{"id":81,"date":"2010-09-10T03:57:34","date_gmt":"2010-09-10T03:57:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/janinajacobs.com\/?p=81"},"modified":"2011-01-04T15:00:20","modified_gmt":"2011-01-04T15:00:20","slug":"the-boys-of-twentyten","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/golf\/instruction\/81\/the-boys-of-twentyten","title":{"rendered":"The Boys of Twenty Ten"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

Morning dawns on the Twentyten at Celtic Manor in Cardiff, Wales<\/p><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

A Word to the U.S. Ryder Cup Team……..\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

There is little doubt the U.S. Ryder Cup team’s intent is to retain The Cup as they travel to Celtic Manor in Cardiff, Wales later this month.\u00a0 Team captain Corey Pavin has made his selections and now the strategy, the mindset, team-building, and the hoopla will all commence.\u00a0\u00a0 Probably the last item on the Captain’s mind is defeat.\u00a0\u00a0 Reliving the disastrous results of the 2004 Ryder Cup at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan may not top his list of ‘Things We Like To Think About’ but it is said that those who do not study history are doomed to repeat it. I believe analyzing what went wrong can only strengthen the resolve to win.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Let’s take a look back to events from six short years ago………\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

A visit to the Ryder Cup telephone operators\u2019 trailer after Friday\u2019s opening rout of the American team\u2019s efforts in the 2004 event at Oakland Hills prompted one of the ladies of the Detroit area\u2019s Women\u2019s District Golf Association, who were answering the main phone lines, to remark, \u201cYou should go talk to those boys.\u00a0 They really need your help!\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

At first I chuckled at the thought of how preposterous it would be to break through the practice range ropes and impart my wisdom upon Hal, Jackie Burke Jr., Rick Smith and the boys.\u00a0\u00a0 But then, after pondering a week\u2019s worth of Oakland Hills observations and not seeing much practicing going on, maybe the ladies weren\u2019t far off.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

As a veteran of over 25 USGA national championships, hundreds of local, state, regional, and international golf events, shouldn\u2019t I have learned something<\/em> in 40+ years of competition that the 20-somethings don\u2019t know?\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

OK, so I stopped chuckling and changed my mind.\u00a0 Maybe it is too late for that particular crop of Ryder Cup players\u00a0but it is not too late to assist the team in this year\u2019s contest at the Twenty Ten Course in Wales.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what I have learned during my lifelong journey through golf:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Do not disrespect or underestimate the course.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Ryder boys most likely thought the talons of The Monster would not reach out to pierce them.\u00a0 Much was made of the fact that Oakland Hills, at 7084 yards, was not long by today\u2019s standards, though it plays to a par of 70.\u00a0 But they forgot that great courses stand the test of time and endure improvements and renovations quite easily.\u00a0 One of the more noted players on the American team had not even been to the course prior to Tuesday\u2019s practice, though he had been to Michigan several times.\u00a0 Gargantuan drivers, Hi-tech clubs, performance golf balls notwithstanding, you still have to get the ball in the hole.\u00a0 In order to do that, you have to become acquainted with the intricacies of the layout.\u00a0 You can\u2019t assume the course is to be conquered like any other.\u00a0 The Twenty Ten is an unknown entity to this type of competition and having played it myself, know there some tricks up its beautiful and alluring sleeve.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Take advantage of any practice rounds you are offered.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

No matter how well you can think through and sleuth out a course you\u2019ve not played, there is always something you won\u2019t know about it simply by hearing tales or looking at the scorecard.\u00a0 Naturally you will discover this at exactly the wrong time, such as when you need to sink a 3-foot putt you know breaks toward the water \u2013 only it is built onto the side of Mystery Hill and everyone<\/em> except you knows it breaks the opposite way.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

In USGA championships, the course is reserved for contestant-only play two days preceding the event.\u00a0 Trying to find an open tee time before 3pm is fruitless, especially if you had designs on playing 27 or 36 holes, like many of us did so we could\u00a0test the course under morning and afternoon conditions.\u00a0\u00a0 At Oakland Hills, the entire course was available to the players for 4 full days.\u00a0 In three afternoons I saw exactly 3 shots by Americans.\u00a0 Players had wrapped up their course practice before 2:30.\u00a0 Many fans who had come out to view afternoon practice rounds toured virtually an empty course except for some of the Europeans who were still playing toward\u00a0late afternoon.\u00a0 With 20 out of 28 matches contested in the afternoon, why would you not<\/em> play a practice round then?\u00a0 Convenience?\u00a0 Scheduling?\u00a0 Weather too hot?\u00a0 Social demands?\u00a0 Greens can change dramatically from morning to afternoon, when sun and wind can bake and crisp the greens to almost unplayable conditions.\u00a0 Oakland Hills is notorious for this and players should have been out there watching their putts slide by the pins\u2026..and keep going off the greens.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Examine the greens and putt from multiple positions because all tournaments are either won or lost there.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The pins used for practice rounds will rarely be used for actual play.\u00a0 Look for spray paint dots on the green to show where tournament pins will be.\u00a0 Now, go ahead and pick spots around the green and putt to the dots for some meaningful practice.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

European captain Bernhard Langer compared the undulating and slick greens at Oakland Hills to one other venue noted for its treacherous greens:\u00a0 Augusta National.\u00a0 If nothing else, the American team should have spent all of their practice time navigating those greens.\u00a0\u00a0 And by the way, they could have gone out after<\/em> losing their matches to practice; playing the course in between rounds of match play is not against the rules.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Make friends with the locals\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The members of a club are more than happy to share their intimate course knowledge with you.\u00a0 They\u2019ll know the short-cuts, the places not to be, and general breaks of the greens.\u00a0 Get to know the pro and the course superintendent and they\u2019ll provide you with additional information.\u00a0\u00a0 Then at least you\u2019ll have a few fans!\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Don\u2019t make major changes in your swing or your equipment a week or two prior to the event.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

We all know what Phil Mickelson did but can only guess why.\u00a0 Logic could tell you that if the exact specs of his old equipment were duplicated it shouldn\u2019t have been a problem.\u00a0 But, psychologically, just the fact of changing equipment has to have an effect, if only to question what you have done.\u00a0 Doubt about anything is never good.\u00a0 Stay with what you have and bring it to the dance.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Don\u2019t change routines and don\u2019t eat strange food.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Normally I don\u2019t get much sleep.\u00a0 During one national amateur I decided to sleep in because my second day tee time wasn\u2019t until 1:30.\u00a0 I had played a superb round the first day and wanted to continue my good habits.\u00a0 Normally waking up at 6:30, I kept trying to go back to sleep because I thought I needed to rest. Finally getting out of bed at 10am, I was lethargic and useless.\u00a0 Playing some of the worst golf of my life, I shot myself out of contention.\u00a0\u00a0 I have never made that mistake again.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

As for food, never believe your Mexican host when he tells you the pepper is not hot and the fruit won\u2019t hurt you.\u00a0 During the 1991 Mexican Women’s Amateur, I was ailing all week.\u00a0 I\u2019ll spare you the rest of the details.\u00a0 And, when you go to strange climates in foreign countries, do not assume the air quality is the same as in the USA.\u00a0 It isn\u2019t.\u00a0 The grasses and flowers are different and many countries don\u2019t have the pollution controls we do in the states.\u00a0 This will play havoc with your upper respiratory system.\u00a0 Many handkerchiefs and tons of Kleenex never left my hand for very long in Mexico\u2026..well, maybe long enough to hit my shot.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In team play, NEVER criticize your partner.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Tiger Woods – Phil Mickelson pairing Captain Hal Sutton orchestrated was not a match made in heaven.\u00a0 Sometimes we are forced to play with partners not on our wavelength and if so, you need to make the best of it.\u00a0 No one intentionally tries to mess up.\u00a0 If you give the rolling eyeball treatment please know that sometime within the round you will mess up worse and you\u2019ll want your partner to forgive you.\u00a0 If the partnership isn\u2019t working out, don\u2019t play with that person any more.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Never give up.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Until the match or round is over, keep trying.\u00a0 Golf is fickle and you never know what will happen to the other guy.\u00a0 If you give up, you\u2019ll never get the chance to find out.\u00a0 The 18th<\/sup> hole at Oakland Hills surprised everyone:\u00a0 par would have changed the outcome on a number of matches.\u00a0 The Twenty Ten course has a number of risk-reward holes which could send matches see-sawing until the last hole.\u00a0 Lopsided matches ending on the 13th or 14th hole may not be an issue this year.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

There are certain truths to this game that care nothing about status, record, or reputation.\u00a0 Listening to the advice of those who are older and more experienced is never a waste of time.\u00a0 And sometimes, you can still learn from those who are younger as well if you simply make the effort\u00a0to listen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Conditions on the greens can change drastically from morning to afternoon. Will the Ryder Cup competitors be ready? <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":336,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,9,1694,17],"tags":[77],"class_list":["post-81","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-instruction","category-golf","category-haversham-baker","category-courses-and-travel","tag-can-professional-golfers-learn-practice-techniques-from-a-mere-amateur"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2010\/09\/P1010029.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/31"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=81"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":596,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81\/revisions\/596"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/336"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=81"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=81"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=81"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}