As a member of the regional golf media, perhaps it’s a bit asinine of me to take a swipe at the mainstream golf press. But I’ve got to tell you, recent covers of the game’s largest-circ magazine make me chuckle.
Maybe it’s just because I’m no spring chicken anymore, or maybe it’s because in my job I’m inundated with all kinds of instructional material. Whatever the case, I find it kind of silly that such big names in golf media would waste time quoting instructional advice from early-20-something tour pros. This goes back to Rory McIlroy, who at the age 20, was dispensing all kinds of disjointed advice to the golfing public.
I can already hear the blowback: “But wait. He’s incredible. He’s the next Tiger! How dare you question him!”
As MWG contributor (and PGA professional) Jeff Thomsen has said in the past, a 20-year-old playing the part of professional instructor is something to be wary of.
Now in the case of Rory, that 20-year old was (and is) a phenomenally good player on the world stage, and it is obvious why his advice—brief and inconsequential as it is—would grace the pages of a mainstream golf periodical. Still, we’re talking about a kid just months out of his teens. Can you really take his advice seriously?
Now let’s put “age-ism” aside for a moment.
I recall a book I once read by Jack Nicklaus—something to do about “golfing his way.” I read it thoroughly because, after all, he was the best. He obviously knew what he was talking about! Or did he?
Two particular pieces of advice (complete with illustrations) were to “swing in a barrel” and—just a few pages later—to “give that ball a cock-eyed look.”
The difference between a professional golfer and a golf professional can be night and day. If you are lucky (and endowed with unusually deep pockets), you will find the best of both worlds. Ideally, that means your instructor has earned his stripes in both arenas—he/she knows how to do it AND teach it.
While there are some exemplary PGA professionals who excel at instruction at the expense of playing time and performance, I always keep an eye out for those pros who teach for a living but still like to stoke the competitive fire. Don’t just take my word for it. Boot up your puter and check out www.rockymountainpga.com. The section’s news board is full of tournament and match results. You might be surprised at who you find on or near the top.