Pretty amazing that this was even recorded all those many years ago. The really great thing about listening to this, is hearing Lynn ask some of the same questions, and even struggle a bit, with some of the same concepts we "current neophytes" face today. I assume Lynn you gave permission for this to be released, and I for one thank you and whoever provided it for sharing with us.
You know, it really IS amazing! I don't have the exact date in front of me, but this conversation was recorded 25 years ago next month, and nothing in this system of golf instruction has changed. How many 'methods' have come and gone since? And how many of those few that have survived still profess their original principles and procedures?
I remember the call as if it were yesterday. Tommy Tomasello and I were sitting in the stands behind the practice tee during the Atlanta Golf Classic, enjoying a wonderful spring afternoon watching Gene Littler and Larry Nelson hit balls after their rounds. We had both become students of The Golfing Machine® in 1979 when Bobby Clampett emerged as a world-class player and drew attention to The Book. We got to asking each other questions that neither of us could answer and decided then and there to go call the only person we knew who could: Homer Kelley. So, off we went to Tommy's house. He hooked up his little cassette recorder to the phone in the living room, punched in Homer's number and the rest, as they say, is history.
For the record, I did not authorize the release of the tape, just as I did not authorize the publication of my photograph of Homer Kelley that appeared a couple of years ago in a feature article of Sports Illustrated. Further, I had no knowledge that the tape was being promoted on Peter Croker's new site www.crokergolfsystem.com. But, also for the record, had I been asked, I would have had no objection to it. The Golfing Machine® is so much bigger than any one person, and Homer's genius and words belong to all golfdom, not just to the few who were there. I am humbled to have had the privilege of working with Homer, and I am proud to be playing today least a small part in bringing his work to the forefront of golf instruction.
For his part, Peter Croker is a champion golfer and teacher who is doing a magnificent job communicating TGM concepts around the world. He wrote a note last year inviting me to participate in his U.S. tour and, while we were not able to connect, the groundwork for a future association was laid. Our own Lee Dietrick (ldeit) was and is an integral part of that connection.
And, finally, this third time for the record, the reason Tommy's and my tape (and so much more) have not appeared on this site is that I was advised early on by the current owner of The Golfing Machine, LLC -- first orally and later in writing -- that doing so would be an infringement on the "rights" they alledgedly hold to the name, image and voice of Homer Kelley. Through counsel, I requested documentation of those "rights," but I received none. Nor was my request even acknowledged. Nevertheless, respecting the notice given and not wanting to test those murky waters at this time, I have refrained from any public dissemination of my recordings. Also pursuant to their written order, we no longer sponsor the Homer Kelley Award -- despite the prior approval and participation in the 2004 Award by The Golfing Machine, LLC -- and have removed from the site all threads relating to it, including recognition of its deserved recipient, then 17-year-old Matthew Sluzinski.
For the record, I did not authorize the release of the tape, just as I did not authorize the publication of my photograph of Homer Kelley that appeared in Sports Illustrated a couple of years back. Further, I had no knowledge that it was being promoted on another site until the link was posted here. But, also for the record, had I been asked, I would have had no objection to it. The Golfing Machine® is so much bigger than any one person, and his genius and words belong to all golfdom, not just the few who were there. I am humbled to have had the privilege of working with Mr. Kelley, and I am proud to be playing today least a small part in bringing his work to the forefront of golf instruction.
And, finally, for this third time for the record, the reason Tommy's and my tape (and so much more) have not appeared on this site is that I was advised early on by the current owner of The Golfing Machine, LLC -- first orally and later in writing -- that doing so would be an infringement on the "rights" they alledgedly hold to the name, image and voice of Homer Kelley. Through counsel, I requested documentation of those "rights," but I received none. Nor was my request even acknowledged. Nevertheless, respecting the notice given and not wanting to test those murky waters at this time, I have refrained from any public dissemination of my recordings. Also pursuant to their written order, we no longer sponsor the Homer Kelley Award -- despite the prior approval and participation in the 2004 Award by The Golfing Machine, LLC -- and have removed from the site all threads relating to it, including recognition of its deserved recipient, then 17-year-old Matthew Sluzinski.
I find what Yoda has described above interesting in contrast to one particular portion of the recorded converstation that goes pretty much like this:
HK: I couldn't grasp how the club took the path it did until I built the Inclined Plane. I think ANY instructor should construct himself an Inclined Plane . . . I was going to patent it. But I found out that IF I DIDN'T PATENT IT, NOBODY COULD. THEREFORE IT'S FREE FOR ANYONE TO USE.
Wonderful oral document of TGM teaching - feels like eavesdropping on Socrates and his students!!
So much to agree with comments above - nobody is born with TGM knowledge,everybody needs time to incubate , and patient instructors!
I can not be the only person who got a bit confused trying to replicate the hinge actions, east and west, is there roll or not etc... would it be possible for you, Lynn, to recreate your end of the telephone conversation as you remember trying to move your thumb around to replicate various hinge actions? Great video potential, opportunity for getting dressed up in your early 80's wardrobe and surely can't be treading on any legal toes as it is your memory!!
HK: I couldn't grasp how the club took the path it did until I built the Inclined Plane. I think ANY instructor should construct himself an Inclined Plane . . . I was going to patent it. But I found out that IF I DIDN'T PATENT IT, NOBODY COULD. THEREFORE IT'S FREE FOR ANYONE TO USE.
This struck a chord with me when I listened to the tape. One thing I have learned is if Mr Kelley says something like
"I couldn't grasp how the club took the path it did until I built the Inclined Plane."
He means it is important and you had better sit up and take notice.
I am at home full time looking after my Mother as she goes through the chemotherapy process. I bought in some ply and 2 x 2 to make a full size plane board that I will erect in the garden to train my downswing in-between making cups of tea and meals for her. I am making it along the lines of the one in the book with the hole big enough not to interfere with the path of my hands. Are there any plans for a full size plane board out there that I could use before I start cutting wood? Training in this device has to be way better than just using plane lasers. I will be stuck at home for at least 7 months. My plan is to use this timer to study more and absolutely own my downswing plane through training in the full size plane board. As soon as I heard Mr Kelley mention the plane board . I though it is obvious I should have done this years ago.
Having met Yoda who IMHO knows the book better than anyone. I found the questions he asked showed that was not always the case. This has given me encouragement to keep on at it as knowledge is acquired and earned and Yoda is living proof of that and an example of what can be achieved .
...nobody is born with TGM knowledge,everybody needs time to incubate, and patient instructors!
Originally Posted by hue
Having met Yoda who IMHO knows the book better than anyone. I found the questions he asked showed that was not always the case. This has given me encouragement to keep on at it as knowledge is acquired and earned and Yoda is living proof of that and an example of what can be achieved.
Right you are, fellows. I remember the poster of a young lad wearing a baseball glove and holding a bat on his shoulder. The caption read: "The greatest experts were once beginners."
I have written before that The Golfing Machine® is a journey whose rigors test all who attempt it. Mastery comes only at a price, and the coin is dedication and persistence. There are no exceptions, including Homer Kelley himself.
I once asked him, "How did you do it, Homer? How was it possible?"
I would be very interested to know how good a golfer Homer was. I have no doubts he could demonstrate everything in the book, but did he also enjoy simply playing a round of golf?
I would be more interested in creating Homer's indoor plane out of plastic sheeting? You could get the feel of a single plane swing -- the right forearm riding up and down the plane.
Hybrid Mode
