Aroundthe F IT FOR G OL F
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» FIT FOR GOLF Off-season training is crucial to improve in 2011 IT’S HOT. IT’S COLD. IT’S HOT. IT’S COLD.
Whether this is a familiar description of your driver the last few golf seasons or simply an accurate report of the weather this winter, one thing is for certain: Having an indoor facility to work on your swing can pay huge dividends when the 2011 season arrives. No matter what the weather outside may be, the grass is always green and the flagsticks are always in at the AthletiCo Golf Performance Center in Oak Brook. The state-of-theart golf fitness facility features five hitting bays, chipping and putting greens, a private lesson area and all the latest technology to help analyze each aspect of your game. In addition, the experienced, professional staff is able to help golfers of all ages and ability levels get prepared for the 2011 golf season. According to Golf Fitness Magazine, the offseason is the perfect time to work on strengthening and improving flexibility as they relate to the golf swing. Proper flexibility and adequate strength are two essential components of an effective golf swing. Furthermore, they directly affect the
» TOURNEY TICKER
distance and accuracy of your shot. Flexibility and strength are important for several reasons. In addition to facilitating an effective golf swing that helps to produce long and accurate drives, these two elements of a good golf swing also help to prevent many common golf injuries that result from overuse. These essential fitness components enable the golfer to maintain proper posture throughout each swing during the entire round. Ultimately, proper flexibility and adequate functional strength will improve the overall health and wellbeing of the avid golfer. The technicians at AthletiCo can help devise a fitness program to help get players through winter. And when the weather improves in the spring, you’ll be one step ahead of the game. For information on AthletiCo’s Golf Performance Center, visit athleticogolfcenter.com or call 630-572-9700. Remember to consult your physician before starting an exercise program. —Tom Asuma
» CLUB CORNER
U.S. Amateur to OFCC Work your wedges OLYMPIA FIELDS Country Club plans to celebrate its centennial in grand fashion, as the USGA announced the club as the site of the 115th U.S. Amateur Championship. The event will be conducted on both the North and South Courses Aug. 24-30, 2015. “I feel strongly about the challenges these two courses represent for the nation’s best amateurs,” Tom O’Toole, USGA Championship Chair said. This will be the USGA’s fifth visit to the south side club, following the 2003 U.S. Open Championship and next year’s U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship. The club also was host to five Western Opens and a pair of PGA Championships. “Everyone at Olympia Fields is thrilled by the club’s selection as the host site of the 2015 U.S. Amateur,” club president Jeff Goldman said. “It is a true honor to welcome the country’s oldest and most prestigious amateur championship.” The U.S. Amateur will visit the Midwest once prior to 2015, with the 2011 event conducted at Erin Hills in Erin, Wis.
8 | CHICAGO DISTRICT GOLFER
is not for the faint of heart, but for those who desire perfection, it’s mandatory. It takes a unique individual to watch a shower of sparks fly from his coveted wedges. However, for those willing to take part in perhaps the most mysterious ritual of golf’s inner world, the experience and the resulting improvement in performance is beyond compare. Few amateurs understand they can have the sole of their wedges contoured and shaped to their liking, which can have a substantial impact on their wedge game performance. If a 56-degree sand wedge has 14 degrees of bounce but still digs into the ground, have the leading edge ground away or blunted. If that same sand wedge hits the ball thin when laid open, have the heel ground away until the leading edge sits low. Or a player may decide to grind the 56-degree wedge to perform like a 60-degree. The process is simple. However, it requires the proper grinding equipment, a willing and trusting customer and the
HAVING WEDGES GROUND
steady hand of a certified club builder. Every player is either a digger or a sweeper or somewhere in between as it relates to the angle of attack. Someone who plays in the hard-pan of the desert certainly will require a different setup than someone who plays in soft and soggy conditions. Each player requires sole and leading edge configurations specific to them and the conditions under which they regularly play. Many seasoned golfers have multiple wedges individually and end up with wedges that work poorly together. Others have the bounces staggered correctly, but the sole shape is not conducive to the conditions in which they regularly play. The question then becomes, why should you live with the manufacturers’ standard models instead of molding them to fit your swing and course conditions? For more information, call Club Champion at 630-654-8887 or visit online at clubchampiongolf.com.
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