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GRAA TOP 100 Growth of the Game Teaching Professional
We are truly honored to announce that Mike Fay has been named a Top 100 Growth of the Game Teaching Professional from the Golf Range Association of America and PGA Magazine. This is the 4th time in Mike’s career receiving this national award. We want to thank the GRAA and PGA Magazine for this honor which encompasses the work we do at the academy including all levels of play. Thank you members of Walnut Creek Country Club for supporting such programs as the POD Program, FORE Ladies Only, various clinics, and taking advantage of private coaching programs. Your support of social media to keep you engaged in the game as well. Without your support, this would not be possible. Thank you!
First Tee JittersIn a resent poll taken on our Instagram account we learned that over 80 percent of you suffer from first tee jitters. It is totally understandable for sure! I have found that the best way to overcome...
How To Move In The Golf SwingMusic always gets people to move! In this video Mike shows how to move properly in the back swing. Left shoulder down, right hip back.
How To Stop The Flippers One common problem I often see when I coach the short game is something I call the "flippers". As I often say, Flipper lives at Sea World, not on the golf course. The flippers is a...
Earlier this week, I asked Mike what he thought would be a good topic to write about when it comes to the mental side of the game. He threw out the notion of #17 at Sawgrass which allows for insight into the mental...
Mike Fay Golf is proud to announce that sports psychologist to the pros Dr. Joseph Parent will appear on the Sunday June 2nd edition of the Ask The Pro Show on Twitter. Dr. Parent will field viewers questions, discuss...
Get Your Knuckles Down One common problem I see with beginning golfers is topping golf shots. Here’s why…. When a golf ball is topped one of three things happened: You have come out of your posture through the...
A Better Address Equals A Better TakeawayThe address position is very important! In this video Mike shows how address effects the takeaway and the overall swing. Please leave your comments below! With over 25 years...
Short Putt Drill I started doing this drill back in 1998 while playing on the NGA Hooters Tour. In fact I remember where, it was Sikeston, MO at The Boot Heel GC. Ever since then, I always go back to this...
Bad Takeaways Can Lead To Bad Golf Swings Staying connected is a major source of power in the golf swing. We usually see two different faults that can cause you problems with connection and they both are rooted...
Winter Golf Tip: The 52 Degree Rule Winter golf can be challenging to say the least. The layers of clothes, lack of distance, cold and wet playing conditions make things difficult. Here is general rule of...
Wedge Distance ControlOne of the things I am often asked is: "How do I get better distance control on wedge shots?" At Boyne Mountain Resort we have installed Northern Michigan's first Wedge Range. This area is...
Should You Try To Keep Your Head Down? Walk up and down any driving range and you will at some point hear those famous words, "Keep Your Head Down". Unfortunately, that advice has never worked. Golf could be...
How To Repair A Ball Mark The USGA has released a great video about repairing ball marks we wanted to share with you. In the following video, find out why it's important to fix a ball mark and why doing it...
Good Golf Posture Sets Up EverythingYou can't do much if you don't have good posture when you are hitting a golf ball. In this video, Mike shows you some tips to get into an athletic stance and help you move better as...
Energy On The Course In my last post I spoke about the often overlooked part of a golf training program, recovery. Four areas were mentioned in the post and I promised that I would give you some strategies that you...
A current fad in golf is to mark one’s golf ball with a poker chip or a poker chip sized ball marker. This brought up an interesting question with regards to “size” or “type” of object used to mark one’s golf ball. The Note to Rule 20 – 1 (Lifting and Marking) states that “the position of a ball to be lifted should be marked by placing a ball – marker, a small coin or other similar object immediately behind the ball.” A player asked me if they would be penalized for using a poker chip as a ball marker because it did not seem to fit by size under the “small coin or other similar object” outlined in the Note. My answer to player was no, you would not be penalized for using a poker chip as a marker.
The provision in the Note to Rule 20 – 1 is a recommendation of best practice, but there is no penalty for failing to act in accordance with the Note. Examples of methods of marking the position of a ball that are not recommended, but are permissible are as follows: *placing the toe of a club at the side of or behind, the ball; *using a tee; *using a loose impediment; *scratching a line, provided the putting green is not tested (Rule 16 – 1d) and a line for putting is not indicated (Rule 8 – 2b). As this practice may cause damage to the putting green, it is discouraged.
However, under Rule 20 -1 it is necessary to physically mark the position of the ball. Reference to an existing mark on the ground does not constitute marking the position of the ball. For example, it is not permissible to mark the position with reference to a blemish on the putting green.
Frank Guastella
PGA Rules Official | PGA Master Professional
Frank Guastella has over 35 years of golf management experience focused on planning, marketing, operations and administration at leading golf facilities. Currently, Frank serves as a PGA Teaching Professional at St. Clair Golf Club in St. Clair, Michigan
After several near misses, Dustin Johnson finally closed the deal and won the 2016 US Open at Oakmont Country Club. Added to the pressure of trying to win the US Open was a possible penalty lingering over his head from the fifth green where he was standing...
Does Your Ball Marker Size Matter? A current fad in golf is to mark one’s golf ball with a poker chip or a poker chip sized ball marker. This brought up an interesting question with regards to “size” or “type” of object used to mark one’s golf ball. The Note to Rule...
We are truly honored to announce that Mike Fay has been named a Top 100 Growth of the Game Teaching Professional from the Golf Range Association of America and PGA Magazine. This is the 4th time in Mike's career receiving this national award. Thank you GRAA and PGA...
Working on the hooks working both the low point and the path. A former slicer that went a little too far. Looking much better! Please leave your comments below.With over 30 years of teaching experience, it's easy to see why Mike has become a leader in the world of...
Let Your Shoulder Hit Your Chin On Your Backswing Staying centered in your backswing swing is important. Allowing your left shoulder to hit your chin helps you stay centered and to not sway your chest too much off the golf ball. Please leave your comments below.With...
Just Push, Don't Slide Getting foot pressure to the lead side is so important. Lead side foot pressure starts with a push and not a slide. Please leave your comments below.With over 30 years of teaching experience, it's easy to see why Mike has become a leader in the...
Feel That Pressure On Your Thumb Keeping your hands together on the club is super important. If they seperate you lose control. Here we use trail hand thumb pressure to improve impact. Please leave your comments below.With over 30 years of teaching experience, it's...
Move The Handle On The Takeaway It's no good when the hands go out and the club goes in on the takeaway. Here we get the feeling of moving the handle without moving the club head so much. #golf #Detroit #golfswing #takeaway Please leave your comments below.With over...
For those using the anchored putting stroke, it is getting to the end of the line for you to use this type of stroke. As you may remember, when golf’s ruling bodies, the USGA and R&A, announced the ban on anchored putting in 2013, the date of January 1, 2016 was declared the implementation date for the change. For those golfers who have used sticking a club against your chest, mid section or any other body part you are on the clock to find an alternative. So after January 1, 2016 if you continue to anchor you will incur a two shot penalty in stroke play or loss of hole in match play.
The USGA and R&A felt that anchoring ran counter to the spirit of what a stroke consists of, which is the club swinging freely. There was the perception that anchoring gave golfers an unfair advantage. If you want to use a long or belly putter you still can. If you are going to use a belly putter the shaft the shaft has to be held so the club swings freely. Resting the but tend of the club against your stomach is an anchor point, which is against the rules. Using the long putter is permissible, just remember that the shaft contacts on the hands and lower part of the arm. USGA Executive Director, Mike Davis said in 2013: “We’re not trying to take away your long putter. All you need to do is hold the club away from your body, where you control the whole club with your hands.”
