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Hosted by Brent Davis, Jason Helman, Frank Guastella, and Mike Fay.
Tonight’s Line Up was sponsored by Tifosi Optics. Join the chat about New Year’s Resolutions, Fix My Swing powered by Coach Now, Pebble Beach, Helman’s Hot 5, MFG University, Playing By The Rules, and Victorian Open. Check it out. #MFGShow
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!
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...
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...
Squaring The Club Face With HackMotion In this video Mike discusses the importance of understanding wrist flexion and extension and the relationship it builds to squaring the club face. Mike is a brand...
Consistency and Accountability in Your Training To improve in anything that you attempt, whether that be sport, music, fitness or any other activity you are undertaking, you need to be consistent in your effort over a...
Improve Your Contact Around The Green One way to better your short game around the green is to hit the ball more solidly. Once you learn to hit the ball solidly, then you will be able to develop a...
How does an online private coaching program work? Mike shows that you can get better at playing golf while you are at home. All you need is Coach Now and Zoom, let the learning begin! Pleae leave your comments...
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.
Choosing A Golf Specific Trainer You have seen a lot of posts from me on this website talking about the benefits of physical training for golf. I have described the benefits of golf specific training, given you some...
Improve Your Swing With Better Posture In my last blog post I spoke about how you could test yourself to determine the areas of your golf fitness that needed to be improved. In this blog I am going to talk about the...
The center of your pelvis plays a big role in how good your short game is. In this video, Mike discusses how to get your pelvis in a better position to hit more solid golf shots around the green. Please leave your...
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...
Playing Better Golf In The Wind One question that some of my players ask me is….How can I score better playing golf in the wind? Playing golf on windy days can be challenging, but with these few tips, maybe you...
How To Aim A Golf Shot Golf is a side-on game. You stand to the side of the golf ball. In order to have a chance to hit the ball at your intended target, you have to be aiming relatively parallel to it. In the...
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...
The History Of The Golf Tee The history of the golf tee dates back to the 1500's. The practice of getting sand wet with a towel and mounding up earth to get the ball off the ground a little went on for some 300...
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
In this latest article Frank discusses the dos and don't when pertaining to golf hazards. Rule 13-4 Ball in Hazard; Prohibited Actions states: "Except as provided in the Rules, before making a stroke at a ball that is in a hazard (whether bunker or water hazard) or...
Losing a golf ball in the leaves can be frustrating and it is that time of the year when the leaves are falling and it can become difficult for you to find your golf ball due to the accumulation of leaves. The Committee may make a temporary Local Rule declaring...
The other day I was asked by a player in a tournament I was officiating at that if I observe a player about to breach a Rule, may I warn the player and thus prevent a penalty. The answer to this question is yes. A referee is not obligated to warn a player who...
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.”
