American Heros at Congressional

The AT&T Invitational is being played this week at the Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, MD. This tournament is hosted by Tiger Woods and is dedicated to the men and women who have sacrificed for us and our country through their service in the armed forces.

Today, Wednesday, is ProAm day and many of the hero's of our country have been invited to play with the PGA pros. Some of those hero's have lost limbs or have been seriously injured during their service to our great nation.

GolfGym has been working with Salute Military Golf Association headed by PGA Professional Jim Estes. We have supplied dozens of PowerSwing Trainers, Balance Balls and Weighted Training Clubs for the golfers involved with the organization.

GolfGym is proud to tell you that Staff Sergeant Ramon Padilla is playing with Tiger Woods today in the ProAm. He lost his left arm in combat. We are also proud and humbled to tell you that the Sergeant completes 100 swings with our GolfGym Club 38 every day with his right arm.

SMGA President Jim Estes (center) and combat wounded veterans at the
May 17th clinic - left to right:
Ramon Padilla, Jeff Hensley, Brian Wagner, and Dan Nivens

David Cook and Dan Nevins at the Hootie and the Blowfish Celebrity Pro-Am

Oprah Winfrey and SMGA Participant Ramon Padilla at
Walter Reed Army Medical Center

Here is an excerpt from the SMGA website.

What SMGA will do:
Begun as a therapeutic outlet for soldiers undergoing prolonged medical treatment at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the SMGA will continue to strive to provide recreational therapy, through the game of golf, to combat-wounded American soldiers injured in Iraq or Afghanistan. While future SMGA programs may not be limited to a particular military conflict, our mission is to engage wounded soldiers in the game of golf as its inherent lessons of discipline, fortitude, and perseverance closely mirror those embodied in our nation’s military credos. The SMGA believes that every soldier matters and should be given the opportunity to learn and improve his or her golf knowledge and skill; the SMGA will provide a venue and mentoring to this end.

Golf World featured the SMGA's work with combat-wounded veterans in a recent cover story.

GolfWorld Cover(pdf file) / Golf World story (pdf file)

We wish you and your family a very Happy 4th of July Holiday.

God Bless these fine Americans.
Ken Pierce
GolfGym

And The Winner, I Mean Winners are....

Last month we offered a GolfGym PowerSwing Trainer to the person who could tell us the proper ruling for the head scratching situation in which PGA Professional Jason Dufner found himself. His errant shot at Quail Hollow ended up in a young fans lap. Play it as it lies???

We received many variations of the proper rulling and have concluded that we have TWO (2) winners who will each receive a GolfGym PowerSwing Trainer. They are:

Carol "Charlie" Buxton from Alexandria, VA. Her answer was the most detailed:
"Ref. Rule 19-1. a, Ball In Motion Deflected or Stopped. The ball after a stroke, not on the putting green, came to rest on an animate outside agency; the position as near as possible to the spot directly under the place of rest should be marked, the outside agency should move, and then the ball be dropped as close as possible to that spot, and not nearer the hole".

and

Bud Streeter from Wilmington, NC. His answer was the funniest:
"Ask the young lady to stand up very carefully, with the ball still in her lap, and walk as close as possible to the hole on the green and THEN drop it. Jason would need to meet her later to buy her a Coke.....this ruling is what my golf buddies would do!!!!"

Congratulations to both winners.
Look for another contest soon.

Stay flexible.
Joey D

Junior Golfers in the OC

This past week, GolfGym helped sponsor the Orange County High School Golf Tournament. Many of the top Junior players in the area coverged on the Oak Creek Golf Club in Irvine, California to demonstrate their talents to some college coaches and recruiters.

To qualify for the tournament, the student had to have consistently maintained a score of 80 or below during the season. Vicki and I were on hand with all of the products for the players to use to get warmed up and prepare for their round.

The girls winner was Ashley Greer from Marina High School and after a two hole playoff she beat Renae McVoy from El Toro. Both ladies had shot 77, from roughly 5800 yards.

The boys winner was Andrew Akers from Tesoro who beat out his teammate Dan Martin and Kyle Miranda from Esperanza. They all has shot 72, one over par from 6800 yards and needed two playoff holes to determine the winner.

GolfGym Congratulates the Winners.
Ken Pierce

More from Joey's iPhone Cam...

Made it to New York and the US Open is definitely in the air. You can feel it. Running rampant right now, but will chime back in tomorrow to bring everybody up to speed. - Joey D.

Joey D ready to talk Bethpage Black...

It's US Open week. Bethpage Black and back to an unbelievable course where I've seen some incredible golf over the years. I'm leaving West Palm at 7am and will be in New York by lunch time. This is an enormous week coming up and I'm excited.

This isn't a week about conditions, hospitality and the facilities. That works for other posts, but this week is just about as big as it gets. This is our country's "Open" and this is Bethpage Black; one of the more challenging tracks I've seen in my career.

The USGA is one of the governing bodies of golf and they're going to set this course up they way they see fit. No one cares how much the players balk or carry on about conditions being too hard; it is what it is. This event is about the challenge. They want to see a low number out here... and I don't mean "low" like Brian Gay going 18-under low to win last week. I'm talking even or one-over come Sunday evening.

This is the second major we're seeing this year, with the Masters already in the books -- Augusta National, arguably the most coveted event in all of golf. Everybody in the world knows what the green jacket means. From there, "the Open" -- which is debatable depending on which side of the pond you reside. Our brethren overseas take pride in their British Open, but as time rolls on, we're seeing our countrymen putting even more weight into the overall meaning of the US Open.

The average golf fan doesn't see what I see on a given week. Take your average event and intensify that ten times over and you start to get the feel of a major. Factor in the environment and energetic crowd you get in New York, combined with the sense of nationalism you get at your country's open and you have an incredible week in store.

From my perspective, I see the nervousness, anger and frustration. I also see the determination, focus and desire. These guys have been working their tails off for weeks and this is the week it all has to come together both physically and mentally -- and by mentally, I mean the analytical part of the brain. The part that will crush a weak-minded player, not strong enough to control his emotions. Can you handle the high of a birdie or eagle? Will a bogey or a double derail your entire round? The energy you feel come Thursday will be electric.

The sub plots are there, as well. Tiger Woods back to defend last year's title, as well as his 2002 US Open win at Bethpage. Phil Mickelson, motivated to not only rebound from his 2006 collapse, but dealing with all that accompanies a wife battling breast cancer. (Again, as a survivor I wish Amy and the Mickelsons all my best.)

Beyond that, I really expect to see a sense of patriotism this year from America's boys. Over the past few years you've seen a renewed sense of pride with the Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup. Our guys are showing a bit more fire and seem to pin their ears back a little bit more when playing for country, these days.

Look at Chris DeMarco back in the 2005 Presidents Cup. He still calls that putt the shot of his career. Last year, America's first Ryder Cup victory since 1999.

This week, another meaningful event on US soil and as an American, you're hoping one of our guys rises to the challenge. That's not to take anything away from our foreign players out here. I'm very close with guys like Ian Poulter and Robert Allenby and I'd love to see either guy win. Same for my lone two guys in this week's field; Charlie Wi and Ryuji Imada. Both born overseas, but calling America home.

Week in and week out, nothing would make me happier than seeing one of my guys a top that leaderboard. I had it with Pat Perez a few months back and other guys have made a run. Come Tuesday afternoon, golf fitness will be first and foremost for Charlie, Ryuji and I in the trailers. All that said, keep an eye on out countrymen this week. Pay attention to the focus and intensity. Something you might not have seen at a lesser event or before it was mentioned in this blog.

Another obvious special quality is the influx of amateurs and type of player you don't see week in and week out. You get amateurs with exemptions at almost every tournament, but not like this. Guys who have never had the opportunity to play on this stage will find themselves in a major three days from now. It's just another thing that makes the US Open stand out from every other event and really captures the American spirit. These guys made the number on the day the USGA held a qualifier and now they're playing Bethpage Black. It makes for a great storyline every year.

Being a native New Yorker, I'll appreciate the x-factor the crowd will bring to the table this week. This is a diverse, passionate, in-your-face bunch that will descend on Bethpage. Our guys aren't going to see the Southern hospitality they experienced in Augusta, or even a few weeks back for the Texas events. New Yorkers will be in their face all week and that will either cause guys to rise to the occasion and feed off it, or they'll crumble.

A random tour event where you could hear a pin drop, this week you're going to hear "in the hole" yelled at the wrong time. Camera illegally snuck in will be clicking during a back swing. Not to say this can't happen anywhere, but with a more aggressive and boisterous crowd, guys have to be ready. This is a passionate crowd and I'm curious to see who feeds of of it and who falters.

That's enough to get you ready for Bethpage. More to report when I'm in New York tomorrow.



Joey D.

More from Joey's iPhone Cam...

While off the road this past week, I was able to put a little time and effort into getting things ready down here at D1 Athletics. As you can see, we have a ways to go - but we've officially kicked things off. The power has been turned on, the equipment has been ordered and we're looking to be open for business by August 1st. Stay tuned for the latest and check out these pics from my iPhone.

A Fitness Tip From Joey D...

Before I head to Bethpage for the US Open, a fitness tip for you to try this weekend. I want to again focus on the 90/90 drill. Attach a band to a point of your belt buckle, raise the handle to the sternum and move 90 degrees to the right, with the left foot toe pivot. You're going from the point of the fixed application into a 90 degree turn.

The goal here is to correct your posture so that your body knows what it's doing in the first half of the golf swing. Over time people get 'de-conditioned'. To keep that from happening, you must strengthen your core.

Check out the video below and tune back in next week for the latest from the US Open.

Mental Toughness

Earlier today Coach Joey D posted about the mental toughness of Tiger Woods. Mental toughness is what helps Tiger train as hard as he does and play to win as hard as he does. Hank Haney uses the term "Tiger Day" when describing a full day of workouts and golf. It takes mental toughness to be able to maintain that pace day to day.

I had the pleasure of playing nine holes of golf yesterday with a friend and associate, Rick Sessinghaus. Rick is known as “Golf’s Mental Coach”. He is the expert on the mindset principles that make or break performance on and off the course. Rick’s book "Golf: The Ultimate Mind Game" has been featured in national golf magazines and used by leading golf instructors across the country as the “best resource to improve your mental game.”

We played at Chevy Chase Country Club, a nine hole private club tucked back in the hills of Glendale, California. It was a real treat to play early in the morning, with a slight mist falling, on some of the finest greens I had ever played.

I read Rick's book and it has changed the way I approach the game. I am having fun and playing better every time I go out. That's why we are presenting a special offer on our website with his book. Balance is critical in golf and life, both mentally and physically. If you want more info on Rick, visit www.ricksessinghaus.com. We will be posting some excerpts from his book over the next few weeks.

I can't wait to post excerpts from Coach Joey D's new book, "Fix Your Body, Fix Your Swing" hitting the bookstores in January.

Play your best and have fun.
Ken Pierce
GolfGym

A Father's Day Golf Story

We at GolfGym would like to wish all the Fathers out there a very Happy Father's Day.

It is very likely that your dad was the first person to introduce you to the game of golf. That certainly is the case with me.

I remember going to the golf course with my dad for the first time at a very young age. That trip to the golf course is etched in my memory forever. I'm sure you have some dad-golf memories of your own. This Father's Day, honor your dad by reminding him of your favorite story.

My Own Dad - Golf Story
After playing a round of golf with his "buddies", my dad and they enjoyed a game or two of cards (gin rummy, to be exact) before heading home. I was very young and was impatiently hanging around for him to finish this ritual with his friends. After bugging him for the sixth time, "when are we gonna leave", he handed me his putter and a ball (the putter was taller than I) and told me to go out to the putting green and play putting. He said would be finished in about 20 minutes.

When I got to the putting green I started to whack the ball here and there, just goofing around. The green felt very soft under my feet and I can't exactly remember why, but for some reason I raised up the putter and smacked the soft ground with it. What a neat dent it made. I remember turning the blade vertical and with a full swing embedded the head into the green. Wow, that was fun. After about 5 more swings burying the head and yanking it out, I heard the panic call of a man running toward me from the pro shop. I remember that man dragging me into the clubhouse to inform my dad of what I had done. I got "the look" from my dad and his card game was over immediately. I guess that's why to this day, I am a stickler for fixing ball marks on the green.

My Dad, Leonard L. Pierce, had one Hole-in-One in his life. May 18, 1968, Butterfield Country Club, Hinsdale, IL, 9th hole, 165 yards, 5 iron. The local newspaper shot this picture in front of his Flower Shop in Chicago.

Father's Day Quiz to Win a GolfGym PowerSwing Trainer!


PGA Professional Jason Dufner found himself in a head scratching situation. His errant shot at Quail Hollow ended up in a young fans lap. Play it as it lies???

Quiz Question: What is the proper ruling in this situation?

Send your answer to: joeyd@golfgym.com

Happy Fathers Day from GolfGym

Ken Pierce
President
GolfGym