Catching up with an old friend.

Went to the airport yesterday to pick up old friend Bob Duncan, who made the journey from the USA to spend a month with David and I doing some golf schools. His first day in Aus was a busy one with a catch up breakfast with David and myself, a Callaway fitting course at Sydney Olympic Park and an afternoon lesson at Llandilo Driving Range and then it was home to my place to catch up with one of his adopted families in Australia (Daves is the other one).

Bob is doing some marvelous stuff with his Golfer Positioning System website (GPS). At present he is putting together a document which has all the different lie and stance types with predicted outcomes, difficulty rating and even a probability score. This is the first of anything like this I have ever heard and is very impressive to look at and should be a god send for anyone who is new to the game or looking to improve what they are doing out on the course. He also showed me an interview he did with the golf course disigner David Mclay Kidd who designed not only the course he plays (Tetherow in Bend Oregon) but also designed Bandon Dunes and many more. He was saying that this is the way of the future and that not only Bob but Dave and myself are leading the new wave of golf instruction, which was very nice praise.

Our on course golf schools start next Friday, 4th November at Riverside Oaks with a following school on Sunday, 6th November. These classes are filling nicely (although we do have room in both sessions for more) we also have two more sessions on Friday the 11th and Sunday the 13th and these two sessions at present could do with a few more participants and we also have a weekend group at Wisemans Ferry Resort which is filing nicely but could also do with a few more attendees as well. If any of these classes are something you may be interested in please contact us at jeff@absolutegolf.com.au we might even have a copy of Bobs new chart for all the attendees.

will keep in touch.
Jeff Mansfield 

On Course -The way to go.

Both David and I have hit the ground running since we have been back and boy is it good to be busy. Last week I had 7 (thats right) on course golf lessons and another 5 this week as well, I am playing as much golf as I have for years. They tend to be 2 hours plus in time (depending on the client and what they want to work on) and we work on playing skills as opposed to swing technique. Different levels of golfer, from a young guy I teach who is over playing in the W.A. PGA this week to Tony who I had a couple of hours with yesterday, who plays maybe once a month. The one common denominator is that everyone says to me "thats the way to learn golf", and I agree. Without technique we would not be able to move the ball around the course satisfactorily and would spend most of our time looking for our ball in the rough or taking penalties from hitting our shots into trouble, but once we have a sound movement and some evaluations to measure what we have done we need to get out on the course. Golf is a game, it's not a movement or an action and there is a lot more to playing golf than just hitting the ball. I see so many players at the range with single figure swings, playing off C grade handicaps and it makes me wonder how we got here.

Daylight saving is the best thing for our games, it does fade your curtains and throw the cows of milking, but it is fantastic for our golf, use the opportunity to get to the course for even a few holes, spend some time putting, drop a ball in the bunker and hit it out. If you miss the range stop in on your way home, we will always be happy to see you when you pop in. My rule of thumb when I was playing was always" go to the range when your not playing well and get out on the course when you are hitting well".

To learn a little more about golf skills as opposed to swing technique book in for a playing lesson with your pro or come along to one of our on-course sessions next month with the "golfecoach" Bob Duncan. Bob's GPS coaching program will improve your scores without even talking about your swing, which most people would agree wouldn't be a bad thing. Check out http://www.absolutegolf.com.au/ for more on Bob's schools or ring David or myself and book in a session today. It will be great for your game.

See you on the course

Jeff Mansfield

Back to Business

We have been back for a week and I tell you it has been hard to get back into the routine but i have done my best. 

I have been busy building a new website for J.M.G.S. (Jeff Mansfield Golf Solutions) which should tie in to the Absolute Golf site perfectly. It will be a link for my pupils and followers to the golf school website while also giving some information on what I am upto on a day to day basis. I will be launching the website later today informing everyone on my databases where they need to go to have a look at this marvel of modern technology. Drop me a note and let me know what you think.

I was on Skype on Sunday and talking to my old mate Bob Duncan about his upcoming trip to Australia and I can tell you all he is very pleased to be coming out. Bob arrives on the 26th of October and is here through to about the 20th of November in which time we are going to be running 4 1/2 day golf schools at Riverside Oaks (Fri 4th - Sun 6th - Fri 11th and Sun 13th Nov) as well as a weekend golf school at Wisemans Ferry on Sat 19th and Sun 20th of Nov. Bob will also be conducting some clinics with me at Wallacia Panthers for my Thursday night Junior group as well as some 2 hour clinics with my day to day pupils. All this should be great fun and a fantastic learning opportunity for all involved.

David and I have recently sat down and put together the calender for the rest of the year and up to March 2012. We are getting lots of interest for corporate golf days, guided golf tours (one in particular to Perth which looks like a cracker)  as well as some other things which prove to keep us very busy running through the silly season. If your company or social group is running an end of year activity and you are looking for a different approach, contact David or Myself and we can put a day together that will have them all talking.

Also, if you get the chance and go to http://www.absolutegolf.com.au/ and check out our tip of the week on the front page of our website. It is a way for David and I  to share some knowledge with the regular readership and for you guys to be able expand on some of the information you have already gained. Drop us a line and let us know what you think.

Talk soon.
Jeff Mansfield
Absolute Golf Coach

Part 2 of the trip. North Idaho.

We made it to Couer D Alene on Sunday and checked in to our luxury rooms overlooking the lake.
What a place!

View out of our room looking over Lake Couer D Alene



Played our day one of golf and the first round of the tournament at Hayden Lake Country Club. H.L.C.C. is the oldest course in Idaho (104 years) and was a favourite place of Bing Crosby's when he was alive. He had two houses on the course. This is a real oldstyle course tree lined (80 - 100 foot pines) doglegs, small to medium size greens, a real shot makers course with views of Hayden Lake that you couldn't imagine.

View down the 18th and over Hayden Lake.

Winner of the day Mick Carroll with 46 points (Yes it reads right). And a great day was had by all.

Day two of golf was at Circling Raven. When this day started we were a bit worried as it had turned cold and a little wet and we thought the northern winter was on it's way early, but thankfully the weather held off for the majority of the day and we were able to get around and stay dry. We started the day with a warm up session at the range and then a group clinic on the putting green touching on aim and some green reading methods using ground control and a little bit of aimpoint.

The course was in great shape. It's hard to describe this course - long, wide fairways but long grass in the rough, very large, fast greens and built on 620 Acres. It's like your group is the only group on the course. Winner for the days event was Howard Fraser with a fine score of 37 points on a pretty tough day.

Heading to the first green at Circling Raven

Day three and the final day of the competition was at the Couer D Alene Resort. We had a 10 minute boat trip to the course (at 40 knotts) where we were greeted by a real North Idaho day. Big blue sky, 75 F  and views to kill for. The course was immaculate and turned out to perfection. This course has 8 water front / view holes (the same amount as Pebble) running along side or nearby Lake Couer D Alene and they were sparkling today. Winner for todays event was Juan Montoya with 39 points on an sensational day for golf.

After golf the group was treated to a clinic with top 100 coach Randy Henry. Randy has worked with numerous Regular, Senior and Ladies tour players and today it was our guys chance to work with a legend and he did not dissapoint. His easy approach and ability to pick the one thing that makes a difference proved to be a huge help to all the attendees and rounded out this massive day of golf and learning.

The group went back to their rooms to freshen up and get ready for dinner, Tournament presentations and a guest speaker that we had put together in the way of Jim Hoffmeister. Jim is a US PGA Member, Teacher and Clubfitter, USPGA Rules Official and R&D expert with the Henry Griffitts golf company and is very knowledgable on most aspects of the game and as we found out quite a mind for red wine as well as the participants were happy to find out.
The three day event prizes was a special event were we compbined each players scores with the pro's in attendance to come up with the best 4BBB score for each player and added the 3 rounds total together to come up with a result. Winner for the 3 day event was Mick Carroll with 135 points with Juan Montoya a close second on 131 points.

The Marina at the Couer D Alene Resort

The next day was a rest day but a few of the group managed to find their ways to the golf course again. Another fantastic day of weather allowed for another fantastic day in the north west and it was enjoyed by all.

The final day in Couer D Alene was started of at the local Public Golf Course. This is better than any public course i have ever played. 6700 yards, Bent fairways, big flat tees and large undulating greens and those 80 - 100 foot pine trees that are the trademark for the local area, it was more like Royal Canberra than any public course i had ever seen. Todays round was overrun by Maree Johnstone who cleaned up with 13 skins over 18 holes. This course averages over 300 rounds per day for their 8 1/2 month golf season and in the condition it was in i am not surprised at all. From there we headed to the airport for our return trip to San Francisco and back to the Bay Landing for our last nights accomodation. We did happen to catch the AFL Grand Final at the nearby Elephant Bar and we were the only table in the crowded place watching, but we did get plenty of coments by the passes by.

Our final day was spent shopping and sight seeing in San Fran. Most people went their own ways heading to the shops that suited their needs and we all caught up back at the Hotel around 6.00pm to head around to the Airport for our 11.00pm flight.

Thanks to all the attendees Juan, Maree, Michael, Howard and Mick for making the annual pilgrimage with us, Scott for all his help with guest relations and for filling in when needed and to my old mate David who was a huge help and really my right and man stepping up to do all the little jobs (and some of the bigger ones) that need to be done. Special thanks to Caroline (Pebble Beach resorts), Patrick (Poppy Hill G.C.) , Steve (CDA Resorts), Matt Bunn at Hayden Lake Country Club and David Hobson at Couer D Alene Public as well as Jim Hoffmeister, Vannessa Newton, Randall and Randy Henry from Henry Griffitts, whom without all of your efforts the trip would not have been anything like it ended up.

One of next years courses Spanish Bay Golf Links

Keep your eyes open for next years trip which is already on the drawing board and proves to be even bigger and better with us organising Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill and Spanish Bay and the second part of the trip going to be at Palm Springs, California. We are also looking at putting together a non golfers package for 2012, so keep your eyes peeled.

All the best
Jeff Mansfield

    

San Francisco and the Monterey coast

Hi Guys
Flew in to SFO International Airport on Tuesday the 20th of September and headed with David, Scott, Michael, Maree and Mick to the Bay Landing Hotel, Burlingame, California for our first night in the USA. (Howard and Juan both flew into LA and caught up with us later this night).

We headed to our local golf shop in Downtown San Fran for some ammunition and any in-store bargains and then off to Pier 39 for some sight seeing and the first night dinner. Dinner was at the Crab House @ Pier 39. Everyone was there, the meal was great, overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge, stories being told and getting to know one another. The stage was set for our Californian Stage of the trip.

Next morning it was down the 101 to Pebble Beach for our first round at Poppy Hills Golf Course. The day was fine with a high fog (typical Monterey weather) and the course was fantastic. This is some course long, tight and tricky. It was the perfect hit our for our first game of the trip. Maree was the gun of the group posting 39 points, but everyone was in agreeance that this was a special way to start. We then headed off to the Inn @ Spanish Bay for our lodgings, which everyone gave the thumbs up and into Carmel by the Sea for dinner.

Next morning we teed it up at Pebble. The sky was clear, the wind was down and the excitement was rampant. The course, unbelievably was in even better condition than it was last year, but it was playing long and tested everyone out and really shows you how good the tour players are ( the pro's off the back tees were really feeling it ). Now one really set the course alight with the best score being about 33 points, but the enjoyment level was high with everyone and we all felt good about aspects of our game, but the main thing was just being there. After golf we had lunch at the course, went through all the shops and just soaked in the atmosphere. Three of the boys wanted more punishment and headed to Spyglass Hill for a reround, with the rest of the group staying back for a bit of fun at the Par 3 course. After golf we headed back to the Inn @ S.B. where after a shower, we sat on the veranda of the Hotel and enjoyed the atmosphere and a performance by the piper of Spanish Bay. This ritual occurs most evenings at around 5.30pm as he plays his way up the 2nd Fairway and up the Hotel and goes for about 45 - 50 minutes. Combined with the afternoon mist this was great.
The next morning we had breakfast at the lodge at Pebble Beach overlooking Clearwater bay and then  played Spanish Bay. This was the first time at the course for most of us and proved to be a real experience for everyone. What a course. Plenty of challenging holes, a little bit of a breeze and a spectacular backdrop with the waves crashing in at the bay and there was plenty to concerntrate on.  After a great day on the course we had a late lunch at the club and headed back to the Bay Landing at San Francisco arriving at around 7.30pm for an evening on the town and a good nights sleep.
The next day was a rest day with participants being able to do what they like. A few of the guys went to Half Moon Bay to play the Ocean Course (which they gave huge raps), with some of the others heading down the road to Gilroy outlets for some retail therapy. It was a huge day for both groups with everyone enjoying their activities and getting the most out of their days.
Sunday the 25th and this is travel day. Today we fly to Spokane, Washington and get a shuttle over the state line to the Couer D Alene Resort in North Idaho for our second part of the trip. Only a couple of the guys have been there before so we should be in for some surprised looks and lots of big smiles. Will let you know how it goes.
Jeff Mansfield

 

Group photo at Poppy Hills

Dave and Jeff on the 18th tee at Pebble Beach

12 Hole at Spanish Bay