In today’s Q&A I want to introduce Mr. Chuck Evans, one of the leading, if not the leading authority on The Golfing Machine, written in 1969 by Homer Kelley. As we know (in the business), Homer’s great work is the foundational blueprint for all the modern teaching styles today, and its concepts have been used by world-class teachers from David Leadbetter to Sean Foley.

So I want to help you understand more about Chuck, his philosophies, and his golf academy that you can find at www.chuckevansgolf.com. I hope you enjoy our conversation below.

Tom Stickney: How you were introduced into The Golfing Machine?

Chuck Evans: Years ago, my teaching varied by what was in that month’s golf publication. My players were getting better, but I thought I could help them reach their potential faster. I heard about another young teacher in the area that had some “interesting” views of the golf swing, so I booked a lesson with him. When I showed up for my lesson the young pro introduced himself: Ron Gring. As we progressed through the lesson he used terminology that I had never heard, but he explained as we went along.

After that initial session, he told me about a fascinating book called The Golfing Machine by Homer Kelley. When I got home I made a few calls to local bookstores — we didn’t have Google, Amazon, or any of the things we have today –- and found a place nearby that had a copy. I rushed out to get it and once home became completely enthralled with it! Now, I’m not the smartest guy in the world so in quite a few places I was stuck. I couldn’t figure out what Mr. Kelley was talking about.

After several throws across the room I decided to give Mr. Kelley a call. That was in March of 1983. Mrs. Kelley (Sally), answered the phone and told me that Homer had passed on Valentine’s Day of 1983. I was shocked she would answer the phone when I heard that! We talked for over an hour, and I asked her where the nearest authorized instructor was located. She told me Atlanta, Georgia, and his name was George Kelnhofer. I called George but he was booked 3 months out, but recommended one of the other teachers, Danny Elkins.

I got to Atlanta that weekend and spent time with Danny and then decided I should to seek out the other “top” Golfing Machine Instructors to get their understanding. I went to see Ben Doyle, Tom Tomasello, Alex Sloan and walked away more confused than ever. They ALL had a different interpretation of the book and its writings.

I thought how can this be?

They ALL had gone to the SAME classes with Mr. Kelley yet they all had different “ideas” of how to understand the book. So, I called Sally and arranged to spend time with her and go through all of the audio and writings that Homer had left behind.

TS: Why were you so drawn to the book?

CE: It made sense to me. Here was an outline, a catalog of things that a player could do and how the pieces fit together, or didn’t fit. Every chapter tells its own story. For instance, If I wanted to learn more about power I would simply go to chapter 6. Want more about how the wrists work? Go to chapter 4 and so on.

In the 4th edition there were four ball striking patterns and two putting patterns. I’m fortunate to have all the editions, including a copy signed by Mr. Kelley. After you became authorized and taught, you became the leading authority on teaching the thoughts in the book to the teachers interested in using it.

TS: How did this happen? Who did you go to when you had questions?

CE: Sally and I always stayed in touch. We talked weekly and would chat for hours! After several years, Sally called one day to ask if I would help her get the 7th and final edition out. That was 1994.

Cathy Schmidt and I were in Florida working and we looked at each other said, “What the hell, Sally needs help and Homer needs to get this final edition published!” So, we saddled up and headed to Seattle. Once we got there we found out that Sally had reached out to others as well, but no one else either had the time or inclination to give back.

We spent six months going through all of Homer’s handwritten notes, which I still have the originals, and when we finally got it ready to print, Sally couldn’t raise the money! To produce the minimum number of books the publisher wanted $25,000.

Sally appointed me the Director of Education for The Golfing Machine and even offered me the use of Homers studio, which I declined. I mean, come on, WHO could possibly fill those shoes! Anyway, my task was to hold AI classes, certifications, and “grade” the exams. During this time, Sally started talking about the possibility of one day selling the rights and company. In just a few years, and after many conversations, Danny Elkins and I finally negotiated the buyout.

Originally, I had wanted a group that included Ron Gring, myself, Danny Elkins, Martin Hall and you (Tom Stickney). For various reasons, all but Danny and myself dropped out; they just couldn’t’ make it work. I then brought in the current owner Joe Daniels so that we had an odd number for voting purposes.

When I came across something I wasn’t sure about, I would call Alex and he would provide input. But for the most part, all the answers were in Homers audio tapes and notes.

TS: Over time, how has your ideas of the book changed with the new technology that has come out?

CE: You know, there are some things that don’t quite fit. For example, the “Plane.” Science now tells us that golf isn’t planar at all. That doesn’t stop me from explaining to a player how the club head, club face, and club shaft work. Now I may talk more about the sweet spot “plane.”

There’s a lot of talk nowadays about wrist angles, alpha, beta, gamma, torques and forces. But the player certainly doesn’t need to know about those. It’s OUR job to explain things in a way that the player can understand what is or isn’t going on.

Mr. Kelley wrote that the ball will start practically at a right angle to the club face and square to the leading edge of the club face. FlightScope tells us that this is not what happens and it varies with different clubs. I think that number is up to around 85 percent of the club face, depending on the club being used. A lot of people are more than willing to call out TGM. But from my standpoint there is MORE than enough great information in there to produce tour caliber play, that is, IF someone really knows how to glean the info out of the book!

I know a lot of AI’s and former AI’s that truly do not have the understanding they need to have. Some have come up with their own “hypothesis” telling the world they have discovered something when in fact, it’s just a “rehash” of something out of TGM.

In my own education, I spend more time these days studying biomechanics. I’ve attended classes with Dr. Kwon, Phil Cheetham, Mike Duffey and read a lot of Sasho MacKenzie and Steven Nesbit. If Mr. Kelley were alive today, I know he would embrace the new technology and the study of biomechanics.

TS: Do you feel that the book or parts of the book are maybe outdated?

CE: Yes, but I truly believe that if Mr. Kelley was alive today there would be several more editions. These would be because of new findings using the latest technology. He didn’t have the things we have to day to accurately measure the club and the body.

TS: Why do players never mention their work with TGM principles other than Bryson?

CE: My belief is that they are either afraid of mentioning it, OR they simply don’t know any better. The long-time poster child for TGM was Bobby Clampett.

When he played poorly, it was TGM’s fault. Today, Bobby has his own school, “Impact Zone,” and he uses the principles that he was taught by Ben Doyle.

Players are being told that TGM doesn’t make players better. Like I said earlier, there is enough good stuff in there to produce tour caliber players. But, you need the RIGHT instructor to help wade through all of the negative bs being put out about TGM.

TS: What is the most important thing the book has taught you personally?

CE: That there is certainly a swing for everyone! So many variations and combinations, I think the number is 546 quadrillion. Also, that there are no “fundamentals” that apply to every player. Sure, we all must grip the club, but the style is variable. Just like the posture, aim, alignment, foot flairs — you name it. We all do those things, but we do them in a way that fits us. Mike Bennett and Andy Plummer have a great description for fundamentals and I think they nailed it!

TS: If you could ask Homer one question, what would it be?

CE: Why did you have to leave us so early? Your work wasn’t done! He dedicated almost 30 years to finding the “secret” to golf. Did he find it? We’ll never know, but he might have.