CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It’s opening day for many -- but not on the baseball diamond. Rather, it’s on their favorite golf course.
According to local experts, now is a great time to get into the proper shape for golf, both physically and mentally, while the courses themselves spruce up for their busy season.
If golf is on your horizon, the pros at StoneWater Golf Club in Highland Heights and other experts advise that it’s important to start now to get into the best condition to hit the links.
The experts say that getting fit has three distinct focuses as players gear up for a successful golf season: getting physically fit, getting mentally fit and assessing your equipment to make sure your clubs are the right fit.
Jimmy Hanlin, left, fits clubs with a golfer in the Linksman Golf Academy at StoneWater.Photo Courtesy of Linksman Golf Academy at StoneWater
Dave Nelson of Chardon Performance Therapy says training for spring and summer golf should begin now, “even if a few lingering Northeast Ohio snowfalls are still in store.”
“An exercise regimen can be done from your home or with a personal trainer,” he said.
“Your physical preparation should be a combination of core, weights and cardio.”
Nelson advises that if you are doing exercises at home, do them moderately at first and make sure that the form is done properly.
This should include a combination of stretches, weights, core development and even grip strength.
“How you play in-season has a direct correlation to preparing in the off-season,” Nelson says.
Get mentally fit
Dr. Jack J. Lesyk, Ph.D., CMPC, director of the Ohio Center for Sport Psychology, adds that mental fitness is an equal if not more important aspect of the game of golf.
Lesyk has worked with athletes in more than 25 sports and for more than 30 years, including the Cleveland Cavaliers and Olympians.
“Being mentally fit will exponentially improve your game,” Lesyk says. “Golf is a very cerebral game that requires a significant amount of mental focus, concentration and confidence.
“Staying mentally strong has a direct correlation on your success in golf.
“Whenever I speak with my clients, I always ask them what percentage of the game do you believe is mental, and I’ve never had anyone ever say less than 50 percent.
“Now, if that were entirely true, I could simply just visualize myself into a champion figure skater or nailing three-pointers,” he smiled.
“The truth is, we don’t know that answer, but in combination with physical skills, which are largely balanced at the highest levels, it’s the mental skills that give you the advantage.
“The mental part of golf is the most fragile, so when you’re using self-talk skills, it’s never helpful to beat yourself up for a bad shot.
“And that’s really the issue with golf -- you have a lot of time between shots to think about it,” Lesyk continued.
“Don’t focus on the bad; focus on where your ball is now. Relax your body and your mind.”
He said players need to practice their mental skills just like they practice their physical skills.
On his website, he also has a section dedicated to nine mental skills all athletes need to understand.
Among Lesyk’s tips are developing a pre-shot routine, being mindful, staying in the moment, visualizing success and working on positive self-talk.
His nine mental skills of successful athletes outline ways to prepare for the cognitive part of the game, which can be done by practicing or engaging with a sports psychologist.
Don’t forget your gear
Finally, being mentally and physically prepared is not effective without proper gear and -- most importantly -- clubs that fit you properly.
With new, state-of-the-art Trackman Launch Monitors -- the latest equipment from all the leading manufacturers -- golf pros at The Linksman Golf Academy at StoneWater Golf Club offer detailed insights into swing dynamics and ball flight characteristics.
By analyzing crucial data such as club head speed, launch angle, spin rate and more, pros can make informed recommendations on club specifications and golf balls that will lead to improved accuracy, increased distance and consistency in shots, ultimately maximizing the golfer’s overall potential and play.
“We understand that every golfer is unique, and finding the perfect and properly fit set of clubs can greatly enhance your performance on the course,” says Jimmy Hanlin, StoneWater’s director of golf.
“Whether you’re a beginner or a scratch player, we provide the golfer with a completely personalized and customized experience, ensuring you have the right equipment to suit any golfer’s swing and playing style.
“We measure the length of the club, the lie of the clubs, as well as the type of shaft and club head you should be using,” he continued.
“We can fit for any of the components of the golf bag, from the driver to the putter, with our current technology.
“Properly fit clubs work with you and your swing and have an incredible and immeasurable impact on a golfer’s overall game,” he said.
“And by the way, don’t overlook the importance of playing with the right golf ball for you.”
Golf is more than a summertime sport
Hanlin says the game has largely morphed from a spring through fall pastime to a year-round experience for many because of the addition of indoor bays and simulators.
He explains that StoneWater is ready for outside play nearly every day because of the quality of the grounds and greens and the meticulously maintained spaces.
“So, if it’s nice outside, like we seem to have a few here and there every year in winter, we’ll open the doors and be ready for full rounds of golf,” Hanlin explained.
“We’ll golf all year now, and since our carts are GPS controlled, they stay off the course and don’t mess up the grounds.
“We’re in the process of opening for spring and doing cleanup right now, and we’ll have this course in absolute mint condition,” he said.
“But if it’s nice, we’re playing outside. We just need Mother Nature to cooperate with us a bit. We’re all excited to get out there and play.”
He stressed that an enjoyable round of golf starts with getting some quality practice in and some lessons with one of their pros and at clinics offered, such as their junior clinics, ladies’ clinics and adult clinics as part of their popular Linksman Golf Academy, which has grown significantly.
In addition to three indoor/outdoor bays and simulators, the Linskman Golf Academy offers state-of-the-art video analysis, sophisticated launch monitoring systems, on-course instruction, private lessons, golf schools and more.
Interested players can book online or call the club.
The Linksman Golf Academy custom club fitting facility is designed to improve a player’s game, for any level of golfer.
And, while some club fitting facilities have their customers hitting into a net, StoneWater boasts a fully enclosed fit bay, which gives customers the opportunity to actually hit onto the driving range to better observe and ensure proper ball flight -- a key component to a quality fitting.
This gives customers the most precise club fitting experience anywhere in the region. Their fitting bay is heated and enclosed to be able to perform fittings all year round and in inclement weather.
Beef up those skills
StoneWater golf pro Joe Meglen says he sees the same mistakes consistently from golfers -- mistakes that can be largely corrected with some good instruction and training.
Meglen says the number one mistake most golfers make is over-the-top swings creating those “nasty slices” that cause the ball to veer off course.
He also added that working on the speed of your swing is important for distance.
“We’ve had guys in their 60s come in, and after some instruction and the right clubs pick up 50 or more yards to their swing,” Meglen said.
“We’ve developed different programs to help lower scores overall. It’s not just about hitting it as far as you can; you want to lower your score.
“So, I suggest that when you’re getting ready for your opening day, start off with your nine (iron) or seven (iron) and get used to the grass and a quality stroke. That will also help your mental game.”
Adds Hanlin, with a wary eye on the weather forecast: “Start now. Enjoy the benefits of instruction and getting the right equipment in your hands.
“Get instructed with those fundamentals. It makes all the difference in the world.
“The game is better when you’re playing better, and you’ll be happy that you did when your game is on point this summer.”