Randy Haag's Golf Blog

Throughout my amateur golfing career, I have gone in and out of being a poor to mediocre bunker player. I have now learned clearly why!!

It’s not a lack of hand-eye coordination, but that of technique. The bunker shots are not something intuitive, they are shots that need to be played with precise technique. I’ve always been a digger, not a proper bounce user. This has resulted in a very frustrating time while in the beach, especially at venues like the amazing Seminole (over 180 bunkers).

The technique is essential, and I am not sure it’s taught properly. I’m not being paid to share this with you in any way, so take this as it is. The attached video of Terry Rowles demonstrating the proper technique for both flat, uphill, and downhill lies.

I made HUGE improvement yesterday just by making these simple changes.

I hope you find this helpful, let me know??

Coming up this week, The Olympic Club Invitational with Chip Lutz. STAY TUNED

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-POurfk_J0U

This course was in perfect shape, from the fairways to rough and perfect speed of the greens. If you have a chance to play the “Glass” I highly recommend it. I intended to post the Coleman results at Seminole, but found it hard to write about a course that seems to have my number year after year. A humbling 76,79,83 were tough to swallow, especially with how well I drove the ball. But something is missing in my game for this type of venue. I was not alone, as only one player in the field was under par for the event, and that would be Mike McCoy whom won by some 7 shots. Mike has been on quite a tear recently, and attributes it something that both Chip Lutz and I swear by, and that is Protandim. If you want to improve your health and game, check out http://www.radicalfree.me and learn about Protandim.

Stay tuned

Why are we the luckiest players in amateur golf in the world?

Simple, we get to play events like the NCGA FOUR BALL at Spyglass Hill. The course was amazing, in perfect condition, and for us to be able to play 3 days of best ball, is quite a treat. My usual partner Darryl Donovan was unable to play this year so I recruited amateur legend Jim Knoll (2 time NCGA Senior of the year). Despite Jim being a spry 60 years old, I can tell you he can flat out play this game. If someone offered us fifteen under par over three days we would have signed up on the spot. But Mike Stieler and Danny Paniccia played just a little better and fired a three day total of -16 and got us by one shot.

Our final round had some late fireworks, with an eagle 3 on the par 5 14th and closing birdies on 17 and 18, but still we came up one short. Playing with Jim was a great experience for me, and almost ended in victory.

http://www.ncga.org/2013/05/10/ncga-four-ball-championship-2/

To those of you that read this blog, I must apologize for my absence. I guess when you’re in a slump, it’s hard to continue to write negative things. Most of my past posts were all about my putting woes, lack of passion and drive. It’s been very difficult to go from the highs of 2011, to the lows of 2012/13.

When you go to an event not knowing if your going to putt looking at the hole or the ball makes it impossible to be competitive. Last week after discussing my situation with my Golf GURU Terry Rowles (terryrowles@gmail.com) who oh by the way is the best instruction available for all aspects of you game including physical training (YES a work out routine). Terry suggested I go to the putting green and just tell myself out loud that I am getting up to this 40 footer and I am going to roll this to the hole. When I started doing just that I was amazed, I had tried everything to get rid of the long distance putt yips, and Monday in the qualifier they were gone. Thank you Terry!!!

This game is crazy mentally, the difference between a tour player and a mini tour player can be miniscule. The desire to succeed must burn deep and long, combined with crazy good hand eye coordination and a work ethic. Those willing to make that sacrifice will ultimately come out on top.

My past 12 months have not be committed to practice and a good workout routine, many life distractions have taken over my drive, and passion to work hard on my game. Recently I have tried to regain that passion and drive, but its been a real up and down road back. Wednesday’s local US Open qualifier was a small step in the right direction, but the round was filled with many highs and lows. I started on the 10th hole an uphill dogleg right that can play tough. I need a great chip shot and putt to avoid starting with a bogey 6. The 11th hole proved to be a good trigger for me, with a good drive and putt for birdie, I felt a good start was critical in this 18 hole qualifier.

After a solid drive on the 12th hole, I had a 9 iron to a front right pin, I have had some troubles with these shots recently, and lack the confidence to feel like they are on auto-pilot. The result was a shank, way right, and almost in the hazard. I was lucky to make a bogey on this hole. My bounce back was the tough 13th hole playing 205 into a breeze, after a solid 4 iron to 20 feet, again I made a crucial putt to get back in the red at -1. I held that until the 18th hole where I three putted to shoot one over on the back nine. The front nine (which was actually my back nine) has some tough holes, but 1 and 2 are holes you can make birdie on, instead I went par, bogey and stood now at 2 over par, I knew that 2 over had zero chance of qualifying, so I decided to play the last 7 holes at -3. The shot to #3 was the best of the day on this tough par three hole playing at about 225 yards with a lake on the right and guarded by bunkers in the front. My new 22 degree Adams rescue landed on the green and rolled to three feet. I miss read, and I settled for a disappointing par. The next two holes I went birdie eagle, the eagle was a putt from off the green about 40 feet away that tracked all the way in. I saved par on the next two holes, and had a birdie chance on my 17th hole (#8) and a long two putt on my 18th hole left me with a one under par 71, which has always made this qualifier at Half Moon Bay. But on this benign day the scores came in lower than usual, and when all were in the 71 finished in 2nd, but with 6 at that score we had a 6 for 4 playoff starting on the 10th hole.

THE PLAYOFF

Two groups of 3

I was the first to tee off, with quite a gathering watching and my heart pounding for the first time in a long while, I was able to rope a fade around the corner and have a chance at the green. The other two guys hit lay up shots within 100 yards of the green. I went for the green with my 3 metal, and hit a quality shot onto the left fringe. Fast forward, Mr. Parr made a twenty footer for birdie, I two putted for birdie and the third Tim also made his 4 footer for birdie. The second group of three had two players make 12 and 15 footers for birdie, with only one player making a par, and being eliminated. We moved to the tough 16th hole, which is tight, and has a hazard in front of the green. I took a deep breath while again my heart was pounding, and striped a drive down the left side of the fairway, leaving only a half wedge into this tough sloped green. The other two players were in trouble, and most likely going to make bogey. Again Mr. Parr made a 25 foot par putt to punch his ticket into the sectionals. Unfortunately Tim was the only player to make bogey and ended in the 1st alternate slot. I have never witnessed anything like this playoff before EVER. For 5 guys to make birdie on a pretty tough par 5 hole was remarkable. I was thrilled to have been a part of that playoff, and to feel the pressure again in an important situation.

SO NOW WHAT?

On June 3rd I will need to walk and play 36 holes at Big Canyon CC in Newport Beach, for most likely 4 spots into the US Open. I’ve played in a US Senior Open and 4 British Senior Opens, but in this sectional qualifier I am 0-15 since I was in college in 1980 when I played in my 1st sectional at La Jolla CC. How will I finally get into a US OPEN, as the oldest amateur to ever qualify. GOOD QUESTION, I will need to play the best 36 holes of my life most likely. I will prepare like crazy, be rested and mentally ready for the opportunity of a lifetime.

It will be best if I think about only one shot at a time, which is easier said than done. The qualifier will have some of the best pro’s and amateurs in the world competing for these 4 spots, which will require me to focus all that mush more on what I am doing. Having played recently with several of the Cal players Max Homa and Michael Weaver, I know how incredibly talented these young players are, the bar keeps going up every year, as the players get better and better.

I look at this as yet another life experience that I am so lucky to have, one to remember and one to work hard for. I will keep you posted!

http://www.ghintpp.com/ncga/TPPOnlineScoring/ResultsStroke.aspx?id=1161

 

 

As usual the event was first class, with perfect weather, and just simply a bunch of great people from the participants to the esteemed staff at the “Rock”. I have never seen such amazing service anywhere in the world, and Gregg Tryhus should be congratulated for creating perhaps the best “hang” in golf. Below you’ll see stats on easiest and hardest holes on each course, I think a better stat would be the average weight gain per player over the four days. We all were treated to some amazing food, and superb playing conditions. It’s no wonder everyone in the country wants an invite into this event.

My woes continue, as I was a bit overambitious in trying to play in back to back tournaments with the Whisper Rock National ending on Wednesday in Scottsdale, and the Coleman at Seminole in Juno Beach Florida, starting on Thursday. But in my defense it would be hard to miss either of these quality events. The course set up a Whisper Rock was tremendous , and provided a stiff challenge for all.

STAY TUNED FOR FINAL RESULTS AND COMMENTS FROM THE COLEMAN AT SEMINOLE

 

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Congratulations to our 2013 National Invitational Champions!

 

MID-AM CHAMPIONS:          JASON POOL & BARRY DYCHE

 

 

SENIOR CHAMPIONS:            BRIAN LITTLE & MIKE KLOENNE        

 

 

MID-AM DIVISION:

 

Barry Dyche (Charlotte, NC) and Jason Pool (Dunn Loring, VA) began the final round in a tie with Kane Hanson (West Fargo, ND) and Dave Kelly (Scottsdale, AZ) at 12-under par.  Hanson/Kelly got off to a good start and took the early lead at 13-under with a birdie on No. 3.  But bogeys on Nos. 5 and 7 dropped them back into a tie with Dyche/Pool at 11-under.  The two teams remained tied until Dyche/Pool made birdie on No. 11.  Dyche/Pool added another birdie on No. 13 to extend the lead to two shots and made par on the last five holes to finish at 13-under to win by four.  Three teams tied for second place at 9-under – Hanson/Kelly; defending champions Joe Bendetti (Austin, TX) and Jim Strickland (Scottsdale, AZ); and Chance Holmes (Phoenix, AZ) and Eddie Sanchez (San Antonio, TX).  Holmes/Sanchez and Bendetti/Strickland were paired together and made a run with by far the best rounds of the day (65 and 66 respectively), but they started too far back and ran out of holes.

 

FINAL ROUND MID-AM STATS – LOWER COURSE (7,229 yards):

 

·         Final Round Scoring Average:          72.8

·         Front 9 Scoring Average:                  36.4

·         Back 9 Scoring Average:                   36.4

·         Hardest Holes:            (1) No. 7 – 3.33 (no birdies); (2) No. 16 – 4.29; (3) No. 1 – 4.25 (no birdies); (T4) No. 14 – 4.21; (T4) No. 15 – 4.21; (T4) No. 12 – 3.21 (no birdies); (T4) No. 2 – 3.21.  

·         Easiest Holes:             (1) No. 11 – 4.38; (2) No. 9 – 3.79; (3) No. 8 – 4.83; (4) No. 4 – 3.88; (T5) No. 13 – 3.92; (T5) No. 6 – 3.92.

 

 

SENIOR DIVISION:

 

Mike Kloenne (West Linn, OR) and Brian Little (Portland, OR) began the final round in a tie with Jim Lehman (Minnetonka, MN) and Mike Rowley (San Luis Obispo, CA) at 7-under par.  Eleven other teams started the day within three shots of the lead.  Defending champions Jerry Hudgins (Tyler, TX) and Mike Rice (Houston, TX) took the early lead at 8-under after birdies on Nos. 2 and 4.  But bogeys on Nos. 5, 6, and 7 derailed their charge.  Kloenne/Little bogeyed No. 2, but rattled off birdies on Nos. 3, 4, and 6 to establish a three-shot lead at 9-under.  Just when it looked like they were going to run away with it, Eddie Lyons (Shreveport, LA) and Billy McBee (Dallas, TX) made an eagle on No. 11 and a birdie on No. 13 to tie Kloenne/Little for the lead.  But, bogeys on Nos. 15, 16, and 17 would end their hopes.  Overnight co-leaders Lehman/Rowley would mount a challenge of their own.  After a poor start that saw them three-over through their first eight holes, Lehman/Rowley birdied Nos. 9, 11, and 13 to get back into contention.  When Kloenne/Little made bogey on No. 14, the lead was reduced to two and the momentum was seemingly with the chasers.  The defining moment of the tournament occurred on No. 15 when Kloenne/Little chipped in for birdie from a difficult lie behind the green, returning the team to 10-under.  Three straight pars would be enough for Kloenne/Little to secure the title by two shots over Hudgins/Rice (who birdied three of their last six) and Lehman/Rowley (who birdied the last).   

 

FINAL ROUND SENIOR STATS – LOWER COURSE (6,789 yards):

 

·         Final Round Scoring Average:          73.9

·         Front 9 Scoring Average:                  37.8

·         Back 9 Scoring Average:                   36.1

·         Hardest Holes:            (1) No. 5 – 4.41 (no birdies); (2) No. 1 – 4.36 (no birdies); (T3) No. 16 – 4.27; (T3) No. 7 – 3.27; (T5) Nos. 2 & 17 – 3.23; Nos. 6 & 14 – 4.23; No. 3 – 5.23.  

·         Easiest Holes:             (1) No. 11 – 4.55; (2) No. 13 – 3.77; (T3) No. 4 – 3.86; (T3) No. 18 – 4.86; (5) No. 15 – 4.00.

 

 

Final results are below.

 

Congratulations again to our 2013 champions! 

 

On behalf of the entire staff at Whisper Rock, THANK YOU to all 188 players for participating in the event!

 

Best regards,

 

 

Trent Rathbun

Games Commissioner

 

 

MID-AM DIVISION

FINAL RESULTS

• Round 1 – LOWER Course:    7,207 yards
• Round 2 – UPPER Course:     7,373 yards
• Round 3 – LOWER Course:    7,229 yards

 

1	Dyche, Barry	Pool, Jason	65	67	71	203	-13
2	Hanson, Kane	Kelly, Dave	67	65	75	207	-9
	Bendetti, Joe	Strickland, Jim	66	75	66	207	-9
	Holmes, Chance	Sanchez, Eddie	70	72	65	207	-9
5	Osborn, Bowen	Swagar, Ryan	67	70	73	210	-6
	Lim, Sean	Mickelson, Tim	69	71	70	210	-6
	Bagneschi, Tony	Hoops, Bryan	72	69	69	210	-6
8	Garbero, Greg	Tanigawa, Ken	73	68	70	211	-5
9	Duncan, Cam	Norcross, Trent	71	70	71	212	-4
	Hutchison, Bill	Palladino, Vince	69	73	70	212	-4
11	Holden, Ken	Irwin, Steve	68	72	73	213	-3
12	Mance, Mark	Wilder, Brad	70	73	71	214	-2
13	Almquist, Scott	Kavanaugh, Charles	72	71	72	215	-1
	Foster, Rob	Walton, Michael	73	72	70	215	-1
15	Hamm, John	Huffman, Lon	74	71	71	216	E
16	Mitchell, Ryan	Mudd, Roman	72	71	74	217	+1
	Grier, Steven	Shook, Tyler	71	74	72	217	+1
18	Boscamp, Kevin	Modano, Mike	72	68	79	219	+3
	McNeil, Greg	Wright, Jon	70	70	79	219	+3
20	Hamm, Ralph	Harrington, Adam	70	74	76	220	+4
	DiCarlo, Nat	Middaugh, Eoin	74	71	75	220	+4
22	Allen, Burt	Tolliver, Billy Joe	75	69	77	221	+5
	Hulett, Andy	Walsh, Aiden	78	67	76	221	+5
24	Lee, Steven	Sakata, Derrick	71	72	82	225	+9

 

 

SENIOR DIVISION

FINAL RESULTS

• Round 1 – UPPER Course:     6,952 yards
• Round 2 – LOWER Course:    6,782 yards
• Round 3 – LOWER Course:    6,789 yards

1	Kloenne, Mike	Little, Brian	69	68	69	206	-10
2	Hudgins, Jerry	Rice, Mike	69	69	70	208	-8
	Lehman, Jim	Rowley, Mike	69	68	71	208	-8
4	Lyons, Eddie	McBee, Billy	70	68	71	209	-7
5	Bracken, John	Ocker, Ronny	71	67	72	210	-6
6	Boyns, Casey	Kobalter, Kevin	68	71	73	212	-4
	Jackson, Bill	Zahringer, George	70	70	72	212	-4
8	Johnson, Kirk	Loustalot, Mike	64	75	74	213	-3
	Maynard, Curtis	Saunders, Jim	69	69	75	213	-3
10	Atkinson, Bert	Fred, Stuart	73	67	74	214	-2
11	Knoll, Jim	Luther, Dan	72	73	70	215	-1
12	Balatti, Paul	Haag, Randy	66	73	77	216	E
	DeWar, Van	Stoltz, Steve	69	72	75	216	E
	Goode, John	McDonald, Robert III	69	70	77	216	E
	Harrington, Bob	Misheff, Don	73	67	76	216	E
	McKee, Tom	Saivar, Jim	72	73	71	216	E
17	Heath, Clark	Miramontes, Lou	71	73	74	218	+2
18	Lawson Jr., Bill	Lawson, Gary	72	71	76	219	+3
19	Franz, Mark	Post, Charlie	73	72	75	220	+4
	Horwitch, Matthew	Postillion, Vic	75	68	77	220	+4
21	Coe, Rick	Ruffin, Rick	70	75	78	223	+7
22	Delich, Dave	George, Rick	69	73	NC	DNF

 

Today I tee it up at the famed Seminole course in Juno Beach Florida. Those lucky enough to play this gem, understand what makes it so special. At a glance you will no be overwhelmed when you look at the topography of the course, but once on it you’ll start to understand what makes it so special. It starts at #1 and ends at number 18. The first hole down wind can almost be driven, but once you have a 30 4o or 50 yard shot into this green, its quite easy to walk off with your first bogey of the day. Each hole has its challenge, and wind plays a significant factor in each shot you play.

Today I’m off late at 12:20 and will enjoy the strongest winds of the day. With all my struggles I am currently having my expectation level is low, but I will still enjoy each punishing shot, good or bad. So let take a minute and talk about golf, and what happens when things go awry. I am struggling in all aspects of my game, and it’s 100% my doing. Lack of proper practice, diet, exercise, and dedication have caught up with me. My game requires maximum prep, and is all confidence based. My short game has taken the biggest hit, and Seminole is not the place to play when you are shaking with your short sticks.

I am changing my putting technique from looking at the ball when I put to looking at the hole. Neither techniques is consistent quite yet.

I’ll be back to talk about how Seminole played today, along with more comments on what you’ll find at Whisper Rock.

Stay tuned