It’s a banner day here in the blogosphere, as I’ve twisted an arm to get our first official interview here at the Olde Homestead Golf Club blog. And it’s a doozie! This article is rather lengthy, so for the sake of bandwidth, armwidth, and buttwidth I’ve decided to break it into two segments.
The kind gentleman that has graced us with his time today is very much a been-there, done-that type. He served as a United States Marine in Vietnam, and thereafter pursued psychology in the civilian life. He’s a licensed psychotherapist, and has written several books throughout his distinguished career on a myriad of topics. He’s also been published in over 250 articles in major journals, covering the aspects of parenting, education, child psychology, sports psychology, and last but not least — golf. He turned professional in 1986, and has taught the game at numerous golf facilities around the country. He’s the creator/author of the famous “Golf Tip a Day” golf calendar, and is the author of a great book that we’ll talk about today, “Golf: How Good Do You Want To Be.”
It is my honor to welcome Dr. Bill Kroen to the OHGC Blog with us today. Bill, thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to talk with us.
Bill: Thanks, Scott. It’s a pleasure being able to speak with you and your friends on the blog.
Scott: I guess I’ll start out with an obvious question: What got you interested in golf?
Bill: No one played golf in my family, but some of my friends were making money as caddies. I started as a caddy at Salem Country Club in Peabody, Mass. Salem is a beautiful Donald Ross course that has hosted the US Women’s and the US Senior Opens, among others. My caddie master was Bill Flynn, a PGA pro who won the New England Open and Massachusetts Open among his victories. Bill took a liking to me and brought me out on the course at the end of a day and started teaching me the game. I was hooked from the beginning.
Scott: Most people spend countless years working in a career before they ever find their niche. At what point in life did it hit you that you had this knack for helping golfers improve their games and decide to make that your passion?
Bill: When I was young, I became a pretty good player and captained my college golf team and went on to make the All Marine team after I got back from Vietnam. Later I gave the mini tours a try. People first asked me to teach their kids and then I got summer jobs teaching at driving ranges. I got certified as a professional in 1986. I really enjoyed helping people become better. It’s a real thrill when kids that I started in the game end up playing in high school and college. I had a woman who went from a raw beginner to second flight club champion in one year. My reputation spread and I got a lot of business. It was fun.
Scott: Alright, let’s dive right in to helping our golfing friends out here in the blogosphere, shall we? You’re originally from the Northeast, so you’re familiar with the long winter layoffs. Most of our readers haven’t touched a club since last October. What are some good things to work on as we slowly gear our minds back to playing good golf?
Bill: Winter is a frustrating time for golfers. I never liked playing winter golf but there are some things that you can do to help improve. I think getting your body in shape is probably the best way to help your game during the winter. I have some Katherine Roberts DVD’s that I use to help increase my flexibility and core strength. There is a lot of good stuff on the Internet about golf specific exercises that will help you be ready for the season.
Scott: In your experiences, which part of the game is generally the last aspect to come around for a season? And what drills do you advocate to help speed up that process?
Bill: At the beginning of the season, I felt that the full swing would come back rather easily as the motion of the big muscles and the overall movement is repeatable after a layoff. I always found that the short game (pitching, chipping, and putting) took longer to get back into shape. I used to practice the short game by going back to the basics as if I were learning the pitch, chip, or putt for the first time. Stance, grip, and alignment all need to be reset in the Spring. Back to basics is a good way to start. I also liked to take a short game lesson at the beginning of the year to make sure I had not developed bad habits after the long layoff. Putting indoors helps with your distance control, but rugs are not good for directional practice. It does help your stroke, however, so I would encourage players to putt whenever they can.
Scott: We’ve probably got some golfers out there who are looking to upgrade their equipment at the beginning of the season, and naturally the first thing that pops into their minds is a new driver. What are the most important things that you consider when you’re looking at a new driver, or any piece of equipment for that matter?
Bill: Good question, Scott. The right equipment is really important. I think that getting fitted with the high-tech stuff that they now use is essential before you buy. Two years ago I wanted to buy a set of irons, so TJ Valentine (of the Golf Channel’s Big Break fame) gave me a fitting where I knew the loft, lie, and shaft that would best fit me. When buying a driver, always demo it if you can. The looks, feel, and sound of a driver are very important so you will want to experience it rather than just picking it off the rack. I may be a little whacky here but if I hit a demo club super — I will try to buy that very club. I always think that drivers are like snowflakes – no two are alike. I think a lot of guys make the mistake of getting a driver that has a shaft that’s too stiff or too heavy for their swings. Also, if you’re debating over what loft to get, always go for the higher loft. A driver that launches the ball into the air is straighter than the one that is low with sidespin.
Scott: Through some of our own discussions over the years, you’ve often talked about a process that quite frankly a lot of current teaching professionals don’t really talk too much about today, and that process is the concept of visualization. Talk a little about the importance of that, and how we can utilize that to help us become more proficient in our execution on the course.
Bill: I’m a firm believer in visualization and there are studies that confirm its’ effectiveness in sports. You might just watch slow motion swings of touring professionals and then afterward visualize what that tempo and move would feel like as you make the swing. Find a pro that has a similar build to yours and a similar tempo. The more you watch the swing the more good thoughts and images will become part of your mental makeup. I love when Peter Kostis does the Konika vision swing analysis. Don’t get technical, but drink in the overall swing movement.
(second part of interview below)
Tags: Author Dr. Bill Kroen, Golf Tip A Day Calendar, Golf: How Good Do You Want to Be?
