{"id":63,"date":"2009-10-11T23:01:16","date_gmt":"2009-10-12T04:01:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/golfcoursebusiness.com\/?p=63"},"modified":"2010-10-05T23:11:08","modified_gmt":"2010-10-06T04:11:08","slug":"the-zen-of-golf","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/golfcoursebusiness\/golf\/instruction\/63\/the-zen-of-golf","title":{"rendered":"The Zen of Golf"},"content":{"rendered":"
After seriously taking up golf a few years ago, <\/span><\/span>Southern California<\/span><\/span> resident <\/span><\/span>Lynn Silberstein has become quite passionate<\/span><\/span> about the <\/span><\/span>game. <\/span><\/span>So<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span> when Lynne\u2019s<\/span><\/span> husban<\/span><\/span>d, Michael, gave her the choice <\/span><\/span>to go somewhere <\/span><\/span>special <\/span><\/span>last Octob<\/span><\/span>er for her <\/span><\/span>birthday, <\/span><\/span>Lynne<\/span><\/span>, 61,<\/span><\/span> jumped at the opportunity to, well, go play golf.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

When the Silbersteins <\/span><\/span>signed up for <\/span><\/span>Miraval Resort<\/span><\/span>\u2019s Miraval Golf Experience<\/span><\/span> in <\/span><\/span>Tucson<\/span><\/span>, <\/span><\/span>Ariz.<\/span><\/span>, they expected the usual <\/span><\/span>upscale <\/span><\/span>golf environment<\/span><\/span> \u2013<\/span><\/span> first-class golf course amenities<\/span><\/span> and equipment<\/span><\/span>, state-of-the-art video coaching and the latest in swing tips and techniques.<\/span><\/span> What they <\/span><\/span>didn\u2019t expect was a mind-altering experience <\/span><\/span>that not only helped <\/span><\/span>them become <\/span><\/span>more successful<\/span><\/span> go<\/span><\/span>lfer<\/span><\/span>s<\/span><\/span>, but better people a<\/span><\/span>s well.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>\u201c<\/span><\/span>It changed my life, it really did change my life,\u201d Lynne Silberstein says. <\/span><\/span>\u201cI\u2019m a real Type-A kind of perfectionist, a real driven kind of person and I\u2019ve never let a lot o<\/span><\/span>f it go. But as golfers know<\/span><\/span>, it\u2019s just the oppos<\/span><\/span>ite in golf. The harder you try and<\/span><\/span> the more you force, the less you can achieve.<\/span><\/span> I really had to let that go and work really hard at relaxing and breathing, and yoga, and everything just to try and get my game moving forward. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span><\/span>W<\/span><\/span>hat Miraval <\/span><\/span>did was basically taught me to open up my mind and really just work on the me<\/span><\/span>ntal side and breathe. I<\/span><\/span>t\u2019s all about what happens between the shots<\/span><\/span> — th<\/span><\/span>e self talk<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span> For example, <\/span><\/span>don\u2019t berate<\/span><\/span> yourself so much anymore. You have to think it\u2019s <\/span><\/span>just a bad<\/span><\/span> shot kind of thing and move on, i<\/span><\/span>nstead of carrying it forward.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>First-time golfer Leslie Zucker<\/span><\/span>, 41,<\/span><\/span> also had a<\/span><\/span>n<\/span><\/span> \u201camazing experience\u201d at Miraval, and <\/span><\/span>she, too, learned a few things that<\/span><\/span> certainly transcended the game.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>\u201c<\/span><\/span>(The Miraval Golf Experience) gives you a sense of mastery and sense of confidence to try something new,\u201d says Zucker, a 41-year-old business owner from <\/span><\/span>Chicago<\/span><\/span>. \u201cIt forced me into just being mindful and really being present in the moment. Not worrying about what\u2019s going to ha<\/span><\/span>ppen if you can\u2019t get (the ball)<\/span><\/span> in the<\/span><\/span> hole or <\/span><\/span>letting the fear of, \u2018I\u2019m going to look completely ridiculous o<\/span><\/span>ut there,\u2019 get the best of you.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>\u201cBasically, you\u2019re not getting caught up in that whole mind chatter, and you\u2019re just going to <\/span><\/span>go out there and <\/span><\/span>try<\/span><\/span>. W<\/span><\/span>orst comes to worst, \u2018OK, so maybe I won\u2019t be such a great golfer<\/span><\/span>,\u2019<\/span><\/span> but at least I\u2019m going to try an<\/span><\/span>d that\u2019s exactly what I did.<\/span><\/span> I literally had such a great time that I\u2019m definitely going to golf again.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>The lessons learned <\/span><\/span>are already<\/span><\/span> being incorporated into Zucker\u2019s <\/span><\/span>family life.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAbsolutely,\u201d says Zucker, who is married with two boys. \u201cAgain, it\u2019s just being in that moment and not worrying about all those if-then scenarios. Sometimes you just have to throw that out the door and be in the moment. \u2026<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>\u201cIt\u2019s just staying calm, being calm and not getting worked up. It\u2019s letting things happen. You can\u2019t control everything. So the biggest issue is sometimes you just have to let go and just let things happen as they\u2019re going to happen. You can only prepare so much.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>This profound approach to <\/span><\/span>golf and life are the fundamental principles of a <\/span><\/span>new breed <\/span><\/span>of golf instructors. <\/span><\/span>Now, <\/span><\/span>golf <\/span><\/span>resort <\/span><\/span>lessons <\/span><\/span>can be just as much about <\/span><\/span>mind, <\/span><\/span>body a<\/span><\/span>nd spirit as <\/span><\/span>it is about <\/span><\/span>grips, shafts and clubheads.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A<\/span><\/span>rguably there is no <\/span><\/span>better <\/span><\/span>place <\/span><\/span>to start this alternativ<\/span><\/span>e golf journey<\/span><\/span> than Miraval Resort, an<\/span><\/span> innovative and highly rated <\/span><\/span>health and wellness <\/span><\/span>destination<\/span><\/span> largely owned by AOL founder Steve Case<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>Nestled in the foothills of the picturesque <\/span><\/span>Catalina<\/span><\/span> Mountains<\/span><\/span>, Miraval is noted fo<\/span><\/span>r its \u201cmindfulness\u201d programming \u2013<\/span><\/span> a variety of experiences whereby<\/span><\/span> guests are immersed in a number of practices that link body, mind and heart in the \u201cmoment.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

This state of mindfulness, or being present in the moment, according to Miraval, is one of the most eff<\/span><\/span>ective ways of discovering one\u2019s <\/span><\/span>unique self<\/span><\/span> and living a balanced life. This notion of mindfulness i<\/span><\/span>s also one of the fundamental elemen<\/span><\/span>ts that make<\/span><\/span> the Miraval<\/span><\/span> Golf Experience<\/span><\/span> so meaningful.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A<\/span><\/span>t Miraval\u2019s<\/span><\/span> four-day golf school r<\/span><\/span>un by <\/span><\/span>renowned coach and Extraordinary Golf founder Fred Shoemaker, two of the main principles explored <\/span><\/span>at the nearby Golf Club at Vistoso <\/span><\/span>are freedom and awareness. For example, <\/span><\/span>one popular drill is having the class alternate between hitting a ball and throwing a club. Soon, students \u201cfeel\u201d the difference in the swing.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>Extraordinary Golf CEO <\/span><\/span>Jo Ha<\/span><\/span>rdy, whose company <\/span><\/span>helped co-design<\/span><\/span> Miraval\u2019s <\/span><\/span>golf <\/span><\/span>program, says <\/span><\/span>another core component of <\/span><\/span>the <\/span><\/span>Miraval Golf Experience<\/span><\/span> is concentration<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>\u201cAsk professionals what the most important skill is for golf, and they\u2019ll say concentration,\u201d adds Hardy, whose Miraval program costs $4,063 per single occupancy and $3,708 per double occupancy. \u201cNow if you ask them if they coach it, they\u2019ll probably s<\/span><\/span>ay no.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span> If you ask them if they\u2019<\/span><\/span>v<\/span><\/span>e ever been coached in it, they\u2019<\/span><\/span>ll also say no!”<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>\u201cSo our program, and many of our exercises, are designed to have golfers recognize whether they\u2019re present or not.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span> For instance, if we ask students to track the clubhead all the way through the arc of their swing, at first<\/span><\/span>, many wouldn\u2019<\/span><\/span>t be able to.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span> But,<\/span><\/span> they would start realizing that<\/span><\/span> they check out, which is a great first step.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span> When students expand their capacity to stay present, learning happen<\/span><\/span>s rapidly<\/span><\/span>. That\u2019s the essence of concentration and it\u2019s something that can make you better in life or work.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Pilates, Gyrotonics and Kinematics<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

If that sounds like an exercise regimen more <\/span><\/span>befitting of<\/span><\/span> Olympic athletes, think again.<\/span><\/span> Sure, golfers haven\u2019t traditionally been confused <\/span><\/span>with being true athletes,<\/span><\/span> but <\/span><\/span>times have changed. So, after years of eschewing exercise, golfers have come to grips <\/span><\/span>over that last decade <\/span><\/span>that strength, flexibility and overall fitness plays a critical role in the game (credit <\/span><\/span>studly <\/span><\/span>Tiger Woods<\/span><\/span> for that change<\/span><\/span>).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

One property <\/span><\/span>that embraces thi<\/span><\/span>s philosophy as much as anywhere <\/span><\/span>is Pebble Beach Resorts in <\/span><\/span>Monterey<\/span><\/span>, <\/span><\/span>Calif.<\/span><\/span> Under the longtime watch of Laird Small, <\/span><\/span>Pebble<\/span><\/span> Beach<\/span><\/span> Golf<\/span><\/span> Academy<\/span><\/span> is a place<\/span><\/span> where golfers are exposed to as much kinesiology as golfology, learning to use <\/span><\/span>a <\/span><\/span>special <\/span><\/span>Pilates system<\/span><\/span> such as Gyrotonics or going through the unique Kinematics Lab.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cT<\/span><\/span>he reason why we think <\/span><\/span>(Gyrotonics) is so important is <\/span><\/span>traditional weightlifting is<\/span><\/span> done on a single plane motion,\u201d <\/span><\/span>says Small, who is in his 20<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/sup><\/span> year at <\/span><\/span>Pebble<\/span><\/span> Beach<\/span><\/span>. \u201c<\/span><\/span>You do a curl and it\u2019s right in front of you \u2013 up and down.<\/span><\/span> But t<\/span><\/span>hat motion has no relationship to your golf swing because you don\u2019t do that motion in your golf swing. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Gyrotonic is <\/span><\/span>a special mach<\/span><\/span>ine in the Pilates world <\/span><\/span>that has cables with a pulley system<\/span><\/span> with <\/span><\/span>weights attached to them<\/span><\/span>. W<\/span><\/span>hat it does is becau<\/span><\/span>se the cables are free moving, y<\/span><\/span>ou can start to move your arms in a multi-plane fashion very much like you\u2019re doing in your golf swing.<\/span><\/span> What we\u2019re <\/span><\/span>trying to do is <\/span><\/span>train in the same modality that people are actually applying the skill<\/span><\/span>.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A more high-tech tool used by<\/span><\/span> Pebble<\/span><\/span> Beach<\/span><\/span> is Kinematics, which helps golfers understand how joint movement happens, and ultimately, helps them have more efficient movement patterns.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

How it works is golfers\u2019 swings are captured on videotape and transmitted to lab director Chris W<\/span><\/span>elch, who digitizes each of the <\/span><\/span>13 major joints within a millimeter of the joint head. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen, through movement, we can see how the golfer\u2019s body is moving,\u201d Small points out. \u201cAre they joints moving in the correct sequence? Or is one joint not moving and another joint taking its place, which means you don\u2019t have the right chain or the right kinectic linking.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Another way to picture this is imagine someone awkwardly throwing a ball off their back foot, rather than stepping forward, coiling the body and then throwing.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe find that the Pilates system and the Gyrotonics System combined really help golfers identify the correct patterns of movement,\u201d Small says. \u201cI<\/span><\/span>t\u2019s a new way of thinking about it. No<\/span><\/span>t everybody is doing it<\/span><\/span>, but they will be. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cG<\/span><\/span>olf at its core is a game of stability. <\/span><\/span>The more s<\/span><\/span>table that you are, <\/span><\/span>the more balanced that you are, t<\/span><\/span>he more force that you can apply<\/span><\/span> and<\/span><\/span> the more speed you can create. <\/span><\/span>And t<\/span><\/span>he more dynamic you can be as an athlete.<\/span><\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Yoga, Anyone?<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

This peaceful New Age ritual might seem out of place in the male-dominated world of golf, but the breathing and stretching techniques once reserved for religious retreats are fast becoming the mainstream domain of luxury resorts. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In fact, dozens of great hotels and resorts are touting yoga and other alternative fitness-related programs as the newest way to hone one\u2019s handicap. Katherine Roberts, whose Scottsdale-based Yoga for Golfers program is part of the traveling <\/span><\/span>ESPN<\/span><\/span> Golf<\/span><\/span> School<\/span><\/span>, is one of the pioneers.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s grown dramatically in the 10 years since I started the program,\u201d says Roberts, who counts the San Diego Padres as one of her clients as well as numerous professional golfers and top amateurs. \u201cTen years ago, when I started talking about blending golf and yoga<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span> the average person would say, \u2018well, I\u2019m not very flexible.\u2019 Or, the image they had was chanting, burning incense and sitting in the lotus position.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe truth is, everything you get in yoga. \u2026 The flexibility, strength, balance, breathing and core strength of being able to quiet your mind, all has a direct correlation to golf performance.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Indeed, the marriage of golf and yoga is a natural union in many ways. For instance, the process of learning yoga postures is remarkably similar to learning to swing a golf club. Also, a calm centered mental state so central to proper yoga technique is an essential element to being successful on the golf course.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe whole concept of fitness and golf is really taking off,\u201d Roberts says. \u201cIf you\u2019re a resort, you have to offer something more than just swing lessons today. I\u2019<\/span><\/span>m seeing more resorts embrace (yoga)<\/span><\/span> because what we\u2019re offering isn\u2019t just a means to better golf. What we\u2019re offering is a better lifestyle.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Simply put, veteran PGA Tou<\/span><\/span>r golfer Scott Gump says yoga has become<\/span><\/span> \u201cjust huge.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTh<\/span><\/span>e core strength alone <\/span><\/span>and the st<\/span><\/span>rength it gives you in golf is <\/span><\/span>so valuable,\u201d Gump s<\/span><\/span>ays. \u201cBut just the movement in<\/span><\/span> yoga, your flexibility, your <\/span><\/span>strength and your coordination, i<\/span><\/span>f you think about it, \u2018Hey, that\u2019s like making a gol<\/span><\/span>f swing. What\u2019s the difference.\u2019<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou used to associate yoga with \u2018go hug a tree\u2019 or \u2018go rub a rock.\u2019 That\u2019s no longer the case. It\u2019s a like a circle of life; everything\u2019s connected.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Indeed, even that ancient game of golf.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

–30\u2014<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

For more<\/span><\/span> information<\/span><\/span> o<\/span><\/span>n <\/span><\/span>where to try some of these<\/span><\/span> alternative golf experiences<\/span><\/span> go to:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Miraval – 800-232-3969; <\/span><\/span>www.mir<\/span><\/span>avalresorts.com<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Pebble<\/span><\/span> Beach<\/span><\/span> Resorts<\/span><\/span> \u2013 831-622-8650; <\/span><\/span>www.pebblebeach.com<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Carmel<\/span><\/span> Valley<\/span><\/span> Ranch Resort – <\/span><\/span>866-282-4745<\/span><\/span>; <\/span><\/span>www.carmelvalleyranch.com<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>Ojai Valley Inn & Spa \u2013 800-422-6524; <\/span><\/span>www.ojairesort.com<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>Turning Stone <\/span><\/span>Resort & Casino <\/span><\/span>\u2013<\/span><\/span> 1-800-771-<\/span><\/span>7711<\/span><\/span>; <\/span><\/span>www.turningstone.com<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>ChampionsGate <\/span><\/span>\u2013<\/span><\/span> 407-787-golf; www.championsgate.com<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa<\/span><\/span> \u2013 707-<\/span><\/span>938-9000<\/span><\/span>; <\/span><\/span>www.fairmont.com\/sonoma\/<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Extraordinary Golf \u2013 800-541-2444; www.extraordinarygolf.com<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Katherine Roberts\/<\/span><\/span>Yoga for Golfers\/ESPN Golf Schools<\/span><\/span> \u2013 602-317-4998; <\/span><\/span>www.espngolfschools.com<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>; <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Kris<\/span><\/span> Moe<\/span><\/span> Golf<\/span><\/span> Schools<\/span><\/span> \u2013 707-939-0523; <\/span><\/span>www.krismoegolfschools.com<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

–30–<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After seriously taking up golf a few years ago, Southern California resident Lynn Silberstein has become quite passionate about the… Read more »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,3595],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-63","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-instruction","category-pebble-beach"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/golfcoursebusiness\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/golfcoursebusiness\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/golfcoursebusiness\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/golfcoursebusiness\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/golfcoursebusiness\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=63"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/golfcoursebusiness\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":65,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/golfcoursebusiness\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63\/revisions\/65"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/golfcoursebusiness\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=63"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/golfcoursebusiness\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=63"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/golfcoursebusiness\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=63"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}