Tip of the Month

January 2007

By John Pallot
Director of Instruction

For talented young golfers all over the world December offers more than Holiday Season excitement. It's the Junior Orange Bowl International Golf Championship, inaugurated at the Biltmore Golf Course in 1964 and hosted and played here every year since. From inception only top players were invited to participate. Nowadays competition is truly global. For the participants the future implications of playing the Jr. Orange Bowl include not only personal pride and maybe a fine trophy but college scholarships and perhaps professional careers. Imagine the surge of youthful competitive juices set in motion worldwide. It's been a full three decades since I was one of the fortunate few to play the Jr. O.B, 1975-76-77. Even after all the years I still remember the surge and recall with great pleasure wonderful memories of youthful competitions.

The way the game is played today is a far cry from when I played. Wooden drivers and balata balls have been replaced by 460 cc Titanium cannons and Urethane Elastomer covered hot balls. I vividly remember hitting a 1 iron to the par 3 8th and the par 3 12th. Now the kids are using 4 and 5 irons. Equipment and balls have made a huge impact on the game. However, the competition today is no keener than in my day. It is there in full measure. I could see it in the faces of this years field. I could see the attention to detail on the range and golf course in most competitors. I could see and feel it as these youngsters practiced short shots and the hours on the putting green. Rehearsing the perfect practice swing. The will to win. The discipline to stay composed between shots. The immersion of one's self into the game. These character building elements will always remain a part of golf.

Two winners emerged from the total field of 110 great youngsters. This year's boy winner was Shiwan Kim from Buena Park, California. His 11 under total of 273 ousted Peter Uhlein(the #1 ranked junior in the US) by one shot. Kim sunk an 8 foot birdie on the final hole to capture the title. The girls winner was Maude Aimee-LeBlanc from Quebec, Canada. Her even par total of 288 ousted Vicky Hurst. LeBlanc took the lead after the 2nd round and played steadily the final 36 holes. Her swing was picture perfect. Technique, composure, and competitiveness carried her to victory.

After reviewing the video I captured during the championship here's what struck me as good material for Tip of The Month. Good for the kids and your game too. According to my calculations 70% of the juniors swing continuously twice before their shot.Tiger, Phil, and Vijay use this too. This encourages a marvelous tempo and a swing without much thought. Perfect for amateur golfers. Most amateurs hit or throw the club at the ball. The top golfers swing the club and let the ball get in the way. The best drill to develop a swinging hit instead of a hitting swing is the Machine Gun. Tee up five balls perpendicular to the target line. Assume your athletic posture. Start swinging continuously and let your feet pick up the rhythm of the hands and arms( your heels release off the ground slightly). Hit the balls without stopping. No need to watch the flight. You just want to feel a coordinated motion and your arm swing flowing to and fro. It's this flowing motion that makes top golfers swings look effortless while transmitting a high powered kiss to the ball as it flies on its way to the target.