Former T-Bird Gage Murphy Highlighted in Golf Column
Leading off this week's column with, as promised, Part 2 on how to hit longer.
"You need speed," begins Greg McGarry, head pro at the Glendale. "I'm 48 and I still do 50 push-ups a day to stay strong.
"You should also get fit for correct driver specs to optimize your launch angle and spin."
Greg Kincade, head pro at the Edmonton Country Club, agrees.
"Ultimately it's not really possible to hit it further unless you can train yourself to increase your swing speed."
To accomplish that Kincade recommends checking into the 'SuperSpeed Golf trainer.
"When I try and hit it a little longer, I don't try and overthink it and keep it as simple as making sure I am making big, full turns both back and through the ball," said The Quarry's Director of Golf Taylor Scinski. "If you make a big turn both directions, it should help increase that club-head speed a little."
"Try and relax grip pressure and arms, this will help create a bit more club head speed without even really trying," said Cardiff head pro Dallas Cantera. "Also flair out your back foot which will help create a little bit more body turn."
Mike Belbin, teaching pro at the Royal Mayfair said; "My main focus when trying to hit it farther is my left leg as a right handed golfer. I'm trying to drive up through the golf ball. You will see it when watching your players. They almost look like they are jumping. That is the power move."
SCENE
We're staying with long drives when it comes to Gage Murphy's win in the PGA of Alberta Golf Supply House Series at Jagare Ridge where the Cardiff pro was bombing it to win a two-hole playoff over Glendale's Kasey Timms and Stony Plain's Jeff Cuthbertson after all three ended with 1-under 70s.
Cuthbertson was the first to exit when he couldn't match the birdies of Timms and Murphy on the first playoff hole.
Then, instead of playing it safe, Murphy decided to roll the dice when he pulled out his driver on Jagare's second hole, a 320-yard dogleg left over water.
"I hit it really, really good and was pin high right," said Murphy, who had no trouble chipping it close and then making his birdie putt.
"After I drove it over the water, Kasey tried to do the same thing but he blocked it a little right and I ended up getting the win."
Murphy displayed his length all afternoon on a course that was in great shape. To get into the playoff Murphy also drove the Par 4 18th hole — which requires almost 300 yards to clear the ravine — and two putted for birdie.
Earlier, Murphy drove another one of Jagare's Par 4s — the 315-yard 8th hole where he rolled in a 20-footer for eagle.
"I can put it out there but I'm not as long as Kasey," said Murphy, 27, who attended the University of Alberta for two years before going to the States to play college golf at New Mexico Junior College and then the University of Texas Brownsville.
"I made a double bogey on an easy Par 3 and had two three putts coming in but overall it was a pretty darn good day."
Missing the playoff by one shot was the Quarry's Keith Whitecotton.
*Edmonton Country Club member Peter Cloete pulled off the rarest feats in golf — a double-eagle albatross. After a 255-yard driver, Colete holed his second shot on the Par 5 10th hole at the Country Club from 240 yards with his 4-hybrid.
*Edmonton's Dakota Smith won the Maple Leaf Junior Tour's Collegiate division at North Battleford, Sask.
*Calgary's Wes Heffernan has now won the Alberta Open six times. Edmonton's Andrew Funk was the low local finisher ending up fifth.
*Played The Legends recently. As usual it's a very good condition.
*Also played Glendale, which, also as usual, is mint.
NOTED
Jan Todd aced No. 5 at the Petroleum Club from 127 yards with a 6-iron while Allan du Heaume aced No. 15 from 133 yards with a 9-iron.
At the Highlands Keenan Bailey aced the tough 188-yard seventh hole with a huge 7-iron.
At Jagare Ridge, Alex Burden aced No. 7.
A bunch of aces at Glendale: Jeff MacDonald on No. 7 from 180 yards with a 5-iron; Catharine Rozendaal on No. 4 with a 3-wood from 114 yards; Terry Clackson on No. 13 with a 7-iron from 163 yards and Frank Larson on No. 7 with a 7-wood from 190 yards.
The Northern Alberta Senior Amateur Golf Tour's first hole-in-one of the season was authored by Terry Rawe at Goose Hummock – a 9-iron on No. 11 from 121 yards.
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