The Trackman Cometh

The Trackman Cometh

Besides the fairly recent revolution in golf ball and club design, nothing has changed the game of golf more than launch monitor technology. We’re proud to announce that we have acquired Trackman, widely recognized as the most advanced launch monitor in the world. Used by tour pros, instructors and amateurs around the globe, nothing has advanced the understanding of why the golf ball flies the way it does quite like Trackman.

Obviously, we’re excited. In the coming weeks, we will schedule demo days where you can hit shots on Trackman to get your numbers. It will also be available for certain lessons and clubfittings, giving you exact details on why you’re hitting that monster slice or hook. When the cold weather inevitably hits (ugh) we will move Trackman inside. There will be more information to follow as we iron out details, so stay tuned.

If you’d like to further your understanding, we highly suggest visiting TrackmanUniversity.com, where you can get a free, in-depth education on everything our new launch monitor offers. We’re looking forward to making your golf game better than ever. Updates will follow soon ladies and gents…let’s have some fun!

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Hart Ranch in Autumn

Hart Ranch in the Fall

“Cheesy quote about summer passing, leaves falling, changing colors, pumpkins and how lovely Hart Ranch is in the fall.”

-Those of Us Who Golf Hart Ranch in the Fall

Ladies and gentlemen, summer is almost officially over. That means the kids are back in school, football season is gearing up and some of the best tournaments of the year are coming to Hart Ranch. Be sure to clear your calendar for the following events:

September 15^th– Retribution of the Ranch (4-Person Scramble)

September 29^th – LA Open (ask Pro Shop for details)

October 13^th – 14^th – Gary Gross Memorial 3-Stick

October 28^th – Heaven and Hell (2-Person Scramble, Wavi Benefit)

We also have a Tuesday Night Fall League starting next Tuesday, September 4^th. This will be a 2-person team League with no weekly commitment (play any time after 4pm). We’ll play through October 9th, with a different format each week. Just call the shop at (605) 341-5703 by 1pm each Tuesday to sign up and reserve your tee times.

Keep an eye on the blog, your email and Facebook as we have some big news coming in the next couple weeks. Don’t worry, it’s a good thing. Let’s all enjoy the nirvana that is fall golf at Hart Ranch and try not to think about winter being a few short months away. Happy golfing!

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FedEx Cup Playoffs Preview

FedEx Cup Playoffs Preview

Introduced in 2007, the FedEx Cup is the PGA Tour’s version of a playoff, culminating in the Tour Championship at East Lake in Atlanta. With over $35 million in prize money and $10 million going to the winner (but unfortunately not a gold jacket), there’s plenty on the line for even the richest golfers. Let’s take a gander at what is going to happen over the next month in professional golf.

Format

Over the 43-tournament PGA Tour season, players compete for points weighted heavily on high finishes and wins. The top 125 players in points move on to the FedEx Cup Playoffs (FECP), which begin Thursday. There is then a progressive cut, with the top 100 advancing to TPC Boston, then 70 to Aronimink, then a reseed with the final 30 going to the Tour Championship in Atlanta. The first three events of the FECP are worth 2,000 points (regular events are worth 500, WGCs are 550 and majors are worth 600 FEC points).

The Courses

The Northern Trust – Ridgewood Country Club, Paramus, New Jersey (Aug 23-26)

Dell Technologies Championship – TPC Boston, Massachusetts (Aug 31-Sep 3)

BMW Championship – Aronimink Golf Club, Newtown Square, Pennsylvania (Sep 6-9)

Tour Championship – East Lake Golf Club, Atlanta, Georgia (Sep 20-23)

Current Leaders

Click to see full FECP Leaderboard

Past Champs

2007 – Tiger Woods

2008 – Vijay Singh

2009 – Tiger Woods

2010- Jim Furyk

2011 – Bill Haas

2012 – Brandt Snedeker

2013 – Henrik Stenson

2014 – Billy Horschel

2015 – Jordan Spieth

2016 – Rory McIlroy

2017 – Justin Thomas

Some big names, no?

Prediction

There are a ton of big names at the top, but this feels like a year for a somewhat random winner. I’m going to go with Webb Simpson, who’s had a big resurgence and seems primed for another win which will vault him to the top quickly. If (and that’s a big IF) his putter gets going he’s one of the best on Tour tee-to-green and can compete with anyone. We’ve had three superstars the last three years, it feels like a not-quite household name’s year to win.

Here’s to hoping you can get out to Hart Ranch before summer really winds down. Happy golfing!

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2018 PGA Championship Preview

PGA Championship Preview

The Course

Bellerive Country Club, St. Louis, MO

7,380 Yards, Par 70

Nick Price won when Bellerive last hosted the PGA Championship in 1992, but the course has undergone some major renovations since then. Rees Jones toughened up the course in 2006 (Jones has also worked on Torrey Pines and Winged Foot), but it appears the greens are running slow due to heavy rains this week. My guess is we’ll see a winning score around 15 – 16 under par.

Six of the par 4s measure over 450 yards, and the 524-yard 4^th hole usually plays as a par 5 for the members. The back 9 has a ton of elevation change and tree lined holes (reminiscent of Augusta), and long bunker shots abound here. It will take a good driving week for the winner.

The Field

This is a monster field, with 156 golfers teeing it up. All the high-ranked players will be here, but there are also 20 or so PGA club pros that qualify (awesome). The era of the club pro winning majors ended long ago, so you can write these guys off as far as actually competing (although there are some great stories). Look towards a high-ranked, heavy hitter to win this event, as the last 7 major champions have all been ranked top 25 in the OWGR.

Trends

– Six of the past seven winners of the PGA Championship finished T15 or better in their previous start before winning this event (Thomas finished T24 in his prior start in 2017).

– Four of the past seven winners of this event ranked sixth or better for the year in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee in the year of their win (Dufner 46th in SG:OTT in 2013; Justin Thomas 30th in 2017).

– The past four winners of the PGA combined to average 308.7 yards in Driving Distance for their years of their win.

Odds (Moneyline)

Dustin Johnson +800
Rory McIlroy +1200
Justin Thomas +1400
Jordan Spieth +2000
Brooks Koepka +2000
Jason Day +2000
Rickie Fowler +2200
Justin Rose +2200
Jon Rahm +2500
Tiger Woods +2800
Tommy Fleetwood +2800
Francesco Molinari +3300
Patrick Reed +3500
Tony Finau +4000
Alex Noren +5000
Henrik Stenson +5000
Patrick Cantlay +5000
Paul Casey +5000
Xander Schauffele +5000
Bubba Watson +5000
Hideki Matsuyama +6600
Marc Leishman +6600
Joaquin Niemann +6600
Webb Simpson +7500
Thorbjorn Olesen +7500
Bryson DeChambeau +8000
Kyle Stanley +8000
Louis Oosthuizen +8000
Matt Kuchar +8000
Phil Mickelson +10000

Prediction

Remember how I just said it would be a heavy-hitting, top-25 player that won this tournament? Nope. I’m going with a weird hunch and saying Ryan Moore. I really don’t have a great reason for you, but if there’s a major someone you don’t expect to win can, it’s this one (see Jimmy Walker, Jason Dufner, Keegan Bradley, Y.E. Yang, Shaun Micheel, Rich Beem, etc.). I’ll be wrong as always, but it’s worth a shot.

Losing Draftkings Lineup

Tommy Fleetwood

Patrick Cantlay

Ryan Moore

Jason Day

Xander Schauffele

Joaquin Niemann

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Yoga on the Green at Hart Ranch GC

Yoga on the Green

Do you know any golfers who’ve held the same handicap index for years, decades or generations? Know anyone who plays a lot but never seem to get better, no matter how much practice time they put in, lessons they take or clubs they buy?

The truth is that while all the above can certainly help, there comes a point when the body will simply not allow a player to consistently do what it takes to hit a golf ball long and straight. Even the umm… heftier players on professional tours tend to be extremely strong and flexible (even if they don’t always look it).

While any exercise is fantastic, and we would of course encourage you to continue with any regimen you’re on, there’s one all-encompassing form of exercise we can guarantee is great for golf: yoga.

Here are just a few of the many benefits yoga offers:

• Increased Range of Motion and Flexibility
• Decreased Pain
• Increased Endurance
• Decreased Weight
• Increased Strength
• Decreased Flab
• Increased Balance and Stability
• Decreased Signs of Aging
• Increased Focus
• Decreased Tension

If getting healthier and therefore better at golf (OK, you might still need lessons or a clubfitting) interests you, join us on August 11th and 25th at 5:45am (you can do it!) for a little Yoga on the Green. Teresa Parker from Sol Vibe will be at Hart Ranch GC to lead an outdoor Sunrise Yoga class in our beautiful setting.

The cost for each class is $10 for Hart Ranch GC and Sol Vibe Members or $15 for public (click the links to purchase online). This might be just the breakthrough you need for your game…see you bright and early at Hart Ranch!

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The Open Championship Preview

The Open Championship Preview

The Course

Carnoustie Golf Links, Carnoustie, Angus, Scotland

Par 71, 7,421 Yards

Golf has been played at Carnoustie since the early 1500s, so it’s naturally one of the more historic tracks on the globe. This will be the 8^th Open Championship at Carnoustie, and previous winners include Ben Hogan, Gary Player and Tom Watson. It is also the site of the famous Jean van de Velde meltdown in 1999 (have you heard from him since?).

Carnoustie is known as one of the tougher courses in the Open rotation. “Grip it and rip it” ain’t gonna work here, as penal bunkers are strewn throughout the fairways and OB prowls around the course. The par 4s will be key, as seven of them measure over 450 yards and present extremely difficult tee shots and approaches. The final three holes are the most difficult on the course (awesome!), which could explain why the last three Opens played at Carnoustie have gone to a playoff.

The Field

152 Golfers, Top 70 and Ties Make the Cut

The best players will all be in attendance, but so will some has-beens. Past Open Championship winners are all invited, so we’ll have the likes of David Duval and Sandy Lyle in the field (yes, you can cross them off). There’ll be plenty of PGA Tour players tromping across the pond, but watch out for guys you’ve never heard of from the Euro Tour. They tend be solid, overlooked picks in the Open.

Fast Facts

Five of the past seven Open winners have been 39 years old or older

The last three Opens at Carnoustie have gone to a playoff

Five of the last six Opens have been won by a former major winner (besides Henrik Stenson, 2016)

The last Scottish winner of any major was Paul Lawrie in 1999 at Carnoustie

The last five majors have all been won by players in their 20s, all Americans

The Odds

Dustin Johnson 12-1
Rory McIlroy 16-1
Rickie Fowler 16-1
Justin Rose 16-1
Jordan Spieth 20-1
Justin Thomas 20-1
Tommy Fleetwood 20-1
Brooks Koepka 20-1
Jon Rahm 20-1
Jason Day 25-1
Tiger Woods 25-1
Henrik Stenson 25-1
Sergio Garcia 25-1
Alex Noren 25-1
Francesco Molinari 25-1
Patrick Reed 30-1
Paul Casey 30-1
Marc Leishman 40-1
Hideki Matsuyama 40-1
Branden Grace 40-1
Tyrrell Hatton 40-1
Phil Mickelson 50-1
Ian Poulter 50-1

Prediction

Like any major right now, you could pick 20+ dudes out of a hat and have just as good a chance as anyone. This week, I’m going with my boy Tommy Fleetwood and his long locks. It seems like prime time to break several droughts: first Englishman to win the Open since 1992, first non-American in five tries, a younger Open winner, etc. I’ll be wrong.

Losing DraftKings Million $ Lineup

Tommy Fleetwood

Alex Noren

Rafa Cabrera-Bello

Cameron Smith

Rickie Fowler

Phil Mickelson

 

You’ll have to get up early/stay up late to watch a lot of The Open, as coverage starts on The Golf Channel at 11:30pm MT on Wednesday. Luckily for us, it’s one of the few tournaments they cover almost all the way through. Enjoy, good luck and happy golfing!

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The New World Handicap System

The New World Handicap System

Sandbaggers beware! Whether you live in Rapid City or French Polynesia, a more equitable and global handicapping system is coming to a course near you.

Starting in 2020, golfers around the world will fall under the umbrella of the new World Handicapping System, which aims to welcome more golfers and unify the 60 million or so players around the globe. Here are a few of the key changes:

1. The Entire World Will Use the Same System

There are currently 6 different handicapping systems: USGA, R&A, Golf Australia, European Golf Association (EGA), Council of National Golf Unions (CONGU), South African Golf Association (SAGA) and the Argentine Golf Association (AGA). Obviously, this makes playing a tournament overseas a little challenging. Now, every country will use a uniform system governed by the USGA and R&A. You can go to Timbuktu and play heads up with a Timbuktian.

2. You’ll Need Less Holes to Establish a Handicap

You currently need 90 holes (five 18-hole rounds) to establish a handicap. The new system only requires 54 (9 or 18-holes).

3. The USGA Course and Slope Rating System Will be Used Worldwide

Unite the clans!

4. Your Handicap Will be Pushed DOWN Further…

Handicaps are currently designed to go down easier than up by taking an average of your 10 best scores out of your last 20 total scores. The new system will take your best 8. Sorry Bandit Bob.

5. The Max is Higher Though

The current maximum indexes are 40.4 for women and 36.4 for men. The new max is 54.0, regardless of gender. Good luck playing against that.

6. Weather Will Be Accounted For (My Favorite)

If this works well, it will be a great idea. An algorithm will weigh scores differently based on weather conditions. As we all know, any course is different when it’s 72 degrees and calm compared to 45 degrees and blowing 25 mph. Awesome idea.

7. Your Handicap Will Update Every Day Rather than Twice Per Month

Another fantastic idea.

8. You Can Only Post Net Double-Bogey on Any Hole

Another rule making everything more equitable and should help speed up play.

All in all, I think these changes are tremendously beneficial for the game. Of course there will always be complaints, but the idea that you can compare your index with someone in the Zhejiang Province of China is pretty awesome. We’re looking forward to seeing how everything shakes out in 2020!

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