Page 10 - Woodholme Portfolio1

INSTRUCTION

Enter Sandman
Enter Sandman

BY MICHAEL HARGER

t’s not often you come across a teaching professional who conveys to their students
Ithings they should notdo. I find that being positive and thinking about the proper
technique is the most valuable advice to offer golfers seeking improvement.
However, in the case of greenside bunker play where many amateurs struggle
with the same fundamental errors, instructing them what not to do proves to be
quite effective.
I picked up the following techniques working under Jim McLean at
Doral. Jim coined the phrase “Death Moves” because he believed the
term struck such a cord with students it actually helped them remember
what they should be doing to hit consistent shots.
If you are struggling in the bunker, check to see if you are committing any
of these three “Death Moves” and prepare to get up and down more often.
Michael Harger is the First Assistant PGA Professional at Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, N.J.

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1. Back Ball Position: We want to hit 2-4” behind the ball for most 2. Inside Swing Path: Swinging from the inside encourages impacting 3. Closed Clubface: A closed clubface causes the leading edge of your
standard shots, so placing it in the back of your stance usually results the sand too far behind the ball and can even result in a shank. wedge to dig in the sand and typically results in shots left in the
in striking the ball first. Get the ball positioned ahead of center and Remember to keep the club on a steeper path and in front of you on bunker. Keep the clubface open throughout the swing and allow the
let the club bottom out naturally in the middle of your stance. the downswing. bounce of the club to help your wedge glide through the sand.