Today we start to focus on playing the game we love called golf. It’s a game and it’s supposed to be fun! It’s like, all sports are, first a game and second a sport. Concept Golf’s approach is to simplify your learning of the game through a few principles. Reduce the game to its few true principles. Principles that are true for all golfers all the time.

It’s time for golfers to shift attention away from the swing and its myriad of tricky positions and complicated concepts. Those things tend to make the game not fun. Would you like to learn to make pairs and birdies and have fun playing golf? Then let’s do it.

In the purest sense, golf is entirely about the score you get. High numbers are not good in this game. Pars and birdies make golfers happy. Golf is a game like no other. There is time during a round of golf to reflect, talk to the people you play with, observe nature, enjoy the outdoors.

Concept Golf discovered the five principles of the swing. He also discovered the two principles of the game. That’s right; there are only two game principles. They are as simple as swing principles. The first is the concept of destination. The second is hovering, aiming, swinging. As he understands these principles, he will become a golfer, a player. It’s not grip, stance or backswing that makes a player. A bigger picture is needed.

Let’s start with the story of a friend of mine who wanted to reduce his handicap from 1 to +2. Some of you may say that this story is only for good golfers. Not so. The story is about a golfer who wanted to lower his handicap without changing his swing. He got exactly what he wanted. Because Concept Golf is a new way of teaching people how to play golf, some people are skeptical about its veracity. It seems too simple to be able to work. That is why the story begins with a quote from a British man.

1

What do you get out of this?

“Men occasionally stumble upon the truth, but most get up and run as if nothing happened.” Winston Churchill, British Prime Minister

It was a warm spring afternoon in Raleigh, North Carolina, and the phone rang. “Hi John, I’m Rick.” It was my friend Rick Troutman from Pennsylvania. We spent a few minutes catching up on recent events in each other’s lives, then Rick said, “I’m not as good a golfer as I should be and can be. You played on the PGA Tour for five years and you’re a good teacher.” . Would you be willing to spend a few days with me and help me? I’m a one handicap now and I want to be a plus two.” (A plus two handicap means the golfer is typically shooting two under par.)

Rick is a good golfer and a good friend. “I’d like to work with you, Rick. When do you think you want to do this and how many days should we schedule?” I asked.

“I’ll have a plane pick you up and take you back home. I’d like you to stay three or four days. I’ll start working on the details if you say yes. The weather should be good the second week.” in May. Will that fit into your schedule?”

“Rick, that will be perfect. I’ll organize my schedule. It will be fun.”

As promised, Rick had a plane pick me up. He was on board and we had a good trip north. As soon as we got to Harrisburg, Rick looked me square in the eye and said, “Don’t mess with my swing!” That was a big warning, especially since he was already in Pennsylvania when it was given.
Rick’s comment was typical of a good player. He didn’t want to become a worse golfer. He felt good about his ball hitting and thought his swing should be left alone. “I have no intention of working on your swing. My job is to lower your scores, not mess around with your swing,” I said sincerely.

He smiled and we went to the golf course to get something to eat before playing golf. We made plans for Rick’s golf school over lunch. It was a simple plan: play golf together until I figured out how Rick could reduce his score by three shots each round.

We played 18 holes that afternoon, 36 the next day, and 18 the next day. While Rick was at work the morning of the fourth day, I wrote his recipe for golf success. You will find that complete letter in Chapter 25. When Rick read the letter, his eyes lit up with the “I understand” look. He couldn’t wait to get to the course to put the ideas into practice.

There was never a chance Rick
it would get worse before it got better

The round of golf that afternoon was quite an experience for Rick. A game he had never imagined was now unfolding for him. We talk about every shot and every decision. He began to understand the planning and thinking required to play golf well. What he had hidden from her for all these years, even with the sole handicap of him, began to reveal itself.

I didn’t change his swing; I just taught him to play golf, think and plan. There was never a chance that it would get worse before it got better. I could put these ideas into action right away and get immediate positive results. Here is the letter Rick wrote to me later that year.

Dear John,

First, let me tell you what a pleasure it has been to be able to spend a few days with you again. Trust me, it turned out to be more than just renewing an old friendship.

When I first called you, my game needed help. I wanted to take it to another level. At 43 years old and playing one (handicap), I didn’t know if it was a realistic goal. Little did I realize what a truly incredible visit this would turn out to be.
Since he’s been here, I’ve posted three rounds at my club and played in a pretty prestigious match play tournament at Colonial Country Club in Harrisburg. The rounds I posted were 70, 71 and 68. I won the Match Play event by qualifying with a 68 and then winning all four of my matches. I played a total of 85 holes in that tournament and only made four bogeys!

John, you taught me how to “GOLF MY BALL”. I didn’t want someone to tell me how to swing the club. I wanted someone to show me how to PLAY GOLF, and that’s exactly what you did.

I truly believe that one day soon “CONCEPT GOLF” will be on everyone’s lips. It’s for everyone. Its concepts are great for the beginner, but most importantly they belong on Tour. Everyone would benefit from his training. I always knew how to hit the ball, and now I know how to play.

Thanks for everything!

Your number 1 fan

Haystack

I want you to know what is possible for you and your golf game.