Some weeks are just so much fun in my business and others,
well …

This past week, the Franklin Templeton (Shark) Shootout was here in town and I hope many of you got out and got close enough to learn from some of the world’s very best.

P.J., my 5-year-old, and I had a treat for two reasons: We had a dear friend in town for The Shootout, and at the same time one of the golf world’s all-time crowd favorites stay at the house. Fred Couples and I met and competed in college, and for whatever reason have remained close throughout the years. I’ll tell you folks something, many of you who have had the pleasure to meet Fred know already, he is a gentleman. Fred has always remained throughout a very successful run, very regular. Fred has always kept both the victories and the financial rewards very, very in perspective. If you didn’t know who Fred was, he would never, never bring it up himself.

We rarely discuss golf whenever we get together, even when we play golf together; the talk is about sports, family, whatever, but rarely golf. This week, however, we did speak about putting a bit, and the success Fred has had since he went to the belly putter and stabilized his stroke. He is a big believer that anyone going through visits by the evil spirits of the putting world should seek maximum
hocus pocus help, by stabilizing the putter shaft – Go to the belly!

I tell people all the time, there is not enough daylight in any one day to work on your putting stroke. There are a bunch of really simple tools and drills you can do that will make your practice time both more structured, and efficient.

Things like a carpenter’s chalk line, a three-foot 2×4, a hole reducer. These three items, for example, could, over a month’s time -that’s correct, 30 days of structured, efficient drills– change your golf life. I will bet all you crazed golfers out there in golfer’s paradise (Naples), if you pick up my book (The Six Spoke Approach to Golf), check out the putting section, Page 89, and really get immersed in it for 30 days, you will see great benefits.

Another thing that cold take you even further. Once you have the above aids, and have command (at least in your own mind) of the information in the book, find a coach in Naples, and it doesn’t have to be Tom Patri. Adam Bazalgette, Dr. Jim Suttie, and another two dozen local teachers here could help you. You simply need a coach.

However, the point is:
• Structure – Establish a sound practice routine that provides feedback
• See a coach on a regular basis.
• Practice till the cows come home!

Every person who plays this serious, yet silly game has both high and low moments. Keep the faith. Stay committed to the road, yet enjoy the journey.
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