Archive for the 'Golf Tips' Category

Thanks to my old friend Kris Strauss (a VERY important man in the Scottsdale Golf Industry - but a nice guy regardless!), who also happens to be the Director of Sales & Marketing for OB Sports, our favorite Golf Course Management Company, (a VERY important position - but he still takes my calls!) for his most generous acknowledgment and support of this venue, and who has graciously offered to share with our readers some VERY nice golf instructional tips from some of the better golf instructors in Arizona - a place that is famous not only for it's magnificent courses but for it's depth of Golf Instruction.

We are fortunate in that OB Sports is headquartered in our backyard at Kierland Commons in Scottsdale (a VERY prestigious address I must say - but despite that, manages to exhibit a VERY down-to-earth management style), something that sets them apart from the others who work in that business. Their portfolio of managed golf operations includes courses all over the country and in Mexico too and even though Kris is a nice guy he still won't let me see the super secret list of new projects on the horizon. However, their courses here in Arizona include some of those on our "must play" list for people coming to Arizona for a golf vacation: Eagle Mountain Golf Club, Longbow Golf Club, The Duke At Rancho Eldorado and WeKoPa Golf Club.

I am having some fun with you here Kris but I know your ego can handle it and I have a personal stake in this operation as well because on May 3rd of 2008, a wedding will take place at Eagle Mountain Golf Club. Ms. Kimberli Nelson, Retail Mgr. for OB Sports (a VERY important position - but she still calls me "dad") will marry my wife's son, Mr. Casey Diebold. Here is the lovely couple at their engagement party All kidding aside I think Casey is a VERY lucky man!

Our Golf Tips come courtesy of OB Sports, a Golf Course Management Co. located just around the corner from me at Kierland Commons in Scottsdale, Arizona and they are a bunch of good guys. They manage several properties in Arizona and they are all outstanding golf venues; Longbow Golf Club, The Duke at Rancho Eldorado, Eagle Mountain Golf Club and WeKoPa Golf Club. Our Golf Tips come from the Pro's at Longbow and Eagle Mountain Golf Academy.

Known formerly as the Platinum Golf Academy, the Eagle Mountain Golf Academy is the premier golf school destination in Arizona. Located at Eagle Mountain Golf Club in Fountain Hills, Arizona, just a par 5 from Scottsdale, the Academy is a great place to get your game in shape. And it doesn't hurt to have a golf school situated at the #1 ranked public course in Arizona in 2006 and 2007.  Director of Instruction, Derek Nannen is widely regarded as one of the nation's top golf instructors and is dedicated to making the game more enjoyable for players of all abilities! His experiences on the PGA TOUR, Nationwide Tour combined with his extensive knowledge of the golf swing will make your private lessons or Golf School packages both educational and fun.

Derek is of the opinion that the driver is the most important club in the bag and I happen to agree with him. Drive for show and putt for dough is still true IF you manage to get on the green in regulation. However, if you start the hole with a tee shot that ends up on the wrong side of the stakes - your putter ain't gonna make you much dough.

Does the first shot on every hole set the tone for your entire round? Derek thinks so and so do I. Hit one down the middle and it gives you the confidence to follow up your next shot with the same good swing thoughts. It's when you skank it into the boonies that doubt starts to creep in - and if you can't find it or it's unplayable then you are really behind the eight ball. Unless you think scrambling on every hole is fun you best learn how to hit the driver correctly.

The Driver is the longest and lightest club in your bag but is the most difficult to hit straight. I know guys that will only use a three-metal off the tee or even an iron and that's not good - those long par 4's and 5's need all the distance you can muster. Derek says that a perfect driver set-up will likely result in a correct swing so check this out:

To set up with the big club:

Feet slightly wider than your shoulders at address with the ball positioned slightly forward, well, shoot -  Derek's the Pro, he can tell you better than I can. See his golf tip in it's entirety here - it's worth the read.