Rich, “The Golf Doc,”
as he is called around town, has been in the golf business for 39
years and has been has been affiliated with the PGA of America during
this time. He is the owner of Indian Meadows Public Golf Course.
Rich is well known for his skill as a teacher, having been voted
a past PGA Professional Teacher of the Year by PGA professionals
in Nebraska. He has also been chosen as one of the top 10 club fitters
by Golf Shop Operations magazine..
North Platte golfers are pretty hip when it comes to change and choices
such as where to play and what to play with. And, like golfers everywhere,
we always want to try new things to sharpen our bodies and our minds.
A few books that come to mind on the subject are “Complete Conditioning
for Golf,” “Exercises for Elite Golf Performance” and
“Focused for Golf.”
There are so many things to read about the swing and the different new clubs
to make your swing better that it is mind-boggling!
This truly is the age of technology for golfers. In recent years we have
seen cavity back irons, metal woods and oversized clubs. Now we have giant
drivers and low spin rate golf balls.
There are some things to consider with the new low spin rate golf balls.
With these balls, one needs a higher launch angle to keep the ball in the
air. As a result, you need a driver that is fit to your swing to obtain
optimum results. The older style golf balls would spin a lot more, which
would keep the ball airborne longer. With the new low spin rate ball, using
the same club will cost distance rather than increase it.
The
premium low spin ball will spin less off of the driver and spin more off
of the short clubs. The non-premium ball spins less off of all clubs.
Just some new technology to consider and boggle your mind.
---------------------------------------------
Did you know that the rules of golf change from time to time? Every four
years the USGA implements changes to the rules book. The most recent version
of the rules, put into effect Jan.1, 2004, contains the most extensive set
of changes in more than 20 years. In addition to actual changes in the rules,
the entire book has been redrafted for clarity, adopting a new more modern
style of language.
Some of the changes that were implemented Jan. 1 include: • A
definition of a “tee.” Included in the definition is the fact
that a tee is now limited to a maximum length of four inches. Also, a tee
must be something that has been designed and manufactured for the purpose
of raising the ball of the ground. In other words, for those of you who
like to try to gain a few extra yards with your tee ball, you can no longer
use the old trick of teeing up you ball on top of something like a pencil.
However, you may still tee your ball up on a tuft of grass or mound of sand.
• Limits have been placed on the size and length of clubs. With the
exception of putters, a club must now be no longer than 48-inches in length.
Also, the USGA has instituted a maximum size limit of 460 cubic centimeters
(+10cc’s for measurement tolerance) on all club heads. •
Under the rules of amateur status, a person may now accept prizes (not cash)
with a maximum retail value of $750 (up from $500) without losing their
amateur status. • Restrictions against using your hand or putter
head to remove a loose impediment on your line of putt have been removed.
You may now use things like your hat or towel to remove loose impediments
on your line of putt. Has anyone ever had goose droppings on their line
of putt? Now you know the reason they switched this rule! • Prior
to this year, you were automatically penalized one stroke if you moved a
loose impediment lying within one club-length of your ball and the ball
subsequently moved – regardless of whether or not you had addressed
the ball or actually caused it to move. Under the new rules, you are only
penalized if the movement of the ball is directly attributable to the removal
of the loose impediment. Of course, you are still going to be penalized
if you cause your ball to move as the result of kicking it, stepping on
it, dropping something on it, etc.
North Platte is a great place to tee it up, so play your best and keep swinging!
NPTSummer 2004 Issue
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