge

Hole # 3 Pitching wedge or Gap Wedge depending on where the flag is (on top of the hill or bottom)

Hole # 4 Hybrid or driver and 7 iron

Hole # 5  Driver and 7 iron

Hole # 6    8 iron

Hole # 7   Driver and 7 iron

Hole # 8  ( a bit different ) I hit 4 iron and then another 4 iron ( Its a tricky hole)

Hole # 9  Driver + Hybrid + SW

Hole # 10  Driver and 9 iron

Hole # 11  Driver and 8 iron

Hole # 12  Driver and 9 iron

Hole # 13  P.W or Gap wedge

Hole # 14  Hybrid + 6 iron + SW

Hole # 15  Driver + Hybrid +SW

Hole # 16   ( I just want to be in the fairway so I hit) 5 iron then a wedge.

Hole # 17   8 Iron

Hole # 18  Driver and 7 iron

Find a spot to tee off from which will get the same club in your hands as I hit for my approach shots, and lets see how much fun golf can be again.  If anyone gives you any grief about “playing your own personal set of tees” have them talk to me, and I will explain the concept.

Kevin Hansen

PGA Class A Professional

PGA Of America