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GOLF RESOURCE GUIDE:
No Mulligans
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Some players hope a tweak in their swing will result in lower scores, while others think they can buy a better game by purchasing new equipment. Simply put, your eyes are the most vital tool in your arsenal against the golf course. They have the capability to picture each shot and are a window to the future. You encounter all kinds of elements on the course, such as trees, bunkers, rolling terrain and water hazards. When most golfers are learning to play, the focus tends to be on hitting the ball. Very little attention is paid to the role of the eyes. I remember watching Jack Nicklaus play at Augusta National in 1986. He was in the process of becoming the oldest person to win the Masters when I raced out and caught him on the 17th hole. He was about to hit a 9-iron into the green and I was mesmerized by the meticulous way he approached the shot. Nicklaus took what seemed to be an eternity and I realized he was surveying the scene with his eyes. Nicklaus checked the wind from every angle and rechecked his intermediate target to confirm his alignment. You could see him forging the image of the shot into his mind with his eyes. The next thing I know, his ball is flying at the flag and the crowd is erupting at a perfect shot. Tour players are special in that they can hit any shot imaginable. The can hit it high or low. They can curve it around obstacles or over trouble. Their eyes see the shot and their mind takes that image and allows the body to execute it. Most of the amateurs I see are less than focused on the shot in front of them. They sit in the cart talking to their friends until the last minute. The conversation continues as they head to the tee box. They don’t survey the hole, account for the wind or adjust for the terrain. Now things get interesting. The player will try to focus before pulling the trigger, but at this point it’s typically too late. A couple of half-hearted practice swings later and the shot is on its way. With this level of focus, it’s no wonder so many golfers suffer from the inability to produce consistent shots. Your eyes are an extremely powerful tool. Use them to see the shot before you play it and you’ll be amazed at their ability to re-create what you see. Jamie Mulligan is chief operating officer and a PGA professional at Long Beach’s Virginia Country Club. He has twice been recognized as Teacher of the Year by the Southern California PGA. |
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