19th Hole

Kim Anders
Director of Instruction
John Jacobs Golf Schools and Academies Estrella del Mar Golf and Beach Resort
Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico, AZ
jkanders4@gmail.com

More Information

Nothing Like Live

The PGA LatinoAmerica Tour is holding a qualifying tournament here at Estrella del Mar in Mazatlan this week. The age of these players is between about 20 and 35. I walked around with a couple of my members I’ve been working with so they could see first hand how the real players do it.

I hoped watching these kids “up close” would help my students, but the impact was much more than I expected. The first comment from them was, “Wow, I can really see how they start the downswing with the lower body.”  

I ask my students how hard are these players swinging? They gave me the correct response, “They aren’t swinging hard, they’re just swinging fast”. Good answer!!

It was a very educational day watching these fine young players. My students not only got to see some excellent play but they were able to see how the same things they are working on were being used by these professionals.

When we were finished, my students asked if I would go to the practice tee with them because they just had to hit some balls after watching all the good swings. I couldn’t believe what I saw! My 12 - 15 handicappers almost looked like they were ready for the Tour Qualifying!

Suddenly, they had patience, allowing the lower body to start the downswing. They were letting the upper body follow the lower body on the downswing, rather than attacking the ball with their hands and arms. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing!

I know most people learn visually, but this really drove home the point. Four or five hours watching good swings and suddenly my guys are swinging better than I have ever seen before.  

This was not the first time I have seen this happen. In fact, almost every time one of the Tours come to town some of my members start playing the best golf of their life.  

So, if you ever have a chance to go to a professional event jump at the opportunity! You just don’t have the same visual learning experience watching it on TV. Watch the players on the driving range – even though their swings look the same as on TV, they look different – you see them so much more clearly in person.  

And, if you are fortunate enough to see a Tour qualifying event you will not only see some great golf, but you be able to see some of the nicest, most polite, appreciative, and gracious young people you could ever meet. Many of these youngsters will be the ones we’re watching on TV for years to come.

Kim Anders is a PGA Professional at Estrella del Mar Golf Community residing in Mazatlan, Sinaloa Mexico. You can reach Kim via email at jkanders4@gmail.com.