Five Months to Better Golf
Tags: Indoor Golf, Golf, Chicago, Dome, Cdga

Five Months to Better Golf

By Ed Sherman

This article appeared in the November 2021 edition of Chicago District Golfer.

Working with a golf professional at an indoor facility can accelerate a golfer’s rate of improvement, according to most golf professionals. “You can concentrate on making the [swing] change without worrying where the ball goes,” says 2020 LPGA Midwest Section Teacher of the Year Jamie Fischer, director of instruction at Conway Farms LPGA.

For many golfers, the offseason ends up similar to New Year’s resolutions. Admit it — when the temperature drops and snow blankets the greens, you always say you aren’t going to let the clubs sit idle for the next 4–5 months. You say you’re going to really dig in and work on your swing. You also make a commitment to get in better golf shape by improving your flexibility and strength.

And then like that New Year’s resolution to lose weight, which usually is blown by digging into a hot fudge sundae on Jan. 15, you don’t do a thing to improve your game during the offseason. Plus, you probably gain weight, too.

It doesn’t have to be that way. The upcoming cold months are a great time to make improvements that will pay dividends next spring. In fact, if you waste this time, you risk falling behind players who do take advantage of it.

“In golf, you’re either getting better or you’re getting worse. There’s no in-between,” said Kurt Kollmeyer, northern director of operations for Golftec, one of the largest golf instruction companies in the world. “Don’t think the winter gives you the excuse to take time off. Getting better is a year-round thing. If you put away your clubs for five months, you’re going to get worse.”

Jamie Fischer, director of instruction at Conway Farms, puts it this way.

“If you have the time to spend four hours playing a round of golf (during the season), maybe you can spend an hour three or four times a week (during the offseason) to work on your game,” said Fischer, the 2020 LPGA Midwest Section Teacher of the Year. “That’s the equivalent of a round of golf. If you do that, you will improve.”

Here are ways for golfers to make the most of their offseason:

Nothing on the line: During the season, it can be difficult to make a swing change, because it often requires taking a step back to go forward. It’s understandably hard to commit to a new move with a tournament coming up or a Saturday match with friends looming.

The offseason can be that perfect time to make swing adjustments.

“There is less pressure,” Fischer said. “You can concentrate on making the change without worrying about where the ball goes. You don’t have to tee it up on Saturday. If you don’t get it right in January, it’s OK.”

Dan Kochevar, who teaches at Oak Brook Golf Club, suggests making incremental changes during the offseason.

“Every two months, say ‘This is what I’m going to work on,’ ” Kochevar said. “Try to do it a little bit at a time. You can make a lot of changes that will be ready to go by spring time.”

Speaking of taking it slow, Kochevar recommends ditching the driver, at least initially.

“For the first month or two, hit a lot of three-quarter wedges,” Kochevar said. “Everyone wants to start with the driver, but wedges are the easiest way to make changes in terms of path and contact. You have months to address the driver.”

Shaping up: Never take a break on staying in shape. And, since you’re not playing, the offseason provides more opportunities to focus on your golf fitness. Making gains in your strength and flexibility will make a difference in your game next spring.

Longtime Golf Digest Top 50 Golf Fitness provider Cory Puyear works with five-time PGA Tour winner Mark Wilson at his P.U.R.E. Golf studio in Northfield. Puyear said the offseason is a perfect time to work on improving one’s golf fitness and that improved fitness can improve ball speed by five to 10 miles an hour, translating to 15 to 30 extra yards in distance.

Cory Puyear, whose facility P.U.R.E Golf in Northfield is dedicated to golf fitness, recommends players get an assessment from an expert to maximize an offseason conditioning program.

“You want to make sure you address your deficits in the proper way,” said Puyear, who has worked with tour pros.

If you can’t get to an expert, Puyear says to identify moves that focus on core flexibility and stability. Also, he says, “don’t forget your feet and ankles.”

“It’s a simple thing, but people don’t think about it,” Puyear said. “Your feet and ankles can be huge.”

Puyear says there could be a big payoff if you dedicate yourself to a solid and efficient offseason conditioning program.

“Your ball speed has the possibility to go up another 5 to 10 miles per hour,” he said.

That translates to a potential of an additional 15 to 30 yards, depending on the player. Who doesn’t want extra yards?

High-tech: Golf simulators used to be a novelty. Not anymore. Many country clubs now have them. Also, many indoor golf facilities are taking advantage of the latest technology to help you improve your game.

“With the technology available, we have ways of measuring what is going on with your swing,” Fischer said. “It’s like New Year’s resolutions. If you wanted to lose weight, you would go on the scale. In regards to golf, swing speed and launch angle are easily measurable with today’s technology. You can see how you’re improving.”

Golftec’s Kollmeyer stresses golfers should have a plan when employing the technology on a simulator or other devices.

“You should know what you’re looking for and what you want to work on,” Kollmeyer said. “Know what you’re looking for in terms of data. Know what you want with ball flight. What is the face doing at impact? Practice with a purpose.”

Domed: With several in the area, golf domes continue to be a welcome refuge for golfers in the off-season. Hitting under the bubble provides an opportunity to see the ball fly for 100-or-so yards. Nothing beats a well-struck drive pounding flush into that plastic wall.

Once again, the professionals advise you go to the dome with a plan. Don’t mindlessly hit balls.

For instance, Kochevar says when hitting a driver, try to select a specific target line. “Try to get the ball to take off on that line,” Kochevar said.

Also, keep in mind, hitting off mats doesn’t always give true feedback. If you hit behind the ball on a mat, it still could get up in the air, while the club is likely to dig in for a fat shot on grass. Kochevar recommends placing a towel a few inches behind the ball. Practice to avoid hitting the towel to ensure good contact.

Home School: If you’re grounded because there are 22 inches of fresh snow on the ground or it is a bone-numbing 22-below, guess what? You still can practice at home.

If you have a high enough ceiling, Kollmeyer says you can make improvements simply by making swings without a ball. “Try to work on something specific, like making a good turn,” he said.

If you don’t have room, Fischer says to get a shorter club. One of her favorite drills is to make swings with your eyes closed.

“It makes you tune into your balance more,” Fischer said. “You will feel things in your swing you don’t normally feel.”

Reboot: The Chicago weather forces golfers to take a break from grinding on the course. That isn’t such a bad thing. Even the pros will put their clubs away for several weeks during the year. It is an opportunity to clear out your golf brain.

“Taking a break is that moment to step away, refresh and renew your love of the game,” Fischer said. “Then in the spring, you can’t wait to get out there again.” ●

A former golf writer at the Chicago Tribune, Ed Sherman is a frequent contributor to Chicago District Golfer.

Ice In Your Veins — And Outside

The pressure that comes with stepping to the 18th tee at Pebble Beach and trying to navigate the Pacific Ocean to the left, a cypress tree in the fairway and out of bounds to the right — with prizes on the line — is no longer limited to PGA Tour professionals.

CDGA members will have the opportunity to keep their competitive juices flowing during the offseason thanks to the new CDGA Indoor Net Series presented by Tito’s Handmade Vodka that will unfold at X-Golf Downers Grove. A handful of two-person team competitions will play out on select Saturdays this winter at the brand-new, state-of-the-art facility.

X-Golf’s simulators, which use advanced sensory technology featuring high-speed cameras, lasers and sensors to create the most innovative and accurate golf simulator experience in the world, will provide a realistic playing opportunity on some of the country’s top courses. The scoring format will replicate the popular CDGA Net Series events that take place throughout the summer, with the winter events carrying on the summer series’ casually competitive aura. X-Golf and Tito’s prizes will be given out at each qualifier, with the grand prize at the year-end Championship being a Stay & Play trip to Tullymore Golf Resort.

For registration, a full schedule and more information, visit CDGA.org/IndoorNet.