The best tip I ever got…

Rolling Hills Country Club golf
pros share the most influential
​advice they’ve ever received

When it comes to golf tips, there is no shortage of clickbait on the internet. (Google "golf tips" and you'll see what we mean.) More often than not, those tips tend to focus on the technical aspects of your swing. And that's fine. We all want to be better swingers of the club.

But that's not what this article is about. What follows is insight into the game that focuses on your mindset and the power you have to seize control over your game.

Courtesy of the teaching professionals from the Rolling Hills Country Club Golf Academy near the Palos Verdes Peninsula, here are four ways you may be able to improve your game without even having to go to the driving range: 

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Blair Harkins, Head Golf Professional

The best golf tip I ever received came in the form of a saying I picked up in college at the University of Illinois: “One or none.” It means to have either one swing thought in your head or none during your round. Most of my golf career has been based on simple movements and feel, rather than technical swing positions. I fell in love with this tip because of the simplicity and, of course, the rhyme. With any sport, practice is essential. With golf, the driving range is the perfect spot to work on new ideas and swing thoughts. But when on the golf course, your mind needs to be free, hence the “one or none” mentality. Too many swing thoughts can deter your rhythm and flow, which to me is the essence of all golf swings.

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Robert Krasemann, Assistant Golf Professional

To play good golf, you need to have a short memory. I got this tip from a friend, who is also a PGA professional. We were on the course at the time and I was feeling bad for myself because of the way I was playing after the first four holes. On the fifth tee, my friend offered his advice. It changed my way of thinking and I immediately started to play better. I’ve found that this is the perfect mental tip because so many times golf can beat you up with bad lies, bad breaks and bad shots. But having a short memory is key to not letting past failures hinder the present and future.

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Devan Bonebrake, Director of Golf Instruction

My favorite tip: “Give up control of your swing to gain control of your shots.” Swinging with abandonment and freedom are vital when playing golf, especially in tournament situations. I learned this from Jim McLean, who was taught
​this by the legendary Jackie Burke Jr.

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David Hobby, Lead Golf Instructor

The best tip I ever received came from fellow PGA Tour player Morris Hatalsky. In my rookie year, I was paired with Morris at the Milwaukee Open. He was a longtime Tour player with a reputation for being a terrific putter. When I asked Morris about his thought process, he said, “David, as soon as my ball is on the green, I take the putter out of my bag and I get to the green as fast as I can. All the while, I am thinking I can’t wait to get up there and make this putt … because I am a great putter.”
​    In my experience as a player and coach, I’ve found that technique and self-talk can go a long way. A golfer with poor technique who thinks they are likely to hit a good shot will generally outperform a player with good technique who speaks negatively about their game. On the positive side, golfers who are confident in their technique and speak encouragingly to themselves (like Morris) will consistently out- perform the player with lesser technique.

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