Hey folks,
Just finished a most rewarding clinic with the Wounded Warriors of the United States Marine Corps! There were 13 golfers from very beginning to some pretty intermediate skills. It was a wonderful challenge and a great way to bring golf into the lives of these deserving countrymen and women.
As a PGA teaching professional, I was challenged at every turn to constantly be thinking of the different swing mechanics to apply to the different swing limitation of these wounded warriors.
We had a great time and as long as wounded warriors are interested in learning golf, I'll be there for them.
Aloha,
Mo

Fujikawa vaults to top of early leaderboard with 62 at Sony Open

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20090117/BREAKING02/301170017

Junior Golf

We just started a new session of junior golf last Wednesday, 14 January. This session has many new beginning students so it will definitely be exciting. Even though sign-ups are ongoing, students can sign up anytime during the session at pro-rated fees.

Down in the Weeds

One of the great things about golf is the fellowship we share with other golfers. If you think about it, we have a bond with all other golfers on this planet. How many times have you hit the shot that you planned and executed to perfection only to have a gust of wind or bad bounce bring your emotions from elation to deflation? I know it has happened to me more times than I care to remember. One of the things that work in my favor during some of these challenging times is a good knowledge of the Rules of Golf. Understanding the rules can be a key factor in getting the relief that you deserve BY RULE! Some will just extricate themselves by just picking up their ball and tossing it into a spot where they can put a swing on the ball. For golfers who respect the game and its rules, know that is NOT an option. Recently, I was playing a leisurely round of golf with some friends. One of the players hit a shot into a bunker that had standing water from a recent downpour. She picked up her ball from the water, looked around a bit, placed a tee on what she thought was her nearest point of relief, placed a tee in the sand and using her sand wedge, measured 1 club length, placed another tee, then dropped the ball within the two tees. The ball made a “splat” sound from the drop and she went to hit her shot. As you probably have guessed, water and mud spewed forth from the impact of the club and sand. The ball flew 3 feet and she looked as if a mortar shell had exploded right in front of her. Standing in the sand, wringing her hands of the muck, sand, and water, and as any gentleman would do, I offered her a towel. I was also tempted to ask if she had taken COMPLETE RELIEF from the puddle from which she was entitled; but discretion being the smarter part of courage, I decided to wait until she had cooled off. After we finished the round I went into the pro shop and bought a USGA Rules of Golf rulebook for $1.25. I sat down at our table and started looking through the rules. She watched me for a while then asked what I was looking for. I told her that I thought she hadn't taken complete relief, played from the wrong place, and needed to add 2 strokes to her score. I handed her the rulebook and pointed to Rules 25-1.b (ii) and 20-7.c. She read in silence then to my surprise, starting thumbing through pages in the rulebook. She looked in the table of contents and then in the index. I was curious what she was looking for but kept quiet. When she finished reading, she told me I owed her $8.00 and was disqualified from my round of golf. Now she had me back pedaling! “How is it that I owe YOU $8.00?” I asked. She responded, “You obviously knew I had done something incorrectly and allowed me to continue play. So, it is my determination that you, in effect, agreed to waive the rules with yourself under Rule 1-3. Here, let me read it to you Rule 1-3 states: Players must not agree to exclude the operation of any rule or to waive any penalty incurred. So since you knew the rule and you allowed me to violate the rule without saying anything, I think you should be disqualified and you also owe me for the cost of dry cleaning this shirt.” Not thinking quickly enough and trying to make some feeble attempt at explaining to her that the “splat” sound I heard did not qualify as legal knowledge that she was doing something wrong. Her crossed arms and raised eyebrow let me know she wasn’t buying it. I knew it was a pretty lame comeback so I gave her the rulebook and bought her lunch. We called the match all square. That would be Rule 2-1 Definitions.