April in Augusta: Tournament Guide

by: B. J. Hathaway, G.S.E.B, M.C.I.
Medicus Certified Instructor, The Golfing Machine Authorized Instructor
Augusta Golf Instruction


The Masters....there is no tournament and no place on earth quite like it. Welcome to Augusta, GA in April, when Spring presents Bobby Jones' masterpiece in all of its glory. For those of your lucky enough to gain admittance to those hallowed grounds here are some tips on finding your way.

Arrival

Gates open at 8:00 a.m. and close approximately 6:30 p.m. If you are an early riser, you can beat some of the traffic and join the dew sweepers. You can also get an unobstructed view of the course and pick your spot to sit if you prefer to stay in one place. If you prefer to follow a group, get a pairing sheet and track your favorite golfers from the first tee.


Parking

Lot 1 will now be available only to the media, members and players and service vehicles but the club has added more than 6,000 parking spaces along Berckman Road. From here you will need to enter by walking across the street to Gate 6A.

As a spectator

Following the guidelines set down by Bobby Jones, guests are expected to follow golf etiquette and obey all tournament rules and signs. Running, protesting, jeering and other ill-mannered activities are forbidden. You are expected to wear appropriate clothing and shoes. This is the year's first major, so don't be afraid to display your finest golf attire.


Cell phones, beepers, weapons, radios, walkie-talkies, coolers, etc. are not allowed at any time.
Cameras are only permitted during practice rounds. Bags and pockets are subject to inspection for security purposes.

There is a no autograph policy except for the parking lot side of the clubhouse.

You will find almost every convenience that you may need once inside the gates. ATM's, first aid, concessions, spectator guides and more are all provided. Don't forget sunscreen, you don't want to be miserable for the rest of the week because you spent 10 hours on the course and got burned.

Entrance

Once you enter the property just follow the paths and signs until you get to the security checkpoint. Once you get past security....paradise awaits. As you come in on the right you will see the huge Pro Shop, expect to stand in line for admittance but it's worth it. If you don't want to wait there are several other mini pro shops around the property. You can also wait until the end of the day, usually there is more than enough inventory unless you just want to get it now.

Go straight ahead for the golf course, up the hill and to the left for the practice area and club house. Take a peak at Magnolia Lane or sit on the bleachers at the driving range and watch the pro's warm up. Walk the course and enjoy a barbecue sandwich. Imagine sunshine, lush green grass perfectly manicured, flowers in bloom, a slight crosswind across the first fairway, and the unmistakable sound of impact between ball and club.....all provided for you.

Good food, a bag of tournament souvenirs, the scenery, the crowd roars..... this is the Masters...... this is golf's Nirvana.

www.augustagolfinstruction.com

For more information on tournament details visit www.masters.org

Ball Flight Flaws?

By: B. J. Hathaway, G.S.E.B, M.C.I.


No doubt most of us have read or been taught the Ball Flight Laws. These are the seemingly scientific explanations for the 9 possible variations of travel that a golf ball can make through the air. You've all heard it before when you hit a ball that started left of target and been told that shot was a "pull" and therefore a swing path problem.

The conundrum for those of us who teach and study the physics and geometry of golf is that those ball flight "laws" don't agree with the 30 plus years of study that Homer Kelley put into every aspect of the golf swing which he detailed in his book, The Golfing Machine. For many years TGM has offered an explanation for ball flight behavior based on science. The problem was, nobody wanted to listen because they thought the book was too complicated and its readers "bizarre", and because certain organizations said "these are the ball flight laws and because this is what we say, that's the end of it."

Luckily, now we can find evidence that backs up science, and times - well they are a changing. According to TrackMan data, initial ball direction is determined by two factors, club path and face angle.

"According to the "old" ball flight laws, the initial direction of the ball is 100% dictated by the club path, All the scientific people in the golf industry know that this is very wrong"

Fredrick Tuxen, inventor of TrackMan

According to TrackMan's data, which uses the most advanced technology available, the initial direction of a golf ball is 85% caused by face angle and only 15% by path. This just solidifies what TGM has been saying for years, the ball generally leaves at a 90 degree angle to the face!

Now there are other factors that affect ball flight, such as near-center contact and gear effect which influences side spin, but for most of us the important information is this:

1. Learn to control the club face: phase I of directional control. You must also learn to control the shaft and the club head, but for now let's remember that the lead hand controls the club face. How we control the club face is done by hinge action, which dictates how much the face rotates through the impact zone. Last, but never least, the lead hand must always be flat at impact, no scooping or flipping the wrists!

Any TGM or Medicus Certified instructor can help you understand how to control these three swing elements because when you do, you will control the ball.... and then you will control your game!

AGI
Improve your game

B. J. Hathaway is a Medicus Certified Instructor and Authorized Instructor of The Golfing Machine