The Short Game

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The Short Game

A Golf Course Flowed It

From the Clubhouse

A research study investigating the roles and influence of a PGA Golf Professional in the context of a municipal golf course—submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for my MBA and Master Professional credentials

 

The Short Game

“The transition from the golf course to the putting green.”

Jeff Waters

 

 

 

Introduction

Of all the challenges we face when playing Golf, navigating the various games within the sport can be the most daunting.

Driving the ball, iron shots, putting, approaching, chipping, short game, mental strategy, and trouble shots all present different tests we must learn and execute to fully appreciate the game of Golf in its entirety and complexity.

Added to these challenges is the often-forgotten fact that Golf is played in the air from tee to green.

From the moment we walk onto the course and place a ball on the tee, every shot is intended to get up in the air and travel a precise distance and in a precise direction.

All the clubs in our bag are designed to hit the ball a certain length and height.
We continue striking the ball in the air until we reach our ultimate destination, the putting green.

On a putting green, the game of Golf is played on the ground.
Rolling the ball on a relatively flat surface presents different clubs, additional skills, and other mental challenges, rather than a full swing.

There are even different rules that govern the game of Golf when the ball is on the green.
For example, when you are on a putting surface, you may clean your ball.

You cannot do this in the fairway.
You may also clear debris from along the path in front of your ball, and you can ask your fellow player to mark their ball if it interferes with the intended path of your ball.
All these improvements cannot be made on the fairway.

The Rules of Golf reward a player for getting their ball onto the putting green, which aligns with Golf’s primary goal of reaching the green in as few shots as possible.
The transition between the power game played through the air and the putting contest, where the ball is rolled on the green, is called the Short Game.
An approach shot is problematic because it is almost always executed with a less-than-full swing.
This is important because the distance, approach shot travels will be less than any club we carry in our bag that we can produce with a full swing.

The challenge of the Short Game is to execute finesse shots without swinging the golf club as fast and as hard as possible while still trying to get the ball on the green as close to the hole as possible.

Finesse shots combine some of the power game elements, where the ball is hit in the air, and the putting game, when it rolls on the ground after it has landed.

The Short’s Games object is to transition the ball onto the green and put the ball into the hole with as few strokes as possible.
Added to the challenges of executing Short Game shots are the various obstacles, i.e., sand, water, dirt, long grass, etc., the ball must carry on its way to the putting green.

In addition to these challenges, golfers do not have a specific club assigned to this shot.
The student must choose one of the fourteen clubs in their bag to perform the shot required by the conditions.

More than any other challenge, when playing Golf, the student is left at the mercy of their creativity when faced with the assortment of shots that make up the Short Game.

. In my experience, shot selection, club selection, and distance selection are the areas of the game that novice and beginning players struggle with most.

The variety of skills that must be learned and executed, combined with the different conditions the student faces when attempting these shots, makes the approach game the singular and most crucial skill the student must learn on the journey to becoming a better golfer.
The Game of Golf presents many different challenges depending on the playing conditions.

Still, by practicing and applying the methods, drills, and exercises outlined in this book, you will gain a solid understanding of the techniques, principles, and skills needed to make your golfing journey smoother.

Good Luck.

Jeff Waters, MBA, PGA Master Professional and President/CEO of Rocky Mountain Golf Enterprises, a Utah-licensed and Registered Corporation using Golf as a marketing tool, is a fully certified and trained PGA Master Professional, joining an exceedingly small and elite group of Golf Professionals worldwide to have achieved this prestigious title.
He has amassed over 50 years of experience in the commerce of golf, including ten years of playing the game at all levels, ten years as a Head Golf Professional overseeing all aspects of the total golf course operation, and three years as Director of Player Development for Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation, administering and managing multiple golf course programs and activities. Jeff also has over 40 years of experience teaching and coaching golf at various levels, including High School, Community College, and University, while owning and operating his private teaching institute, The Rocky Mountain Golf Academy. His Teaching Academy has attracted national attention for its innovative teaching approach and its hundreds of satisfied students. Jeff has acquired extensive experience and training as a golf instructor and coach, providing both private and group lessons throughout his distinguished and award-winning teaching career. Mr. Waters has participated in the PGA’s elite specialty teaching certification program, has attended the PGA’s national Teaching and Coaching summit, and has been awarded Teacher of the Year in Salt Lake County multiple times. This wealth of experience in both the sport and business of golf has established Jeff as a highly skilled and knowledgeable expert and one of America’s most qualified and accomplished Golf Professionals.
In addition to his practical experience, Jeff has a robust academic background, including a BS in Political Science from the University of Utah, graduate studies in Economics and Commercial Recreation at that school, and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. He has also taught undergraduate courses at the University of Utah’s College of Health and served as an adjunct professor at Granite Peaks Community School.
As a well-known media personality, Jeff’s versatility in the golf industry is evident through his work as a celebrated broadcast journalist and radio host. He has traveled extensively across the country, announcing major sporting events at arenas, ballparks, stadiums, and golf courses for national media outlets and syndicated on the Rocky Mountain Golf Radio Network.
A member of the Golf Writers Association of America, Jeff regularly contributes editorial pieces to national print publications and has authored multiple books, essays, and short stories. His work has appeared in numerous domestic and regional periodicals and magazines, including Utah Golf News, Rocky Mountain Golfer, Golf Today, Utah Fairways, Jackson Hole Golf News, and Utah Golf Magazine. Jeff has also contributed extensively to other authors’ blogs, podcasts, and internet forums, as well as to his website at www.jeffgolfguy.com.
Jeff’s unwavering dedication and service to the golf industry continue to inspire others, underscoring his profound commitment and affection for the sport, business, and recreation of golf.
You may contact Jeff at jeffgolfguy@att.net or on his website at www.jeffgolfguy.com.