Chris Gibson Golf Blog
When practicing be sure to go to the range or the short game area with a purpose. Many players including elite players hit golf balls for the sake of hitting golf balls. They really have no goal for that session. This leads to boredom and incorrect management of time. As most of us have little time on our hands in this ever changing world, we need to be sure that we have specific goals for each session. Use a practice diary and take five minutes out of the session to set goals. This will include technical changes, skills tests, building a routine and course management sessions. These areas alone will keep you busy for a number of practice sessions. Set the goal and tick that achievement off. Write notes on how to improve that skill or how it felt when you were under the pressure of a skills test e.t.c. We can all benefit from EFFECTIVE practice. Try a practice diary for the next month in your practice sessions and watch the sessions become more meaningful and productive.
Regards
Chris Gibson
If you go to any of the major world tours websites, you will find statistics on Greens in Regulation (GIR), Fairways Hit, Scrambling, Putting and so on. What does this mean to the average player? We see so many people on the driving range practicing ‘full swing’ grinding on technique. Yet the most under utilized area at our facility is the chipping/putting green.
The top three GIR average players on the US P.G.A tour 2011 were:
1. Boo Weekley Played 66 rounds, 71.68% GIR, 180 Order of Merritt, $279,531
2. Heath Slocum Played 89 rounds, 71.4% GIR, 112 Order of Merritt, $767,216
3. Joe Durant Played 71 rounds, 71.26% GIR, 160 Order of Merritt, $358,790
Very impressive earnings to us mere mortals, however Pat Perez finished in 100 in GIR statistics playing 76 rounds, 65.42% GIR, 73rd Order of Merritt, $1,295,253. Better still, Ricky Fowler finished 36th Order of Merritt playing 84 rounds, 64.47% GIR, 120 GIR and winning $2,084,681. Does this mean that he is a bad ball striker. Absolutely not. That means his all round game including scrambling, of which he was No: 2 after his first tournament of the year, is fantastic.
It doesn’t make sense to me as a coach that we spend more than 80% of our time practicing trying to hit the 150 M green and asking why can’t I get to the 200 M green. When in most cases we can’t hit the green from 80 M.
Now of course we all know the answer to the question of WHY don’t we practice inside 100M. It’s BORING according to most people. The satisfaction of hitting a screaming driver past 200 M straight and with the perfect shape to it, far out ways getting it in a net from 30,40 or 50 M away let alone practicing our putting stroke or learning how to read greens properly. I can assure you that if we are more diligent with our practice from inside 100, our ball striking will become better and our scores dramatically improve due to increased percentage of up & down made.
Food for thought as you plan your practice for the future.
Take care and great golfing.
Regards
Chris Gibson
Star of the future.
Josh Horswill is a 10 year old who hales out of Keperra Golf Club in the Western Suburbs of Brisbane. Josh is a high-performance and results-driven athlete with an impressive track record of success in multiple sporting disciplines (Soccer, Basketball, Tennis & Golf). Josh’s passionate and positive attitude towards golf is evident from the success he has had in 2011. His strong skill set, training ethics and course management skills displayed at all times are the secret to his success.
2011 was the first year on the Greg Norman Junior Golf Foundation and The Invincible’s Tour on the Sunshine Coast and both tours were a valuable learning experience. The opportunity to play on different types of golf courses in various types of playing conditions saw Josh’s game soar to new heights whilst ‘Wowing’ all who came into contact with this intelligent fun loving 10 year old. Apart from achieving all goals set for 2011, Josh also exceeded some of his own expectations by winning several tournaments on both the GNJGF and Invisible’s Junior tours. It is a pleasure and an honour to coach this talented 10 year old and I have already asked for his autograph before he becomes a house hold name. Keep an eye out for this young guy on the fairway of a golf course nearby.
Regards
Chris Gibson
Wow, what a golf tournament. After playing Australian Tour events, attending Australian Junior and Senior Amateur events, there is no doubt that this event is the premier event in world junior golf. The only difference between US Tour events and this event are the Tour Vans that grace the practice fairways.
The practice fairway is littered with Titleist Pro V1 golf balls, the greens are running at 11 on the stimp meter after 2 days of rain, there are more staff on hand than Myer in Xmas trading. I can’t say enough about the overwhelming hospitality at the club.
All in all this is the best event I have had the pleasure to be at even if I am not playing. Check the photo’s below.
Hello all,
It is with pleasure to report I will be attending the US Junior Amateur at Gold Mountain in Washington State from July 13th – July 25th. Andrew McCain, whom I am fortunate/privileged to coach, has qualified for the US Junior.
The US Junior Amateur is a televised event in America that sees the top 158 Juniors from around the world competing over 36 holes followed by the top 64 qualifiers going to a match play event. This event, outside the US Amateur is the biggest Amateur event in the world and is arguably the biggest Junior event in the world. Winners such as Tiger Woods, Hunter Mahan, David Duval, Johnny Miller e.t.c. shows the importance of this event in world golf. In 2010 there were 2,830 entries accepted for the U.S. Amateur. The pre-qualifying event held at Walking Stick Golf Club in Pueblo Colorado saw 68 players play for three spots. Andrew’s total was -7, 137 for 36 holes. The 36 holes was conducted in 35+ degree heat and obviously massive amounts of pressure.
I will be updating my blog and Twitter feeds via www.chrisgibsongolf.com . My apologies for the inconvenience to my clients at both Victoria Park Golf Complex and Links Hope Island. I look forward to catching up with everyone when I return and sharing the experience with you all.
Regards
Chris Gibson
