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19th Hole

Golf writer credits improvement in play to talking to a horse

Published

7 years ago

on

Bob Carney, long-serving golf writer, penned a piece for Golf Digest in which he confesses to have approached improving his golf game from every angle.

From training aids to sessions with Dr. Bob Rotella, Carney had tried it all. Or so he thought. He stumbled on approach that basically went something like this.

“Putt. Meet a horse. Putt again. Reflect.”

What? Carney visited Debbie Crews, who works with Arizona State University’s women’s golf team, for an equine session. Standing in a tent next to a horse corral, Carney says

“She hands me three balls and an off-brand putter that’s about 20 years old. I’m to putt along the artificial-turf carpet and make three in a row from each foot marker, progressing as far as I can in five minutes. I clear six feet without a miss, flub a couple, finish with middling results. Debbie gives me a short questionnaire and one of the questions is: “Name three descriptors of your putting.” I write, “Relaxed, thinking, old tips.”’

Then, he had to go pick a horse out the barn and spends time caring for the horse, grooming it, getting to the point where he can direct it using only his voice. Establishing a connection.

Carney returns to putt again, this time doing markedly better. He has three new descriptors for how he feels over the ball: Relaxed, focused, determined.

There’s much, much more to Carney’s story. It’s well worth a read.

Winding down the piece, he writes.

“My takeaway is that there is no talking oneself into good golf. There is only noticing when you’re fully with it, fully there, and re-creating that sense when it’s absent. A golf round is like a walk with a horse. If that sounds too Yoda-ish for you, and way too hard to accomplish, remember Crews’ words: You’ll know.”

Craziness? Not really. Here’s the thing about golf instruction: The ends justify the means. We get hung up on schools of swing theory, data, processes thrust upon us, the right way to practice, etc. But none of that really matters, does it?

The point of the game is to shoot the lowest score! And anything that genuinely helps an individual do that is worth 10,000 swing tips or a library full of Bob Rotella books.

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19th Hole

LET pro gives detailed financial breakdown of first week on tour…and the net result may shock you

Published

3 hours ago

on

Apr 26, 2024

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On Friday morning, Ladies European Tour player, Hannah Gregg, took to social media to share her weekly expenses playing on the LET.

“Expenses of my first week on Ladies European Tour: Flights: $2600 Work Visa: $350 

  • Food: $377 
  • Caddie: $0 because I have an amazing Fiancé 
  • Hotel: $0 because  @GregChalmersPGA sorted me host housing for the week!  
  • Rental Car: +0 because the Tour Tee guys GAVE me their car  
  • Gas: $165 
  • Entry Fee: $130 
  • Lounge Pass for caddie: $50 
  • Gym: $0 
  • Yardage book: $0 
  • Total expenses: $3672 

Made cut, finished 54th, total earned: $1244 Factor in 35% tax on earnings. To break even, needed to finish 24th. To make money, 21st. Guess we have our goals laid out for next event!”

When factoring in Gregg’s free housing, free caddie and free rental car, it’s evident that most LET players would have to finish well inside of the top-20 to make any money.

With ridiculous amounts of money being thrown around in professional golf these days, it’s important to remember the other side of the coin as well. There are countless professionals out there who struggle to get by on their golf salary.

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19th Hole

54-hole golf tour deemed eligible for OWGR points…but it’s not LIV

Published

1 day ago

on

Apr 25, 2024

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After a seventeen-month application process, a 54-hole golf tour was deemed eligible for OWGR points.

Unfortunately, for LIV Golf and their fans, it was the Clutch Pro Tour.

After the decision, which is effective immediately, OWGR chairman Peter Dawson issued a statement.

“This is a significant milestone for golf, and OWGR is deeply encouraged by the achievement and the continued efforts in developing the sport of golf in the United Kingdom.”

“We look forward to watching the progress of the Clutch Pro Tour as it continues to play a key role in the development of players from the region,” Dawson added.

The Clutch Pro Tour operates in the United Kingdom and features a 36-hole cut. It also has an open qualifying school.

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19th Hole

Charlie Woods attempting to qualify for spot at 2024 U.S. Open

Published

1 day ago

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Apr 25, 2024

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As first reported by Bob Harig of Sports Illustrated, Charlie Woods will be attempting to qualify for this year’s U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2.

The first stage of qualifying for this year’s tournament will be an 18-hole local event on Thursday, April 25th, in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

There will be 84 players in the field, five of which will reach the 36-hole qualifier that will take place in June.

Earlier this season, Charlie attempted to qualify for the Cognizant Classic, and struggled, shooting an 86.

If the younger Woods is able to qualify, he will tee it up in the same field as his father in a few months at one of the more historic U.S. Open venues.

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