The Golf Schools are Back - Why is Golf Struggling - Tim in the Dakotas.

Absolute Golf is relaunching the golf schools with the help of Webeagles marketing team during the month of September. All past clients and contacts will receive the opportunity to receive a package of three free golf instruction videos on how to have a consistent golf swing. These videos will lay on a web page and all you have to do to access them is deposit your email address and they will be yours to peruse. The videos are staggered so you will get one at a time which will give you plenty of time to soak them in. The videos play a dual purpose, firstly giving a little thank you to our regular students who have supported Dave and I over the years in a form that we know they will enjoy (more information) and secondly exposing any of our contacts who may not have had a lesson with us to what we do, giving them a better understanding about what Absolute Golf is all about. Remember, there is no obligation with the videos, all free and our gift to you. Watch out for our introductory videos and get in quick, there yours to enjoy.

Over the past 6 months Dave and I have been playing around with the social media of Facebook and Linkedin and with these facilities come forums for everyone and anyone to share an opinion. Being golf nuts we like to see what people are getting on line and talking about and we are finding out exactly why you are pupils are coming to us with such screwed up concepts and with such negative feelings about your golf. There are threads (on line discussion for those of you who didn't know - I didn't) on all topics from golf course marketing to latest technology to individuals swing problems. We are talking opinions from people from all walks of life some with very little background in any part of the game happy to share their two bobs worth with any one who listens. Sure there are some genuine people out there who are eager to help their fellow golfers but in general it is just people trying to flex their mental muscle when what is needed is a little common sense. Marketing experts with something to sell will get on line and discuss the virtues of products they themselves use and promote, people with a product to sell get on line and lead in to the benefits of their product above others and everyone from golfpro's to anyone who's read a magazine article gets on and complicates what for most people is already a difficult pastime with too much emphasise on things that they have no knowledge of. If you are like us and want to find out what the golfing public thinks about this great game we play, jump on, have a read, even chat back with the poor souls, but don't take any notice of what they say. All it will do is confuse the heck out of you and turn your game to rubbish. I get a headache reading through what most people have to say on there. Keep it simple and use common sense. The best approaches always.

Tim Frazer, the young man i teach who is living his dream playing golf in the USA on the Dakotas tour has had a stellar two weeks with a 12 place finish in the recent Tour event in Casper Wyoming a fifth place finish in a one day event at Oxbow North Dakota and a 10th place finish in the finalised today North Dakota Open. With five sub par rounds in his past 7 rounds and cheques coming in to fatten up the bank account, Tim is realising his goal of becoming all exempt for the 2013 Dakotas Tour and moving into the next level of players which was his target for the season this year. It has been a gruelling schedule playing 16 events in a 13 week period travelling through 6 states during the tour and playing through 100 to 110 degree heat that would make the strongest men wilt, but Tim is getting better, scoring lower and performing at an even higher level. This is no surprise to me as I know what he has done to get there this year and i know all the hard work he has put into his golf, fitness and attitude to play the way he has played over the past three months. Next week is the Dakotas Tour Players Championship being held at Sioux Centre Iowa. It is a three day event and will be the last event before he heads home and makes plans for the upcoming Australian circuit over the summer. Good luck next week mate and play well and I will keep you all posted on how he goes and what his results were.

Dave and I are taking 2 groups to the USA in a little over two weeks with stops in San Francisco, Monterey and Palm Springs. Stay posted to see what we get up to while we are there and what we have planned for next year.

see you on the course.
Jeff Mansfield      

Rory wins at Kiawah Island

It was hard not to enjoy watching the young Irishmen tear around The Ocean course in South Carolina this years very deserving venue for the 2012 US PGA Championship. As all of the majors this year there was a lot to take away from the playing of this event. There were some well taken points during the coverage and some fairly ill-informed comments that really don't help the viewers perception of how the game is played. Rory's tournament winning scores where 67 75 67 66, with one of the commentators announcing that with out the 75 this would have been a great score! Thankfully this was picked up and retorted to the fact that the average score for the day and indeed the course rating was 78, which tends to make the 75 not seem so bad and make the scores in the 60's seem even better. A lot of players these days measure their rounds on what score they had and not take into consideration, the course, the elements, even how they feel on the day. A lot was also made of Rory changing shafts in his driver was the key to the success he had this week although on that final round he only hit 7 from 14 fairways. I wonder how many club golfers will go googling Rory's club specs to find his new shaft specs and purchase the same, when i remember Rory winning last years open driving the ball like a demon with a different shaft in his driver. The fact (that at least did go noticed) was that Rory had 23 putts in the final round (and i believe he one putted the final 6 greens). This was the key to Rory's success this week. He putted like a great player putts and the reality is even if he hadn't of driven the ball on 7 out of 14 fairways in the last round he was putting well enough to clean it up anyway. Tiger was the real anomaly this week. He came out of the gate at 100 MPH and like he has done in every major just couldn't keep it going on the weekend. Failing to break par for the 8 weekend rounds played in the majors. There are two main points to be taken from this, firstly during the first two rounds he was putting as well as anyone in the field, but on Saturday and Sunday that just vanished and secondly for a change it wasn't his ball striking. Our games don't change that much over night. Tiger was driving the ball great (he actually hit more fairways than Rory), hitting precise irons shots, but his putting and his head were just not in the right place. If you don't feel like playing or you're not in the right mood to play it won't happen and it isn't for Tiger at present, although he obviously feels the difference between Regular Tour events and Majors at the moment, as he is the only three time winner this year but hasn't put it together in a major. But in saying all of that, it won't be long and he will be back. All players have mental blocks during their careers and they play their way out of them, they learn what they need to do and then relearn over and over again. Just like a player learns to break 100 - 90 - 80 and 70, win a match play game, win their first competition, the reality is we all go through it and we all succeed. Guys on the mini tours of the world will be watching Tiger and taking great heart that they know what he is going through.

This leads perfectly to a short note on Tim Frazers Dakotas Tour campaign. Over the past two weeks Tim has played some great golf with his low scores putting him right in the mix, but due to these few bad holes he just isn't quite reaching the heights he aspires, but it's all learning. He's learning to get over these hurdles and when he scales these there will be more hurdles (just ask Tiger). Tim's in Wyoming this week playing a new course in a new tournament and he's having a ball. Keep at it mate, you're going great.

Dave and I are within 4 weeks of heading to the USA for our third trip to play Pebble Beach and what a trip it will be. We have two groups of players this year and our tour goes to San Francisco, Monterey and Palm Springs playing Spyglass Hill, Spanish Bay and Pebble Beach as well as Silverrock, the La Quinta Resorts Norman course, Nicklaus Tournament and PGA West. We can't wait. Will keep you posted as we get closer and while we are on tour, you might like it so much you will want to come with us next time.

See you on the course.
Jeff Mansfield

   

USA Trip - Golf Schools - Tim in America.

We are only 5 1/2 weeks from heading over to the USA for our annual Absolute Golf Trip. There have been a few changes in the line up with only Dave and I leading the group. Unfortunately Scott will not be attending due to the closing of Sydney Olympic Park and his commitments to new work place Moore Park Golf Academy, which has left us with two groups of golfers which is a nice small group the way we usually like to travel. All other plans are just as we had organised and we can't wait to get over and play some golf on these great courses. I will keep you posted with any upcoming information.

The 5th green at Pebble Beach

with the 6th and 7th in the background.

Absolute golf is about to embark on a huge relaunch of the golf schools that started our business nearly 6 years ago. In the coming weeks you will recieve an introduction video from us letting you know who we are and what we do and the offer to some free video lessons. A lot of our regulars recieved a survey asking what they thought would be good topics for a set of videos and we have listened to what they said and given you exactly that. There is no hard sell and nothing you have to purchase just an email address and you will recieve all the videos we put out. These videos are a little gift to the people who have come to the schools and an introduction for those who haven't been along in the past. You will get the opportunity to come along to some schools, but it is only that, an opportunity and will not be forced into anything. Let us know whether you like our videos or even what you would like to see, we have a plan to put out six sets of videos which you will be able to access and which will help you with your game. Watch this space as it is going to get interesting.

Jeff and Dave running a Putting School.



It is time for the exploits of Tim Frazer in the Mid west of America playing the dakotas tour. They have reached the halfway mark of the trip and the boys are well intrenched in what they are doing.They have had a busy few weeks playing something like 5 events in 3 1/2 weeks and they are a little weary to show for it. This is a bit of a crunch time for all the boys as they push through the tiredness and towards the end of the tour. Tim has done very well making all but two cuts (last year he made none), Banking four checks (last year he banked none), and coming about mid 40's on the bonus pool (a points tally which helps rate the players (last year he finished around 80th). Tim just played the tournaments that he made his debut as a professional at last year and talking to him during the week he was like a seasoned vetran, confident and comfortable and very pleased he spent so much time working out in  his off season in Australia. Between the busy schedule and the unrelenting humidity of the mid west summer he is relying on energy stores he didn't even knew he had and being all the better for it (mentally and golf wise). They have only four tournaments to go, with the finally being the Tour Championship and it will be back to Australia to battle it out for our summer of golf, with just that little bit more experience tahn before. Well done guys keep at it.

Our on-course days have been very popular, last week and for the next few weeks we are at Lynwood CC which was in fantastic condition with the guys coming along getting a great deal from the days. A lot of times it is just giving the players the keys to get their games back on track when they waiver or teaching them a new skill or a shot they hadn't tried before. Once your game gets to a point where you can hit some shots it's all the little 2% and 5% improvements that make the difference. Come along to an on-course day and play better golf, You will improve.

See you on the course.
Jeff Mansfield       

putting school - On course - Dakotas Tour.

We had an Absolute Golf reunion at Twin Creeks Golf and Country Club last Friday catching up (and running a putting school) with Paul Buchanan and Bob Duncan. With 9 pupils in the class the four coaches went through learning styles, green reading, aim and feel giving all involved plenty to work on after they left the session. After the class everybody headed inside for lunch and a debrief from the session and there was plenty to talk about. Bob is out to do some work for a couple of months and Paul is the Head of Education for Henry Griffitts and flitting around the globe keeping very busy. It was great to catch up with both the boys and we look forward to doing it again in the near future.

After the putting class we took some players out on to the course spending 18 holes working on their games. Neville Smith and first time school attendee John Mcdonald where my two victims for the day and boy did we see some improvement. It was great to see both the boys embrace what we gave them to work on and get the benefit almost immediately. John let me in on a secret goal after about 12 holes that he had a club matchplay game at his native Monash Golf Club on Sunday and was hoping that Fridays exploits would help get him over the line and guess what. John and his partner won their match on the 21st hole. Great effort guys and i will wait for my 10% in the mail.

Tim Frazer had another fine performance over the weekend playing in the three day Western Printing Pro Am at Moccason Creek, South Dakota. Tim again made the cut with fine scores of 74 and 72 and rallied home with a final round of 70 to slide into the top 20 and pick up the biggest cheque of his playing career. The boys have a busy few weeks with another tournament starting the day after and then one day off and then two events in the next week. He is having a ball and living the life as well as playing some mighty fine golf. It is a huge learning experience for Tim and his two travelling companions as this game is constantly throwing up a new set of circumstances and new things to work on.

Up to the final week of the USA Trip bookings and only 6 weeks for heading off. Can't wait to get some sun on my back and get away from the cold. Let me know if it sounds good we could fit you in.

See you on the course.
Jeff Mansfield

On Course Golf Days - Leonay Golf Club and Golf in the Dakotas

Absolute Golf is proud to announce that they are the providers of Teaching, Club Fitting and Repair Services to the Leonay Golf Club. After long discussions with management after the club recently took over the golf shop business Absolute Golf will now be providing their range of world class programs, including golf schools and on-course golf days to the members and guests of this Western Sydney Golf Course. Both Jeff and David have had a long time relationship with Leonay GC with Jeff playing for many years as a member of the club and David completing his traineeship there from 1991 - 93. The Absolute Golf team will be working in with new Professional Col Banham to bring a whole new level of service to the club and offering the members an opportunity to be involved at the ground level. This is the fifth club that has shown interest in the programs Absolute Golf Provides and goes to show we must be doing something right. for more information on the programs and services provided go to http://www.absolutegolf.com.au/ .

Jeff and Dave have been busy with our on-course golf days at Twin Creeks, Lynwood, Wallacia and Gordon Golf Clubs and have been working hard with golfers to improve their games. Over the past week, between them they have run 7 on course sessions with all level of golfers getting the benefit of not only the technical instruction provided but also the short game and course management portion of the days.
Over the years golfers have been educated that a perfect golf swing will encourage perfect golf but that just isn't true! Golf instruction has improved 10 fold over the past twenty years and golfers aren't playing better golf, if anything they are getting worse. After learning the correct fundamentals golfers must take what they learn out to the golf course and train with what they have learned adapting it to each condition they come up against. What we find is that the golfers never master a perfect swing so they never leave the range, afraid of what may happen or worse still head out to the course trying to make the "perfect Swing" they were taught not adapting it to the ever changing conditions at hand and getting frustrated when it does not come off . Well why should it? When we have a lesson we hit from a flat stance, perfect lie on a range mat with nothing in our road to obstruct our motion or concerntration. That never happens on the golf course and too make things worse because we are so hell bent on making perfect swings we never learn the portion of the game which is most important which are the management skills which is really the key seperation between someone who hits balls and someone who plays golf and don't be fooled they are different.
One question i am going to leave you with on this topic. Why is it that most teaching and club professionals don't play golf anymore? And if you don't believe me ask your local professional whether he plays anymore. He will answer that he doesn't have the time but that is just an excuse as he has been educated by the same beliefs that is poisoning our game. Get out there play golf.

The latest update on Tim Frazer and the Dakotas tour. Tim played Emerald Hills GC in Arnolds Park, Iowa this week in an 1 round event after a strong finish in the Bakkers Crossing event over last weekend. Tims round of 3 under 68 at Emerald Lakes got him a four way share of 3rd place and banked him a nice littl;e cheque as well as gaining him some order of merit points along the way. This weekend the boys are playing in the South Dakota Open at the Bluffs golf Club in Vermillion, SD. This is a three day event over Friday, Saturday and Sunday where Tim has shot 69 73 after two rounds and we are waiting to see how he fared in the final round. These guys can really play on this tour which is about a third string tour with the leader of the SD Open after two rounds shooting 63 66 (15 under par). It has been a great start for Tim on this years tour already making three cuts banking four cheques and really cementing himself as part of the tour.
Keep at it mate, you are doing us proud.

Jeff and David running a putting class at Barnbougle Dunes

Jeff and David are holding a putting school this Friday with Bob Duncan who is out this week for a two month stint doing some training for Henry Griffitts. If you are interested in attending this school or playing golf with Bob or I after the clinic contact me on jeff@absolutegolf.com.au we would love to have you along.    

Western Australia. Are they the best courses in the country?

Dave and I are just back from WA after taking a group away for golf and tuition the "Absolute" way and boy what a trip. 20 - 22 degrees every day, shirt sleeves up until dusk and this is in the middle of July. Everywhere you turn around there is a great course just lurking over the next hill.
We arrived on Monday at 9.00am and by 9.40 we were on the road with Rod and Shirley in the bus with us and we headed down the freeway to Mandurah to play The Cut. This is an 18 hole facility with ocean views, undulating fairways and some of the wildest rough i have seen for a while. It was a tough course to play for the first time as you really need to know where you are going to play there well but it was a fun golf course as it took a bit of thinking to play, you cant just stand up and blast away if you want to find your ball or have a decent score (which did seem to be the theme for the week). We got the most magnificent day 22 degrees and a slight zephyr to keep us honest. Dave started the day with a birdie but it was all down hill after that but the best player on the day was Jeff Williamson with a fine score who had the most control of his shots all day, but even he couldn't get around without losing a ball. After golf we headed to our accommodation for the first leg of the trip which was the Sebel at Mandurah. Over looking the canals it really was a beautiful place. Dinner this night was at Sunbreakers a nearby restaurant where the speciality of the house was the mussells. It was a great opportunity for everyone to get to know each other and talk about the activities of the day. By the time we got back to our rooms it had been a long day and we were all grate full to hit the sack.

12 hole at The Cut Golf Course.

The second day was another cracker it started with breakfast in the hotel restaurant (where David had his scrambled eggs with 13 eggs - so did the rest of us) and our golfing destination was at The Links at Kennedy Bay. just minutes away. This is a spectacular course and although just a short distance away from the course the day before and still classified as a links, very different from the day before. We started this day with a pitching clinic which went very well, these guys really ate up the tuition and were getting better right in front of us. Then we headed out for our golf. This day i started off with a birdie and like David before me it went to mud. This is a great golf course. Perfect condition, wide well bunkered fairways with elevated greens designed to make you think. Everyone agreed they loved the course and as unbelievable as it was to imagine it was even better than the day before. The post round drinks were spent discussing the round, telling stories and generally relieving what had been a wonderful day. Tonight's dinner was at the guest discretion with everyone heading there own way. Dave and I headed to Murphys Irish Pub for an old fashioned Pub meal and a chance to catch up with Craig Tapp. An old mate of ours from Sydney who now teaches out West and is actually the head pro at The Links at Kennedy Bay. It was great see him and meet his wife Jo and talk about old times and what lies on the horizon.

Day 3 started in the hotel Restaurant again with breakfast and we headed up the road to our golf school destination at Whaleback Golf Club. This is an 18 hole public golf course with a two storey driving range, chipping green, bunker and putting green. It is run by a friend of ours Peter Hopkins who is a golfing legend in West Aus having been a club professional, teacher, player and administrator for years and years and it was very kind of him to have us at his facility allowing us to do what we do. This facility really is as good as anywhere i have been. It was clean, tidy, modern, roomy. I mean it was awesome. Nothing like anything we have in Sydney and a credit to all involved. Dave and i started with a putting clinic in the morning which ran for about two hours and then we had lunch. After lunch we took the group for a one and a half hour session on the chipping green and worked on the short game. After a coffee break we went to the range for a final session working on any golf swing issues we had noticed over the first two days, it was a great day. After the school we were meet by Pat our non golfing participant for a casual dinner overlooking the course and it's facilities recapping the days activities. After golf it was off to the second leg of our trip which was up north at the vines resort up in the WA hills. We were greeted by a magnificent resort which was to be our home for the next two nights. After checking in it was back to the bar to watch the State of Origin with our new friends and anyone else who was interested. The perfect finish to a great day.

Day 4 we had a late start for golf so David and I headed out to tour the facility what a great place. This was the venue for the Johnny Walker Classic for a few years in the late 2000's and it would prove to be a test for all of us. We started the day with bunker clinic at the clubs first class facility and a warm up before our round. The wind had got up a little today but most notable the terrain had changed. The first two days were seaside with saltbush and pot bunkers now we were in the foothills with gum trees, black boys, heaps of bunkers and  lots of water. What a contrast. What a great course, Undulating fairways, strategically placed bunkers and greens like i have never seen before. The big winner today was Rod who drove the ball very impressively and kept his ball out of the bunkers the best of all of us. You can see why this was chosen as a tournament course for those years, but it does amazes me how good these guys score, because we weren't even in the ball park. Dinner again tonight was at the guests discretion and they chose to eat together (which was nice) Dave and I went to catch up with some family which was great fun.

The 3rd hole on the Quarry Course at Joondalup

The last day we travelled to Joondalup which for me was the highlight of the trip. Joondalup is the #1 golf resort in the country and #18 on the Australian rankings and the quarry nine was something i had heard a lot about and was ready to witness. The whole course winds through the quarry with some being filled with water (the lakes nine), some they have mounded up (the dunes) and some they have left natural (the Quarry) and the whole golf course was a great experience. like nothing i have played in Australia before. The big winner today was Shirley who cleaned all the boys up with her straight driving and improved short game. After the round we had a farewell dinner at the members clubhouse at Joondalup and all sat around talking about the great trip we had been through together. These were a great group of people, fantastic accommodations, gorgeous weather and some of the best courses i have ever played and it was all over. Special thanks to all the clubs for making their facilities available to us with a special thanks to Peter Hopkins who really opened up his doors for us. To all the Professionals for allowing David and I to access your facilities it was very much appreciated and all the hotel staff for looking after us so well. Last but not least our travelling companions for being such great sports, trips like these never go without a hitch and you guys were easy to deal with and a pleasure to spend time with and we are very happy you were there with us and to my old mate David whom with out all his help we could definitely not have done this trip in the style that we did. Thanks mate. By the way our side bet was each 9 hole and 18 hole score and over the 8 nines Dave won 1 and I won 6 and we tied 1 and I won all four 18's. It will be all on again in the states in September.

If you would like more information on our US trip coming up in Sept go to http://www.absolutegolf.com.au/ or contact us. Times running out and we only have a few spots left.

See you on the course.
Jeff Mansfield

Going to Perth - Tim going well - Plenty on.

David and I have been busy finalising the Perth trip details this week. We only have a small group going but for the first trip to the Western state we understand it takes a while to build these trips up and we also very much like the one on one nature of a smaller group, so we are pumped and ready to go.
We have golf booked at the Cut, the Links at Kennedy Bay, The Vines and Joondalup which are all exceptional courses and an aspect of the trip I am very much looking forward to, as I have only played one of the four courses myself. We are staying at the Sebel Mandurah and the Novatel at The Vines so our accomodation is of the highet quality and on Wednesday we are travelling to Whaleback Golf Academy for a 1/2 day golf school at the home of our old Friend Peter Hopkins (he's been a friend for a long time - he's not really old). Peter is somewhat of a legend in WA with a very distinguished record as a player, teacher, PGA director and all round Professional Golfer. Dave and I are very much looking forward to catching up with Hoppy and finding out what he has been up to.
Everyone is booked, paid for and excited to go, so bring it on and we will keep you posted.

Tim Frazer has made his way to the states for his 2nd run at the Dakotas Tour, better and more prepared than ever before. The boys arrived on the 12th of June (Yes there is 3 of them this time) and were straight into it with their first event being in the Provo Open. The boys were treated like rock stars as an Australian accent is a pretty rare thing in that part of the world and they graced the pages of the local newspaper, a golf magazine, as well as the Utah Morning show (who would have thought). Tim payed well in his first event back shooting 74 - 72 making his first cut as a Professional and shooting 74 keeping him just outside the money with plenty of room to improve. Great start. The boys had a few more days in Utah before heading to Mineapplis before driving to Sioux Falls in Iowa, venue for their first two events on the Dakotas Tour. It's been an exciting week getting settled in, practicing for their first events, Tim even won his first Professional cheque in the Professional section of the Sioux Falls Open (a whole $63 dollars - you have to start somewhere) the boys are prequalifiing on Friday for the Saturday - Sunday Event this weekend. We will be waiting with baited breath. Good luck mate. 

Plenty of organising going on at the Absolute Golf Headquarters with golf schools, On-course days, specialty corporate schools, even a golf cruise on the table at the moment and as usual our constant obsession with our upcoming USA Trip. Picked up another two for the upcoming trip this week which is moving us closer to our total of 9 guests and we still have plenty of interest in the festivities. It's going to be great. September 15th through to the 26th. For more information go to http://www.absolutegolf.com.au/ . Click on the online schedule or Contact us for more information.

Will keep you posted on next weeks trip with pictures and plenty of stories to tell.

See you on the course.
Jeff Mansfield