by Anne Cain, Anne Cain Golf Academy

As most of my students know, I insist that you spend most of your time practicing with the driver, wedges, and putter.  Statistically, these are the most important clubs in the bag.  I recently read some statistics and information that were most impressive and continue to emphasize the importance of the wedges and short game.

 

• On the PGA Tour, Tiger Woods impressive play in 2006 was directly related to his wedge accuracy from less than 100 yards.  In 2005, Tiger’s average shot was 16 feet from the hole ranking him 71^st among his peers.  In 2006, Tiger improved this to an average of 11 feet, moving him to 1^st place.  The average on tour is 17.5 feet.  How close are your 100 yard wedge shots on average?
• On short chips shots around the green (8-14 yards to the hole) the average tour player has a putt left of no more than 3-5 feet.  How close do you chip the ball?

To help with your practice, review the “Broom Drill” (in ACGA Tip Archive) so that you are executing correct mechanics through impact. Also remember that on your approach shots, you need to calculate the proper distance to the pin based on the depth of the green.  Remember, green depths can range from 28 – 40 yards in length, so that would require changes in length of swing and club selection to get close to the pin.  I recommend that you always use a ¾ length swing and use more club to get the ball to a pin tucked in the back of a green.

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Featured Instructor:

Anne Cain, Anne Cain Golf Academy

LPGA instructor Anne Cain is one of Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Teachers in America.  She was a finalist for LPGA Teacher of the Year in 2002 and 2005 and was named a “Favorite Instructor” in Golf for Women magazine (readers’ survey).  As a player, Cain wond two professional titles and was an All-American selection at the University of Georgia .

Located at the serene Golf Club of Amelia Island within walking distance of Summer Beach Resort and The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island , the Anne Cain Golf Academy provides students with a variety of golf lessons. Private, individual training is offered as well as luxurious vacation packages that include accommodations and rounds of golf. The academy's ability to customize a program for an individual golfer or small groups up to 4 people makes the academy unique in the industry.

The Anne Cain Golf Academy is conveniently located less than thirty minutes from the Jacksonville International Airport

Anne's Professional Accomplishments

• GOLF Magazine Top 100 Instructors in America Award winner
• Named by Golf Magazine as one of the Top Instructors by Region for the state of Florida
• Nominated by peers for LPGA Teacher of the Year Award (1999, 2002, 2005)
• Named as a "Favorite Instructor" in Golf for Women
• Contributes golf instruction articles to GOLF Magazine
• Became the first LPGA instructor to become an authorized instructor of Homer Kelley's The Golfing Machine. This book is the leading technical manual on the physics and geometry of golf. Fewer than 100 pros have been authorized worldwide.
• Cain's published article "Einstein's Golf Lesson" is used by Johnson and Johnson in training its pharmaceutical sales managers the importance of coaching and building skills "one at a time".

I have played golf for 30 years; the last 10 years as a 5 handicap. I have taken over 50 lessons with golf professionals. Half of these lessons used videos and computers. I am just now TRULY learning to play "The Greatest Game Ever Played" thanks to the Anne Cain Golf Academy. Prior to taking a lesson with Anne, I was concerned that her use of video and computer technology would be too technical and rob me of my "feel". I could not have been more mistaken! Anne combines this advanced equipment with her personal instruction skills and uniquely incorporates proper mechanics into your very own "feel". On a scale of 1 to 10, comparing Anne's instruction methods versus other instruction with video and computers, the other lessons ranked a 4 and Anne's lessons rank an 11!

Chris Stone, Jacksonville, Florida

The Anne Cain Golf Academy offers a wide array of packages from luxurious onsite hotel accomodations to Beach Front condominiums at the adjoining Summer Beach Resort.