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I watched the last few holes of the final round of the PGA Tour’s “Bob Hope Classic,” as DJ was playing well, finishing 7th. I was hoping to see a swing but really wanted to see his new putting setup and stroke he worked on with Scotty Cameron on Monday. But I guess with the network mentality that all viewers only care about seeing the leaders and big names, he never got any air time even, being a former champion of the Hope.
I also had another interest in watching Bill Haas. He is a local player and lives within 15 miles from me. I know Bill and his older brother, Jay Jr. Like DJ, they played junior golf in South Carolina events as well as many regional and national tournaments. They also competed against each other in high school tournaments and then on into college.
DJ played at Clemson and as we heard yesterday Bill played at his father’s Alma Mater, Wake Forest. Over their college careers, DJ and Bill were paired together numerous times. College golf tournaments are not so much played heavily by conference lineups except for the conference championships of which both Clemson and Wake are ACC members. The main schedule of tournaments colleges teams play are based on their national team ranking that can be found in most golf magazines. Since both teams are pretty much always in the top 25, they played quite regularly in the same tournaments.
So, from junior to high school golf and into DJ’s college career, my wife Susan, brother Ken and I got to quite a few of those tournaments to follow DJ and the other local golfers he grew up with and competed with. I walked many 18 hole rounds following DJ and Bill Haas, and fairly often got to walk and talk with his father, Jay, when he was off Tour and made it to a tournament.
A nice point of interest to add is Bill’s caddy, Michael Manness, was also a top South Carolina junior and college golfer. While speaking of caddies, DJ’s caddy, Todd Sunderland, was in DJ’s class for the 9 years when we lived on Hilton Head. Todd played junior, high school and college golf. So Bill and DJ’s caddies are both long time real close friends and former competitors, which I think now makes them extra special pro/caddy teams working together on Tour.
A great part of being a parent is actively following your child’s growing up as well as that of their friends and interacting with them and their parents. Many times close friendships developed and are maintained over time. For me, I have a large circle of friends of DJ’s competitors and their families that are still close and active. This is true of those who made it to the PGA Tour, especially those who are still out on Tour.
Clemson team members that DJ played with that are still out on tour and are like a second family to us: Jonathan Byrd, Lucas Glover and recent Q school graduate, Brent Dellahoussaye. Matt Hendricks and John Engler each made it to the Tour and played one year. I am hopeful that Matt will make it back, but John will not. John had a physical problem with a foot crushed in a car accident and was told he may never walk on it.
John Engler persevered and not only got to walk on his foot again but got his game back and made it to the PGA Tour. He played 1 year and at the end of the year, decided he couldn’t walk 18 holes. It was becoming impossible to do it an entire week, especially as it had to be done several weeks in a row. Deciding not to apply for the exemption to ride a cart, he retired and has since regained his amateur status. He is happy and fulfilled because despite his physical setback, he reached his goal of earning full player status though Q school and playing on the PGA Tour. A truly remarkable accomplishment and an example for all of us to look to for inspiration to never ever give up and keep on trying.
Following DJ and our team and family of local junior golfers, now PGA Tour professionals, adds a larger and more personal perspective as we closely follow and cheer for them. Since out on tour, Jonathan Byrd, J Byrd as we call him, has won 3 times. DJ has posted two wins. This past year has been pretty good to the South Carolina contingent beginning with Lucas Glover winning his second tournament and a pretty good one at that, The US Open.
Watching Bill Haas play 18, I was as nervous as he described he was. When he hit the par 5 in 2, my stress meter went way down, but not all the way. He still had a slick downhill putt. When his first putt stopped at tap in range, my stress meter went to zero. I am sure it was the same for him.
I heard his father in their interview say that he followed way behind down the fairway to stay out of sight. He could not tell how close Bill’s first putt was so his anxiety level was still on high alert. He said he was instantly relieved when he saw Bill replace the ball and casually reach down to tap it in. I especially was pleased that The Golf Channel showed the gathering of the Haas family taking a family photo that also included his uncle Bob Goalby, the 1968 Masters Champion.
I know what Father Jay and family were going through yesterday, watching his son play and win. The pressure is excruciating. All you can do is watch and are helpless to give any help. We can only lend moral support and pray real hard.
Bill came through and got his first win. I can’t wait till I see him out on Tour, likely Bay Hill, to give him a handshake and a hug and also to his caddy, Michael.
Congratulations to them both and the whole Haas Family!
The Surge!
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Dear Surge,
I am 54 years old and am a surgeon too – just a different kind than you! I am a lifetime golfer and have a bad back. My index ranges from 3 to 5. I have a vertical swing by nature and the concept of the PPGS is very appealing to me to preserve my back and improve my game or at least maintain it into the future. I would like to come for some in person instruction with you. Can I get some details about that please? Also, are there any pros in the Seattle WA area who are skilled in your teaching technique?? Much appreciated and I read every word of your emails every day!
Richard Rand MD
Hey Don, I have a question about the Driving Range (practice tee). I tend to be part of the Ball Beater club and I was wondering what the proper ratio of practice strokes to ball strikes should be? If I make a good shot with accuracy does this earn me another ball or do I still need to a perfect practice stroke? Also my practice swings during the game are 100% speed, is this wrong?
Thanks.
Tony Rung.
Don,
I have looked at all of your cd’s and have made remarkable progress with your swing on the tee box but everything on the fairway is the ppits. I seem to hit everything thin and I think that this is a result of my wanting to finish with a high “T”. . I find myself swinging harder than before and perhaps that is why I am pulling out of the shots on the fairway. Any thoughts on what I might work on?
Jerry, just keep working at it and before you know it, you will be hitting the ball well from the fairway too!
Happy Golfing
Ken
It was great watching the closing stages of the Hope with the top guys playing some brilliant attacking golf in a five way dogfight. The winner Bill Haas kept the pedal to the metal so that his aggressive style, typified by his 3 iron second shot over water to the green on the last hole, winning out in the end. I betcha the guys who eased up on the aggression by playing safe and laying up, Tim Clark and Bubba Watson for example, regret that decision now and wish they could have it over again.
It would have been nice if TGC covered the top ten guys, instead of just the top five or six, so that we could have got to see more of DJ. I hope the success of his old junior and college rival will spur him up on the Tour this year.
Regards, Craig S
To JerryN,
Try reinforcing the accordion effect, flexing your knees especially with outward pressure, in your pre shot routine. Then focus on keeping you knees quiet throughout the swing so that you can control the tendancy to stand up during the forward upswing. This helps for me when I start to thin the ball due to lower back issues causing me to stand up prematurely.
Regards, Craig S
I too was extremely disappointed in not being able to see D.J. during the Bob Hope.
I wanted to see how his swing compared to other Pro’s.
The television crews showed many other players that were not turning in nearly as good scores.
Can you post a schedule of his intended events?
How about publishing your son’s pga schedule?
Don,
Enjoyed your article with your reflections on some wonderful memories teaching and following your son and his contemporaries.
I too would love to see DJ’s schedule for 2010 if possible. I agree that the “network mentality ” is unfortunate. They show guys 10 -15 strokes off the lead though not playing well while guys like DJ are near the lead with no TV time. UUGH! Glad to hear about his time with Scotty Cameron and some real focus on putting. DJ’s playing great and is on track to break through with another win soon. The weathers clearing up out west, I see some golf comin on!
Down the middle, Robert
I know how proud you must be about son DJ and his success in golf over the years. I too have followed my offspring for many years, first with my daughters who started as very young competitive swimmers. I followed them through school, then college where they both became All-Americans at their sport. Now I’ve added the pleasure of watching my granddaughter rise to the top in high school swimming and this summer breaking in to the top tier of world-class athletes, winning a bronze medal at the World Swimming Championships in Rome at age 17. Nothing like watching your sons and daughters excel in athletics, be it golf or any other sport.
J. Griffen, Is Gigagolf reputable or are they clones. I tried to get my stepdad interested in golf. He has a defirillator and is 71 not athletic. He hardly tried and quit. I had them make him a cheap half set with TT senior flex 1/2″ short below the true temper logo it say Finest Quality. He is 5′5″. The shaft has a very unusal step pattern very close together and high up. I hit one today and hit it higher and better then my X-22’s. Maybe I need a senior shaft since I am 67. I think I remember you saying your swing speed was about 85mph. What shaft do you use?
I also played yesterday in the cold wind and sloppy muddy fairways. Cart path only so when I walked across through the mud and dug my ball out of the ground I needed a different club. I was not walking back. I shot 100. I went to the range and today it is close to 60 degrees and sunny. I was taking the club inside, breaking my wrist and pull hooking or topping. I went back to verticle 3/4 while riding the skinny nag and after that the shots were long straight and high. I just grasped the concept of no NO wrist break. I was taking it up the tree while trying to have a stiff wrist. It felt great. I have trouble doing that with the driver. It is a high fade. I wish I was 27 instead of 67.
Ronnie,
The Giga Golf Company sells nothing but copies or clones. I wouldn’t think I’d deal with them.
Don, every time you say “stay vertical” I’m reminded of a blown opportunity I had when first learning the game as a teenager. Because I wasn’t very strong, an assistant pro at my dad’s club taught me to use body rotation to increase power. When I was 16, Art Wall, Jr. matriculated through our club as an assistant pro while preparing to go on the big tour. Art gave a group lesson one morning and told me I should give up all that effort with body rotation and use my arms more and come up higher on the backswing. In other words, vertical. He showed me how he swung, and used his arms. Art went on to a successful PGA tour career, of course, and I believe holds the record for hole-in-ones with 46 of them. A true testimony to the accuracy of a good vertical swing. I ignored his advice and played all my life with my rotational swing. As I got older, and older, timing became a big problem. Plus, my left hip began sending me ominous signals that something needed to change. The PPGS swing is proving to be the answer to improved play. My hip seems to like it, too, as the feeling that something was about to tear or pop has gone away. Can’t thank you enough for sharing your knowledge with us. I’m talking up the PPGS whenever I get the opportunity.
I purchased your videos recently and starting watching. I am 65 yrs old and stand 5″7”. I bought a new set of Ping Rapture irons last year with graphite shafts which were not cheap. I was fitted to the irons using their techonolgy and it was decided I needed 1.5 degree flat lie. Now I am wondering if I go to your vertical swing premise that I will have to change lie to more upright. The problem is that I live near Reno, Nev. and have not found anyone yet with the proper equipment to change lie and loft. What are your suggestions on this quandry?
Respectfully,
Jack Thatcher
Jack,
There’s more to it than meets the eye. Physical stature, posture, etc etc etc, go into what lie is needed with clubs. Also, shaft flex and toe down effect will have an effect on lie angle. Chances are you will be fine with your clubs the way they are. Just for information, the Surge’s clubs have a flatter lie angle. They are much flatter than mine. We make the same verticle swing, but our physical make up is considerably different.
Don,
I recently bought your program, downloaded it, and tried it out. It worked pretty well, although on some of my shots I seem to be turning over the top slightly causing a slight pull draw. With this more upright swing which might seem to cause this, what do you recommend as a check list to make sure the club is staying on the target line. I’m a good player and student of the game (low single digit hdcp), but just crossed 70 and am looking to your method to keep my back healthy. I’ve noticed a slight pause at the top allows my slower lower body to keep the clubhead moving toward the target. Any other ideas?
Bill
what are some good sourses for smaller driver heads
Jay,
The Giga Golf Company sells nothing but copies or clones. I wouldn’t think I’d deal with them. Ok screw them what flex do you now play with your 80-85 mph swing.
Ronnie, Ronnie, Ronnie,
Haven’t you been reading me? Flex is ambiguous. It has no meaning. What is important is the profile of the entire shaft. Now, with that being said, there are two shafts that fit my profile and they are the UST Proforce 65 A and the UST Proforce Lady 44″. I am currently playing the UST Proforce Lady 44″ as it has a bit stiffer tip. My driver swing speed is also 88-92 MPH.
Dave,
The best source for smaller driver heads is…………..email me for information.
thegolfstop@att.net