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Why are golf instructors like Beverly Fergusson afraid to teach driver?
Wednesday May 30, 2007 | 13:43:05 319 words, 2933 views
Despite my moral objections, I’ve taken a number of golf lessons. Which means I have the hack’s version of Phil Mickelson’s short game around the green and well … still my version of a putrid Pee Wee Herman drive. This is because golf instructors are terrified to teach any shots beyond 120 yards. They’ll tell you that the short game will transfer over onto the tee or - and this is my favorite - that 75 percent, or 85 percent or 92.1 percent (the figure changes with every instructor in this so scientific field) of the scoring is determined by pitches and putts anyways. Actually, no it’s not. Not for ordinary golfers. Hit your drive in the middle of the fairway a good distance and you have a good chance to do something. Don’t and the entire hole can quickly turn into a golf version of Planes, Trains and Automobiles, with getting there morphing into a comical dash for survival. All these supposed zero handicappers hanging an instructor’s shingle need to start realizing this. Of course, they no doubt already do. But they still will not focus on helping a golfer with his driver because they’re petrified. They know there is a great chance for failure when the teaching turns to the big dog. It’s easier to stick to short swings where the improvement can come quickly and the steady checks keep coming in. If golf instructors actually started teaching what most average golfers want them to, many more people might actually realize that most golf schooling is akin to snake oil salesmanship or chiropractic work. Over here at TravelGolf.com, I was actually getting into Beverly Fergusson’s instruction blog. Fergusson - a giant in the realm of LPGA teaching pros - actually combined humor with good tips. Or did. Then, she went into that golf teacher bailout of working on your wedge shots to fix your drives. Are there truly no golf instructors with guts out there? Bookmark/Search this post with:
Comments:
Comment from: Kiel Christianson [Member]
 · http://www.travelgolf.com/departments/authorarchives/christianson.htm
I hate to agree with you, Chris -- oh, no, that's not right. I hate to give you foot rubs; agreeing with you isn't nearly as horrible.
But I digress... Just this past weekend, my father-in-law commented how every time I hit the fairway (or just off), I carded par or better. When I didn't, the ball was GONE, baby -- through the fairway into the woods or water, or hopelessly blocked out by foliage -- and my score was gone, too. I didn't hit a lot of greens, but I can get up and down pretty consistently. By the rationale of the instructor's bail-out, I should be driving the ball straight and true. And that ain't true at all, many days. 
2007-05-30 @ 13:56
Comment from: Tim McDonald [Member]
I couldn't agree more. Hit the fairway and you have at least a chance at birdie or par.
Don't and you end up like Kiel C.
2007-05-30 @ 16:40
Comment from: Dave Marrandette [Member]
Chris, you are absolutely right - and absolutely wrong.
Most instructors hate to teach the driver. Why? Because most (read: damn near all) students want to hit the driver farther not more accurately. That virtually means the lesson is doomed before it begins. Let's face it, as Venturi once said, mosre bogies are made with the driver than any other club. But, you're wrong also. Next time your hacking little tail is in AZ, contact me. We'll work on the driver.
2007-05-31 @ 09:01
Comment from: Judge Smails [Visitor]
I have to agree. I have often said that driving is under-appreciated. We often hear platitudes such as "It's all the short game" or "You drive for show but you putt for dough," but the truth is that if you don't drive for show, you won't be putting for dough.
Don't get me wrong, the short game is extremely important; however, so is the long game. The reality is that to be a good golfer you have to possess the whole package. For instance, even the worst drivers on tour can hit the ball out there a good distance and generally keep it in play, and those who can't go the way of Seve Ballesteros. And even the worst putters on tour can still roll it well enough to two-putt most of the time and make some birdies as well, and those who can't end up like Mike Austin.
2007-06-02 @ 11:06
Comment from: Scott [Visitor]
you people don't know anything about math. 70-80% of my lost shots to par occur within 60 yards of the hole.
2007-06-12 @ 02:04 Leave a comment: |
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