Space Coast Golf Association

Do you want to learn to play, straighten out your slice, or win the club championship? Your needs for playing the game, from instruction to equipment, can be found right here on the Space Coast! You will find some of the most talented instructors in the state for individual, group, or academy learning right here in your own back yard. Listed you will find the names and contact information for an instructor nearest to you. Call them today to discuss your needs.....

This tip is brought to you by Greg Sanders,
Master Teaching Professional
Savannah's Golf Club- Merritt Island

The Pitch Shot

Probably one of the most valuable and least practiced shots in golf is the pitch shot.The pitch shot from 10-80 yards from the green. Tour Professionals have this shot from 4 to 8 times per round while most amateurs probably have the shot from 10 to 18 times per round. It is the shot you will use to actually get your ball on the green.

This shot is important due to its frequency and also, because when you learn how to execute it, you have really learned a lot about the swing itself. It is with this shot that you will effectively learn “how to let the club do the work”. We have all heard this but have not been shown how this magical concept works. First and foremost is the grip pressure.You should hold the club like an open tube of toothpaste.Hold it don't squeeze it. Anything requiring touch requires a light grip.You want to swing the club back and just kind of stand the club up with the head pretty much over your hands.Then just let gravity drop it back down.The length of the back swing determines distance. If you are holding it too tight you will hit the shots “fat”, “thin”, or too far.The lighter you hold it the better your contact will be and the softer the shot will land. Once you are making consistent contact you need to begin working on different distances.This is where a variety of wedges can help. You should learn the use of your pitching wedge, sand wedge, and lob wedge for the various shots you will encounter around the greens.

As you get proficient with this shot your full swing will probably improve as well. If you have difficulty getting the knack of this shot see your PGA Golf Professional.

DURAN GOLF CLUB

Instructor: Wally J. Kuchar, PGA, Duran Director of Instruction - a member of the PGA since 1985, Kurchar's duties at Duran include direction of all instructional programs at the Duran Academy of Golf. Kuchar has combined a competitive golf career as an amateur and a PGA Tour Player with years of experience as a club professional and instructor to hone and perfect his teaching skills. Through the years, Wally has had the opportunity to gain valuable personal instruction and playing knowledge from such notable instructors and professionals as Irv Schloss, Bob Toski, Phil Ritson, and Moe Norman. With his competitive career, club professional career and teaching career, Wally has taught and coached men, women, juniors of all ages and levels, and has great success in conveying his instructional methods about the fundamentals of the game. Not only has he worked, studied and taken lessons to better understand the swing himself, he is able to teach it through years of tournament competition and convey his personal experience and feelings to the student. He had been both the student and the tournament player! Wally believes, "You can reach whatever level you truly want". A native of Indiana, Wally currently resides in Orlando with wife Bonnie. Kuchar played golf and studied at Arizona State University, where he played on the golf team and received his degree in Education.

Instructor: Russell D. Glasby, PGA, Duran Head Golf Professional - a member of the PGA of America since 1999, Glasby's duties include overseeing the day to day operation of the golf facility, and serves as a golf instructor to our men, women, and juniors. Prior to Duran, Glasby served as the Head Golf Professional at Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club in Ocala. Glasby spent the last six years sharpening his teaching skills at some of the Tournament Players Club's finest facilities including the TPC of Michigan, located in Dearborn, Michigan, and the TPC of Tampa Bay, located in Tampa Bay, Florida. A native of Gaylord, Michigan, Glasby now resides in Palm Bay with his wife, Heather, and three children. Glasby played on the golf team and studied at Northwood University, where he received his degree in Marketing/Management.

Philosophy: The instructors at Duran Golf Club realize each and every golfer responds to different educational approaches. Our Golf Professional Staff will develop a curriculum tailored to each individual student, based on athleticism, current level of play, specific goals, and the time available to reach those goals. The staff at Duran believes in providing students with the understanding of Golf's "fundamentals". With that knowledge, students better understand relationships between grip, posture, alignment, and swing motion. Using that, golfers can then make changes to the feelings and sensations of their golf positions and swing motions. We believe this is the students key to creating a more desirable ball flight, therefore, more enjoyment of the game of golf.

HABITAT

Instructor: Alex Romanoff turned PGA Professional in 1977. He has taught thousands of students over the years. He says that he has not tried to teach a certain "method" but to emphasize the basic fundamentals. He believes that "the golf swing is made up of several components: pre-swing and swing principles." "I believe the majority of bad shot results can be directly attributed to poor pre-swing principals. Therefore, I try to emphasize the proper grip, stance, alignment, ball position and posture to help the student to have a good chance of making a good shot."

Philosophy: He says that along with these basic fundamentals; "I try to educate each student to the relationship of the spin that is imparted on the ball and the direction that the spin causes that ball to go. By understanding that it is the spin that causes where the ball goes, I then relate the importance of the relationship between the arms and hands to the club face. Many players do not understand why the ball goes where it goes. But, by understanding that the spin imparted on the ball by the club face causes the ball to curve or go straight, you can then begin to understand that your arms and hands are the only connection to the club, thus can control the spin and direction of the ball. Therefore, to be a better player, it is imperative to fully comprehend the relationship of the arms and hands to club face and who those arms and hands square the club face at contact. "

Facility: There is a full size driving range and putting green for public use. Range balls cost $5.00 per bucket or a daily fee for $12.00

SAVANNAHS

Instructor: Greg Sanders, PGA Master Professional and certified PGA Teaching Professional. Greg has been a PGA professional since 1981. He has taught thousands of lessons over those years to players of all abilities. . Some of his students have gone on to a professional tour or have won national amateur tournaments (Amateur Athletic Union-AAU). While in Cincinnati, OH; he coached the St. Ursula High School Girls Golf Team to two OH State Championships, two second place and one third place finish. Greg won the conference coach of the year award four years, district coach of the year twice and the Cincinnati Enquirer coach of the year three times. Andrew, Greg's son, won the Cincinnati City Jr. Open at age 14 with a record score of eight under par and went on to receive a full scholarship at the Univ. of Houston where he made Second Team All American twice. Greg has not only attended many national PGA workshops and seminars on teaching and playing but recently completed the rigorous PGA Specialty Certification in Teaching recognizing him as an expert in this field. Greg has studied under many of the top leading names in the industry. He uses many training aids as well as state of the art video equipment to facilitate learning and reinforcing a teaching point. Let Greg show you/your son/daughter how to reach their potential. Single lessons $40. Series of five $170. Series of ten $325.

Philosophy: The Golf Swing can be natural "if you let it". Greg's philosophy is simple and direct. Usually he reminds the player to"...do as I say... and you will play fine". His underlying thought is that mind control is the key to a good game. Keeping your focus on the task/shot at hand is most important. "Many times when playing well, I let myself get ahead of the play and as a result lose the pace and maybe miss a shot". "Taking that thought to the course is one key that I reinforce to my players" he said. Greg's basics and the use of the many teaching aids focus a players lesson to specific teaching points to accommodate each student's physique, mental attitude an athleticism. You really ought to take at least one lesson from his well qualified professional. Multiple lesson discounts are available.

Facility: The Savannah's Aqua Range is one of very few on the Space Coast. Distances are marked with buoys at standard distances. The two tier putting green has flat areas as well as slopes to allow the player to get a feel of the playing conditions on the course. There is a sand bunker which has a two level green with flags at 20 and 40 yards for players practicing their distance control.