I had the pleasure of playing this holiday weekend with my premier student and nephew, David Haley Jr. He is currently playing for the University of Minnesota and will be playing Mon. June 4 in the U.S. Open sectional qualifier after the Memorial Tournament, for a spot in the U.S. Open. He will be in a group consisting of former Masters champ Mike Weir. Major pressure but I am sure he can handle it well. Tournament golf at this level is gut wrenching. Most of us play for “fun” and with bad swings hopefully still really enjoy it.
I started with David when he was around 6. I have often wondered what is it about students like him who have continued to improve over time and now may be ready for the next big step.
He started with a ton of athletic ability, but there seems to be a lot more to it. Everyone gets beat up and humbled by this game. There are a lot of great players out there who have not been able to make the transition to playing for a living. It occurs to me that the old adage “where there is a will there is a way” is very real. Instruction early on is a must because it installs proper fundamentals at an early age. Being able to play and practice as the main part of your life is not common to most people.
After considering all parts of practice and play there are still countless numbers of possibilities and obstacles that eventually get in your way, life doesn’t stand aside for anyone. You never really know who is ready for the next step into golf stardom. Jason Dufner is a good example. At a later stage in his golf journey he has elevated himself into the winners circle. Don’t think for a minute that this just happened. He has been grinding away for many years when other guys have lost the dream. Persistence has finally paid off for him. Great congrats to Jason Dufner.
If you are struggling with your game right now and are not seeing progress, you may not be focusing on the “true fundamentals” of the game. Find a teacher who will teach you about the impact position and striking the ball. Your swing may have a different look but if you can repeat a good impact position your game will change. You may not make the tour but you will certainly enjoy the game more.
Keith Haley Golf 