Yesterday may have been a historic day for golf. The first-ever College Golf Combine took place at Tradition National Golf Course in Hardeeville, SC, just outside of Hilton Head Island.
With 100 girl and boy junior golfers participating in the two-day event and 40-plus coaches from Division I, II, III and NAIA scouting potential talent for their programs, the combine represents an additional tool available to both player and coach alike.
Combine organizers developed a series of skills assessments which allowed recruits to hit every shot in their bag under pressure, plus they get out on the course for 18 competitive holes of golf.
As I watched junior players hit bunker shots trying to have them finish within certain distance circles and pitch shots to landing targets on the green, it struck me what a great tool the combine is for players to get a true sense for where their game really is. It exposes the areas they really need to work on if their game's are going to improve.
Most kids, and really all players for that matter, want to practice what they are already good at. If they hit the driver well, then they can't wait to pull that headcover off and pound tee shots to the delight of their friends. Or maybe it's mastery with the flop shot, so again 50 flops later they're still working on a part of their game where they already possess a lot of skill.
Now, through the evaluation that the combine provides, players can really see how they perform and take that understanding to a smarter approach to practice. Parents can encourage their child to work hard at getting those numbers up and they can turn the assessments into new games at their home club. And coaches can look more clearly at areas of attention for their recruits. Pretty cool stuff, no matter how you look at it.
In talking with parents yesterday, what became apparent is the fact that there are a number of talented girls and boys that come from small high school programs. They also don't have the opportunity to compete in many significant junior events. This is a great way for kids that wouldn't normally be seen by coaches to get out in front of them and perform. It also gives parents that might not be so familiar with golf a chance to gain a better perspective on what is really happening in the junior game.
I'm sure several of this year's participants will end up with college scholarships that they wouldn't have received otherwise. That's exciting and potentially life-changing for those involved.
While I don't think the College Golf Combines will replace how coaches have historically gone about their recruiting, I do feel it's a legitimate way to supplement coaches recruiting efforts. As for the junior players, they still need to perform to create interest. Just showing up is not enough.
That's my view on the game.
Mark Gonsalves
CEO
Hank Haney IJGA
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Friday, July 25, 2008
Role Models
In my last post, I discussed the efforts of Richy Werenski in this year's USGA Junior Amateur. Last night Golf Central on the Golf Channel ran a short piece from the championship and showed a clip of the Werenski, Persons Round 2 match concluding on 18. It got me thinking.
Here's a young player in Werenski who just lost in the most unimaginable way- two up with four to play and has three straight birdies fired at him, them a long putt holed from off the green at the last to close out the match and end his Junior Amateur dream.
Richy came into frame on Golf Central's telecast, as he walked over to his opponent, he removed his cap and stuck out his hand and congratulated Persons on his win. Sportsmanship at a young age. Class at any age. I'm sure it wasn't easy to show such sportsmanship at that moment, but that's where character is born.
Anyone can act properly when things go their way. It's a lot more difficult to do so when disappointment is part of the equation. My cap goes off to Richy and all the junior players who conduct themselves with dignity when it would be quite easy to do the opposite.
Speaking of opposite, all you had to do was watch John Daly miss the cut on the European Tour's Inteco Russian Open this week. John made news recently when he went public blaming Butch Harmon for "ruining my life." Butch, when asked about why he's not working with Daly, said John lacked commitment to himself and his game.
Daly tried to insinuate that in some way he was the victim of Butch's comments. Please! John is well overweight, has a history of drinking and gambling issues and has had more marital challenges than anyone I know. Let's hope John Daly starts to face up to his responsibilities and stops playing the "blame game" which has become so much a part of our society today.
I'll take the Richy Werenski's, who show character in the face of defeat, instead of a lack thereof demonstrated by Daly when events went against him.
That's my view on the game.
Mark Gonsalves
CEO
Hank Haney IJGA
Here's a young player in Werenski who just lost in the most unimaginable way- two up with four to play and has three straight birdies fired at him, them a long putt holed from off the green at the last to close out the match and end his Junior Amateur dream.
Richy came into frame on Golf Central's telecast, as he walked over to his opponent, he removed his cap and stuck out his hand and congratulated Persons on his win. Sportsmanship at a young age. Class at any age. I'm sure it wasn't easy to show such sportsmanship at that moment, but that's where character is born.
Anyone can act properly when things go their way. It's a lot more difficult to do so when disappointment is part of the equation. My cap goes off to Richy and all the junior players who conduct themselves with dignity when it would be quite easy to do the opposite.
Speaking of opposite, all you had to do was watch John Daly miss the cut on the European Tour's Inteco Russian Open this week. John made news recently when he went public blaming Butch Harmon for "ruining my life." Butch, when asked about why he's not working with Daly, said John lacked commitment to himself and his game.
Daly tried to insinuate that in some way he was the victim of Butch's comments. Please! John is well overweight, has a history of drinking and gambling issues and has had more marital challenges than anyone I know. Let's hope John Daly starts to face up to his responsibilities and stops playing the "blame game" which has become so much a part of our society today.
I'll take the Richy Werenski's, who show character in the face of defeat, instead of a lack thereof demonstrated by Daly when events went against him.
That's my view on the game.
Mark Gonsalves
CEO
Hank Haney IJGA
Thursday, July 24, 2008
A Tale of Two Players
Richy Werenski had a great chance to advance to the Sweet 16 at the USGA Junior Amateur today. He was two-up with four holes to play.
His opponent, David Persons of El Paso, Texas wasn't quite so eager to start heading west from Shoal Creek however. Persons birdied holes 15-17 to take a one-up lead, then made a miraculous up and down on the last to save par and close out the match with a 1-up victory over Werenski.
Richy will be back at Hank Haney IJGA next month to further refine his game under Hank's watchful eye. We're confident you'll be hearing a lot more from Richy in tournaments to come. Congratulations to Richy for a fine performance this week.
Here's an interesting story. Imagine being 18 years old, living in a foreign country where you don't know the language and deciding to attempt the LPGA Qualifying School, golf's toughest school to graduate from due to the limited Tour Cards that are available each year. Well that's exactly what ShanShan "Jenny" Feng, from China, attempted to do last fall.
By Q-School's end, Jenny was holding one of those coveted LPGA Tour Cards with her 9th place finish. So it was straight to the big leagues from Hank Haney IJGA where she was a student rapidly developing her game.
If you are a LPGA Tour fan, you may have noticed Jenny coming into form over the past couple of weeks. Two weeks ago, at the Jamie Farr Classic, Jenny was one shot off the lead set by eventual winner Paula Creamer with 6 holes to play on Sunday. A couple of mistakes and costly three putts lead to a fourth-place finish and jeny's biggest check as a pro of over $66,000. (Do you know Hank Haney hates three-putts? He feels the ability to avoid three-putting is a major key to successful tournament golf. Tournament statistics back his conclusions on this little talked about part of the game; three-putt avoidance.)
Last week's LPGA State Farm Classic again saw Jenny on the first page of the leader board. She charged from well back on Sunday to post a 63 (her low round this year) and tie for fourth, pocketing another $77,000 check. Not bad for a young woman who is the first player from China to play on the LPGA. Jenny has earned $158,863 and now rests at 55th place on this year's Money List, one spot below Natalie Gulbis. Jenny turns 19 years old in early August.
I can't wait to see what Jenny has in store for us next as the foreign invasion of the LPGA shows no signs of letting up.
That's my view on the game.
Mark Gonsalves
CEO
Hank Haney IJGA
His opponent, David Persons of El Paso, Texas wasn't quite so eager to start heading west from Shoal Creek however. Persons birdied holes 15-17 to take a one-up lead, then made a miraculous up and down on the last to save par and close out the match with a 1-up victory over Werenski.
Richy will be back at Hank Haney IJGA next month to further refine his game under Hank's watchful eye. We're confident you'll be hearing a lot more from Richy in tournaments to come. Congratulations to Richy for a fine performance this week.
Here's an interesting story. Imagine being 18 years old, living in a foreign country where you don't know the language and deciding to attempt the LPGA Qualifying School, golf's toughest school to graduate from due to the limited Tour Cards that are available each year. Well that's exactly what ShanShan "Jenny" Feng, from China, attempted to do last fall.
By Q-School's end, Jenny was holding one of those coveted LPGA Tour Cards with her 9th place finish. So it was straight to the big leagues from Hank Haney IJGA where she was a student rapidly developing her game.
If you are a LPGA Tour fan, you may have noticed Jenny coming into form over the past couple of weeks. Two weeks ago, at the Jamie Farr Classic, Jenny was one shot off the lead set by eventual winner Paula Creamer with 6 holes to play on Sunday. A couple of mistakes and costly three putts lead to a fourth-place finish and jeny's biggest check as a pro of over $66,000. (Do you know Hank Haney hates three-putts? He feels the ability to avoid three-putting is a major key to successful tournament golf. Tournament statistics back his conclusions on this little talked about part of the game; three-putt avoidance.)
Last week's LPGA State Farm Classic again saw Jenny on the first page of the leader board. She charged from well back on Sunday to post a 63 (her low round this year) and tie for fourth, pocketing another $77,000 check. Not bad for a young woman who is the first player from China to play on the LPGA. Jenny has earned $158,863 and now rests at 55th place on this year's Money List, one spot below Natalie Gulbis. Jenny turns 19 years old in early August.
I can't wait to see what Jenny has in store for us next as the foreign invasion of the LPGA shows no signs of letting up.
That's my view on the game.
Mark Gonsalves
CEO
Hank Haney IJGA
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
From the Open Championship to the USGA Juniors
Am I the only one who thought Tom Watson was out of line on Sunday's telecast of the Open Championship from Royal Birkdale? To constantly criticize Greg Norman's course strategy when Norman, at 53 years young, was in the final group with the lead seemed disingenuous at best. That same strategy had placed Norman in position to be golf's oldest major championship winner by five years with 18 holes to play and had him in the lead as he made Sunday's turn for home. Padraig Harrington should be congratulated for shooting four under par 32 on the championship's final nine- that's the stuff that makes champions. Watson, not much older than Norman, missed the cut.
It's no wonder Watson has been barely visible in the booth over all these years, particularly considering he holds eight of golf's Majors. Frankly, he's a better player than commentator. Then again, this is the same guy that wrote Augusta National disapproving of Gary McCord's comments during CBS' 1995 Masters telecast. That was the last we saw of Gary at golf's hallowed grounds.
Personally, I not sure if Watson should spend more time working on his on-screen delivery or his putting stroke. Both are in need of serious attention.
OK, that's yesterday's generation. And now yesterday's news. How about what's going on at the USGA Boy's and Girl's Junior Amateur Championships this week? Golf's next generation have moved out of stoke play and now are in the round of 32. How many of these players will move from here to the professional ranks remains to be seen, but all are gaining experiences that will last a lifetime.
I'm admittedly partial to two players in particular. Hank Haney IJGA students Stephanie Meadow from Northern Ireland and Richy Werenski from my home state of Massachusetts both qualified for the tournament proper this year for the first time. Both are talented young players. Both are better young people.
Yesterday, Stephanie tied for 6oth with nine players after the 36-hole stroke play qualifying rounds for match play. Ultimately, one shot separated Stephanie from moving on to the Round of 64.
Werenski, who tied for 6th in the 36-hole stroke play qualifying rounds Tuesday, won his first match today over Scottsdale, Arizona's Nicholas Losole III, 3 & 1. Richy's caddie this week is his teacher, Matt Fields, Lead Instructor at Hank Haney IJGA. Prior to the second round of stroke play, Matt found a quarter on the ground and observed it was dated "1969." Matt handed the coin to Richy telling him, "look at the date, that's what you are going to shoot today, 69." Saving par from the greenside bunker at 18, Richy posted 69 for the day. How much of this was purely coincidence versus a passionate coaches subliminal suggestion, we'll never know. But, one thing's for sure, it is the stuff that makes the game great and keeps us wanting more.
That's my view on the game.
Mark Gonsalves
CEO
Hank Haney IJGA
It's no wonder Watson has been barely visible in the booth over all these years, particularly considering he holds eight of golf's Majors. Frankly, he's a better player than commentator. Then again, this is the same guy that wrote Augusta National disapproving of Gary McCord's comments during CBS' 1995 Masters telecast. That was the last we saw of Gary at golf's hallowed grounds.
Personally, I not sure if Watson should spend more time working on his on-screen delivery or his putting stroke. Both are in need of serious attention.
OK, that's yesterday's generation. And now yesterday's news. How about what's going on at the USGA Boy's and Girl's Junior Amateur Championships this week? Golf's next generation have moved out of stoke play and now are in the round of 32. How many of these players will move from here to the professional ranks remains to be seen, but all are gaining experiences that will last a lifetime.
I'm admittedly partial to two players in particular. Hank Haney IJGA students Stephanie Meadow from Northern Ireland and Richy Werenski from my home state of Massachusetts both qualified for the tournament proper this year for the first time. Both are talented young players. Both are better young people.
Yesterday, Stephanie tied for 6oth with nine players after the 36-hole stroke play qualifying rounds for match play. Ultimately, one shot separated Stephanie from moving on to the Round of 64.
Werenski, who tied for 6th in the 36-hole stroke play qualifying rounds Tuesday, won his first match today over Scottsdale, Arizona's Nicholas Losole III, 3 & 1. Richy's caddie this week is his teacher, Matt Fields, Lead Instructor at Hank Haney IJGA. Prior to the second round of stroke play, Matt found a quarter on the ground and observed it was dated "1969." Matt handed the coin to Richy telling him, "look at the date, that's what you are going to shoot today, 69." Saving par from the greenside bunker at 18, Richy posted 69 for the day. How much of this was purely coincidence versus a passionate coaches subliminal suggestion, we'll never know. But, one thing's for sure, it is the stuff that makes the game great and keeps us wanting more.
That's my view on the game.
Mark Gonsalves
CEO
Hank Haney IJGA
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