Learning How to Golf 101
Athletes prepare, react and simply do, but rarely in the course of a contest are most encouraged to think.
That鈥檚 why there鈥檚 coaches.
That helps explain how an individual who can鈥檛 鈥渟pell cat if you spotted him the c-a鈥� can look so fluid on the field, in the arena or on the course.
(Citation, Dallas Cowboy LB Thomas 鈥淗ollywood鈥� Henderson鈥檚 view of Terry Bradshaw in 1979 before Super Bowl XIII, won by the Steelers, by the way.)
Thousands of free throws, countless seam routes and hours and hours of batting practice take thinking out of the equation.
Peyton Manning knows what he is going to do in his pre-snap read of the defense. LeBron James knows the angle of release of a jump shot from anywhere in his range (and, likely, anywhere inside the arena).
I know how to throw a baseball/softball and hit a baseball/softball, and I know how to pass, dribble and shoot a basketball. That鈥檚 not to say I鈥檓 very good at it, just that I have the ability to do so without thinking about how to do those various skills.
Golf, now that鈥檚 a completely different situation. I enjoy golfing. I imagine myself in my 鈥済olden years鈥� taking to a local course on a pleasant, sunny day and enjoying the whole experience.
The ability is in the bloodlines, apparently. I have cousins who are pretty good at golf. Gee, one cousin, Mark Mongell, is the PGA Director of Golf at Cherokee Town & Country Club near Atlanta and is currently the president of the Georgia Section, PGA of America.
Then, alas, there鈥檚 me.
The Symetra Tour had the weekend off, so Rachel Rohanna and fellow Tour professional, Ohio State University teammate and long-time friend Amy Meier (鈥淲e first met when we were nine at Lakeview in Morgantown,鈥� said Rohanna) used the free Saturday to hold a couple of clinics in Carmichaels. The first was for younger folks, and the second hour was for the over-18 crowd.
Professional golf tournaments are charity events with the proceeds generally funneled to a local hospital or charity. The tour members are expected to participate in a few pre-tournament events, including working with the young crowd.
About 10 or so young golfers gathered with Rachel working on the full swing and Amy helping the youngsters with their chipping. I鈥檓 sure the professional tour would be pleased with the enthusiasm the two had as they explained how the hour went and their approaches to working with the future golfers of America.
鈥淲e keep it simple and fun,鈥� said Rohanna, adding with a chuckle, 鈥淚t was funny. Anything they hit over 100 yards was so far.
鈥淭hey are so quiet, so shy.鈥�
鈥淵ou are writing for your audience. You coach to your demographic,鈥� Meier said of the approach to working with younger golfers.
Well, I showed up for the adult session to interview the two young ladies, and, lo-and-behold, I was the only person there. Fortunately, or is it unfortunately, I brought a few clubs along, but the main intent was to work up a story on the clinic with the youngsters.
Here鈥檚 where the thinking comes out 鈥� Man, there鈥檚 no way I process that much information shooting a lay-up or throwing baseball with Jason!
I must give credit to the young ladies, especially Rachel. They know what they鈥檙e doing. They were patient. I could tell Rachel comes from coaching stock, too.
I almost got a birdie. I shanked an iron and clacked it off some woe-be-gone steel structure. I鈥檓 sure the last thing that robin was thinking as he perched on that piece of metal was getting nailed by a golf ball.
But, I think I was starting to get it by the end of the lesson. Though on the drive home, I had a picture of a cartoon balloons floating above our heads as yet another attempt was broken down: Me 鈥� Well I got through the ball a little better this time (I suck) 鈥� Rachel 鈥� That was better (He鈥檚 not very good) 鈥� Amy .. Your swing plane was good (He鈥檚 not very good).
The two friends and competitors will make their way to Massachusetts this week for the W.B. Mason Championship in Brockton. Hopefully, they will be able to erase any thoughts of me swinging my 7-iron.