[Delaware Golf]

Here is another little piece on finding/discovering TGM...


I discovered TGM in less than a year of playing golf...so I really don't know what it's like to play the game without it...When I picked up the game of golf in September of 1990....I made the decision to see if I could find a method, philosophy and/or text that spoke the truth about the golf swing in scientific terms.....I had been a professional musician up until that point and studied percussion with some of the top drumming instructors in the country....really world class instructors.....for any of you musicians turn golfers.....I studied with a drum instructor Gary Chaffee who taught Vinnie Coluiata (Frank Zappa, Sting, Gino Vannelli), Steve Smith (Journey), Joey Kramer (Aerosmith)...I studied with Jazz drumming legend Joe Morello (pianist Dave Brubeck), Joe was a big influence on Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham and I also studied with Top Studio Drummer Gary Chester (taught Chick Corea drummer Dave Weckl)....all of these instructors laid the foundation for me to seek out instructors who teach at the highest levels within their field....that's what lead me to the golfing machine. In less than a year of playing the game I picked up a copy of Golf Illustrated, the July 1991 issue and read the article about Tom Tomasello....I was fascinated by the interview.....Tommy's approach seemed to be radically different than any golfing philosophy that I read about up until that point. One month later, a copy of TGM arrived in the mail....within 30 seconds of opening the book I knew this was the sh_t. Studied the machine for two years before contacting Mr. Tomasello which was at a point of total frustration with the text...I had to contact this Tomasello guy....at this point, I don't know how I got a hold of him...back in 1993 we didn't have the internet (or at least not at the level it is today, I know I didn't have it)....yeah, no forums, man you were on your own then...like the stone age of golf instruction compared to what you can experience with a click of a mouse today.

So, in October of 1993, I made the trek to Myrtle Beach more specifically the southern part of the grand strand...Southside Beach, Deer Track Golf Resort where Tommy had his indoor studio, if you have a copy of Tom's interview, all of the pictures from the interview are from his indoor studio at Deer Track. On Tom's desk, there was a copy of the 1st edition of TGM and next to it was a copy of Ben Hogan's "Power Golf". On the wall behind Tommy's desk there were pictures of two golfers in mid-swing, one swinger and one hitter, the two golfers were Ben Hogan and Moe Norman.

As far as my three day school is concerned....first, my swing during this time period was very flat (my swing model at that point was Bobby Clampett)...I had no concept of educated hands and the delivery path concept....my swing was so flat..too much inward on the three dimensions, Tommy didn't let me try his incline swing plane in fear that I would break it (yikessss)...much like the device you see in TGM with golfing model Diane. I have about 50% of my three day school on cassette tape, both the indoor sessions just going over the concepts and the outdoor sessions on the driving range...out on the driving range a lot of my instruction was focused on educating my hands to the straight line delivery path and developing an understanding of the magic of the right forearm. For the first day on the range, I had a hell of time getting the ball in the air....it wasn't until the third day that I began to hit good shots....Tommy was a great story teller...at lunch during the three day school he told me the story of Homer's start as a golfer....supposedly Homer was an excellent Tennis player!!! I believe Tommy said Homer's boss invited him for a round of golf and that first round was a disaster for Homer….as you all know the next 28 years produced one of the most thorough analysis of the golf swing (1st draft!!!!)..One funny moment with Tommy was at the end of the three day school...we went over to a local bank so I could cash some travelers checks so I could pay Tommy...as I was receiving my cash, the teller asked me with a big smile and a sweet southern accent, "am I going to see you on TV". Tommy taught golfers from around the world, Top Amateurs, European PGA tour pros, and PGA Tour pros…I believe this woman wasn’t kidding, I believe she saw some of Tommy’s students on TV. While we were going over TGM concepts in Tom's studio, a student of Tommy's called from NYC (TV station owner) and wanted to tell Tommy the sensations he was feeling with his number 3 pressure point. It appeared to me from that conversation, Tommy really enjoyed supporting his students after they left his school....as I left his studio on the third day...Tommy handed me the video tape that many of you have contacted me for a copy....I hope all of you who have a copy have enjoyed it as much as I have....it really is a great piece of instruction and it's a great record of how Tommy taught....solid..straight to the point instruction!!!

DG