Playing With a Pro | USHandicap Classic

Goynes42 Professional Champion
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Ever played with someone REALLY good? Like, WAY better than you? You ought to. I'm pretty lucky in that regard, as one of my good friends is a man named Rick Karbowski, who played on the Champions Tour from 2005 to 2009. (He's playing in this year's Senior PGA at Bellerive too!) He lived near me in Dallas, and I got to know him towards the end of his regular playing career, and actually got to play about twice a month with him, even caddied for him once. I probably learned more watching him rip my courses to pieces than I did from anything else. First time he played my home track, he shot a 67 and maybe missed 2 greens. Now, not all of us are as fortunate to know someone who actually played the tour, but we all still know our local pros. If you have a home course that you frequent, and people in the pro shop get to know you there, exchange phone numbers and try to play with them! Not a playing lesson, mind you...say "Hey, I'd like to play with you, when are you free?" These guys have to sit behind the counter or teach lessons most of the week, so believe me they LOVE to get out and actually play the game. And you'll learn a lot by watching them, especially if you're a higher handicapper. Pay attention to the shots they hit and the way they manage themselves around the course. Most club pros really appreciate it if you reach out to them and ask if they'd like to play. And you'll learn something just by watching. It's a win-win.
ScottSorrell Professional Champion
# 16 5/7/2013 8:00:04 PM
I get to play with a local pro by the name of Gary Anderson a few times every month. He has tried to teach me a lot of important things, though he says I am not a very good student. I try something he recommends 2 or 3 times and and then say it doesnt work for me.LOL
larryrsf Professional Champion
# 17 5/8/2013 10:58:59 AM
I get to play with a local pro by the name of Gary Anderson a few times every month. He has tried to teach me a lot of important things, though he says I am not a very good student. I try something he recommends 2 or 3 times and and then say it doesnt work for me.LOL Wow! Wouldn't it be nice if we could just "try" something different in the golf swing and then actually do it? Of course that doesn't work because much of the golf swing occurs at the subconscious level, too fast for conscious error correction. So it is a replay of what we have ingrained. Good players do it almost reflexively, just repeating again what they have done a zillion times. And what they feel is NOT what they do in many cases. I have read that some of them refuse to look at their swing videos for that reason. So making a significant swing change is very difficult. Retraining our subconscious mind requires first erasing a bad habit and then replacing it with the correct movement. Remember Tiger took a year off recently to make a swing change that was barely discernible to most of us. So most of us will never change. What we have ingrained is what we will use until we quit golfing. My own brother is a good example. He will never quit playing several times a week and make only studied slow motion swings, etc. So he runs to #1 tee and repeats the same old, same old and in his case plays the treeline and hits them OB like he always has. Larry
Mark Simmons Legend
# 18 5/8/2013 2:11:28 PM
I get to play with a local pro by the name of Gary Anderson a few times every month. He has tried to teach me a lot of important things, though he says I am not a very good student. I try something he recommends 2 or 3 times and and then say it doesnt work for me.LOL Wow! Wouldn't it be nice if we could just "try" something different in the golf swing and then actually do it? Of course that doesn't work because much of the golf swing occurs at the subconscious level, too fast for conscious error correction. So it is a replay of what we have ingrained. Good players do it almost reflexively, just repeating again what they have done a zillion times. And what they feel is NOT what they do in many cases. I have read that some of them refuse to look at their swing videos for that reason. So making a significant swing change is very difficult. Retraining our subconscious mind requires first erasing a bad habit and then replacing it with the correct movement. Remember Tiger took a year off recently to make a swing change that was barely discernible to most of us. So most of us will never change. What we have ingrained is what we will use until we quit golfing. My own brother is a good example. He will never quit playing several times a week and make only studied slow motion swings, etc. So he runs to #1 tee and repeats the same old, same old and in his case plays the treeline and hits them OB like he always has. Larry Actually what you are describing is what the sciences have discovered as differences between people in their learning styles and aptitudes. There are some folks that are very much visual learners and some of those folks are extremely good at it. Michael Phelps is one who seems to have a high aptitude in this regard. As he puts it, "If I can see it, I can do it." Most of us though don't have that--at least at that high a level. Others learn very well through feel. If someone describes to them what it should feel like, or if they experience it once, they can replicate based on that feel. This is the category often described as tactile learners. There are other dimensions to this, but you get the point. Individuals have different talents for different learning models.
Jim Belisle Professional Champion
# 19 5/8/2013 2:34:41 PM
There are some folks that are very much visual learners and some of those folks are extremely good at it. Michael Phelps is one who seems to have a high aptitude in this regard. As he puts it, "If I can see it, I can do it." Most of us though don't have that--at least at that high a level. I learn well by watching, also. It is almost a problem the other way, in that if I play with a friend who doesn't play well, I have to work harder to swing the way I know I need to, because I will tend to copy him! It helps me to watch the pros swing and putt, because it helps me visualize what my swing should look like, and how a putt should roll.
larryrsf Professional Champion
# 20 5/8/2013 6:29:20 PM
I get to play with a local pro by the name of Gary Anderson a few times every month. He has tried to teach me a lot of important things, though he says I am not a very good student. I try something he recommends 2 or 3 times and and then say it doesnt work for me.LOL Wow! Wouldn't it be nice if we could just "try" something different in the golf swing and then actually do it? Of course that doesn't work because much of the golf swing occurs at the subconscious level, too fast for conscious error correction. So it is a replay of what we have ingrained. Good players do it almost reflexively, just repeating again what they have done a zillion times. And what they feel is NOT what they do in many cases. I have read that some of them refuse to look at their swing videos for that reason. So making a significant swing change is very difficult. Retraining our subconscious mind requires first erasing a bad habit and then replacing it with the correct movement. Remember Tiger took a year off recently to make a swing change that was barely discernible to most of us. So most of us will never change. What we have ingrained is what we will use until we quit golfing. My own brother is a good example. He will never quit playing several times a week and make only studied slow motion swings, etc. So he runs to #1 tee and repeats the same old, same old and in his case plays the treeline and hits them OB like he always has. Larry Actually what you are describing is what the sciences have discovered as differences between people in their learning styles and aptitudes. There are some folks that are very much visual learners and some of those folks are extremely good at it. Michael Phelps is one who seems to have a high aptitude in this regard. As he puts it, "If I can see it, I can do it." Most of us though don't have that--at least at that high a level. Others learn very well through feel. If someone describes to them what it should feel like, or if they experience it once, they can replicate based on that feel. This is the category often described as tactile learners. There are other dimensions to this, but you get the point. Individuals have different talents for different learning models. Not quite applicable to most of us however, because Phelps is a total beginner --with unlimited money for lessons from the best and unlimited time to practice. AND, he has a young muscular body that is perfect for golf. In contrast, most amateurs start swinging and playing and develop HORRIBLE habits before their first lesson. They learn to function on a golf course with a bad grip, bad setup, and bad backswing. They learn to make handsy compensations and adjustments. Then when they finally have the resources, they take a lesson. Few have the patience and persistence required to make the major swing change necessary to enable them to consistently hit fairways and greens. So they hack. Larry
DM3 Professional Champion
# 21 5/9/2013 12:09:00 PM
I played with Gary Players son, Wayner Player at Merion. Below is the story. http ://twooverpar.blogspot.com/2009/05/rough-day-merion-golf-club.html
JayPet Legend
# 22 5/11/2013 4:35:28 PM
Guys, one of the golfers I mentioned in my reply was Meagan Stasi, who is defending US Womans Mid Am title holder currently. For those of you who get Golf Week, check out the article on her in this week's issue. My buddy Danny, her husband, is actually included in the article. She's an amazing golfer with a sick short game. She's a true amateur; had the game to go pro but wanted to defend her past titles.

Goynes42

Professional Champion

Go to Last Reply

107 Views 23 Replies 0 Likes

Ever played with someone REALLY good? Like, WAY better than you? You ought to.

I'm pretty lucky in that regard, as one of my good friends is a man named Rick Karbowski, who played on the Champions Tour from 2005 to 2009. (He's playing in this year's Senior PGA at Bellerive too!) He lived near me in Dallas, and I got to know him towards the end of his regular playing career, and actually got to play about twice a month with him, even caddied for him once. I probably learned more watching him rip my courses to pieces than I did from anything else. First time he played my home track, he shot a 67 and maybe missed 2 greens.

Now, not all of us are as fortunate to know someone who actually played the tour, but we all still know our local pros. If you have a home course that you frequent, and people in the pro shop get to know you there, exchange phone numbers and try to play with them! Not a playing lesson, mind you...say "Hey, I'd like to play with you, when are you free?" These guys have to sit behind the counter or teach lessons most of the week, so believe me they LOVE to get out and actually play the game. And you'll learn a lot by watching them, especially if you're a higher handicapper. Pay attention to the shots they hit and the way they manage themselves around the course.

Most club pros really appreciate it if you reach out to them and ask if they'd like to play. And you'll learn something just by watching. It's a win-win.

ScottSorrell

Professional Champion

# 16 5/7/2013 8:00:04 PM

I get to play with a local pro by the name of Gary Anderson a few times every month. He has tried to teach me a lot of important things, though he says I am not a very good student. I try something he recommends 2 or 3 times and and then say it doesnt work for me.LOL

larryrsf

Professional Champion

# 17 5/8/2013 10:58:59 AM

I get to play with a local pro by the name of Gary Anderson a few times every month. He has tried to teach me a lot of important things, though he says I am not a very good student. I try something he recommends 2 or 3 times and and then say it doesnt work for me.LOL

Wow! Wouldn't it be nice if we could just "try" something different in the golf swing and then actually do it?

Of course that doesn't work because much of the golf swing occurs at the subconscious level, too fast for conscious error correction. So it is a replay of what we have ingrained. Good players do it almost reflexively, just repeating again what they have done a zillion times. And what they feel is NOT what they do in many cases. I have read that some of them refuse to look at their swing videos for that reason.

So making a significant swing change is very difficult. Retraining our subconscious mind requires first erasing a bad habit and then replacing it with the correct movement. Remember Tiger took a year off recently to make a swing change that was barely discernible to most of us.

So most of us will never change. What we have ingrained is what we will use until we quit golfing. My own brother is a good example. He will never quit playing several times a week and make only studied slow motion swings, etc. So he runs to #1 tee and repeats the same old, same old and in his case plays the treeline and hits them OB like he always has.

Larry

Mark Simmons

Legend

# 18 5/8/2013 2:11:28 PM

I get to play with a local pro by the name of Gary Anderson a few times every month. He has tried to teach me a lot of important things, though he says I am not a very good student. I try something he recommends 2 or 3 times and and then say it doesnt work for me.LOL

Wow! Wouldn't it be nice if we could just "try" something different in the golf swing and then actually do it?

Of course that doesn't work because much of the golf swing occurs at the subconscious level, too fast for conscious error correction. So it is a replay of what we have ingrained. Good players do it almost reflexively, just repeating again what they have done a zillion times. And what they feel is NOT what they do in many cases. I have read that some of them refuse to look at their swing videos for that reason.

So making a significant swing change is very difficult. Retraining our subconscious mind requires first erasing a bad habit and then replacing it with the correct movement. Remember Tiger took a year off recently to make a swing change that was barely discernible to most of us.

So most of us will never change. What we have ingrained is what we will use until we quit golfing. My own brother is a good example. He will never quit playing several times a week and make only studied slow motion swings, etc. So he runs to #1 tee and repeats the same old, same old and in his case plays the treeline and hits them OB like he always has.

Larry

Actually what you are describing is what the sciences have discovered as differences between people in their learning styles and aptitudes.

There are some folks that are very much visual learners and some of those folks are extremely good at it. Michael Phelps is one who seems to have a high aptitude in this regard. As he puts it, "If I can see it, I can do it." Most of us though don't have that--at least at that high a level.

Others learn very well through feel. If someone describes to them what it should feel like, or if they experience it once, they can replicate based on that feel. This is the category often described as tactile learners.

There are other dimensions to this, but you get the point. Individuals have different talents for different learning models.

Jim Belisle

Professional Champion

# 19 5/8/2013 2:34:41 PM

There are some folks that are very much visual learners and some of those folks are extremely good at it. Michael Phelps is one who seems to have a high aptitude in this regard. As he puts it, "If I can see it, I can do it." Most of us though don't have that--at least at that high a level.

I learn well by watching, also. It is almost a problem the other way, in that if I play with a friend who doesn't play well, I have to work harder to swing the way I know I need to, because I will tend to copy him! It helps me to watch the pros swing and putt, because it helps me visualize what my swing should look like, and how a putt should roll.

larryrsf

Professional Champion

# 20 5/8/2013 6:29:20 PM

I get to play with a local pro by the name of Gary Anderson a few times every month. He has tried to teach me a lot of important things, though he says I am not a very good student. I try something he recommends 2 or 3 times and and then say it doesnt work for me.LOL

Wow! Wouldn't it be nice if we could just "try" something different in the golf swing and then actually do it?

Of course that doesn't work because much of the golf swing occurs at the subconscious level, too fast for conscious error correction. So it is a replay of what we have ingrained. Good players do it almost reflexively, just repeating again what they have done a zillion times. And what they feel is NOT what they do in many cases. I have read that some of them refuse to look at their swing videos for that reason.

So making a significant swing change is very difficult. Retraining our subconscious mind requires first erasing a bad habit and then replacing it with the correct movement. Remember Tiger took a year off recently to make a swing change that was barely discernible to most of us.

So most of us will never change. What we have ingrained is what we will use until we quit golfing. My own brother is a good example. He will never quit playing several times a week and make only studied slow motion swings, etc. So he runs to #1 tee and repeats the same old, same old and in his case plays the treeline and hits them OB like he always has.

Larry

Actually what you are describing is what the sciences have discovered as differences between people in their learning styles and aptitudes.

There are some folks that are very much visual learners and some of those folks are extremely good at it. Michael Phelps is one who seems to have a high aptitude in this regard. As he puts it, "If I can see it, I can do it." Most of us though don't have that--at least at that high a level.

Others learn very well through feel. If someone describes to them what it should feel like, or if they experience it once, they can replicate based on that feel. This is the category often described as tactile learners.

There are other dimensions to this, but you get the point. Individuals have different talents for different learning models.

Not quite applicable to most of us however, because Phelps is a total beginner --with unlimited money for lessons from the best and unlimited time to practice. AND, he has a young muscular body that is perfect for golf.

In contrast, most amateurs start swinging and playing and develop HORRIBLE habits before their first lesson. They learn to function on a golf course with a bad grip, bad setup, and bad backswing. They learn to make handsy compensations and adjustments. Then when they finally have the resources, they take a lesson. Few have the patience and persistence required to make the major swing change necessary to enable them to consistently hit fairways and greens. So they hack.

Larry

DM3

Professional Champion

# 21 5/9/2013 12:09:00 PM

I played with Gary Players son, Wayner Player at Merion. Below is the story.

http ://twooverpar.blogspot.com/2009/05/rough-day-merion-golf-club.html

JayPet

Legend

# 22 5/11/2013 4:35:28 PM

Guys, one of the golfers I mentioned in my reply was Meagan Stasi, who is defending US Womans Mid Am title holder currently. For those of you who get Golf Week, check out the article on her in this week's issue. My buddy Danny, her husband, is actually included in the article. She's an amazing golfer with a sick short game. She's a true amateur; had the game to go pro but wanted to defend her past titles.

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