My Last Blog Post

My Last Blog Post

To My Four Loyal Readers:

As you may or may not know, my last day at Hart Ranch GC is this Friday, May 17th. I’ve decided to make a transition in life and will be moving on to chase a dream or two. It wasn’t an easy decision to leave such an awesome place. I just wanted to say how much I’ve appreciated my time at Hart Ranch, and especially all of you. It was an amazing 3+ years, and I’ll never forget nor regret the time I spent at Hart.

Here are a few final parting thoughts for you.

Best Swing Tip

Learn to swing THROUGH the ball, not AT it. This is the trickiest part of golf but learning to SWING rather than HIT will instantly make you better, no matter the flaws you have. Hit the ball with your practice swing (much easier said than done) and you’ll be well on your way.

Best Swing Drill

There are a ton of wacky drills out there, and depending on your flaws they’re all viable. If you’re ever off track, go to the range and hit 30-40 shots with your feet together. When you do, don’t just swing your arms, try to rotate your body also (but be sure to keep your balance). Once you’re making consistently good contact you’re on your way to getting your swing back.

Best Short Game Tip

Soft hands. These are touch shots. Don’t grip it tight. Also, practice a lot (see below).

Best Putting Tip

Putt. A lot. A lot more than you do now. Practice almost all of your putting from 6 feet and in and 20 feet and out. Challenge yourself to practice your short game more than your full swing for a month and watch your scores plummet. Also easier said than done.

Best Mental Game Tip

It’s easy, especially after taking a lesson or watching golf tips on YouTube for 3 straight hours to get bogged down in mechanics. That stuff is for the driving range. If you’re on the course and constantly thinking about when to hinge your wrists, or where your lead elbow is, or how to rotate your hips you’re probably not going to play well.

Next time you play, try shifting your focus. When you’re over the ball, look at the target and keep that image in your mind as you swing. Try thinking of the ball flying with the ProTracer like you see on TV. Relax your jaw or concentrate on keeping the same grip pressure all the way into the follow-through. Hum your favorite song. There are a ton of little tricks you can use to get out of your own way. We play golf ladies and gents, not golf swing.

Incorrect Major Predictions

PGA Championship – Rory McIlroy

U.S. Open – Tommy Fleetwood

The Open – Xander Schauffele

FedEx Cup – DJ

Hopefully I’ll see y’all around Hart again soon. It has been an absolute pleasure being your Assistant Pro. Fairways and greens everyone, and as always, Happy Golfing!

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HRGC Masters Preview 2019

Masters Preview 2019

Ladies and gentlemen, this is the best golf week of the year. We have the most iconic, beautiful course in the world, full of tradition and pageantry and the worst sandwiches known to man (ever have a Pimento Cheese sandwich? Terrible). The Masters abounds with awesome stories (like this one) and incredible performances (like this one and this one). Let’s take a gander at what to expect this week!

The Course

Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, GA

Par 72, 7,435 Yards

Scoring Average: +0.9/Round

Projected Cut: +2

Key Holes: #2, #11, #15, #17

Projected Winning Score (Totally Dependent on Weather): -10

This place needs no introduction. In its 83^rd rendition, the tournament has overgone some changes through the years, but remains the pristine venue it always has been. Augusta’s skin is perfect. You ain’t going to find pock marks or blemishes on this course, and high-def TV has really enhanced the viewing experience for all of us.

At Augusta, the player that plays the best that week wins. At some events you get the super-streaky red-hot putter, or the bomber that can simply overpower a track, but it isn’t so at Augusta. The undulations on the greens (and the entire track for that matter) will make certain 5-footers more like 20-footers, and if a player misses they could have a 10-footer coming back. It’s simply the best golf tournament in the world.

The Field

The Masters, for all its glory, has the weakest field of all the majors. 87 golfers will peg it this week, with the top 50 and ties moving on and anyone within 10 shots of the lead making the cut. There are 10-15 geriatric former winners and a few amateurs we can pretty much cross off the list, so around 75% of the “good” players are going to make the cut. That is a much higher number than your typical tour event, which means you’ll want to take some chances if you’re playing DFS Golf.

Key Stats (In No Particular Order)

Driving Distance

Strokes Gained: Approach

Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee

Par 5 Scoring

Bogey Avoidance

Masters Experience

That last one may be the most important. There have been a few first-timers that have finished well (see Spieth, Jordan and Finau, Tony), but in general you’ll want to look at golfers that have played here before. There’s just so much to the course, greens and the pressure The Masters brings that taking shots on first-timers is probably unwise (now watch one win).

The fairways are wide and the rough isn’t very penalizing, which is why bombers have had a lot of success. Players do need to miss on the right side of holes to hit greens, however, and many approaches are going to be better if they’re fired to 20+ feet from the hole rather than right at it (another experience plus). This place is going to test every facet of everyone’s game, so targeting great all-around players is a must (duh).

Prediction

While the field overall may be weak, we have the best of the best teeing it up. Realistically I see 25 – 30 golfers who have a chance to win, and 10 with a REALLY good chance to win. First, I’ll be fading Jordan Spieth this week. He has an unbelievable record at Augusta, but he’s been awful this year. Every time he puts himself into contention there’s a triple bogey lurking around the corner, and Augusta is one of the easiest courses in the world to make a big number. I just can’t do it.

I’ll be heavy on all the big names at the top, including DJ, JT, Rory, Rose, Tiger, Rickie, and Rahm (among others), but if I had to pick one guy to win it would be Tommy Fleetwood. Everything sets up well for him here, and he’s been known to perform on the biggest stages. A breakthrough win is coming at some point, so why not now? Here’s another stat: there are six golfers in the field that have gained at least 13 strokes tee-to-green in their last two events. Fleetwood is one of them. The best part? The last FOUR Masters winners have met that criteria. Let’s go Tommy!

DFS

Losing Million $ DK Lineup (Balanced)

Tommy Fleetwood

Tony Finau

Hideki Matsuyama

Francesco Molinari

Henrik Stenson

Rafa Cabrera-Bello

Losing Million $ DK Lineup (Studs-and-Duds)

Justin Thomas

Brooks Koepka

Jason Day

Emiliano Grillo

Thorbjorn Oleson (Thunder Bear)

Gary Woodland

Have a great Masters week everyone! Hopefully this snow melts quickly and we’re outside again shortly. If you haven’t submitted a pick for our Masters Contest yet be sure to do so by tonight. Good luck and happy golfing!

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Golf Course Update – 4/3

Course Update April 3rd

Well, there’s an unfortunately familiar sight…snow on the ground. Luckily, it’s about the heaviest, wettest snow possible, and it will be gone quickly. It does mean the course will be soggy for the next day or two, but with the warm temps coming up this weekend we should be playing (at least 1-13) again shortly.

If you’re a regular at Hart, you know it takes awhile for 14-16 to clear off. Right now there are still drifts on 15 and a large chunk of ice on 16, making it impossible for carts to go down the path. We’re as ready as you are to get all 18 open and get rolling on the season, so stay tuned to your email and Facebook for updates. Remember, we have The Spring Shamble coming up on Saturday, April 13th (weather permitting), so be sure to sign up soon.

Let’s go Mother Nature, we’re ready for outdoor golf!

 

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What’s in a Ball?

What’s in a Ball?

(Or that which we call a ball by any other name would fly as sweet)

When you wander into golf shop you’ll undoubtedly find a vast array of (increasingly colorful) golf balls. If you’ve ever wondered why a certain dozen costs $20 while another costs $50, or if a certain ball could help your game, this post is for you. Read on!

Construction

Golf balls have layers, and the more they have, the more expensive they generally are. Here’s a quick rundown:

One-Piece: Your typical limited-distance driving-range ball. They are inexpensive but don’t fly as far as a normal ball due to extremely low compression (more on that later).

Two-Piece: These are lower-priced golf balls good for beginners or those that don’t like hitting a dozen $5 golf balls into the water. They have a little firmer feel (for the most part) and will maximize distance for slower swing speeds. Two-piecers also help keep the ball straight.

Three-Piece: The rubber core is surrounded by enhanced liquid rubber to help impart more spin. This helps control the ball around the green.

Four-Piece: This is a combo that adds distance while keeping feel and spin. These are more expensive but will be the best all-around ball for mid to low-handicappers.

Dimples

If you haven’t noticed, golf balls have dimples (anywhere from 250-500 depending on the ball). Dimples help the ball fly. Dimples vary in shape, size and number depending on the ball’s characteristics. If you have some dimple-less golf balls in your bag, don’t use them. They won’t go far.

Compression

Here’s a good analogy: imagine wrapping a rubber band around your wrist once (low compression). Now imagine that you stretched the same band out and wrapped it around three times (high compression). This is the same way golf ball compression works.

Compression ranges from 40-100, and low-compression balls are softer and will help slower swing speeds and higher-handicappers achieve more distance. High-compression balls are harder and help faster swing speeds achieve distance while gaining better control. If a fast swinger hits a low-compression ball it will compress too much and won’t perform as well, and vice versa.

For example, a ProV1 has a lower compression than a ProV1X (as is the case with any “X” golf balls). The ProV1 vs ProV1X is an article in itself, as they’ve undergone significant changes in spin and other factors through the years. You can read more about the differences here.

Spin

There are three spin characteristics of golf balls:

Low-Spin: These are designed to decrease side spin and are good for golfers who are looking to increase distance and keep the ball straight.

Mid-Spin: These are a mixture of low and high-spin balls and are probably the best for the majority of golfers. They’ll give some spin around the green while still aiming to stay straight and maximize distance.

High-Spin: These spin the most in the air and will give the most feel and control around the green. These are good for those who carry the ball a long way but are looking for a better short game.

Does any of it Matter?

Only in the sense that it matters to you. If you’re just starting out, you’re going to lose a lot of golf balls. Stick to a (relatively) inexpensive two-piece ball that will help your distance and keep you in the fairway. For better players and those who’ve been playing awhile, I’d recommend finding a ball that stops somewhat quickly on the green, even if you sacrifice a couple yards off the tee. It’s more important that you put chips and pitches close than gain 3 yards.

The bottom line is you want to figure out what you’re willing to spend and play rounds with a few different golf balls. More expensive doesn’t necessarily mean better for your game, and you might be surprised by the results. Happy golfing!

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Golf Course/Driving Range Update 3/19

THE PLAYERS Championship Preview

THE PLAYERS Championship Preview

Over/Unders:

Times “The 5^th Major” is said during the national broadcast – 562 (75% said as they go to commercial breaks)

Times “The Strongest Field in Golf” is said during the national broadcast – 2,987,654

The Course:

TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

Par 72 (4 Par 5s!!!), 7,189 Yards

Architect: Pete Dye

Scoring Average: +.01/Round

Projected Cut: +1

The big news is this tournament is now in March. While the course may play slightly easier due to the move, the wind tends to blow a different direction than it does in May, meaning course history may play a bit less of a factor than normal. The grass will be also be overseeded to prevent patchy conditions before the Bermuda grows in. Overall, TPC Sawgrass is an awesome test of golf, and all different types of PLAYERS (get it) have fared well here. There’s a ton of water on the finishing holes and everyone finishing late on Sunday will be tasked with hitting the iconic island green on #17.

The greens are also notoriously fast here, often reading 13+ on the Stimpmeter. They will be slightly slower this year due to the overseeding but are still grading out around 12.5 (anything over 12 is FAST). The wind is also going to blow in the teens all four days, so we’ll see plenty of splooshes on #17. Bottom line, it’s going to be a good watch.

The Field:

This tournament is pretentiously called THE PLAYERS, so THE PLAYERS should PLAY, right? I’ll say it one last time here, but this is the best field men’s professional golf gets all year. The other majors have a bunch of geriatric former winners and prepubescent amateurs you can cross off the list before the event begins, but the golfer with the worst odds at THE PLAYERS is Michael Kim, and he won the John Deere last year. So yeah, every great player is playing and the bottom tier actually has a shot (not really but more so than usual).

Prediction:

Like any strong-field event, there are probably 15-20 guys in real contention, and the rest will need a fantastic ballstriking/putting week to win. I’m going to roll with Justin Rose this week, mainly because I picked him in the PGA Tour Preview and I just drew him out of a hat. Really though he checks all the boxes you want here: awesome driver, ballstriker, scrambler (though that could be somewhat negated with the fast greens) and putter. What you want here is someone with an all-around game where if something fails he can make it up in other areas.

Losing DraftKings/FanDuel Lineup:

Justin Rose

Sergio Garcia

Xander Schauffele

Gary Woodland

Emiliano Grillo

Luke List

Good luck and happy golfing!

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The New GGR…with EXOS!

Where Do You Lose Golf Balls (Or Your Mind)?

Greetings faithful reader! As the rules regarding hazards (PENALTY AREAS) have changed in 2019, so will Hart Ranch GC. Below is a short questionnaire on how you feel about the current course setup and if any changes should be made. Obviously we have some ideas, but our valued patrons’ input never hurts. We will update you on course changes as we get closer to the season, but a big thanks for giving your observation(s)! You never know, there might be something in it for you (hint hint)…

[contact-form]

Stroke and Distance Local Rule

http://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/rules-hub/rules-modernization-copy/major-changes/golfs-new-rules-stroke-and-distance.html

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The New Rules and Taking Relief

The New Rules and Taking Relief

By now you’re aware that you can leave the flagstick in while you putt (and you should!), but there are a lot of other new rules the USGA has adopted to simplify and speed up the game. This week we’re going to look at one of the most important (and often confusing) aspects of golf: taking relief and how it has changed in 2019. Read on!

RELIEF AREA

This video will explain the new Relief Area better than I can, so here goes:

Just remember, whenever you drop the ball must come to rest in that relief area, otherwise you re-drop. If you drop twice and the ball rolls out, then you may place it.

OUT OF BOUNDS

OK, let’s get this one out of the way quickly. THE OUT OF BOUNDS RULE HAS NOT CHANGED. If you blow one out onto Spring Creek Road on hole 2, you must take the stroke-and-distance penalty and drop or re-tee from the previous spot (you do have an expanded Relief Area now, see above).

There is now an option for committees (and courses) to adopt a LOCAL RULE that allows players to drop after hitting the ball OB. You will not see this option in any big tournaments on any tours, but it may come into play during casual rounds at certain courses. Regardless, it’s good to know the rule, because it can give you a huge advantage if it’s adopted at the course/event you’re playing. Here’s another video:

PENALTY AREAS

OK, here’s the meat and potatoes. First of all, there are no more water hazards (well, there are, but they’re not called that). Courses and committees can now decide to make anywhere a PENALTY AREA, which are played very much like water hazards used to be. Think of the left side of hole 14. We weren’t able to make this a “hazard” in previous years because that area didn’t hold water. Now, we can (not that we will!). PENALTY AREAS will still be marked by yellow or red stakes or lines (or the area itself can act as a marker). You may now also ground your club in a PENALTY AREA, but we’ll get to that later. Here’s a video:

We don’t have to deal with “hazards” and “lateral hazards” anymore, so you’re probably going to see almost every penalty area marked red (to offer the two-club length rule). The “equidistant” rule no longer exists except as a local rule (you probably rarely used it anyway).

ABNORMAL GROUND CONDITIONS

Similar rules apply here, with the new RELIEF AREA in effect. Here you go again:

UNPLAYABLE LIE

Another similar rule, but a good refresher:

Hopefully this gives you a good idea of how to take relief in 2019. The rules have really been simplified, and  in my humble opinion the USGA has done a fantastic job. We’re always available if you have any questions, and happy golfing!

 

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How to Play DFS (Fantasy) Golf

How to Play DFS Golf

With over 59 million players and a $7 billion industry (as of 2017), fantasy sports have exploded over the last decade and will only go up from here. Along with season-long leagues, daily fantasy (DFS) sites like DraftKings (DK) and FanDuel (FD) offer huge payouts for relatively small entry fees (and it’s legal!). If you’re looking to dip your toes into the DFS golf waters this year, these tips will help. All DFS sites will also let you play for free if you want to practice first (highly recommended). Let’s get rolling!

Get Your Players Through the Cut

PGA tournaments generally feature between 132 and 156 golfers and have a 36-hole cut (top 70 and ties usually make it, if more than 78 players make it there is another cut after Saturday). Any player that doesn’t make it through isn’t going to accumulate points and/or money for you on the weekend.

On DraftKings and FanDuel you pick 6 golfers and must stay under each site’s determined salary cap. Golfers are priced based on a lot of factors, but if you’re able to get all 6 players through the cut you’re probably going to win some $$$. Only ~10% of DFS lineups get all their players through the cut so you’re way ahead of the curve if you do.

Know Your Game

DFS offers two main avenues to play. The first are cash games, and they’re highly recommended if you’re just starting out. Cash games are much easier to win, but the payouts are lower. They include Head-to-Head (play against only one other player, win 80% of your entry fee), Double-Ups (double your money if you finish in the top 43%) and 50/50s (win 80% of your entry fee if you finish in the top 50%). In cash games you want to take “safe” players, i.e. those who regularly make the cut, have good odds, etc. Ownership is much less important in cash games (we’ll get to that shortly).

Tournaments are the lifeblood of DFS. They offer large payouts (up to $1 million for the 4 majors) for smaller entry fees (although they offer high-dollar games for the whales). The problem is you’ll have to beat 100,000+ other lineups to win the whole thing, and finish in the top 20% or so to win any money back. Also keep in mind that there are DFS pros (and people with money to waste), and in the large-field, multi-entry games (the ones with gigantic payouts) they can make up to 150 lineups. That means if you’re only entering one lineup into these contests you’re at a serious disadvantage. I’d highly recommend when you’re first playing tournaments to find Single, 3 or 5-entry MAX contests. The payouts will be lower, but you’ll have a much better chance to cash.

Know Ownership

In order to win tournaments, you must take risks. You want to take some shots on players that other lineups don’t have. Think of it this way: if there are 100 lineups in a contest and 99 of them have Dustin Johnson, you’re not gaining anything on the field if you have Dustin Johnson. However, if you’re 1 out of 100 who has Kiradech Aphibarnrat and he scores the same amount of points as Dustin Johnson you’ve just lapped 99% of the field.

That being said, you don’t want your entire lineup to be made up of low-owned, no-name golfers (unless they all play awesome; hint: it won’t happen). It’s OK to take Dustin Johnson if he’s 99% owned but he wins the tournament.  Generally the best strategy is to take 2-3 of the top guys you think have the best shot at winning without worrying about ownership then differentiate elsewhere. If you have a cheap, low-owned golfer that makes the top-15 you’ve done extremely well.

Know the Scoring System

Each site differs in scoring slightly. Both offer about the same amount of points based on finishing position, but each site rewards scoring differently. You’ll get more points for eagles than birdies, birdies than pars and so on, but FanDuel gives more points for a par, making a grinding-type par-maker slightly more valuable on that site. This is an underrated aspect of DFS golf.

Know the Course

The best part of DFS golf is how much it changes week-to-week. We’re always trying to piece together a puzzle based on a golfer’s profile and the course. A bomber who doesn’t hit many fairways isn’t going to do great on a tight, heavily-wooded course, while a short knocker isn’t going to compete on a wide-open 7,800 yard behemoth (although there are always exceptions…finding them can give you leverage against the field). If you’re going to play, do a bit of research on the course.

Know Course History

Some golfers are just wayyyyy better on certain tracks than others (see Bubba Watson at Riviera and Augusta, Dustin Johnson at Kapalua and Pebble Beach, etc.). Sometimes it’s a matter of where they grew up or went to college, sometimes it’s a statistical thing, sometimes we have no clue but they just play well and feel comfortable on certain courses. If someone has played a tournament 12 times and made 12 cuts, you should probably make a point of rostering him.

Take Rickie Fowler at Torrey Pines. He was highly owned in tournaments yet almost missed his 4^th straight cut there and tied for 66^th (kind of rough for the spokesman of the sponsor). However he has an awesome record at TPC Scottsdale, left a bad taste in people’s mouths after the week before and ended up winning. Course history matters, folks.

Know the Weather

Anyone who golfs in South Dakota knows that weather plays a huge impact, and Tour golf is no different. If there’s a big wind/rain/cold discrepancy from morning to afternoon on Thursday and Friday you need to be paying attention. Those who tee off at the calm part of the day have a gigantic advantage on those who have to play in a 35mph squall.

Know Vegas

Vegas produces odds on every single golfer for every single golf tournament and guess what? They’re pretty good at it. Pay attention to the odds and look for discrepancies in DFS pricing. Sometimes a player with decent odds will be priced too low on DFS sites and vice-versa. Looking at Vegas odds is a great way to research when you’re just starting out.

Embrace Volatility

This is my last point, but probably the most important. Golf is extremely volatile (don’t we know), meaning there are going to be times the highest-ranked, highest-priced player in the field fires an 80 on the first day and decides to WD and pack it in for the next tournament. It happens all the time.

Here’s the rule (and it applies to each golf shot you hit as well): Treat each week completely separately than the one before.  You cannot afford to have biases if you’re trying to win. Just because Justin Rose crumbled on Friday and missed the cut for you doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look at him next time. Just because Sergio Garcia is out destroying greens and trying to dig a hole to China doesn’t mean you shouldn’t play him in a good spot (but really, c’mon man).  There are guys everyone likes who will always be highly owned even if they’re a bad course fit. See Fowler, Rickie; Finau, Tony, and guys everyone hates who will go underowned even with great odds. See Reed, Patrick; Poulter, Ian. Always play with your head and not your heart and you’ll have a big advantage on those that don’t.

Trust me, there’s nothing like watching Sunday of a golf tournament when you have 6 players through the cut and are winning $$$, but one final thought: don’t go crazy. It’s extremely difficult in DFS to win consistently in any sport, and golf is probably the toughest. There’s just so much variance week-to-week that it’s impossible to do great every single tournament. Choose the right games for you and play small, lose small. Happy golfing!

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Always Leave the Flag In

Always Leave the Flag In

New Rule: Under Rule 13.2a(2):                  

There is no longer a penalty if a ball played from the putting green hits a flagstick left in the hole.

Players are not required to putt with the flagstick in the hole; rather, they continue to have the choice to have it removed (which includes having someone attend the flagstick and remove it after the ball is played).

Reasons for Change:

Allowing a player to putt with the flagstick in the hole without fear of penalty should generally help speed up play.

When the players did not have caddies, the previous Rule could result in considerable delay.

On balance it is expected that there is no advantage in being able to putt with the unattended flagstick in the hole:

• In some cases, the ball may strike the flagstick and bounce out of the hole when it might otherwise have been holed, and
• In other cases, the ball may hit the flagstick and finish in the hole when it might otherwise have missed. 

Au contraire, rules guardians. It appears that leaving the flagstick in does have a decided advantage, judging by various professional golf performances over the past weekend. Today I’m going to take a stand and advocate for leaving the flag in on every shot. Here is my reasoning, please tell me if I’m wrong.

The ball has a better chance of going in the hole.

Dave Pelz is the master of short game analytics, and he wrote this article way back in 2007 (talking about chips and putts from the fringe). Basically, the flag gives a golfer a higher margin of error (effectively making the hole larger, thanks USGA!). Unless it’s extremely windy and the flag is waving all over or bending severely in one direction, leaving the flag in gives you a better chance at making your putt or chip. Think of it this way: when the flag is leaning away from you slightly, the hole is larger. When it’s leaning towards you, the ball hits and goes immediately downward into the hole. Win-win.

You have a better chance of aiming correctly.

This is especially true on long putts. Your eyes tend to respond better to a 3-dimensional perspective and you’ll have a tendency to aim your putts better. You also won’t need to take the flags out on the putting green when practicing, and as we all know, putting is largely about confidence and commitment. If you think you putt better with the flag in, you probably will.

You (should) play faster.

Ever played behind the group that puts the flag in the furthest possible spot from the cup and takes 5 minutes to amble over and put it back? Me too. If everyone agreed that leaving the flag in gave them an advantage we’d never have this issue again. Hit it on and putt it folks.

A caveat:

Always leaving the flag in will give you an advantage at almost every course you play. Sometimes you’ll run into a place with different flagsticks (this is what Dechambeau is talking about with the infamous coefficient of restitution quote). If the flags where you play are significantly larger than usual you’ll want to pull the flag.

Speaking of Dechambeau, c’mon man! Yes, he played to an impressive 7-shot victory this weekend in Dubai, and he’s currently ranked #5 in the OGWR (I honestly wouldn’t be surprised to see him at #1 at the end of the year). However he took a minute and 45 seconds over a putt on the 15^th (there is supposed to be a penalty after one minute), then proceeded to take over a minute to hit his birdie putt on the 18^th when he had already won the tournament. We all wish casual golfers would realize they’re not playing for hundreds of thousands of dollars during their regular Saturday game, but this isn’t the case. Players will generally follow the example the best players set. I get that Dechambeau is a different golfer than we’ve ever seen, and he’s playing for far more than we ever will, but still. You’re making golf boring dude.

Thanks for reading that little rant. Happy golfing!

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Make 2019 Your Best Golf Year Ever

Make 2019 Your Best Golf Year Ever

Chances are you approach the bigger decisions in life with some dutiful strategic planning. Managing your finances, changing jobs, picking the right partner, buying a home. All these things require due diligence. If golf is your main hobby, why not treat it the same way? I’m not saying it’s in the same stratosphere relative to ultimate life satisfaction, but if you’re going to spend a lot of time playing golf you might as well plan to get better.

For the purposes of this post, I’m not going to state the obvious. Yes, you should take lessons regularly and get clubs that fit you. If you’re playing with clubs that are 10+ years old, you’re missing out on the millions of dollars of R&D that the industry has pumped into club technology and you’re at a disadvantage. Take lessons and get fit, please.

Let’s look at some less evident ways to be the best golfer you can be in 2019.

Picture What You Want
Picture yourself in November. What did you accomplish this year? It can be anything. Maybe you finally beat a friend for the first time or broke 90. Maybe you won the Club Championship or the State Two-Man (shameless plug). Maybe you lowered your handicap by 5 points. Maybe you didn’t throw a club all year. Whatever it is, picture who you want to be as a golfer at the end of the season. You can’t get to your destination if you don’t know where you’re going.

Practice Smart
We’re all guilty of it. We get to the range, pull 7-iron and hammer away until we find a groove. Unfortunately, this only makes you better at hitting 30 7-irons in a row and has no semblance to real golf. Quality over quantity is key. You need to practice like you play, which means hitting different clubs to different targets each swing. It also means strengthening your weaknesses and trying to hit shots you’re uncomfortable with. Golf is a game that will inevitably present you with a shot you’re not used to at the worst possible moment. Be ready.

Walk
Exercise. Save money. Take in the surroundings. Get lost in your thoughts. You don’t need to walk every time you play, but try it a few times and see how much it benefits your game. You’ll be surprised.

Play Somewhere You’ve Never Played
The beauty of golf is how much it changes depending on where you play. West river golf is different than East river. South Dakota golf is different than Florida golf. U.S. golf is different than U.K. golf. Playing different courses expands your game. If you’ve never putted on Bermuda or Poa annua, you’re in for a shock. Try somewhere new.

Swing in the Winter
Hank Haney often prescribes taking a lot of practice swings (100 per day is the recommended dose), and I can’t say I disagree. 100 swings sounds like a lot, but it will only take around 10 minutes. This is the quickest way to groove a feel for whatever you’re working on. Here’s the trick: each swing needs to be independent of the previous swing, meaning you need to set up like you’re hitting a ball each time (no swinging back and forth repeatedly). Pick a target on the ground that acts like a ball and step into it the same way each time. You’ll groove a consistent swing, even if it’s not perfect. This leads to…

Take 5 Minutes to Get Better Every Day
A good deal of golfers are searching for an instantaneous breakthrough, some tip that changes their game for the better forever. If you’ve been playing for any amount of time, you know this doesn’t work. You don’t have to workout for two hours or play 36 holes on the sim everyday (though that would qualify). Take 5 minutes and stretch to get flexible. Do some pushups. Do the Haney drill above. Hit some putts on your carpet. Get a calendar and mark each day you’ve done something (ANYTHING) to improve. 5 minutes doesn’t sound like a lot, but you’re building a habit (check out Atomic Habits by James Clear). Worthwhile goals always take time, but you’ll be amazed at how quickly little changes add up.

Let’s resolve to make 2019 our best golf year ever. We’re looking forward to a great season and helping you improve each and every day. Happy golfing!

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A Tournament Golf Spiel and the 2019 Event Calendar

A Tournament Golf Spiel and the 2019 Event Calendar

Here’s the thing: If you’re a golfer and don’t play tournament golf, you’re missing out. There’s no better way to improve and test your game than competing. Tournament golf gives you something to practice and prepare for. It puts you under pressure. It challenges your mental state and makes you strategize in ways casual golf does not (especially after the inevitable first hole triple bogey).

Often those who are reluctant to compete play one event and are hooked for life. Let’s resolve to make 2019 the year you play at least one golf tournament. Test yourself and your game. See what it feels like to have to make a downhill 4-footer to win your flight. Endure the pressure when your teammate hits it OB and you have to put one in play. Experience what it’s like to pull off a miracle shot in front of a crowd. Most of all, have fun with it. These events aren’t The Masters, but they will teach you something about yourself, and the more tournaments you play the easier they get.

Now that you’ve read that little spiel, our 2019 Event Calendar is officially here!  We’ve added a couple new Hart Ranch tournaments and have a BIG SDGA event coming at the beginning of June (yes, if you’re reading this and you’re a man, you should play. See above). Here are a few of the highlights for the upcoming golf season.

*March 16^th or 23^rd – Spring Shamble (2 Person Shamble, 18 Holes)

*April 20^th or 27^th – Sand Green Open (New, Individual Stroke Play, Old Club Division, 18 Holes)

*May 25^th – Hart Ranch Open (New, Individual Stroke Play, 18 Holes)

*May 28^th – Men’s League Starts

*May 30^th – Ladies’ League Starts

^June 8^th – 9^th – SDGA Two-Man Championship (2 Man Four-Ball and Chapman, 36 Holes)

*June 22^nd – Hart Ranch Best Ball (2 Person Best Ball, 18 Holes)

*July 20^th-21^st – Spring Creek Classic (2 Person Best Ball, Chapman, Alternate Shot, Scramble, 36 Holes)

*August 4^th – Hart Ranch Couples (2 Person, Chapman, 18 Holes)

*August 17^th – 18^th – Hart Ranch Club Championship (Individual Stroke Play, 36 Holes)

*September 14^th– Retribution of the Ranch – (4 Person Scramble, 18 Holes)

*October 12^th – 13^th – Gary Gross Memorial 3-Stick (Individual Stroke Play, 3 Clubs Only, 18 or 36 Holes)

*October 26^th – Heaven & Hell (2 Person Scramble, 18 Holes)

*Hart Ranch Tournament

^State Tournament

There you have it ladies and gentlemen. There are plenty of opportunities to play some competitive golf this year. Registration for these tournaments and leagues will open soon, so keep an eye on your email/Facebook. We’re looking forward to another awesome tournament season, and hope you play as many Hart Ranch events as you’re able. Happy golfing!

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PGA Tour Season Preview – 2019

PGA Tour Season Preview

Welcome back to my seldom-read, always incorrect preview of the PGA Tour Season! It’s an honor to welcome our third reader to the annual post. Last year, I correctly predicted that I’d be incorrect on all fronts, so I’ll take credit for that. I predicted Rahm at the Masters (somewhat close, 4th), Thomas Pieters at the U.S. Open (didn’t even play), Rickie Fowler at The Open (T28) and Tony Finau at the PGA Championship (T42). I also thought the Ryder Cup would be extremely close (Europe won in a blowout), that Stephan Jaeger would be the next big name and that Jordan Spieth would be ranked #1 in the world at the end of the year (currently #17).

Still reading? I’m not sure why, but since you are I might as well give you a little preview of what’s to come this year. There are some big changes coming to golf and the PGA Tour in 2019. Here’s a snippet:

The Schedule

The PGA Tour smartly decided not to compete with the behemoth that is the NFL on Sundays, so the Tour Championship will now be played in August. We will therefore have the PLAYERS, The Masters and the PGA Championship all in the spring.  The Open will be the final major of the year and be played in July. While I like the schedule overall (we have 5 straight months packed with huge tournaments) it’s going to bring some interesting weather into play for the PGA Championship. Northern courses (this year’s PGA is at Bethpage Black in New York) are going to have wicked winds, fogs, squalls, blizzards, hurricanes and monsoons to contend with. Who knows, it could be fun (until we have a Thursday finish).

The Rules

We will continue updating you on rule changes in this blog, and we’ll see how they impact the Tour as we go along. There have already been some laughs about dropping from knee height, for example. I don’t see much of an impact on actual play with the exception of Dechambeau being annoying about making his caddie put the pin back in on a 3-footer. Here’s a tip for this year: if the pin is already out, don’t request your playing partner to put it back because you think you have an advantage. Don’t be that golfer please. None of us need that. Please don’t do it. Seriously. Even if it’s downhill. Not joking. OK, mayyybbbeee if you’re above the hole on 17. Actually, that’s pretty good strategy. If you’re the last person to putt you can request to put the pin back in on a down-hiller on 17. Other than that, it’s not allowed. Got it?

New Playoff Format

If we’re being honest, the FedEx Cup Playoffs weren’t that exciting in past years. Everybody had 1,000+ points and it took a graphing calculator and a thorough understanding of theoretical physics to discern who had a shot to win. There were two leaderboards, one for the actual tournament and one for FedEx Cup points, and all anyone cared about was Tiger winning at East Lake (remember when Justin Rose triumphantly won the FedEx Cup? Me either).

The Tour has simplified things to some degree by eliminating points completely from the Tour Championship. There will only be one leaderboard (what a concept!). The twist is that the points leader will start at 10-under par, while the last place players will start at even (see handy picture below). Personally, I love it. It still gives the leader a huge advantage while if someone from the bottom tier goes nuts they actually have a shot to win (wasn’t so before).

Predictions

Onto what all three of you have been waiting for…predictions! You can win a hefty sum if you’re gutsy enough to parlay the four major winners in Vegas, and if you’re really audacious you’ll try these four! (hint: it’s not a smart bet).

The PLAYERS

March 14-17 – TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

Defending Champ: Webb Simpson

2019 Winner: Justin Rose

The Masters

April 11-14 – Augusta National, Augusta, GA

Defending Champ: Patrick Reed

2019 Winner: Jason Day

PGA Championship

May 16-19 – Bethpage State Park Black Course, Bethpage, NY

Defending Champ: Brooks Koepka

2019 Winner: Rory McIlroy

U.S. Open

June 13-16 – Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach, CA

Defending Champ: Brooks Koepka

2019 Winner: Xander Schauffele

The Open Championship

July 18-21 – Royal Portrush Golf Club, Portrush, Northern Ireland

Defending Champ: Francesco Molinari

2019 Winner: Tommy Fleetwood

FedEx Cup

August 22-25 – East Lake Golf Club – Atlanta, GA

Defending Champ: Justin Rose

2019 Winner: Xander Schauffele

Think I’m going to win $2 million?!?! Me either. The bottom line is golf has more talent now than ever, and there are 30+ players capable of winning any given week. With Tiger back and young golfers with more and more ability (130mph Cam Champ? Sheesh) professional golf is in a great spot. Thank you, loyal reader, and enjoy the Tour season. It’ll be nothing if not interesting. Happy golfing!

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