Coaching


The missing link: Tackling links golf


Playing links golf is an acquired skill. Neil Marr explains how with the help of technology he prepares his pupils for the testing seaside conditions on the lush fairways at Meldrum House in Aberdeenshire


O


ne of the challenges of teaching golf in Scotland is preparing


golfers for the rigours of playing links courses. Indeed, with increasing numbers of golfers visiting Aberdeenshire and exploring the wonderful courses we have in this part of the world, more players than ever are being exposed to the challenges presented by traditional Scottish seaside golf. The Knights course at


Meldrum House is set in the rolling Aberdeenshire countryside. The lush fairways and manicured greens are a far cry from the exposed links you find at Cruden Bay, Murcar or Royal Aberdeen. The course offers respite from the more extreme conditions of the coast. Despite the serenity of Meldrum, we can provide our guests with a taste of what they will encounter when they move nearer to the sea. To do this, we use our


imaginations and some cutting edge technology. For full shots, we use the


Trackman system along with a yardage chart and photos of key holes of the courses they intend to play. By establishing a player’s yardages and studying the yardage chart, we can advise where best to hit a tee shot, which bunkers to avoid, what the lay-up distances will be or what shape of shot is desired. This basically encompasses


all the key course management aspects that players require to play the course well.


46 We then ask the player to hit


the ideal shot by stipulating a target on the range. We do this by picking lines on flags and scoring the players on whether they are able to keep the ball on the desired line. A useful aspect of the


Trackman system for this task is that it provides height data which we feedback to the player. For instance, the Trackman


PGA tour averages show that Tour golfers hit the ball about the same height with all their clubs with the average height being roughly 30 yards.


Tip from Ben Hogan Apparently, Ben Hogan used to practice hitting all his clubs over a tree on the practice ground at Shady Oaks in Fort Worth. He did this in order to control his ball flight. It is also a telling anecdote to


relate to golfers who are under the popular misconception that their wedge flies higher than their five iron. Of course, hitting a ball 30


yards in the air is not much use when playing in a howling gale coming off the North Sea. This brings us to the idea of


keeping the ball flight down. For example, we can use


the Trackman to get instant feedback on ball trajectories after we ask the players to hit shots at varying heights. This can lead to games played between friends to see who can hit the ball the lowest. This is a refreshing change from the usual reaction of a


handicap golfer when using a Trackman. “How far did that go?” is the usual cry or “what’s my clubhead speed?” Far more productive practice


is achieved by getting them to manufacture shots they may need on the course.


Bump and run Once the long game has been looked at, we can then consider aspects of the short game. A good example is the bump


and run. This is a shot that many people have heard of, but rarely have been asked to play. In preparation for this, we ask the greenkeeping staff to cut the grass accordingly so we are able to hit shots that run up onto greens. Luckily at Meldrum we have a large academy area that accommodates various practice greens that can be tailored to replicate different environments. Once again, by using the


Trackman we can gauge how far the ball has flown through


the air and estimate how far the ball has run. Another area to work on


are bunker shots that require a steep angle of ascent out of the sand. Typical of pot bunkers with


steep-sided faces, these can be intimidating shots that can ruin a round. They can be especially daunting for players who rarely come up against them, which is why preparation is vital. Ultimately, we use what we


have to help acclimatise our pupils to the testing conditions they will face out on the links. These conditions are, after all,


what make links golf so special, and most visitors love it. It is our job to enhance


that enjoyment by teaching them how to contend with the wind and topography of the links which often means fundamentally changing how they play golf. Getting them to think and play differently is the challenge; the reward is happy and fulfilled clients.


Pro Shop Europe April 2012


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