Surge On the Road…Nike Junior Golf Camp

I have been down in Beaufort, SC since Saturday July 19th running a Nike Junior Advanced Golf Camp at the very beautiful (and very private) Secession Golf Club on Lady'€™s Island. We had seven good players from 13 thru 17 who were all there to sharpen their game to get ready for the rest of the summer tournaments, especially for their next high school golf season. They all told me that they wanted to attend college and play college golf. The big issue for them and their parents is building a good playing record and resume to hopefully pull down a scholarship.

W e extensively covered the PPGS limited turn ‚¾ backswing to the T finish, with the hands close to the left ear. (I feel like I'€™m still on the lesson tee!) This was the focus with every one of the students as they all were basically rotational swingers with the huge backswing turns, parallel and laid off at the top. They all also finished way left of their target, with the arms folded or collapsed around their torso.

The main point for them to control the turn and shorten the backswing was introducing them to the trademark setup of wide knees, with outward pressure at address. Maintaining the outward pressure and resisting the knees moving is the key to limiting the turn and shortening the backswing it to ‚¾'€™s and vertical. This is especially important for controlling the swing when the golfers are so supple and flexible. But even being young and supple, a few of them were already experiencing stress and strain in their backs well beyond just over exertion and thus cause for concern.

We covered all the aspects of the short game, with emphasis on putting. They all took my 4 step putting test to gauge their putting skills under 6 feet. Chipping, pitching and bunker play were covered and I demonstrated some of the shot-making skills needed to be able to shape the ball and control it'€™s height when they needed to hit it higher or lower.

The instruction was held every morning from 8AM to 12:30 breaking for lunch. Following lunch they played 18 holes on the Secession GC on Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday afternoon we put together a bonus round, heading over to Hilton Head. We played Harbour Town Golf Links, where the PGA Tour'€™s Verizon Heritage is played every April.

The camp ended with an 18 hole tournament played at Secession GC on Thursday morning. Following lunch, the players were picked up by their parents, ending the four day golf camp.

The camp was filmed from start to finish. We got all phases of the instruction, playing and a sit down information session where I discussed goal setting, practice and playing tips, and the ins and outs of how and what to do to get a college golf scholarship.

The video of the Nike Golf Camp will be put up on the Member site in the junior golfer section when the editing is finished, so everyone can meet the junior golfers and see most of the instruction they received, the improvement of their swing, and their playing Secession Golf Club. There will be good information on this video for all junior golfers — and their parents — from golf instruction to playing tournaments, choosing a college and making the golf team.

The PPGS team is considering doing more of these junior schools (this one was fantastic) and would like to hear from you.

The Surge!