You can feel it in the air. The days are getting longer, the grass is beginning to pop, and the anticipation for fun on the course with family and friends is sky-high. Welcome to the 2022 Golf Season!
Some notes as golf gets underway at The Links:
The first tee time on each day will begin on the time scheduled and not earlier to allow our Grounds Staff to get a jump start on what they need to do to set up play for the day.
Advanced tee times are suggested. If you are unable to make your tee time, please contact the pro shop ASAP and prior to your start time so others may schedule play during that time frame. Members may book their tee times 10 days in advance, while the general public can reserve them 7 days in advance.
Please take good care of the course by replacing divots, smoothing bunkers, repairing your ball marks (plus one other), and not causing unnecessary damage to the course such as hitting more than one ball unless in accordance with the Rules of Golf.
New scorecards with updated yardages, local rules and a new course map will be available this month. Depending on the tee markers that you play, all yardages are measured to the center of the green from the corresponding yardage marker plate on the side of the tee.
Memberships To The Links Are Still Available: We offer the most competitive packages in the region: Junior ($195), Family ($825) and Individual ($550 - discounted $55 if age 65+, college, military). This is a fantastic value on a course where you can play a full round in a timely fashion.
The April School Vacation Golf Clinics will take place April 19-21. There are two separate class sessions: 9:00 – 10:15 a.m. (Beginners) as well as 10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (Recreational or Experienced Golfers)**(SOLD OUT/WAITING LIST) Registration is open and costs $30 per golfer, which will be paid when you sign them up by calling the pro shop (508) 222-0555.
Space is limited to 15 golfers per session.
Free Junior Member Clinics - 4 Week Program
Open to Junior Members of The Links ONLY! This four-week program will be held from 4-5 p.m. on Mondays, May 2 (putting), May 9 (chipping/pitching), May 16 (full swing) and May 23 (full swing). Junior Members can attend as many of the weeks as they would like but will need to sign up for each session separately. Registration for each individual clinic will begin one month before the date of each session. Sign-up in the pro shop or call 508-222-0555.
Space is limited to 20 golfers each session.
Volunteers Needed
If you have the time and would like to make an impact on junior golf and the future of the game, we have many opportunities and are always looking for volunteers. If you have an interest in helping out, please email PGA Golf Professional Drew Chapman: dchapman@massgolf.org.
Saturdays, May 14-July 30 (No play June 18 or July 2) | 10 a.m. start
The Links has availability for its summer PGA Jr. League program. There will be practice sessions every Saturday May 14-June 4 from 10-11:30 a.m. with league play beginning the week after. Players will work on putting, short-game, full swing, and league play formats. This is not an instructional league. The focus of this league is a fun competitive team play scramble format.
Age: No older than 13 years of age on July 31, 2022...Three teams of 8 players each, 24 total players.
League Format: Starts June 11, Two Player Scramble, Match Play, Links Front Nine.
Parent-Child Tournaments (Only one needs to be a member)
Sunday, June 5 | 10 AM shotgun start
Saturday, August 27 | 10 AM shotgun start
Have fun with your family! Both tournaments feature 18-holes and include post-round pizza. The cost is $40 per parent-child team. Players can sign up 30 days in advance in the pro shop or by calling 508-222-0555. Registration ends 48 hours before the start of each tournament.
Format: Two Player Scramble. Both players hit a tee shot and select the best shot. Both players then drop their ball at the one selected and continue this process until the ball is holed. Team Score only (net and gross prizes, a modified Calloway Scoring System will be used to determine net scores).
Two Divisions: Children Under 18 & Children 18 or Over.
Registration for the First Tee Summer Program at The Links opened March 24. Participants are able to register for First Tee of Massachusetts programs through the online registration portal.
**The winner of the Early Membership drawing for a Free One Hour Lesson with PGA Golf Professional Drew Chapman is Beverly Goulet. Congratulations Beverly!**
Correcting The Slice, Your Better Path To Golf
Last month we discussed the reason for the slice: for the right-handed golfer, the clubface is open or looking to the right of the clubhead path or swing direction at impact. It's simple geometry. We also discussed ways of getting the clubface to look more left at impact. Just correcting the club face can often change your swing direction from outside-in to more inside-out. If your balls are now going consistently to the left, you most likely won’t keep swinging too much to the left or outside-in. If, however, you notice that your divots are still going to the left or toward where the shortstop would be playing in the fairway or your shots start left and curve right, then we need to change your swing path or the direction that the club head is moving through the golf ball.
From the top of your backswing, the golf club moves down, out, forward until it reaches its low point, which is just after impact. Golfers that slice need to focus on the down and let the out-forward take care of themselves. The hands and arms need to drop “North to South” before the body rotates “East to West”.
For the right-handed golfer, while the club is still finishing its upward movement to the top, move the lower body by sliding your hips left and step on your left heel without moving your head. This will cause your right shoulder to automatically lower and drop your bent right elbow close to your side while the left wrist also remains cocked. From here, all systems are good to go or “Go West”.
A simple drill to help you get the feel for an inside-out swing path…imagine the face of a clock on the ground. Place the ball that you are going to swing at in the middle of the clock face, place a second ball at two o’clock and a third ball at eight o’clock, both about six inches from the ball in the center. If you swing from outside-in, you will hit all three balls…not what we are looking to do. If you swing from four o’clock to 10 o’clock or inside-out, you can make contact with the center ball without touching the other two. Practice this drill until it becomes a habit.
Draw on these key movements and you will be hooked on the game for sure. Keep swinging!
Helpful Advice For New Golfers At The Links
While we encourage all new golfers to have a pleasant round of golf, please keep up with the group in front of you. Play as quickly as you can, but don’t rush. Be cognizant of other golfers especially those behind you.
Score no more than double par (6 for all holes).
If after four shots you are not on the green, pick up your ball and putt out.
Limit the number of practice swings to no more than two.
If you are having difficulty getting the ball in the air or making solid contact (except on the putting green), try teeing up every shot including the fairway, rough, and bunkers. Don’t worry about swing techniques, just focus on clipping the tee out from under the ball with the club head.
Most importantly: have fun!
Quote Of The Month
“When the One Great Scorer comes to write against your name, He marks — not that you won or lost — but how you played the game.” — Grantland Rice
