Today we begin focusing on playing the game we love called golf. It is a game and it supposed to be fun! It is as, all sports are, first a game and second a sport. The Concept Golf approach is to simplify your learning 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 is time for golfers to shift the focus away from the swing and its thousands of difficult positions and complicated concepts. That stuff tends to make the game un-fun. Would you like to learn how to make pars and birdies and how to have fun playing golf? Then lets do it.

In the purest sense golf is completely about the score you shoot. High numbers are not good in this game. Pars and birdies make golfers happy. Golf is a game unlike any other. There is time during a round of golf to reflect, talk to the people you are playing with, observe nature, enjoy being outside.

Concept Golf discovered the five swing principles. It also discovered the two playing principles. Thats right; there are only two playing principles. They are just as simple as the swing principles. The first is the target concept. The second is plan, aim, swing. As you understand these principles you will become a golfer, a player. Its not the grip, or the stance or the backswing that makes a player. A bigger picture is necessary.

Lets start with a story about a friend of mine who wanted to reduce his handicap from 1 to +2. Some of you may say this story is just for the 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 brand new way of teaching people how to play golf, a few people are skeptical about its veracity. It seems too simple to be able to work. Thats why the story starts with a quote from a Brit.

1

Whats In It for You?

Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing has happened. Winston Churchill, British prime minister

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

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

Ill get an airplane to pick you up and take you back home. I would like to have you stay three or four days. Ill 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. Ill organize my schedule. This 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 arrived in Harrisburg, Rick looked at me, right into my eyes, and told me, Dont mess with my swing! That was quite a caveat, especially since I was already in Pennsylvania when it was given. Ricks comment was typical of a good player. He did not want to become a worse golfer. He felt good about his ball striking 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 truthfully.

He smiled and we went to the golf course for a bite to eat before we played golf. We made plans for Ricks golf school while we had lunch. It was a simple plan -- play golf together until I determined how Rick could lower 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 prescription 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 couldnt wait to get to the course to put the ideas to work.

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

That afternoons round of golf was quite an experience for Rick. A game he had never imagined was now unfolding for him. We talked about every shot and every decision. He began to understand the planning and thinking needed to play golf well. What had been hidden from him all these years, even with his one handicap, began to be revealed.

I didnt change his swing; I just taught him how to play golf, think and plan. There was never a chance that he would get worse before he got better. He could put these ideas into effect immediately and get immediate, positive results. Here is the letter that Rick wrote to me later that year.

Dear John,

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

When I first called you, my game needed some help. I wanted to take it to another level. At 43 years of age and playing to a one (handicap), I didnt know if it was a realistic goal. Little did I realize what a truly amazing visit it would turn out to be. Since you were here, Ive 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 made only four bogeys!

John, you taught me how to GOLF MY BALL. I didnt want someone to tell me how to swing the club. I wanted someone to show me how to PLAY GOLF, and that is exactly what you did.

I truly believe that one day soon CONCEPT GOLF will be on the lips of everyone. It is for everyone. Your concepts are great for the beginner, but more importantly they belong on the Tour. Everyone would benefit from your coaching. I always knew how to hit the ball -- and now I know how to play.

Thanks for everything!

Your number 1 fan,

Rick

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