Jaacob Bowden's Swing Man Golf Blog

2 Aces in 2 Consecutive Rounds

Check this out!  Brandon Todd had two hole in ones in two consecutive rounds on the Nationwide Tour!

2 Aces in 2 Rounds

The PGA's "McDonald's Hamburger" Swing Formula

by Jaacob Bowden

The next time you hear or read about someone using the words "correct" and "proper" in context to the golf swing, I highly advise you to listen or read with caution...because unless it's referencing a specific type of golf swing it's usually not a true statement.  Such was the case when I was recently read an article on the PGATOUR.COM website by Travis Fulton and he wrote "when combining clubhead lag with the proper body action".

The "proper" body action?  This is implying that there IS a proper body action...which as those of you that have been around golf long enough know, there are any number of types of effective and yet often contradictory golf swings and body actions.

However, consider that Travis is the Director of Education at all TOUR academies and he is the Head Instructor for the PGA TOUR academy at the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Florida.  As the PGA is the largest instructional company/organization, similar to other large corporations there is a need for structure and teaching consistency to ensure that students get the same experience no matter where they go.  It's like being able to get the same hamburger from one McDonald's to the next.  The hamburger may not be the best that you ever had, but it's virtually always the same and you know what to expect whenever you go in to one of their restaurants. 

The same is true with the PGA.  They have come up with a "hamburger" swing formula that they want to market, they have done a remarkable job over the years positioning themselves as experts and strengthening their brand in the industry, they partner with as many golf courses as possible to have one of their certified professionals working at each and every golfing location (these days it's very difficult to get a teaching position at a golf course unless you have been through the PGA PGM Program), and whether it's intentional or not...they've also cleverly injected the words "correct" and "proper" in to their instructional language. 

Using these words is actually very smart of them because people start associating the terms with their teachings and use them when talking to their friends, but with all due respect to what the PGA has done and is doing for the game, it's also very irresponsible and predatory in a sense because it delegitimizes other legitimate ways of making a good hamburger.

Vijay Singh Hole in One Skipping Over Water

If you didn't see Vijay Singh's Hole in One at the Masters you need to check it out!

Golf Clubs Urged to Relax Old Dress Codes

By Mike Aitken and Craig Brown

Once considered taboo in golfing circles, jeans are winning acceptance as the recession hits membership levels and forces clubs to rethink their rules...read more here.

Brian Gay Wins Verizon Heritage by Long Shot

Gay shot a 7-under 64 Sunday to win at Harbour Town Golf Links by an astounding 10 shots. He broke the 13-year-old scoring record, finishing at 20-under 264 on the way to his second PGA TOUR victory. He picked up 500 FedExCup points for the win and is now seventh in the standings...read more

Golf Assocation Executive Salaries

If you are curious to know what the top salaries (salary, bonuses, benefits, and post-retirement compensation) are in the golf associations, here is the 2007 ranking list:

Tim Finchem    PGA Tour Commissioner    $4,757,458
Ed Moorhouse    PGA Tour Exec, VP, Co-COO    $1,611,106
Charles Zink    PGA Tour Exec, VP, Co-COO    $1,534,711
Ron Price    PGA Tour Exec, VP, CFO    $1,081,595
Tom Wade    PGA Tour Exec, VP, Chief Marketing Officer    $1,028,879
Joe Steranka    PGA of America CEO    $1,028,879
David B. Fay    USGA Executive Director    $746,905
Henry Hughes    CEO, The Players Championship    $660,585
Rick George    PGA Tour Exe. VP, Chief of Operations    $628,122
Rick D. Anderson    PGA Tour Exec. VP, Chief Legal Officer    $605,398
Bill Calfee    President, Nationwide Tour    $592,992
Dick Rugge    USGA Senior Director- Equipment Standards    $549,727
Carolyn Bivens    LPGA Tour Commissioner    $521,699
Ty Votaw    PGA Tour Exec, VP, Communications/Int'l Affairs    $521,515
Joe Louis Barrow Jr.    CEO, First Tee    $511,900
Mike Butz    USGA Deputy Executive Director    $493,090
Joseph Beditz    National Golf Foundation President/CEO    $371,437
Stephen A. Hamblin    American Junior Golf Association Executive Director    $352,541
Tim Shank    PGA of America Managing Director of Finance    $345,541
Christine Garrity    PGA of America Managing Director/General Counsel    $331,710
Barry Hyde    USGA Chief Marketing Officer    $307,314
Kirk Pottinger    PGA of America Senior Director Business Financial Affairs    $296,533
Peter Bevacqua    USGA Chief Business Officer    $293,900
Elizabeth Galloway    LPGA Tour Deputy Commissioner    $250,038

400-yard par-3???

Check out Raphael Jacquelin and Padraig Harrington playing the extreme 400-yard par-3 19th hole with an elevation drop of 640 yards at the Legend Golf and Safari Resort in South Africa.

Raphael Jacquelin also has one of the most effortless looking swings around.  :-)