Building Power From the Ground Up

Where does the power in your golf swing come from? The ground, of course! That's why a stable base and proper footwork are so important. To improve yours, try the Ground Force Trainer from Golf Gapper, a four-week program that promises to increase your driving distance by 5-15 yards.



The $119 package includes a patent-pending square rotational disk, power pole, DVD, lead leg support foam pad, instruction manual and mesh carry bag. This Ground Force Trainer is used to train golfers in their backswing, where power is developed when the golfer creates ground force with their trailside leg and gluteal muscles. This sensation is difficult to create without an unstable surface during development of this specific action.

"The Ground Force training disks create this instability, causing a specific muscular reaction that exactly mimics the sensation and strength necessary to motor learn the proper load in the back swing and feel the connection with the ground," says Dr. Jenni Martin, MS DC LPGA Class A teacher and club professional who created the product. "The gluteus medius muscle is responsible for hip rotation and hip stability. These muscles also help the golfer maintain balance. The rotational square disks act similarly to a 'lazy Susan' found in the kitchen. They're used in pilates to teach exercises that require movement of the lower and upper body in opposite directions, and to exercise the balance muscles."

The Golf Gapper Ground Force Trainer heightens awareness of strength and muscular awareness, and also enhances balance -- the complete awareness of where your body is in space that movement scientists refer as "proprioception". Square disks are much more effective than round disks here because the square front side gives immediate feedback to the loss of proper muscular and power position of the trail (right side for right-handed golfers) when any movement from front parallel is seen. Seeing any movement from parallel front boards, gives the golfer specific guidance for correction. This creates proper muscular development and motor learning for strength and coil.

Among many other books, Dave Donelson is the author of Weird Golf: 18 tales of fantastic, horrific, scientifically impossible, and morally reprehensible golf

Nancy Lopez Contributions to be Honored by Golf Writers

Hall of Famer Nancy Lopez will receive the Winnie Palmer Award from the Metropolitan Golf Writers Association at the 63rd National Awards Dinner on Monday, June 23 at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown, New York.  The award acknowledges an individual who has consistently given their time, energy and enthusiasm to those less fortunate.

Nancy Lopez - photo by Gabriel Roux, courtesy of LPGA

One of golf’s greatest and most popular players for three decades, Lopez joins select company. Past Winnie Palmer Award recipients include Barbara Nicklaus, Dolores Hope, Vivienne Player, Peggy Kirk Bell, Betsy King, and Ernie Els. The award was named in honor of Winnie Palmer, deceased wife of golf legend Arnold Palmer, who devoted much of her life to charity work for literacy programs and health care.

Lopez greatly admired Winnie and shared a special relationship with her and Arnold.

“What a great choice!” said Arnold Palmer.  “Nancy fits the description of the award perfectly. Winnie would be pleased.”

For the past 33 years, Lopez has hosted an annual golf tournament to benefit AIM for the Handicapped.
AIM (Adventures In Motion), based in Dayton, Ohio, helps mentally challenged, physically handicapped, and others with special needs.  There is never a charge to handicapped children or their parents for their service, and no child is ever turned away.  Lopez is a National Ambassador for AIM.

Lopez, a 48-time LPGA Tour winner including three LPGA Championships, is still the only player to have won the LPGA Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and Vare Trophy in the same year (1978). She was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1987.

Since 1952, the MGWA has recognized the game’s greatest players, contributors, and organizations at its National Awards Dinner – the longest running and often the largest golf dinner in the U.S. each year.

A special video celebrates the six decades of the Dinner …  https://vimeo.com/63849701

Long-time MGWA member Jim Nantz says, “There is no dinner in America that celebrates golf like this one.”

Golf’s leading organizations support the dinner – USGA, PGA of America, PGA TOUR, LPGA, MGA, MetLife, and Rolex.  The National Awards Dinner has raised over $1.5 million for Caddie Scholarship programs in the metropolitan New York area; the MGA Foundation; and the Dave Marr Journalism Scholarship at Columbia University.

For tickets or additional information, please contact:

Kate Keller  (914) 347-4653
kate@metgolfwriters.org

Bruce Smith  (914) 944-4445
sportybear@optonline.net

Among many other books, Dave Donelson is the author of Weird Golf: 18 tales of fantastic, horrific, scientifically impossible, and morally reprehensible golf

Old Tom Morris Golf Shop Located at St. Andrews

The location of Tom Morris’ first golf shop has been discovered in manuscripts from the Golf Collection in The University of St. Andrews Special Collections Department. Local golf history writer Roger McStravick, who was carrying out research for a book on the man known as the ‘Grand Old Man of Golf,’ discovered a statement known as a precognition given by Tom Morris himself around 1878 detailing how he built in that same year his own shop beside the St. Andrews Links at what is today 15 The Links.

Dr. Anthony Parker, Curator of the Golf Collection at The University of St. Andrews, stated, “We are all very excited by this find.  The University has a vast golf collection going back centuries and this news of Tom Morris’ first shop is very likely to be the first of many new findings to come out of the collection.”

Roger McStravick (right) and Anthony Parker (left)

“There has always been a gap in Old Tom’s story from 1848 to 1851, before he left St. Andrews to create the course at Prestwick,” McStravick said. “In a pile of very old papers, I noticed a statement from Tom amongst the precognitions taken at the time of the Road Wars, when the town was trying to decide whether to have a road along the side the 18th hole of the St. Andrews Links. In his statement talking about his life around 1848, Tom says that he built his own shop and through statements by others at the time, including the father of the R&A John Whyte-Melville and club maker Robert Forgan, I was able to identify the exact location for this little shop at what is today 15 The Links. I was also delighted to discover from the same precognitions that Daw Anderson, who is known as the ginger beer seller, had his own golf shop at 9 The Links with his son and three time Open champion Jamie Anderson living upstairs for almost 10 years during his Open winning days. Daw was so much more than just a ginger beer seller and thanks to the University’s archives his true story is beginning to emerge.”

Mrs. Sheila Walker, a great-granddaughter to Tom Morris, welcomed the news saying, “There has been a lot of study around my great-grandfather and it is always very exciting when new finds are discovered. Roger is to be commended for his work and, importantly, this highlights just how essential the University’s golf collection is to golf historians and to the field of golf research. I understand the University has ambitions to create a dedicated centre for golf-related materials in St. Andrews and this recent finding is proof, if proof were needed, how vital and appropriate it is to have the centre of all golf knowledge in St. Andrews.  If there was ever a logical place to establish an academic centre for golf in the world, then it is surely here.”

Mr. Peter Crabtree, co-author of Tom Morris of St. Andrews: The Colossus of Golf, 1821-1908, also heralded the find saying, “I am always delighted when new research reveals more about Tom Morris. He was a rare character who in addition to being a four time Open champion, helped create the Old Course in St. Andrews as we know it today. The front nine is virtually his own work under the auspices of the R&A Green Committee. We owe so much to Tom Morris and I am delighted the location for his very first shop, at what was a crucial moment in his life, has been discovered.”

“My book would not have been written or the research carried out, if it wasn’t for Peter Crabtree and the late Dr. David Malcolm’s inspirational book on Old Tom, plus the work of David Joy and in particular his portrayal of the great man,” commented McStravick.  “It was his re-telling of Tommy’s story during a performance of Old Tom Morris at The Byre Theatre that struck a chord with me and ultimately led me to this finding.  Without their work, I would not have made this discovery.”

Regarding the Centre for Golf Collections, Dr. Anthony Parker added, “This new research by Roger is a shining example of what can be achieved from the University’s collection. The University’s hopes for a purpose built Special Collections facility to host its golf collection has caught on with many of the greatest golf collectors and organisations around the world donating rare books, photos and written material already. We are currently engaging in consultation with a wide number of bodies about our aspirations.’

Among many other books, Dave Donelson is the author of Weird Golf: 18 tales of fantastic, horrific, scientifically impossible, and morally reprehensible golf

Sun Mountain Expands ClubGlider Travel Bag Line

Sun Mountain continues to offer more choices within its ClubGlider line of golf travel bags. ClubGlider is the only golf travel bag that offers extendable legs and wheels to support 100% of the weight, while eliminating the repeated bending and lifting required with traditional travel bags. For 2014, ClubGlider is available in four different models – Pro, Meridian, Journey and the new Tour Series – offering protection for golfers ranging from weekend warriors to touring professionals. Retail prices are $349, $289, $219, and $319 respectively.

ClubGlider glides from parking lot to luggage counter thanks to legs that extend and support 100% of the weight and pivoting caster wheels that handle corners and curbs with ease. Once checked-in, the legs easily tuck away securely for carefree travel. ClubGlider offers all of the protection and storage space of a traditional golf travel bag while eliminating the heavy lifting and the need to bend over to pick up and set down every time the check-in line moves three feet.

Making the cut from over 1,000 entrants in the Golf Channel “Fore Inventors Only” reality show, ClubGlider was named one of five finalists in this search for the next great golf invention. Following a successful introduction, Sun Mountain increased the offering to include additional models. ClubGlider Meridian is the name of the original ClubGlider. ClubGlider Pro is the largest of the models made to accommodate tour players’ oversized staff bags or two lightweight carry bags. ClubGlider Journey is a smaller and lighter version and the new for 2014 Tour Series was designed to coordinate with the new Tour Series line of golf bags.

Benefits of ClubGlider include legs that support 100% of the weight, eliminating on average over 45 pounds of pressure from the golfer’s shoulders and back. ClubGlider can also be loaded while standing, eliminating the need to bend all the way over as with other travel bags. ClubGlider includes heavy-duty two-way zippers, thick foam padding extending down the travel bag to protect clubheads and shafts, storage pockets, internal cinch straps, reinforced wear areas, and a lift-assist handle.

Among many other books, Dave Donelson is the author of Weird Golf: 18 tales of fantastic, horrific, scientifically impossible, and morally reprehensible golf

We Are Golf Explains Value of the Game

There's more to golf than just a walk in the park--a lot more, according to WE ARE GOLF, an industry coalition that communicates the economic, charitable and environmental impact of golf, as well the health and wellness benefits of the game and the affordability and accessibility of golf to members of Congress, the Executive Branch and regulatory agencies.

The organization recently launched a redesigned website with increased functionality, social media interactivity and streamlined navigation.  The site is meant to be a portal for industry updates. WE ARE GOLF collaborated closely with the Club Managers Association of America, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), National Golf Course Owners Association, The PGA of America and World Golf Foundation on content creation, multimedia needs and design optimization.

“As industry stakeholders, the new WE ARE GOLF website is an engaging tool to inform Congressional leaders, political staffers and the general public about the positive impact our sport has on society,” says Rhett Evans, WE ARE GOLF Chairman and CEO of the GCSAA. “Golf supports nearly two million jobs across the nation with a nearly $69 billion economic impact and this website helps tell the story of how the game is making a difference at the local, regional and national levels.”

To visit the new site, go to www.wearegolf.org.

The goal of WE ARE GOLF is to ensure that laws and regulations that impact the golf industry are fair and appropriate to an industry that generates nearly $70 billion in economic impact annually, employs close to two million Americans and generates nearly $4 billion in charitable giving each year.

Among many other books, Dave Donelson is the author of Weird Golf: 18 tales of fantastic, horrific, scientifically impossible, and morally reprehensible golf

ECCO Launches New Golf Shoe Line

ECCO has launched Street EVO One, a performance hybrid golf shoe combining the ECCO Dynamic Traction System (E-DTS) with an array of proprietary stabilization features.

Street EVO One (MSRP $160) boasts a Direct-injected midsole with an integrated shank piece. This design cups and cushions a player’s heel, delivering comfort and torsional support while creating an exceptionally stable platform from which golfers can power through each shot.

Offering a slightly wider platform than previous versions of the best-selling Golf Street model, Street EVO One is built atop a patented outsole configuration of approximately 100 moulded traction bars and 800 traction angles. Constructed from TPU – a highly durable, wear-resistant material – these elements provide superb, Tour-quality grip.

“The way Street EVO One looks, feels and plays puts it in a class by itself,” says Michael Waack, Head of Global Golf at ECCO. “It’s yet another example of the advantages that come with our foot-first approach to designing and producing premium golf shoes.”

As a key point of distinction, ECCO owns its factories and controls the entire shoemaking process – from raw materials to finished footwear. This dovetails with the company’s position as one of the world’s largest producers of luxury leathers.

Street EVO One is offered in high-grade cow leather and genuine camel leather versions, both of which include the exclusive ECCO HYDROMAX™ tanned-in treatment for remarkable weather resistance.

Showcasing an eye-catching, two-color outsole and modern classic upper, Street EVO One is part of the Spring/Summer 2014 men’s golf collection that will be worn in competition by Tour stars like Fred Couples, Graeme McDowell, Thomas Bjorn, Thongchai Jaidee, Marcel Siem, Wu Ashun, Andreas Hartø and JB Hansen.

Among many other books, Dave Donelson is the author of Weird Golf: 18 tales of fantastic, horrific, scientifically impossible, and morally reprehensible golf

Finchem to Chair World Golf Foundation

Tim Finchem
photo courtesy PGA Tour

Tim Finchem, Commissioner of the PGA TOUR, has been named Chairman of the World Golf Foundation’s Board of Directors for 2014. Finchem succeeds Mike Whan, the Commissioner of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), who served as the 2013 Board Chairman.

Tim Finchem began his 20th year as commissioner of the PGA TOUR in June 2013. Finchem has also been instrumental in the formation of the World Golf Foundation. His personal dedication to the success of the World Golf Foundation's The First Tee initiative has meant that, in just 15 years, The First Tee has grown to include close to 200 chapters that have reached more than 7.6 million young people.

“It is an honor to be selected as Chairman and I’m looking forward to working closely with our game’s leaders to address issues of global importance,” said Finchem. “Golf has never been healthier worldwide and it is our responsibility to ensure its continued vitality.”

“Tim’s long-time leadership in the golf industry will be critical as we focus on enhancing the growth of the game worldwide,” said Steve Mona, Chief Executive Officer of the World Golf Foundation. “He has an outstanding record of achievement and we look forward to his leadership in 2014.”

In addition to Finchem and Whan, the other World Golf Foundation Board members are Pete Bevacqua, Chief Executive Officer of the PGA of America; Mike Davis, Executive Director of the United States Golf Association; Peter Dawson, Chief Executive of The R&A; Will Jones, Executive Director of The Masters Tournament Foundation and George O’Grady, Chief Executive of the PGA European Tour. Chris Normyle, Manager, Sponsorships and Events of the Shell Oil Company, also serves on the WGF Board as a representative of the WGF’s Founding Partner.

Among many other books, Dave Donelson is the author of Weird Golf: 18 tales of fantastic, horrific, scientifically impossible, and morally reprehensible golf

New Balance Springs Into Golf

New Balance Golf, a golf footwear collection from licensee Klonelab, LLC, will debut nationwide this month.  This is the first golf line for New Balance, which is known for performance footwear across multiple sports around the world.

Comprised of six unique styles for men and women in both cleated and spikeless models, NB Golf is built to perform with high quality waterproof leathers and lightweight, breathable air-mesh fabrics.

The spikeless models are part of The Minimus™ Collection, which is built on the New Balance Minimus running last, allowing toes to splay apart for increased comfort and freedom of movement.

The cleated models feature a lightweight, flexible and supportive TPU outsole for stability and balance during the load-bearing phases of the swing.  Cleated models also feature the new Champ® state-of-the-art One-Lok® cleat system.  The revolutionary One-Lok® system simplifies the ease of cleat replacement while positioning the foot close to the ground for superior feel, traction and balance.

New Balance Golf footwear will be available in D, 2E and 4E widths for men and in B and D widths for women in select styles.  The collection's MSRP ranges from $119.95 to $159.95.

Among many other books, Dave Donelson is the author of Weird Golf: 18 tales of fantastic, horrific, scientifically impossible, and morally reprehensible golf

New Golf Fitness Tool Builds A Modern Swing

Winter will be over sooner than you think, which means it's time to get back to a golf fitness routine that will have you ready for that first tee shot in just a few weeks. ActivMotion Bar is a new workout tool that works on every physical component of your swing from upper and lower body strength to core power and balance.

ActivMotion Bar inventor Derek Mikulski and golf fitness pro Dave Davis have developed this new, easy-to-use tool and workout program using a weighted bar with internal rolling steel weights that force stabilization and engage the core with every move. The ActivMotion Bar helps golfers better maintain their spine angle to stay down on the ball.


Golf fit pro Dave Davis with ActivMotion Bar explains that there are basically two types of swings: classic and modern. The classic swing (think Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Ben Hogan) requires turning the entire lower and upper body together to increase a big shoulder turn to create club head speed. The classic swing requires very little fitness so long as you can turn your entire body to get the club back as far away from the ball as possible. It also requires exquisite timing.

The modern swing, according to Davis, requires the use of the body’s large muscles, dissociating the upper body from the lower to turn the forward shoulder as far as possible from the forward hip. This creates a compact or three-quarter swing. Separating the upper and lower body and loading in the trailing hip creates torque in the core. The modern swing allows you to maintain the club on plane and become more efficient. Players like Martin Kymer, Rory McIlroy, Hunter Mahan, Justin Rose and Tiger Woods use this compact modern swing to create distance and power. And, golf coaches like Sean Foley use this method with players.

This modern swing engages a kinematic sequence, which is force from the ground up that requires the lower body to engage first, then the upper body then the club. This is where the ActivMotion Bar comes into play. Having a strong core to stay down on the ball is essential for a great golf game.

Among many other books, Dave Donelson is the author of Weird Golf: 18 tales of fantastic, horrific, scientifically impossible, and morally reprehensible golf

Winter Golf Lessons From Top Pros in Manhattan

Winter golf lessons in New York? Of course--what better time to work on your game? And what better place than Golf & Body NYC, where the lineup of top club professionals reads like a who's who of teaching pros in the Met Section.

Jason McCarty

The newest member of the GBNYC team is Jason McCarty, Director of Golf at the Sebonack Golf Club in Southampton, New York. Originally from New Zealand, McCarty has been sharing his passion for the game of golf through instruction for the past 22 years. He was the Director of Golf at both Kauri Cliffs and Cape Kidnappers, two Top 100 Golf Resorts, located in New Zealand and started his career in the Met Section as an instructor of Meadow Brook Golf Club. He's available at GBNYC on Mondays and Thursdays.

McCarty joins Eden Foster, Head Pro at the Maidstone Club in East Hampton for the last 18 years and the Head Professional at Calusa Pines in Naples, Florida since 2001. Foster is available at GBNYC on Wednesdays.

Chris Toulson

Chris Toulson, Head Professional at Sunningdale CC in Scarsdale, NY, can be scheduled on Thursdays during the winter at GBNYC. Previous to joining Sunningdale, Toulson was the Corporate Director of Instruction for the Jim McLean Golf Schools, where he had a 20-year tenure. His background includes Golf Digest's list of Top 10 Instructors in New York for 2013-2014, South Florida PGA Golf Professional of the Year, PGA Teacher and PGA Player of the Year, PGA Bill Strausbaugh Aware recipient and 3-time PGA Horton Smith Award Recipient.

These guys join Darrell Kestner, Head Pro at Deepdale GC, who also serves as Director of Golf at GBNYC, and Ron McDougal, Head Pro of the facility. 

Golf & Body NYC is a private club in the heart of Manhattan that offers golfers year-round opportunities for enhancing performance, getting and staying fit, and socializing with friends and business associates. A team of golf, fitness and sports medicine experts is available along with entertainment options that turn the “19th hole” into a sophisticated bar and dining experience.

Among many other books, Dave Donelson is the author of Weird Golf: 18 tales of fantastic, horrific, scientifically impossible, and morally reprehensible golf

Met Golf Writers To Honor "Boom Boom" Couples

Fred Couples photo courtesy of PGA Tour

Golf Hall of Famer Fred Couples will receive one of golf’s most prestigious honors – the Gold Tee Award – from the Metropolitan Golf Writers Association at the 63rd National Awards Dinner on Monday, June 23 at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown, New York.

The Gold Tee is the MGWA’s highest honor. It's awarded to an individual whose career achievements exemplify the best spirit and traditions of the sport of golf.

One of the most popular golfers worldwide for three decades, Couples joins select company. The list of past Gold Tee recipients reads like a “Who’s Who of Golf” and includes Bobby Jones, Sam Snead, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Nancy Lopez, Tom Watson, Annika Sorenstam, and Phil Mickelson.

Couples, 1992 Masters champion, won 15 times on the PGA TOUR including two Players Championships. He recently captained the U.S. to its third straight Presidents Cup victory.  A two-time PGA TOUR Player of the Year, Couples played on five consecutive Ryder Cup teams (1989-97).

Still a force on the Champions Tour, Couples, 54, has also won two Senior majors, including the 2012 Senior (British) Open Championship.   Always known for his long drives, “Boom Boom” was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame last May.

“We are thrilled to honor an all-time fan favorite,” said MGWA President Bruce Beck. “Freddie’s a class act whose overall achievements rival anyone in his era.”

Since 1952, the MGWA has recognized the game’s greatest players, contributors, and organizations at its National Awards Dinner, the longest running and often the largest golf dinner in the U.S. each year.

The MGWA has produced a special video to celebrate six decades of the Dinner:
https://vimeo.com/63849701

Long-time MGWA member Jim Nantz says, “There is no dinner in America that celebrates golf like this one.”

Golf’s leading organizations, the USGA, PGA of America, PGA TOUR, LPGA, MGA,
MetLife, and Rolex, support the dinner.  The National Awards Dinner has raised over 1.5 million dollars for Caddie Scholarship programs in the metropolitan New York area, the MGA Foundation,  and the Dave Marr Journalism Scholarship at Columbia University.

Among many other books, Dave Donelson is the author of Weird Golf: 18 tales of fantastic, horrific, scientifically impossible, and morally reprehensible golf