On Course with Rob Bernard
Back to Grass Roots
Any
golf professional will tell you how satisfying it is to work with and help a
good player achieve their goals of becoming a champion of the sport. I have been
very fortunate to work with and assist some of the best players on both coasts,
including some top US college players from the West. While it’s great to see
these athletes succeed at the top of their game, I think I get more enjoyment in
watching a new player get the ball airborne and flying straight for the first
time. In the second weekend of June my assistant Nick Peters and I hosted a
“grass roots golf clinic” at Belvedere in Charlottetown for fifty new golfers,
sponsored by the Prince Edward Island Ladies Golf Association. The two hour
clinics, focusing mostly on having fun, learning basic fundamentals, and
achieving success also covered equipment, grip, balance, and swing.. They were
very well received. The objective of the Grass Roots Golf Program is to
cultivate new players to the game, help them feel comfortable, achieve a level
of success, and retain their interest, either as a club member or a casual
weekend golfer. This is very important for the health of our sport and, while I
applaud the PEILGA’s effort to keep retention levels up, our golf professionals
have to take the responsibility to continue offering affordable beginner clinics
and programs for this growing market.
Learning to swing the golf club and
avoid the hitting motion begins with a good grip. I’m talking about the actual
grip on the club. If it is worn and slick you really don’t have a chance to
learn the swing. A new grip will run about $5.00 and it will be the best money
you’ll spend on equipment to play this game. A good grip should feel soft and
cling to your hand. It will allow you to hold the club lightly, so a natural
swinging motion can occur, and you can generate effortless power. After you have
your grips fixed, take a look at your golf glove, if you wear one. A worn or
sloppy fitting golf glove can do you more harm than good. It should fit like a
second skin and stick to your grip.
The best advice I can give you on learning to swing the golf club, instead of
hitting at the ball, is to learn to use your target hand (the one with the
glove) as the dominant hand in the grip. For the right-handed golfer, your left
hand has to be the “boss” and not let your right hand take over the golf club.
When the right hand takes over, the result is more often a hitting motion that
digs big holes in the ground, leaving the ball much to close to where it
started. After you have a golf professional set your grip properly, have the top
three fingers on your target hand (left hand for a right hand player) take a
firm grip on the club. These are the “boss fingers”. The trailing hand should
have a light pressure and is really only along for the ride. This will allow the
club head to swing and you will be able to generate more power with less effort.
Effortless power is the key to more
distance and less soreness in your hands and back, and it all starts with fresh
grips on your golf clubs, along with a dominant target side hand. Give this a
try. You’ll be amazed at how well it works. And visit your local CPGA
professional for advice on grips and a glove that fits your hand. Have a great
golf year, and keep it “on course.”
Rob Bernard is head pro at Belvedere Golf & CC,
Charlottetown, PEI
