“Chip Shots”

Hope the summer and fall golf season were great for all of you.  Many courses are closing for the fall and we now turn our thoughts to what new clubs are needed to improve our game for the upcoming season. 

The writing of this article is a little like the golfer who comes to the last hole with a career round going.  They are right in front of the last green, a par five in two shots, and a birdie gives them a career round by three strokes.  They take out the trusty wedge and blade the shot over the green, out of bounds-and to add insult to injury they hit a brand new car in the parking lot—my computer crashed and now I have to start over at the last minute.  In this article I have many smaller topics to address so if the first couple of topics do not hit a ‘career shot’ with you something later in the article might.

First, I would like to encourage all of you to make sure you are getting emails from me if you have joined the Golf Coaches Association.  Each time I send out an email I usually get about 30 to 50 back as incorrect or errors. I usually send out an email suggesting that you might get duplicates—double check these and inform me of any changes needed to keep you up to date.

A few days ago I got my Birdie Marketing fundraiser renewal for the selling of golf cards.  This weekend the golf advisory board is meeting for a number of reasons-one item we act on is the drawing of eight lucky programs which each sold over 25 cards-each lucky winner will receive $500.   And believe me the odds are pretty good that you might win!  There are other golf cards out there but the Golf Coaches Association endorses this card.  Also remember the card supports the Minnesota Public Golf Association and their tournaments which many of your players participate in.  Also, a thought is to start the sales of the cards before the holidays-the cards might make good gifts for the hard to shop for golfer! 

This is additional information I just received on the golf cards.  “Over the past 14 years Birdie Marketing has provided over 200 different high school golf programs, either through direct donations or proceeds from selling our product, over 1 million dollars. We also have helped the local golf community as well, over 200 different golf professionals or facilities have received over $100,000 in royalties.  The Minnesota section of the PGA to date has received over $135,000 from Birdie Marketing (for junior golf, scholarships, and general administrative cost.).  We currently are partnered with your association and the Minnesota Public Golf Association.  All told Birdie Marketing has either helped or directly helped over 300 associations, teams or charities raise over 2 million.”  Their contact number Birdie Marketing, Inc. (763)753-6988

Two items which have crossed my desk are the items you might find useful for your programs.  A sales person who sells the Cayman golf balls approached me with the ability for players/programs to purchase these balls.  We could buy them in bulk if we wish as an Association-and distribute them to interested programs.  The ball is a practice ball which goes very close to one half of the normal distance and reacts like a real golf ball.  These might be good for the preseason or for the schools with a limited distance practice area-just thoughts-any interest?

A second item is the Radar Zelocity-Doppler practice device which gives you an accurate reading as to how far you actually hit shots.  Tour pros find the distance you actually hit the ball to be one of the most important bits of information available to them-and if you think about it-it probably is more important than using a GPS device-if you do not know how far you carry the ball how will you know if your shot will carry the bunker or the water?  Many golfers try to hit the ball a little harder or swing a little softer but knowing the actual distance you ‘consistently’ hit the ball is maybe the most important aspect in improving.  I have had a few coaches contact me in the past few weeks on these—if your program/individual is interested in one there will be an order going out either later this month (Dec.) or early after the first of the year.  My golfer who won the state last year uses one and I believe he finds it very valuable!  Contact me on this if interested.  I will only order if the item is prepaid and since I believe there are at least five interested-$200 should cover everything with all of the shipping-I need to order at least five at a time to offer this price-last year I had to order in multiples of twenty five.

We were going to have the rules meeting on line this year but the rules schedule is set and published on the MSHSL website.  We will again be having the meetings at different sites around the state like in the past.   Also, not included on the MSHSL website is the sunshine clinic-and that, I believe, again will be a rules meeting site-more information will follow on this.

Two issues which came up last summer at the Board of Directors meeting in June were the 600 mile round trip distance for a team practice, tournament or trip, etc. you need to talk with your AD on this one.  They also they passed the ability of coaching on the course during a meet.  Both of these passed very quickly and with little discussion.  Also, I have been told that coaches will not be able to play golf this year while a meet is in progress.  I do not recall this being stated at the Board of Directors meeting-and I have not actually seen it on the MSHSL website when I have looked for it-but have been told, and it has been confirmed by some, that it is there-more will follow on this.

If you have questions or concerns let me know and I will get right back to you.  I hope the golf seasons comes quickly-again if you have anything for the advisory board, for me or anyone else to discuss let us know.   I will try to have another email out next week after the advisory meeting.

Todd Petterson-Red Wing