It was the Golf University at San Diego located in the suburb of Rancho Bernardo, a retirement community tucked in the hills of southern California where I took an intensive course in golf fundamentals. We've signed up for a three-day course hoping this will mean an end to our days as harried hackers at the game. Director of instruction, Tom Wischmeyer, a gangly former social worker gives us a rundown on the facility founded in 1988 by behavioral scientist Ken Blanchard. Blanchard had a different view - namely to teach the fundamentals along with a good dose of positive thinking. As for hitting balls all day, well that's never been the philosophy here.
Perfect practice makes perfect.
To our chagrin, he says we can't expect a quick fix to our bad golf habits. It's up to you to go home and work at this. The room cracks up, knowing this whole process is indeed very much like trying to kick a lifelong habit with a 12-step program. I'm astounded, since I've never seen myself on tape. By 2 p.m. or so, we are turned loose on our own to play the Rancho Bernardo Inn's Resort Course.