On Thursday, I was at the Deutsche Bank Championship in Norton, MA for the Pro-Am. As a member of The PGA, I was roped in to being an Ambassador of Golf for the day, my official title for the event (my wife is still laughing about that one). When I arrived for my 12:10 tee time assignment, I was paired with Brad Faxon. Now I have done Junior clinics with Faxon for the last ten years so seeing his motion was nothing new. Also in the group was Donald Trump (I am not a big Trump fan). Not wanting to listen to the gallery yell, “You’re Fired!” all day long, I switched off with another ambassador (again, I can hear my wife laughing), given the choice between Justin Rose, who is now leading the tournament or Steve Elkington. Silly me, of course I chose Elk. After all he is a GSED and neither John Reigger nor Brian Gay were in the Pro-Am.
So off we go with four amateurs in tow. If you have ever heard Elkington on “The Jim Rome Show” on the radio, you will think that Elk is a nice guy. Not true. He is a great guy. He signed ever autograph stuck in his face, stopped to talk to every little kid, took a picture with everyone who asked, and was helpful to his amateur partners. And his caddy Gypsy, a long time tour looper, is just as nice.
Spending five and a half hours with the group (I was in charge of rules and pace of play as a few of my duties), I got to ask Elk about TGM:
He still talks to Ben Doyle regularly, had just talked with him a few days ago.
He absolutely believes that TGM is “The Truth”.
He thinks that the complexity and terminology is what has held TGM back from universal acceptance. I brought up the point that Jack Burke, former Master’s Champion and one of his friends and instructors, must not like TGM, Elk replied on the contrary. Burke would like it if presented in the right way.
Elk thinks Angled Hinge Action is easier to learn than Horizontal Hinge Action, even for Swinging. When I pressed him on this one he stated that most amateurs don’t know how to use their body effectively. I was not going to argue this point with him; after all I am an Ambassador of Golf.
Flexibility has never been an issue with him. If anything, he is trying to tighten thinks up. He works out ever other day mostly with latex bands and does a lot of “monster walks” (what he calls the exercise).
Sorry to say Elk missed the cut; balky putter. But, it was a fun day, none the less, except for the five and a half hour round. Time for a new Ambassador.
I did get to follow around John Reigger for his first nine on Friday. My neck still hurts from trying to watch his tee ball.
Threaded Mode
