Short Shots Around the Green

Scott Keenlyside - CPGA Professional 
scottk@islandviewgolf.com

THE LAWS OF GOLF

A young man who was also an avid golfer found himself with a few hours to spare one afternoon. He figured if he hurried and played very fast, he could get in nine holes before he had to head home. Just as he was about to tee off an old gentleman shuffled onto the tee and asked if he could accompany the young man as he was golfing alone. Not being able to say no, he allowed the old gent to join him. 

To his surprise the old man played fairly quickly. He didn't hit the ball far, but plodded along consistently and didn't waste much time. Finally, they reached the 9th fairway and the young man found himself with a tough shot. There was a large pine tree right in front of his ball - and directly between his ball and the green. 

After several minutes of debating how to hit the shot the old man finally said, "You know, when I was your age I'd hit the ball right over that tree." 

With that challenge placed before him, the youngster swung hard, hit the ball up, right smack into the top of the tree trunk and it thudded back on the ground not a foot from where it had originally lay. 

The old man offered one more comment, "Of course, when I was your age that pine tree was only three feet tall." 

“Hey”, you have to be clever!

Certainly, I want to hit a shot which hopefully has the best odds of success. I don’t like hitting low percentage shots. By this I mean I try to do hit the simplest shot I can, and certainly the one I have the most confidence in. As they say there are no pictures on the scorecard, just numbers.

So, to conclude, I look at the shot, I determine the shape of the shot, then I pick the club to fit the shape. Combine this with some sharp technique and your scores will plummet.

Guaranteed!!!!!!

Scott

Message from the Manager

Sean McNulty - General Manager 
seanmc@islandviewgolf.com  

JOHN STUART MILLS QUOTES OF THE MONTH

British philosopher, political economist, civil servant and Member of Parliament, was an influential liberal thinker of the 19th century. (20 May 1806 – 8 May 1873) 

Over one's mind and over one's body the individual is sovereign. 

The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. His own good, either physical or moral, is not sufficient warrant. 

If mankind minus one were of one opinion, then mankind is no more justified in silencing the one than the one - if he had the power - would be justified in silencing mankind. 

A person may cause evil to others not only by his actions but by his inaction, and in either case he is justly accountable to them for the injury. 

No one can be a great thinker who does not recognize that as a thinker it is his first duty to follow his intellect to whatever conclusions it may lead. Truth gains more even by the errors of one who, with due study, and preparation, thinks for himself, than by the true opinions of those who only hold them because they do not suffer themselves to think. 

The Business of the Year Award meant a lot to myself and the staff here at Island View Golf Centre. It has taken a huge amount of effort to get over the many obstacles put in front of us as a start up business, and the award is a reflection of that hard work and our ability to overcome obstacles. Thanks again to Eileen Leddy and the rest of the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, it’s a fantastic organization doing a spectacular job promoting business on the Peninsula. If you’re a business and not a member, do yourself a favor and join.

Thank you to the Peninsula News Review’s readers for recognizing us in the readers choice awards as well.

The Saanichton Village Association Mixer was hosted in conjunction with Genesis Hair Salon and Anne Motto and it was a great success! It was hosted on the sundeck complete with food and beverage plus a entertaining speech by the President of the organization, Georgette Martin. Like the chamber, this is another great organization making Central Saanich an even better place to live.

I’d like to introduce you to the newest member of our team and Head of Grass Maintenance, Ryan Woods. Ryan came from Toronto to join our fine organization and has been the perfect fit. He came with high regards from Humber College’s Professional Golf Management Program being awarded the Tex Noble Golf Management Award and receiving the President’s Letter for Highest Average in Year 1 of his apprenticeship. It’s great have him on board and once the sun starts shinning the range is going to look like Augusta once he’s through with it!

Sean

Alignment and Aim

Andrew Wintraub - Class A CPGA Professional 
andrew@islandviewgolf.com

HANDICAP SYSTEM NOW AVAILABLE!

Even the best players in the world struggle with their alignments on occasion. Unfortunately, a player’s alignments can still be wrong even if all of the other fundamentals are sound. Below are some tips on creating a proper AIM with your body and the club so that you can hit your target more consistently. How can this be done consistently?? Routine, routine, routine. I am going to go through a preshot routine that, if followed, will allow you to consistently align yourself to your targetline.

1. Stand behind the ball and pick out your target in the distance. I want you to pick two targets actually. One in the distance, and one three or four feet in front of you. The target directly in front of you should be on relatively the same TARGETLINE as the one in the distance (very important).

2. With your golf grip firmly in place walk into the ball, and with your feet together, set the club face behind the ball so that it’s facing the close target (which will probably be a leaf or piece of grass).

3. Now that the clubface is aligned to your target, you are going to take a shoulder width stance. Pay close attention to your toes. Are they as parallel at this position as they were when your feet were together?? If they aren’t, go back to having your feet together, then gradually step them out a little wider, always making sure that your TOES ARE PARALLEL.

4. Once your toes are parallel, this will have a great impact on how square other parts of your body line up. If your toes are aligned, your ankles, knees, hips, and shoulders should line up. 

If these steps are followed, your body should be perfectly aligned PARALLEL to the targetline, and you will have given yourself an excellent chance at hitting the shot where you are looking. From there, take a nice smooth swing, and you’ll marvel at the results!

Andrew

Wind Play

Hyo Sang Yoon 
hyo@islandviewgolf.com

Here are some tips to play better golf in the wind:- Make sure to take one more club and swing smoothly. It will create less spin on the ball which will cause a lower trajectory and will get less affected against the wind.

- In addition to a smoother swing, it’s important to take a swing that is shorter than normal. For example, if your backswing normally gets to parallel to the ground, make sure you swing 3/4s of that position, or somewhere around shoulder-high. 

- Position the ball a little bit back in your stance, which will also make your ball go low. 

- Choke it down on your grip a bit. It will give you more control on your swing.

- Aim for the center of the green instead of aiming for the flag. This way you have a better chance of hitting the green. 

- Move slower than normal. We tend to play faster in windy conditions, because when wind gets in our ears we get so distracted which makes you swing harder and faster.

Good luck!!

Hyo Sang Yoon

ARBUTUS RIDGE OPEN MAY 3rd and 4th

Members Competing
Sean McNulty
Hyo Sang Yoon
Andrew Wintraub
Clayton Snow