March Newsletter

Helping you Play your Best Golf

At the Academy

March sees the launch of my Kent Golf Boys U18's Academy at Chart Hills. I'm really looking forward working with the boys to really push on with their games.

March is also the key Golf Game MOT month, to grab an overview of your game and make some key tweaks to any areas that aren't quite up to the level. This will give a great foundation to start the season from. Another option my most successful clients take up at this time of the year is a 9 Hole Playing Lesson to give a great insight into what areas of the game are functional, and any areas that need a bit of support and work.

I will be finalising my Pro-Am schedule in the next couple of weeks, so stay tuned for available spots to join me. I will also be arranging some away trips, coaching clinics and exploring the possibility of an overseas trip next winter. 

Range IQ vs Playing IQ

Are you a golfer who shows greater strengths at the range, or do you come to life on the golf course? We all know a golfer who is impressive at the range but crumbles on the course. Maybe there is a degree of this in you? Let’s look at how you could strengthen your playing IQ.

I love the driving range

If you enjoy hitting a lot of balls at the driving range, then generally there can be a belief that the greater volume of balls we hit, the better it will make us. But will it? There can also be an enjoyment factor from hitting lots of balls, as when we play golf we only get to hit once before we go to our next shot. I do believe that time and practicality become big reasons why we find ourselves at the driving range more than the course, but could we get a lot more from the driving range? 

Take your range IQ to the course

If you enjoy the volume of shots you hit at the range, then let's try taking it to the course when it's quiet. This could look like dropping a few balls in various places as you play the hole, try to give yourself more variety in shots such as; different sloping lies, shots where you may be asked to shape it, or a few different shots around the green. In this instance you are getting an increased volume, but the quality is much higher, and shows much greater specificity to what we experience when we play. At the driving range, we become very accustomed to a flat lie, but on the course we are learning to play from many different lies, and understanding their influence on the ball. This is going to allow you to grow your golfing IQ much more.

Improving your Golf IQ at the Range 

Plenty of things in life can prevent us from getting on the course such as work, family, and the weather. Practice in a certain fashion that may mimic the golf course more can help you grow your golfing IQ at the range and can also help those transfer their skills to the golf course.

Start adding more of the behaviours you would adopt and experience on the course, pick a yardage, is there any wind, go through your routine, did you choose a shot you were trying to hit? Where did you want the ball to finish relative to the target? You are now adding the amount of cognitive load you would experience on the golf course, which is allowing you to simulate the real environment more. To make this even better I would change the target frequently, but also the club from driver to iron to help simulate the sequence in which golf is also played. 

LIV Golfer gets invite to the Masters

Nieman gets an invite to the Masters! The Chilean was once a PGA Tour Member but had since left to play on the LIV Tour.  The 25-year-old played in the 2021 and 2022 Masters as a PGA Tour member, then qualified for the 2023 Masters via his world ranking, where he finished T16.

Due to the LIV tour not offering world ranking points, Neiman has slipped down to 81st in the world, well outside the top 50 needed to qualify to play in the Masters.  Neiman has shown strong intent in playing and winning majors by playing on the DP world where he won the Australian Open late in 2023 and also came 4th in the Desert Classic in January. His intent to qualify has not gone unnoticed and seems to be admired by the Augusta National board. The Chilean will be a great addition to the field and could be a dark horse to watch. Look out for My Masters picks in next month's newsletter. 

Is it new Driver time?

It's that time of the year when the new models are doing their cycle on the various marketing channels and the best in the world are showcasing them on the main stage.

Would you benefit from getting a new driver fitted this year? Has yours run out of gas or are you getting distracted by shiny objects? “Maybe this one may fix my driving issues”.

Before you change your driver, could you strike your current one from the centre more and could you learn to hit it straighter?  Learn to do this and your new driver will taste even sweeter.

3 Tips to Drive its better 

Strike Awareness – Where are you striking it from? Place some face tape or apply some foot spray to the face. Build your awareness of where you are striking it.

Strike Development – Place two tee pegs either side of the ball, just over a driver width apart and see if you can strike the ball without knocking the tee pegs over.  If you are practicing on a mat place the tee pegs upside down.

Shot shaping – The face sends it; the path curves it. If you hit it left to right your path is left of the clubface. What would it feel like to close the clubface more and swing to the right? Have a little play around with your face and path to see if you can change your ball flight.

I hope you enjoyed this month's update, as always, I appreciate your feedback. Anything you would like to see featured please get in touch and remember to keep me updated with your progress and your challenges. I'm here to support you on your journey to playing your best Golf.