Ask the PGA ProfessionalJunior Golfers, this is your chance to have questions about golf in general or your golf game in particular answered by a PGA Professional.
Need help fixing that slice? Want to learn more about playing strategies? Have a question about rules? Just taking up the game? Our PGA Professionals will be glad to help!
Approximately once a week, your questions will be answered here by one of the participating PGA Professionals from Golf in the SouthWest.
This week, Scott Robbins, PGA Member Professional at City Pointe Golf Center in Dallas, Texas will be
answering your questions.
Simply go to this form, to ask the PGA Pro your question.
Thanks for your participation!
Last update: Dec 20th
I live in: Spokane, Washington, USA
My_name_is: David Fern
My_age_is: 14
comments: I am a serious golfer and I played in many city tournaments
this summer, but next year I want to get into much more competitive
tournaments. Could you suggest any or do you remember any when you
were my age? Also, what 3 clubs in the bag are most important?
Scott Robbins:
David,
It sounds like you might be ready to test your game with the American Junior
Golf Association (AJGA). They played tournaments all around the nation
during the summer, fall and spring. The address for them is:
2415 Steeplechase Lane Roswell, Georgia 30076 Phone: (770)998-4653
Also check with the PGA of America at www.pgaonline.com in regards to
their Junior Tour program started last summer. Also check with the
Pacific Northwest section of the PGA in Olympia at (360)456-6496
and ask what type of sectional tournaments are available in your state
for juniors.
And the most important 3 clubs? Driver, Wedge and Putter.
Drive it in play and get it up and down with your wedge and putter
when you miss a green and make lots of birdies when you do.
Good Luck,
Scott Robbins
I live in: jackson wi usa
My_name_is: william h. bounty
My_age_is: 17
comments: I have studied ernest jones & manuel de la torre throughly.
they believe the ability to make a dollar at teaching has made
students worst off. what is your opionion on this belief? do you
think the leadbetters & the ballards are making the game to confusing
just to sell a book & video? Thank you whb
Scott Robbins:
William,
You sound as if you are a true student of the game. I believe that the
more information you gather can either enhance your golfing abilities or
confuse you to death.
As an instructor, I read as much as I can, go to
seminars, go watch other teachers and try and learn as much as I can about
teaching this great game. From each teacher I observe or read I learn
how they explain the fundamentals of the golf swing. I do this because
I have found out that everybody hears differently and I need many
different ways to explain things to be able to effectively communicate
the fundamentals to my students.
I believe the fundamentals are what every player should work on during
practice. Keep reading and researching how these different instructors
explain the fundamentals (grip, stance, alignment, posture and swing
plane) to get a better understanding of the game.
Most importantly
though, find an instructor that you can communicate with and is
willing to give you his best effort to make your game better.
It might not be the same one your best friend goes to. Find the one
you believe in and that believes in you.
Good Luck,
Scott Robbins
I live in: New York
My_name_is: John
comments: I am coming over the top real bad. My divit points points
left and i feel myself lunging at the ball producing a rather weak
left to right shot. In the past my ball flight was a draw right to
left, I was never right. Now its completely going the other way.
HELP!!
John
Scott Robbins:
John,
Let's get back to that draw!!!
The path of your downswing is too
much from the outside. There are many possibilities for the cause.
Check your set up first, making sure you are in a balanced and athletic
position.
Secondly, check your backswing. The reason I say this is that when
someone is lunging at the ball and coming across the line, it is sometimes
because their arms are out running their body. That will sometimes
start in the backswing when the arms start first and then fall behind
the body. The reaction is for the arms to speed up and outrun the
body on the downswing.
How to you fix it? First tee up a ball and put a tee on each
side of the ball a little wider that your clubhead.
Then try and hit the teed ball without disturbing the other
tees. This will help you produce a more rounded sweeping swing
instead of a choppy across your body motion.
Work on that for a while and get yourself to the nearest
PGA Professional for a diagnosis and a lesson as soon as possible.
Good Luck,
Scott
I live in: Dallas,Texas,USA
My_name_is: Cayce Greiner
My_age_is: 11
comments: Hello. My name is Cayce Greiner. I an very interested in
golf. I have been playing this sport since I was thee years old. My
dad often takes me to practice at the driving range or to play nine
holes with him at the golf corse. Every time we go I improve some.
When I grow up I want to be a pro golfer. About how long should I wait
before I start competeing? -Cayce
Scott Robbins:
Cayce,
Sounds like you are ready to try out the Northern Texas PGA Junior Golf
Foundation Wescott Tour this summer. There are some really great
programs for instruction and playing for guys your age and older.
Call or have your Dad call Chris Knight at the NTPGA office at
(972) 881 -4653 (881-GOLF).
Tell him I told you to call.
Call me at (972) 247-5622 if I can be of any help.
Scott Robbins
I live in: Lilly,Pa.,USA
My_name_is: Sam Albarano
My_age_is: 17
comments: Since I unfortunatly live in an area where the weather is
not for golf all year round. I was wondering, what are some good
practice meathods and weight training methods that will help keep my
game on track and maybe even help it improve?
Scott Robbins:
Sam,
Some of the best players I knew growing up were from Michigan where
they had to practice indoors for a good part of the year. Probably the
best exercise, the one that Ben Hogan used, is to swing a weighted golf
club. Look in golf stores and catalogs, there are some for sale.
Stationary bike riding will keep your legs in shape. Sit ups will firm
your abdomen and therefore strengthen your back. Light dumbbell lifts
with your shoulders will strengthen your rotators, neck and shoulders.
And most important of all, learn some good stretches so you build
strength and flexibility.
Scott
I live in: Bedford , Iowa
My_name_is: Kyle Ritchie
My_age_is: 12
comments: I am a junior golfer in Iowa . I have a school project on
golf . In your opinion , what is the best part of your job ?The worst?
What is the pay ? Do you get enough time off ? In August I went to
Florida for the UCT International Golf tournament. I placed 14th .
Scott Robbins:
Kyle,
Great questions. The best thing about my job is the most difficult
question. I really enjoy teaching because everybody learns differently
and my challenge is to quickly figure out how someone learns so
I can have the greatest and quickest effect on changing their
golf swing for the better. I really enjoy the people, especially
the juniors. I really enjoy listening to my students come back
and tell me how well they played on a certain day or trip.
I enjoy watching my students improve.
The worst? Bad weather. I can't get out and teach when it's a monsoon
or 10 degrees.
The pay at times is well worth it because of how I can see I have touched
someone's life.
Other times (when it is bad weather and there are no lessons)
it isn't very good.
For me, I work for myself and therefore I can take the time off that
I need to spend with my children or family or vacationing.
Keep working on your game, Kyle and go back down to Florida and place
in the top 5 this year!
Good Luck,
Scott Robbins
I live in: San Francisco, CA, US
My_name_is: Wendy Lee
My_age_is: 21
comments: I want to find out some information on job listings inside
the PGA. I am a senior at the University of San Francisco graduating
with a Marketing Degree. I am very interested in working for the PGA
in Public Relations. Could you please see if there are job listings
available or if there is anyone I could contact? Thank you With
regards, Wendy Lee
Scott Robbins:
Dear Wendy,
It is refreshing to hear that someone like you wants to enter our business
from a marketing standpoint. The national PGA office is :
PGA of America
100 Avenue of the Champions
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33418
(1-407-624-8400)
Jonathan Last is in the Consumer Marketing Department.
Try that to start and I am sure that Mr. Last can start you in the
right direction.
Best Wishes,
Scott Robbins
I live in: Flower Mound, Texas
My_name_is: Beau Burgess
My_age_is: 16
comments: I am usually a good golfer, but lately i have been dipping
my shoulder making the ball go to the right. How would you correct
this? Thanks, Beau
Scott Robbins:
Beau,
It sounds like you have diagnosed the effect of your golf swing.
The question is, what is making you dip your right shoulder? The ball
going to the right means the clubface is open at impact and if the right
shoulder is dipping, it sounds as if the club is coming into
the ball form and outside path. Therefore, try to check the path of your
swing coming into the ball. Try to swing the club to the right with more
arms than body and square the clubface with your arms and hands.
Try that for awhile and then call me at (972)247-5622 and I will be
glad to look at your swing. I am located only about 15-20 minutes
from you.
Best of luck,
Scott Robbins
I live in: North Vernon IN USA
My_name_is: derek young
My_age_is: 17
comments: I am interested in becoming a golf course architect and
cannot find any information on colleges that may offer any courses
that would help in getting started in this occupation.
Scott Robbins:
Derek,
There are some great schools with agronomy majors like Penn State
and Texas A&M. There are also schools with Professional Golf Management
Programs (PGM) like Ferris State, New Mexico State and Mississippi
State that might have courses in Golf Course architecture.
I apologize that I cannot be of more help but maybe if you start with
these schools they can point you in the right direction.
Best of Luck,
Scott Robbins