Hawaii Here We Come

Hello Friends of Stanford Men's Golf!

I hope this posting finds all of you dreaming of birdies in 2009 and doing what it takes this time of year to make that a reality this spring and summer. We have been working hard as a team to prepare for our first event of the new year at the Mauni Lani North Course on the Big Island during the first week of February. The guys can't wait to get started!

The weather for us here on the Farm has been very mild so far and of course we are expecting sunshine in Hawaii. However, if you are reading this and looking outside your window and the snow is blowing and temperatures are below zero here are a few things that might help you get a leg up on your competition when the greens finally thaw out.

1) Stretch! One of the biggest things I see good college players and golfers of all levels struggle with after an extended lay off is keeping their golf muscles in shape. As a team we are spending 4 hours a week just on our fitness this time of year and I know it will pay off for us come NCAA time. I would encourage you to spend 15 to 20 minutes a day stretching to stay limber and fluid. Pay extra attention to your hamstrings, core, back and shoulders. A little time this time of year can really help with the time it takes to knock the rust off.

2) Get your clubs professionally fitted! It is amazing to me how many people play golf without ever taking the time to have their lie and loft angles checked or even better yet find someone in their area that is a professional club fitter to spend some time with. Most of the time, a set of clubs that you buy off the rack will not be set up to you specifications. With growing popularity of launch monitors, better technology in shafts and heads, and the ease by which the fitting process can be done, to me this should be a "no brainer" for the better player. You will be amazed what a few degrees of lie angle one way or another can make a huge difference in the dispersions of your shots. You won't be disappointed.

3) Putt! Putt! Putt! Almost everyone I know has room in their house where the carpeting rolls like a good day at Augusta. This is a great opportunity to work on your stroke. Putt your balls to a small target like a quarter or golf tee. Work on different distances and make up games for yourself. I promise that if you rolled 100 putts a day on a smooth surface indoors until the snow melted your handicap will show the work you put in. Putting is the name of the game ... especially inside of 6ft and now is your chance to make 2009 the year of the 1 putt!

Dedication is all it takes! Go Cardinal!