| GOLF
FACTS OF THE MONTH:
-Some courses in Japan have escalators to move players from hole to hole-In 1890 a complete set of golf clubs cost about
$25
-Micheal Jordan is a registered member of the Golf Nuts Society of
America
-A 1989 PGA study found that touring pros make only 54.8% of their 6 foot
putts
-The winning score in pro tourneys is improving at the rate of about one stroke every 25
years
-Average 18 hole course size: 150
acres
-If you get your ball 10 feet or closer to the hole, your in the “scoring zone” |
Well folks, the golf season is just about to begin. Are you ready? Perhaps I can help by giving you a few ideas that can only help with the start-up. They
are:
1. Do some stretching…..just about any kind works. Loosen up those winterized muscles. Maybe just go out the back and swing the club….nice and easy. Go for a few walks…take on a hill or two. Give your body some prep for goodness
sake!
2. Check out the tools. Are your clubs in good operational condition? Give them a scrub. Polish them up! How are the grips? Believe me this is a tough game and poorly conditioned equipment just makes it tougher.
3. Get the juices going…..Go over to your favorite golf shop and check out the new stuff. Maybe pick up a neat new golf item. How about a new driver, a new putter, perhaps some new balls or a glove? How about those new
fashions?
4. How about a warm-up lesson! As a major prep for the beginning of the season, perhaps a warm-up lesson might help big time. See your CPGA Professional and get checked out. Get a game plan..…give your game some
direction!
5. Check out your shoes? How are the cleats? Are your shoes still waterproof….wet feet is brutal! They say golf starts from the ground up. Traction is a key element in swing balance!
6. See what is “happenin” out there! Get on the web and visit all the local course web-sites. Check out rates and tee time availability, and any new changes at the local clubs.
7. Go to the Vancouver Island Golf Show at the Pearkes Rec. Center, Feb. 9-11. See what’s happening in the golf world on your Island. The show this year will be better than ever….excellent new show manager! Check out their new
website……www.vancouverislandgolfshow.com
8. Head over to Island View and have a visit! We love talking golf! Don’t miss our new sweet membership deal, “hit all the balls you want for $59.99 per month!” WOW!
Very glad to be back at Island View,
Cheers,
Scott |
| CLINICS REGISTRATION ON NOW!
Mens Nights Thursdays starting Feb
8th
7pm - 8:30pm
$99 for 5 week series
Ladies Nights Wednesday starting Feb 7th
7pm - 8:30pm
$99 for 5 week series
Junior After School
Monday starting Feb 5th
3:30pm - 5pm
$79 for 5 week series |
This month I would like to talk about a shot that very few people can execute with any kind of consistency; the knockdown, or punch shot. Tiger has his 2-iron stinger. Sergio has his own long iron punch shot. Any player that wants to take his game to another level MUST have this shot in his or her repertoire. This is a great shot to have when it gets windy or rainy, or even on days when your swing doesn’t feel as solid.
Here’s how I would suggest preparing for the shot. After warming up on the range with a Pitching Wedge or 9 Iron, experiment with the punch shot by putting the ball a little bit back (2 to 3 inches) of middle in your stance. You can use any club, but I would suggest starting with the short irons. Placing the ball back will put your hands ahead of the ball, and will also cause your weight to edge towards your front foot. The swing will be a lot shorter as well, and feel somewhat like a pitch shot. A punch shot should never be taken with more than a 3 quarter-length swing. Your follow through will be a lot lower, and more down the line. Hold that finish! You will know when you’re executing the shot properly when the ball flies substantially lower than a normal shot, regardless of what club you’re using. So to hit that stinger like Tiger, start from a normal shot setup, and then make the adjustments as described above. With some diligent practice, you’ll be ready for the British Open in no time!!!
With Golf Season right around the corner you can get a excellent tune up for a great price in a group clinic. I’ve included the dates and times to the right, you can register either by phone (652-5215) or on the website!
Andrew |
| QUOTES OF
THE MONTH:
-When you sacrifice freedom for equality, you end up with neither.
Milton Friedmen
-Great works are performed not by strength but perseverance.
Dr. Samuel Johnson
-Success is predictable
Brian Tracy
-Society may predict, but only I can determine my destiny
Clair Oliver
-Accept the past for what it was. Acknowledge
the present for what it is. Anticipate the future for what it can become
Tracy L. McNair |
This month, I wanted to shine a spotlight on a spectacular young athlete out here on the Saanich Peninsula and ex-employee of Island View Golf Centre (although she still covers some shifts), Kirsten Sweetland. I met Kirsten through a referral from Hayley Lupton, one of our fine employees. I spoke with her on the phone and asked her to bring in a resume. To my surprise all she had was something called a “sports resume” and had never had a job before. The outlook for employment at this point was
dim.
When she came waltzing into my office, she didn’t appear to be an athlete although you could sense her enthusiasm, confidence, and positive attitude. We greeted each other and she presented me this “sports resume” titled WORLD CHAMPION with the following information:
· World Junior Triathlon Championships – 1st place
· World Junior Duathlon Championships – 2nd place
· Canadian National Junior Triathlon Championships – 1st place
· Canadian National Junior Duathlon Championships – 1st place
· Swiss Junior National Triathlon Championships – 1st place
· Canadian National U-23 Series race #1 (Winnipeg) – 1st place
· Canadian National U-23 Series race #2 (Corner Brook) – 1st place
· Sooke Spring Triathlon – 1st place (Senior Elite)
· Panorama Classic Triathlon – 1st place (Senior Elite)
And this was all in 2006! The dedication, passion and hard work it takes to get to this level in sports are exactly what Island View Golf is all about! What a perfect fit! I hired her on the spot and she didn’t disappoint, providing great customers service and picking up our systems
quickly.
2 weeks into work Kirsten said she had to talk to me. Everything had been moving along nicely so I didn’t think much of it. We met in my office and she informed me that Stu Young, the Mayor of Langford and successful entrepreneur, had come on as her sponsor and she didn’t need a job anymore. The
scoundrel stole one of my employees! I’m just kidding. I was happy to hear that she could focus on her athletic pursuits and congratulated her. She still fills in shifts from time to time and continues to be a pleasure to have around.
I did an exclusive interview with her for the February Issue of Island View
Newsletter:
Q: What do you attribute your level of success at such a young age
to?
A: The only thing I can think of that has made me successful thus far would be just truly enjoying what I’m doing. It wouldn’t be possible to train so much if it wasn’t
fun!
Q: Lets hear the training regiment on the average day.
A:
· 7am – Wake Up.
· 7:15am – Run 30min with some mini sprints (strides).
· 8am – Eat oatmeal and something sugary like dried fruit for energy for next workout.
· 10am – Treadmill run 1hr 15min, 20min @ 8.5mph, 20min @ 9.5mph, and then 20min as hard as you can until you fall off the treadmill (10.5mph plus)! Then 15min cool down. All of this is done at an incline so its like running uphill for an hour.
· 11:30am – Eat a fruit/protein shake or bar.
· 11:45am – Swim 2 to 3 km easy.
· 1pm – Go home and eat a big meal… I like hash browns, eggs, and toast or pancakes.
· 2pm – Bike workout 2hrs with 10x3 min threshold (as hard as you can)!
· 4pm – Run off the bike 20min hard (race pace), 10min easy.
· 4:45pm – Eat another bar or shake.
· 5pm – Go to the ocean and stand in it for 10min to help legs recover (and get frost bite)!
· 6pm -- Big dinner usually made up of a carb like pasta, meat, vegetables and of course chocolate :).
· 7pm -- Epsom salt bath for recovery.
· 8pm --Bowl of cereal.
· 9pm --Bed!!
An average day is anywhere from 2-5 workouts a day. Each day within the week is different but I train about 25-30 hrs per week.
Q: Last but not least, how huge of a role did Island View play in your success, and what life lessons did you learn from working at the award winning facility?
A: Working at Island View Golf helped me experience the real world first hand! It was my first job and a great way to expand my horizons beyond triathlon.
Sean |
