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I am a PGA Member Professional and I have been in this area for over seventeen years, the last twelve as a Bonita Springs resident. I pride myself on being a leader rather than a follower. I am passionate about the golf industry and always want others to enjoy the game that I love so much. It's time we introduce this game to more and maintain it for those who have played it for a lifetime.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Well it's finally happened!

The USGA and the PGA have teamed up to get a major point across to the golfing public.  Wait, better sit down for this.  Golfers should play the course from the proper set of tees relative to their abilities! Yes, it's true.  I do not lie.

The two largest bodies in this game suggest that you should determine the length you hit your average (remember the previous post) tee shot and play the golf course from a distance relative to your tee shot distance.  And guys, that means you ought to put your pride in your back pocket.  To quote an earlier blog post, you're not that good!

An honest assessment of a player's average tee shot typically results in a number as much as 15% shorter than they claim. Please don't average just the best tee shots folks.  Maybe eliminate the longest and the shortest in your next few rounds and average the remaining.  Yes, if you catch the bottom groove on the face and worm burn a drive 125 yards up the fairway, that counts!  And yes if you hit one hard and it gets knocked down by a tree, measure where the ball is, not where it ought to have been.  The tree is part of the golf course and you hit it.

We need to learn to play the game with out all the "ifs."  "If" the bunker wasn't there I would have driven it another 50 yards.  "If" the rough wasn't so deep it would have carried right through the dogleg.  Blah, blah, blah.  Folks (guys especially), your games are not even remotely consistent from shot to shot like the tour pros.  Lofty comparison to say the least but face it, that is what you are comparing yourself to.

OK, so like the pros, let's hit more wedges and shorter irons into the greens.  Once you take an HONEST assessment of your driving distance you will likely learn you are playing a course much too long for your abilities.  Play It Forward!  Please, please, please read the following.  This is a game changer and all for the good!

Bravo USGA and PGA!!!

http://www.pga.com/pga-america/pga-feature/pga-and-usga-step-new-sets-tees-in-nationwide-tee-it-forward-initiative#comment-2782

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