How I Became a Golf Pro at WinStar Golf
Arnold Palmer once said, “Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated.”
I agree wholeheartedly with Arnold’s quote, and you’ll see why after you hear about my time at the WinStar Golf Academy.
Until last Monday, the only kind of golf club I had ever touched was on a putt-putt course. Needless to say, I was a complete newbie to the game.
I must give a big shout-out to Gary, one of the pros at the WinStar Golf Academy, for being a great instructor. I don’t use the term “pro” lightly – Gary has 43 years under his belt as a member of the PGA. When it comes to solid instruction, Gary has you covered, from club selection and the proper grip to chipping and everything in between.
Since my golf skills didn’t go beyond putting, it was time to learn how to hit a drive. “Bend your knees slightly, straighten your back, thumb to pointer finger….” Gary’s instructions seemed like a lot to remember, but after getting all of those steps down (plus a few more), I was ready to attempt a few practice swings.
Alright, alright, I’m not embarrassed to admit that I whiffed the tee a couple (hundred) times.
However, after getting the hang of driving the ball down, it was time to learn how to putt. Remember when I told you I had only ever played putt-putt before? Well, that skill is about to come in handy…
In the “Putt Lab,” I practiced putting five times (two of which went in perfectly). After my putting practice was over, the “Putt Lab” gave me a printout with details about my performance.
Gary and I took to the greens again and practiced putting. I was amazed at how much you have to know about the greens while doing so. Did you know you can tell which way the ball will roll by looking at how the grass grows around the cup? Yeah, neither did I.
Back on the driving range, Gary had to critique my stance a few times (he even made me stand on a golf ball under one foot so I wouldn’t turn it incorrectly), but I was finally driving the ball like a pro. If at first, you don’t succeed, try try again, and that’s exactly what I did.
Whew! What a day it was. Thanks again to the WinStar Golf staff for taking me from a golf newbie to knowing the basics. If you want to try your hand at playing golf at WinStar, you can view their Academy packages on their website or be on the lookout on our Facebook and Twitter this week for a special giveaway.
Caroline
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