By David Clay Director of Instruction, The Golf Academy Sterling Country Club at Houston National

Most parents would like to see their kids play golf. Does your child enjoy the same enthusiasm as you?

The most important part in helping your youngster is to understand the focus level for a child is their age plus one in minutes per hour. Let’s consider an 8-year old...the age is 8 + 1 would equal 9 minutes of focus in 1 hour. In other words, 9 minutes of the hour focused on the fundamentals is about enough in the first lesson. “Head down, left arm straight” is not a fundamental. This does not mean that this is all the practice he or she will do. The rest of the time, your youngster should be having fun.

By David Clay Director of Instruction, The Golf Academy Sterling Country Club at Houston National

It’s always a joy when I work with juniors. Obviously, some are more naturally coordinated than others. Each student soon learns the way to get better is with practice, and this isn’t necessarily what was expected when first starting golf. Many think if you just understand what to do, then you can do it. This isn’t how it works.

Recently, I had some very good news. Two of the juniors I teach had holes-in-one. They weren’t playing together when it happened. Each had one parent watching them. The remarkable news is that they are both 10-years old. I’ve talked to many adults who haven’t had a hole in one, and there are even a few players on the PGA Tour who haven’t either. Have you?

I’ve played on some great golf courses: some in The Open, some with friends, and a lot when I played on the tour. Each one had its particular challenges; and all, but one, were enjoyable. Some of my favorites were Pebble Beach, Pinehurst #2, Spanish Bay, Bay Hill, St. Andrews, Muirfield, Wentworth, and many more. The most unusual course of them all was in Egypt.

I was 18 years-old when the British government decided all boys of 18 must do two years in the military. I was given a choice: two years in the Army, three in the Airforce or five in the Navy. I took the Army as I wanted to get in and out as quickly as possible.

by David Clay Director of Instruction, The Golf Academy Sterling Country Club @ Houston National

When I was working in California for Arnold Palmer, I was always pleasantly surprised when a youngster of about 12-years of age told me he was on the junior high school golf team. This meant they had a couple more years of practice before entering high school, and then the student would play on the JV or Varsity team depending on the level of expertise they had developed.

Most junior high schools in California have golf teams. They start learning to play golf long before entering high school. This isn’t only private schools offering golf; public schools have golf programs too.

The South Texas PGA and the Houston Golf Association sponsor tournaments for youngsters throughout the summer.

By David Clay Director of Instruction, Houston National Golf Academy

Do you ever have doubts in your mind before you play a shot? Keep in mind that golf is a game of mis-hit shots, not pure strikes.

I’ve said before, your mind goes towards your currrently dominant thought. Work on convincing yourself that the next shot is going to be one of the best you have ever hit. Try to remember the feel of a similar shot you have already played in the past, and repeat that feeling. Of course, if you don’t practice and just play this makes it difficult. Remember, most amatuers follow a birdie with a double bogey because they are out of their comfort zone.

If you look at the Nationwide Tour (one step below the PGA Tour), you will see plenty of players who have been on the PGA Tour who have lost their cards. You will also see players who have won on the PGA Tour.

By David Clay Director of Instruction, Houston National Golf Academy

When I was working for Arnold Palmer, he stressed the importance of concentrating on the fundamentals. He said, “If everyone had their fundamentals correct, there wouldn’t be anyone who couldn’t break 90.”

I work with a lot of Juniors and find that when they grasp the fundamentals at this point in their lives, they can build on them. Some of the nine and ten-year olds are shooting 43 for nine holes from the ladies tees.

Last week, a young lady I teach, Gurleen Kaur, was playing in the STPGA tournament at The Woodlands Country Club. From the ladies’ tees, the course measured 5,318. I have put her scorecard below for you to see. Gurleen has just turned 10-years old and playing in the 10-14 age group. She shot 93.

By David Clay Director of Instruction, Houston National Golf Academy

Many people come for a lesson saying, “I can hit my short irons very straight, but as I hit through the clubs from a 5-iron downwards I start to slice. By the time I get to the driver, I can cover a lot of territory to the right.”

The straightness of the short-irons is because the clubs are shorter. This imparts more backspin rather than sidespin. When you hit your driver, you have a much stronger tendancy to leave the clubface open a small amount. Remember a few weeks ago, a gentleman from the USGA agreed with me that a drive going 225 yards straight then moving 25 yards to the right was only .25” open.

You are also likely to be far too steep in your downswing. Have a look at your grip as well. The two upside-down Vs should point towards your right shoulder.

By David Clay Director of Instruction, Houston National Golf Academy

1. Have you ever considered from the time greens are cut in the morning to the time you play in the afternoon, the grass has grown? More so, if you play in the evening. At this time of year with the sun shining on the greens all day, especially on Bentgrass greens, you will probably find that the superintendent has watered the greens in the afternoon to keep the temperature down. All you need is sun, water, and fertilizers sprayed on the greens to make it grow. There is a good chance a green would be slower in the evening than it would in the morning. This is true during the hot summer months.

2. When you are close to a green and you are playing a chip shot, do you pick out a spot to land your ball? Remember, 80% of amateurs leave the shot short. Save yourself from falling into this trap, you will never hole a shot if it’s short. If you have enough speed to reach the hole, there is always the chance of holing it.

By David Clay Director of Instruction, Houston National Golf Academy

1. No doubt you have hit shots off the toe of the club. The ball doesn’t go as far. There are times you can use this to your advantage. Take putting on a fast green and a downhill putt for an example. Address the ball off the toe of the putter, and it will not come off the blade as quickly as it would if you had hit it out of the center of the putter.

2. When you want to stop the ball quickly on a shot from about 20 to 30 yards where you might be going over a bunker or water with the pin close to the hazard, address the ball off the toe of your 60° or 56° wedge and play the ball towards your left toe. Get plenty of wrist action on your backswing so the club is coming down fairly steeply. This will allow you to land the ball softly.

By David Clay Director of Instruction - Houston National Golf Academy

Some of the juniors I started three years ago are now shooting in the low 70s in tournaments. The 9-year-olds and 10-year-olds are now shooting 43 for nine holes in tournaments from the ladies’ tees. What are you shooting at the moment?

Let’s say you decide to let your daughter learn to play the piano. To motivate her, you might say, “If you work at it, we will find someone to give you lessons. This means you will first learn the fundamentals of how to play the piano by putting your fingers on the right notes.” However, with your golf, Dad, Grandpa, and your favorite uncle have been very pleased to offer help to get you started. What follows is a series of pieces that has you working on too many things at once.

On our driving range approximately 50 yards away are some lights on the ground. Behind the lights is a bank of earth. A metal casing and a mound of earth covers the lights to protect them from the flying balls hit from the teeing area.

I use these mounds of earth to have students practice their 50-yard shots. You may not realize how important the 50-yard (and 30-yard) shot is. Say you have hit two very good shots on a Par 5. This could leave you 50 yards away. On the other hand, you may have hit a wayward tee shot and have to lay up. Again, you play the 50-yard shot.

To work on this type of shot, keep your feet slightly closer together than normal with your weight mainly on your left foot (right foot for left-handers).

Graphite Shaft v. Steel Shaft

I am often asked, “Which is better, a steel or graphite shaft?” Generally speaking, you will find graphite shafts are a little more expensive than steel. The graphite shaft is a little lighter, and can add a few yards to your shot.

Graphite shafts were touted as being better for ladies and senior men. About six or seven years ago, Tiger Woods switched to graphite, establishing them as the shafts for everyone. Tour players usually use wedges in steel, and many use a driver in graphite. Be aware that the PGA tour player will have a contract with a sporting goods company to use certain clubs, and certain shafts. Up to three clubs may be used that are not under contract; for example, a Ping putter or different wedges.