Pebble Beach Week and How to Play in Windy Situations

It's that time of the year again.  I am off to Pebble Beach on Wednesday night!!!  I play in the Wilson World PRO-AM every year.  This year the format is Pros individual stroke play, 3 Amateurs play their own ball for lowest gross and net score with handicap.

 

Late flight into Monteray, early doors on Thursday, rest up and then practice and play a nine hole practice round. So check out the schedule below:

Friday

Practice round at Spyglass Hill.  I have played here for 8 straight years and still can't figure the first 5 holes along the ocean as the wind is so difficult and different every year.  Which brings us this week's McDivot Tip further below.

Saturday

Practice round at Pebble Beach.  This is third in line for me in regards to the best in the world.  Royal Dornoch is number 1 and St. Andrews in number 2. 

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday

First round, course to be selected on rotation. Second, third and fourth round.

Thursday

Fly back and get ready to return to the beautiful Celebration Golf Club.

McDivot Tip

When playing into the wind the BALL FLIGHT is critical as we must avoid letting the ball get up into the wind.

1. So a great tip I have used countless times in the home land was to take an extra club and choke up 1 inch.  In chocking up the grip, this makes the golf shaft play a little stiffer and of course makes the ball fly lower with less spin.
2. Lastly SWING EASY WHEN IT'S BREEZY.  This applies to into, down and cross wind situations.

Keep it on the short grass.

The future of golf on many levels: Teach the juniors and then watch PGA tour players maintain their future

What a day Saturday was. It started with some warm up getting prepared for my Tournament Level Junior Academy at Celebration Golf. Then we spent one and a half hours working on their short game.  As this is a tournament level class we had a competition for 2 passes to the Children's Miracle Network classic.  These boys are really good and congratulations goes out to Nick for winning the pair of tickets. You can see our image galleries of our morning here : http://www.kennynairngolf.com/knggalleries.asp. I also have a video with some excerpts from the class you can view here : http://www.kennynairngolf.com/kngvJRTournLvlNov13.asp.

After another lesson I headed straight for number 17 on Disney's Magnolia course to see some of the third round action.  Met with Steve Powel, the creator extraordinaire, of the Kodak Challenge in preparation for Sunday as the team from Leaderboard Radio (http://www.leaderboardradio.com ) will be there for the finally of the Million Dollar Kodak Challenge.  I have to tell you I think these is going to be a playoff between Merritt, Fowler & Baddley.  While I was there I got a quick insight into how the playoff would be handle.

As I sat at the 17th green you just saw player after player struggle with their second shot.  I watched as our tournament leader Saturday, who stood on the 17th tee with a 6 shot lead, throw up over the last 2 holes (Double Bogey 17 and Bogey 18).  Several players failed to get up and down.

McDivot Tip

One shot in particular sticks out in my mind.  A ball hits the green and rolls out past the fringe and nestles up right against the rough.  In theory and practice there are 2 good options to insure the best results.

1. Belly a wedge and avoid hitting down on it.  It is ideal to grip the club like your putter to avoid too much wrist action.
2. Use a fairway metal.  Only if the grass is short enough would I suggest a hybrid in this situation as it does not have as much sole as a fairway metal does. Your grip and stance should match that of your putting grip and stance.  Your stoke should flow like you are putting, allowing the weight of your fairway metal to do the work and move the ball to the hole.

The reason we want to avoid using a lofted club is that really you take a lot of the control away.  Remember the purpose is to put the ball in the hole and it is my belief that using a lofted club is to "get the ball close".


I am looking forward to going back later on Sunday to watch the exciting conclusion to the season long Kodak Challenge.  I really think a playoff is in our future.

Keep it on the short grass.