Improving your game of golf is a gradual process.
First comes the lesson, then comes the practice. Both are required.
During my first lesson in mid-June with Chris Gray, senior instructor at Rehoboth Beach Country Club, he confirmed something other golf pros had told me – my hands were “funky” from the impact. The results were good when my timing was good, but when not the results were inconsistent.
Plus, my back swing was more of a back swing. I did not maintain a constant spine angle.
Thanks to Gray’s help, two changes have improved my results.
I moved my left knee forward while twisting instead of sliding it to the right. My hips twisted and stopped swaying.
Gray also put two tees in the ground a few inches apart, with the ball resting on the back one. He asked me to hit through the ball and “take out” the front tee.
For multiple turns, this was an impossible task – until it wasn’t anymore. By changing the pressure points on my right foot during the backswing and creating a steeper attack angle on the downswing, I began taking both shots while the ball shot forward in a straight and comfortable trajectory.
The next step was to incorporate these new movements into my routine. This took practice, and a great deal of it.
Over the next two months, I hit over 1,300 golf balls on The Rookery’s range, 65 balls at a time. I used the two tee setup for every club except the driver. I also reduced my usual rounds, but made sure to use the new swing when I played.
The new move adds half a club more yard from the slightly lower loft on impact. As Gray noted, this swing also keeps the face straighter through the impact zone, which improves accuracy.
My lap results are back where they were before class. However, there are several signs that these sums can be even lower.
A good lesson or two will help – but you need to practice what you have learned and make it part of your usual game.
Cape region represented at Delaware Open
Congratulations to Braden Shattuck of Aston, Pennsylvania on winning the 56th Delaware Open from August 23rd to 24th at the Bidermann Golf Club in Greenville. His 203 grand total for the 54-hole tournament was four strokes ahead of runner-up and professional golfer Zac Oakley.
And by professional golfer I really mean professional golfer. Both Shattuck and Oakley work at Bidermann. Maybe they used local knowledge.
Rehoboth Beach CC’s Jay Whitby ranked best among golfers in the Cape, finishing 14th. RBCC lead instructor Chris Gray tied for 17th place. Nick Torrance of Plantation Lakes Golf & Country Club on Nov..
Chris Krueger, Teacher at Kings Creek CC, aged 25. Bear Trap Dunes golf pro Michael Rushin for 30. Kings Creek’s assistant, Eric Willey, turned 39.
Rehoboth Beach CC crowns club champions
Rehoboth Beach CC hosted several club championships for 2021, starting with the member member on July 17-18. Ed Brown and Pete Moran won the men’s category and Sharon Emerson and Beth Forbes won the women’s category.
Steven and Christina Harvey won the Mixed Member Event on July 25th. Two days later, Lynn Runsten took first place in the 9-hole Ladies Championship.
The men’s and women’s championships took place from July 30th to August 8th. 1. Britny Whitby won the women’s title and her husband Jay Whitby won the men’s title.
Brian Barrows won the first men’s race. Kelly Smith won the second flight and Tom Butterly won the third flight. Gil Ekdahl was first in the fourth flight. Carroll McGill won the women’s first flight.
Tyler Healy won the junior championship on August 9th.
The club held its senior men’s event from August 14-15, which was won by Ed Brown. Bob Randa became aviation champion for the senior-senior division. Glenn Forbes won the Super Senior Flight and Jay Conner won the Men’s Legends Flight.
Peggy Roca completed the summer series by winning the Women’s Senior Club Championship on September 1st.
Results of the local club competition
The Kings Creek Ladies 9 Hole Group played a game of low putts on September 8th.
Melissa Quinn won the maiden flight gross. Sandy Neverett won the first flight net, Lesley Corydon came second and Janet Hartman came third.
Deb Chase grossed the second flight. Linda Miniscalco won the second net flight, Tara Coates second and Judy Rayner third.
Debbie D’Orazio won the third flight gross. Terry Barrera won the third net flight, with Deb Hinderer second and Pam Cranston third.
Mulligan’s Pointe Ladies played an Irish foursome, with Stableford scoring a goal on September 7th.
Brenda Lewis, Susan Shockley, Pat Shore and Blind Draw Karen Feuchtenberger won first place. Feuchtenberger, Kathy Hudak, Linda Kaufmann and Carol McFawn came second.
The Kings Creek Ladies 18-Hole Group played a tee to green game on September 3rd. Judy Wetzel won first place gross in the first flight. Candy Robinson won first place net, with Diane Knizer in second and Jeannine Doane in third.
Barbara Hines won first place gross in the second flight. Robbie Minkman won first place net, with Sue Griesemer in second and Vicki Martina in third.