Susan Farron Golf | August Golf News 2021
Hello there Golfers,
What an amazing spectacle the Olympic Games have been so far. It has exceeded my expectations on so many levels. The coverage has been outstanding and the excitement this afternoon with Lydia Ko in the hunt right until the end taking bronze medal in a two way playoff with Inami Mone from Japan. The magnificent Nelly Korda took out the gold medal in style by one shot. Japan is a wonderful place to play golf and my memories coaching NZ teams in Japan were amazing. Congratulations to Japan for how they have hosted this magnificent event.
Like most of us I have been enjoying all the unique sports and watching the tears, triumphs and raw emotions and reactions that all Olympians have endured after what has been a difficult time in their pursuit of success.
Huge congratulations to Lisa Carrington. Lisa is one heck of an Olympian, pure superwoman and canoe superstar. She has always been someone I have greatly admired. Power, strength, gutsy, disciplined determination and so humble. She has the most impressive mindset you could ever wish for in a human being. I could watch her all day. I think she has inspired me to get out my kayak and build some upper body strength. How impressive are her guns!!!! I'd love to see her come back to golf and use that wonderful strength and mind set on the course.
I'm sure we are all enjoying the olympic fashion and high tech fabrics that athletes in many sports are now wearing I wonder if golf fashion will change and become more creative and improve ones ability to make good rotational movements with comfort in the future. I hope the big golf clothing companies are watching and can accommodate all the body types of golfers and the large numbers of participants now playing the game.
Please read on for more tips and news and check out my refreshed website. http://susanfarrongolf.com
Golf travel: If you are still undecided about travelling check out my two tours in November and December. Interest is good and is filling up so let me know soon if you are keen to come. I have people interested in sharing twin accommodation so if you have been thinking about joining and would like to share with someone please get in touch now.
Group Classes for Spring: Spring into action and book a class
I have new times for group coaching Sunday mornings at Ellerslie 8.30am-9.30am and Sunday afternoons at Royal Auckland Grange Golf Club. These run in 4 week blocks but can be booked individually class by class. Sorry if you miss out but space is limited for safety reasons.
Classes at Ellerslie Sunday mornings 8.30am-9.30am.
Classes at Royal Auckland Grange Golf Club, Sunday afternoons 2pm-3pm.
Book via RAGGC website via the booking sheet. Come and improve your short game and utilise the impressive world class short game area. If you prefer some one on one or shared coaching on course try Thursday afternoons. This is a great time to gain some confidence on course at RAGGC or on the short game area. Daylight saving is just around the corner Sunday afternoon from 3pm is another option for on course play.
Check out my golf tips section: This month features how to hit the ball from under the trees back onto the fairway keeping the ball low
Summer Golf School anyone?
Keep a look out for my January Golf Schools. Many of you have asked about 3 day golf schools and how you can improve your skills over a few days and continue to hold the muscle movements and keep yourself golf fit and golf happy. If this sounds like you stay tuned or send me a message.
Susan Farron Golf Tours
Luxurious and Exclusive Golf Weekend at Kauri Cliffs:
Friday 4th through Saturday 6th December. Two half rounds of golf including great lodging and wonderful dinners. Please contact me for more information.
Fabulous Golf Escape to Havelock North:
Tuesday 16th- Friday 19th November. Staying 3 nights at Porters Boutique Hotel, playing 4 rounds of golf, including 9 holes at Hill Country Estate, Cape Kidnappers, Bridge Pa, and Napier GC. Contact me now to book your place basf@xtra.co.nz.
Hints & Tips
How to Play the ball low under a tree back into the fairway
1. Select your lowest numbered iron club or flatter angled club. This could be a fairway wood.
2. If there is long grass an iron is best., if there is no grass a 3 wood or longer hybrid can work
3. Hold lower on the handle.
4. Move the ball back in your stance
5. Hold your weight on your leading leg and stick it there no swaying
6. Make a 3/4 backswing without lifting your shoulders and club too high.
7. Strike strongly with firm wrists and make a low finish with your hands with an abbreviated follow through.... Hands should finish low under the shoulder position.
Putt Better
Wiping your putter face blade is a must when putting in dew and winter dampness. Take time to keep your ball and face of club clean. Don't be lazy take time to do the small things right. Cleaning your clubface grooves with a tee as you go will help your clubs stay clean from grit and mud and in good shape to improve the stopping of the ball when it hits the green.
Good Putters Hold their Legs "Quiet" Your legs should stay strong holding steady without any rocking side to side.
Take one small step.
Your daily habits aren't just important they're the whole game of life
Aristotle knew this when he wrote "we are what we repeatedly do." And despite your natural desire to fix everything at once, the best way to get big results is to make tiny, continuous changes to daily habits. In Japan, this is known as kaizen, a concept introduced in Stephen Covey's 1989 bestseller The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
Habit adjustment got a lot of help in the 21st century from groundbreaking studies into human behavior. These are outlined in the 2014 bestseller "The Power of Habit" Then came Atomic Habits, 2018 , which points out that improving any metric by one percent at a time adds up to exponential growth over the long term. What matters in the short term is the repetition, which takes your behavior out of the limited realm of willpower and makes it automatic.
A great book called Mini Habits (2013) focuses on small gains. Make your daily practice "too small to fail." Ensure you exercise for five minutes every day, for example, and you'll soon find yourself eager to do more.
Train Your Golf Brain
Every shot in golf pleases someone. Did you know your bad swing and shot will make someone else feel at ease....So move on and thank goodness for those hackers, choppers, duffers and whiffers.
If you need to have a tantrum. Just do it and make sure those around you are in a safe place.
This months video clip is an oldie but goodie. Called Top 10 tantrums on the PGA tour. I'm sure many weekend golfers have seen a lot worse out on course. There are hefty fines on the PGA tours for poor behaviour, however sometimes a good vent when no one is watching can help relieve any unwanted built up energy.
Just to let you know women do also have tantrums and hissy fits. It's ok to let off steam. Just don't carry it over to the next shot and make it unpleasant for those around you.