... then how do I answer " are you good?"

Although I have a number of interests, I fit them around working in the golf department at a large sporting goods retailer.

Despite my wearing a cheesy lanyard that says "PGA Professsional," a surprising number of people ask me:

"Do you play golf?"

Rather than rattle off my background as a (former) avid player and a current instructor, coach, and golf professional, I simply nod and say "I play a bit." The inevitable follow up leaves me more baffled:

"Are you good?"

How am I supposed to answer that?

Between family, coaching, teaching, and working online, I frankly have little time or desire to play. I play mostly in short 3 to 6 hole segments before and after golf lessons, with my high school students, and with my 7 year old son. Otherwise, that's it. I played two 18 hole rounds in 2008. I haven't played a complete round in 2009. I don't compete. I rarely practice. I play to get some quiet and some fresh air - just like most of you! I like to play, but I can certainly live without it.

So that leads to the question; Am I a good player?

Statistically speaking, I am a good player:
Since I formerly put so much effort into learning the game, I have a lot of residual knowledge and "muscle memory" (if that even exists) that gets me around without looking too foolish. I am still far better than the average player.

I usually fire nine holes in about 40 and last year I shot 35 on the back nine at the Penn State Blue Course. (I played by myself and in just over an hour but it was an honest two birdie, one bogey 35.) My personal low is 67, but I think the best I ever played was when I shot 72 on a blustery day at TPC Virginia Beach. (I played the gold tees - about 7000 yards.)

I haven't kept a handicap in years, but I used to so I could model participation to the TPC Virginia Beach membership. I was the Head Professional, but I played to about a two handicap. Thankfully, my job was NOT to play.

Professionally speaking, I'm not a good player.
I have been a PGA member since 1999, and I have never played in a tournament. I have never been interested in competing and, therefore, I just don't practice or play the way I should. My game is sloppy and my lag putting - especially - lets me down quite a bit.

I'm sure there's a school of thought that says I should be expelled from the PGA for lack of competitive playing ability. After all, many say the PAT is too easy - and I passed that back in September of 1995 anyway! Many say a PGA professional should be an outstanding player, but I'll digress. That's a debate for another day.

Feedback Needed
So if anybody has any ideas how I should answer the one-two punch of "Do you play golf?" "Are you good?" let me know.

As always, I welcome your comments or feedback.

Keith Bless, PGA
kbless@pga.com

play the 17th at TPC Sawgrass

When I was a golf professional with the TPC network, I played the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass twice.

Since everybody asks, "what did you do on 17?" I'll give you my mental play by play as the best as I can remember it.

FIRST TIME:

• Oh, the green is bigger than I expected.
• Flag is front right, just like the final round. Cool.
  
• 8 Iron? I've been hitting it short and right. Better go with 7.
• 7 from 140? Maybe 8. No ego man, go with the 7.
• Uh Oh. Its my turn. I can do this.
• Got it. Start your routine.
• Did the wind just switch?
• Too late now. You've started your backswing.
• Keep going.
  
• Blocked it again.
• Uh oh. It's not gonna make it. No way.
  
• No splash?
• It must be in the bunker.
• I'm dry! I'm dry!

Fast forward to the green

• I'm in the bunker.
• Better take an extra ball from the back just in case I skull it.
• Better make a joke about it just to cover up the nerves.
• Man, this bunker is tiny! Who would hit it here?
• Don't skull it. Don't hit it fat.
• Start routine now. Do it, man.
  
• Wow, that's perfect!
• You got a two-footer to make 3!
• You can do it.
• You can, really.
• Head still. Follow through.
• I just made 3 on the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass!
  

SECOND TIME (I'll get to the highlights:)

• You made three here last time.
• Downwind - 8 or 9?
• Let's go 9. Rip it.
  
• Uh Oh. That's thin.
  
• Splash.
• Don't do that again. Hit 8.
• Wow, that looks good.
• Wow, that looks stiff!
• That's a tap-in.
• I just made a one-putt four on the 17th at Sawgrass!
• Could have been much worse.

For the record, I shot 82 both times I played at TPC Sawgrass. It is my favorite golf course I've ever played.

then try to find a course that doesn't have at least one good hole

Today I gave my second golf lesson of the year. After the lesson, I decided to sling my clubs over my shoulder and play one of my favorite short "loops" at Nittany Country Club. - the 5th, 8th, and 9th holes.

Nittany Country Club is a small, private club in Central Pennsylvania. It has a Bellefonte (pronounced "bellfont") mailing address, but it ironically hides down a narrow road near one of the smallest post offices I've ever seen. (I should post a picture of it. I've seen golf course halfway houses larger than this post office!) Depending on who you ask, Nittany Country Club is either in Zion, Bellefonte or Mingoville. Small town, small golf course.

As I played the ninth hole today, I realized that this short, quirky 3000 yard golf course (that you play twice to play 18) features some holes that I really, really enjoy for their subtle challenges and unusual features.

• The first hole has an extremely wide fairway but an extremely narrow entrance to the green.
• The second hole has perhaps the smallest green I've ever seen.
• The third hole has two greens - a short uphill par five the first time, a short, severe dogleg right the second time.
• The fourth hole is a long par three looking down over the beauty of Central PA
• The fifth has perhaps the second smallest green I've ever seen. Half of it is sloped so severely it will never see a hole location.
• The sixth is a short par five that I just can't seem to reach in two.
• The seventh is a short par four featuring a very, very tight tee shot and a large tree to left about 100 yards out. (Its even named after a member who demands it's removal!)
• The eighth is a short par three with two triangular mounds framing the entrance of the green. They don't interfere with your shot - just your view of the green. Never seen anything quite like it.

The ninth is as good and as stern as any hole I've played anywhere. Large trees frame the tee shot on this uphill dogleg left that plays about 440 yards. Into a cool early spring breeze today, it took a solid drive, a punched four iron (yeah! I laid up!) and a short pitch with a lob wedge to earn my my two-putt five.

This hole makes me reminds me of something I've known for a while; It is very difficult to find a course, no matter how rural or "low-end," that doesn't have at least one really good hole on it. At Nittany Country Club, its the ninth!

Any comments about your favorite hole on your ordinary course?

try living in the North!

Living in Central Pennsylvania, I could have it worse, but, man, do we have a long winter!

Frankly, I do like it. I love golf but it is good for me, my family, my students, and my sanity to get away for a few months. I don't travel South to play; I just wait it out.

Recently, however, I transferred my clubs from their hibernation corner in our bedroom into the trunk of the car. I've heard the practice green at a nearby golf course call my name and I think I'll soon reply with a visit. In the back seat, I've placed two extra jackets (a legitimate need through May) and a new hat that I ordered from VistaPrint.

The hat is fairly symbolic for me. Prior to that and for several years, I always wore a personalized cap that was provided for me by a major manufacturer through my job. As a TPC golf professional, this manufacturer was very, very kind to me and provided, frankly, anything I asked for free of charge. When I lost my job, however, I also lost that arrangement. It is time to move on.

The hat reads:

Earn "Income for Life" from Home
www.website.ws/kbpga

The website links to a promotion piece provided by Global Domains International, a stable and growing company that offers one of the best opportunities online. Those that work online are almost certainly familiar with GDI, but the average person "on the street" has never heard of it. I don't do my best work hiding behind a computer screen, so hopefully I can drum up a conversation or two.

Back to Golf!

Here's a few suggestions regarding getting back into "the swing of things." (get it? swing? punny, I know)
You've heard all of them before, but they are worth repeating:

• Stretch - a lot!
• Swing a weighted club
• Chip and pitch a lot to work on your balance, tempo, and feel (I'd give you that advice in October, however)
• Schedule a series of lessons with your PGA professional. This is the time of the year to make swing changes. Do it before the season really gets established and while you're re-learning your feel and swing anyway.
• Check your equipment, especially your grips, to be sure there isn't something in your bag that keeps you from playing better.

As always, I welcome your comments and questions.

All the best!