[innercityteacher]

don't blame me. Blame KevCarter. He put you on plane and did the smart stuff. I just drove the car and tried to be agreeable.
Mr. Ross got the best of us today, but it sure was fun and the course is nothing if not extraordinary and classic.
There sure were some good looking swings out there today. Cannot wait for tomorrow!

"Call me Ishmael. Some years ago - never mind how long precisely - having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world."

Some years ago, never mind how long ago precisely, having only modest resources and no excessively expensive vices (camping and gardening), I thought I would travel about the finely manicured golf courses of the world and challenge myself to enjoy nature and satisfy my competitive urges muted by my football injuries and unfulfilled by the victories I enjoyed in the classroom.

Ahh, Mr. Ross must have giggled in heaven with a cold, sweet, pink lemonade, as he observed the four of us tramping around one of his magnificent courses, The White Bear Yacht Club in the searing heat and humidity. (He might've been really rooting for us, too.)

But I'll wager he had cause to quietly mumble as he witnessed three mere mortals under the excellent tutelage of Mr, Homer Kelly via Mr. Blake and three of his earnest students, Kevin Carter, JerryG, and K.S. hitting tremendously sound shot after shot from the very tips of his magnificent course. Only one of our "Fellowship of the Plane" (sorry J.R.R.) had played there before and yet two of these fine golfers, had they played this course once a month, would be able to shoot very low scores given their awareness of the bio-mechanics and "plane" realities of TGM.

Mr. K.S. came within a few strokes of shooting par and JerryG was not too far behind, even given his advanced age and lack of hair. Kevin could not participate with his broken elbow but he was quietly instructing me to the point where I was shooting straight shot after straight shot from the 2nd hole on.


On Monday, before the round on a nearby driving range, we were treated to free balls (normally $7 a basket) by the most excellent Paul and Greg (manager and friends of Kevin and Jerry who seem to know everyone up here).

Within, 10 balls, Kevin had me striking a 150 yard 8 iron with the most predictable high, 10 yard draw. Not satisfied (though I was elated) Kevin told me my ball was too far back in my stance by about 6". Instantly, my ball flight became more penetrating and uhm, straight. I striped the 8 iron, then the 4 iron, again and again, uhm straight. When I missed two in a row, Kevin told me I was getting stuck on my right side (my longer 1.75" back leg).

Now, we all have our own sense of balance. For me, I pretty much have stood on my right leg mostly, for the last 37 years. My right foot is almost 3/4 of a size larger than my left. And when each of my three children learned how to walk, they all walked like John Wayne until I explained to them that they didn't need to since they had no hip injuries.

In short, unless Kevin had observed me in a trained fashion, I would never be able to feel my "getting stuck" on my right side. Kevin's advice was simple, "get to your left side." I started out simply turning back to the plane with my hip from Impact Fix and stepping down on my left heel. Driving on my left leg was a little scary (I was new to the sensation and I worried about my balance) though terribly effective.

I followed Kevin's plan though I offered one substitution which was to not drive down on my heel, but simply tilt my front shoulder up. My reasoning was that it was less stressful to my body and the differential of my legs was so great that the slightest tilt would send me forward. That motion allowed me to shoot a straight ball all day on the toughest course I ever played!

Now, I am not a long driver or hitter of my longer clubs and K.S. out-drove me by over 70-80 yards each time. Jerry had me by 40- 50 or so, but my ball was straight. Then reality set in. I was so accustomed to playing a draw, that I just kept aiming down the right side of everything! I would just stand there like an idiot waiting for the ball to drift left or curl in to the middle. I was very dumb. Even when I stopped to think about it, I just kept doing it!

However, this must've been very frustrating to Mr. Ross (in heaven or perhaps very encouraging) because I was still managing to par several of the par 5's owing to the fact that my short irons (where I usually take dead aim) were flying straight! The greens were incredibly fast, and the slopes were only missing dinosaurs and windmills! I missed several other pars just because I had no clue as to speed and break. In other words, TGM was helping me hang on while playing a very difficult course and being a short hitter.

"Once more. Say, you are in the country; in some high land of lakes. Take almost any path you please, and ten to one it carries you down in a dale, and leaves you there by a pool in the stream. There is magic in it. Let the most absent- minded of men be plunged in his deepest reveries - stand that man on his legs, set his feet a-going, and he will infallibly lead you to water, if water there be in all that region. Should you ever be athirst in the great American desert, try this experiment, if your caravan happen to be supplied with a metaphysical professor. Yes, as every one knows, meditation and water are wedded for ever. ("Moby Dick" p.2) "

Say you are on a golf course. Take any one you please. There is magic in it. Stand a person on their legs, even artificial ones owned by our brave soldiers, and set their clubs aswinging and they will all will benefit from TGM. Should your golf game be suffering and you be thirsting for insight, get yourself to Lynn Blake or one of his personally trained golfers like Kevin, Jerry or K.S or this forum. As everyone knows, TGM and golf are wedded forever.

More domani!

Patrick