Teaching Kids How to Golf and Have Fun

Making Golf Fun for Kids

Hi this Kris Moe, I'm the director of Fun and Player Development at Chuck Corica Golf Complex in Alameda, I've just returned from a US Kids certification program in Los Angeles and I'm fired up to share the fun new

Us pros watching a sample lesson

ways us pros will be teaching kids 13 and younger.

I wish I would had this system available for my own two boys, they are now high schoolers, because I think they would have been more interested in golf.

In a nutshell they have made golf learning more engaging for kids. There is more learning from games and intuitive ways to understand fairly complex concepts like the grip (hot dog in a bun) how to chip (eg swing the letter "Y"). Here's a video of how we teach some of the fundamentals, https://vimeo.com/36619747

They also have badges for each accomplishment that is pinned to their cool US kids golf hat.

I still have a few spots available for the under 13 class beginning this Saturday from 2:00-3:00 PM (mostly 8 and 9 year olds are signed up). You can register here.

Here's more information on the program which I believe your kids will really have fun doing.

Home / Play and Learn / Learning the Game

Learning the Game

• Learning Program
• Videos

Learning Program

The U.S. Kids Golf Learning Program is a proven method to introduce golf to young players. The program becomes more difficult as players advance through each of the three levels, and the Level 1, 2 and 3 booklets provide the framework for both coaches and parents.

The booklets provide instruction and examples of forms and skills, and each level has checkpoints in five core areas: Putting, Around the Green, Full Swing, Knowledge and Scoring. As an incentive to advance through all the levels, players earn an achievement pin each time they complete one of the checkpoints. In order to pass each level, players must play nine holes from at least 1,500 yards (the distance of Level 1 Tees on a Family Course) and meet the scoring requirement.

U.S. Kids Golf Certified Coaches use these booklets in daily instruction and at USKG Camps across the country.

What's Next:  Find a Coach 

	The Early Start Booklet is for kids five and younger who are being introduced to the game of golf. You may download the entire Early Start Booklet below for no charge.  Download Early Start Booklet
	The Level 1 Instructional Booklet mixes kid-friendly instruction with on-course play that is suitable for all beginner golfers. The curriculum includes forms and skills tests in five core areas for the player to pass before progressing to the Level 2 Booklet.Samples:  Forms  |  Skills Ask your coach about the Level 1 Booklet or Buy it Now  Download Level 1 Certificate
	The Level 2 Instructional Booklet mixes kid-friendly instruction with on-course play that is suitable for all beginner to intermediate golfers. The forms and skills tests increase in difficulty from Level 1 as the player develops fundamentals in five core areas of golf. Once the player has passed the Level 2 curriculum, he or she is ready for Level 3. Samples:  Forms  |  Skills Ask your coach about the Level 2 Booklet or Buy it Now  Download Level Two Certificate
	The Level 3 Instructional Booklet mixes kid-friendly instruction with on-course play that is suitable for intermediate golfers. The forms and skills tests increase in difficulty from Level 2 as the player develops the fundamentals to ensure a lifetime of enjoyment in the game. Samples:  Forms  |  Skills Ask your coach about the Level 3 Booklet or Buy it Now  Download Level Three Certificate

Find us on Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/AlamedaGolf

Check out our videos on You Tube- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClaTXQXEjFJQS4rEXjXwaiw

Sign up to improve your golf- https://campscui.active.com/orgs/ChuckCoricaGolfComplex

New Grass Practice Area in East Bay

Hit Golf Balls on Grass in Alameda

We're thrilled to have our new grass tee open at Chuck Corica Golf Complex adding another layer of completion in the five year plan to make this one of the top golf facilities in the Bay Area and Northern California.

Have a peek at the new grass tee on the back of the range,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1tG3nv7dt4&feature=youtu.be

Find us on Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/AlamedaGolf

Check out our videos on You Tube- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClaTXQXEjFJQS4rEXjXwaiw

Sign up to improve your golf- https://campscui.active.com/orgs/ChuckCoricaGolfComplex

Three Ways to Make Golf Practice More Doable

Three Ways to Make Golf Practice More Doable

If you really want to reach your goals you'll have to practice. There are no little pills that I know of that will help you get around this reality in anything you want to improve at.

It's easy for practice at golf may take a back seat to studies, work, family or what-have-you. Here's a few ways that I hope will make it easier to get out and practice at golf: 

 

Creating S.M.A.R.T. Goals

Specific

Measurable

Attainable

Realistic

Timely

Come up with something measurable like how many four foot putts can you make in a row and practice until you can do it. The ultimate is to do a combine on a Trackman or Flightscope to establish your benchmarks for various distances.

In Alameda we use the Flightscope and I would have you ten balls with say your pitching wedge and we would get an average of your distance and your average distance from a target we picked. ideally we would do the combine for all of your clubs and that would take about an hour and a half (130 balls).

Remember why you are practicing- Whether to beat your buddy in the big golf getaway or win the club championship keeping your eye on the prize is usually a pretty darn good incentive to find a way out to the range or course to play a few. Write it down somewhere and post your goal somewhere easy to see a few times a day.

Think smaller amounts of time- Low dosages more often is better than long sessions infrequently. At the very least keep a club handy to make swings hit into a net or just grab to work on your grip and take your stance. 

If you got 20 minutes that's about a small bucket or 30 balls. Even this amount of time can keep you on track to reach your goals for this season.

Coach Up your Golf in 2015

Set your Goals and Go After Them

It really doesn't matter what level you are playing at now, you can get better. And helping you design that

plan to get better is a good golf coach. 

I just attended a Golf Coaching seminar recently for our PGA section. A Mr. Henry Brunton was one of the presenters and he blew us away with some great information from his experiences and anecdotes. For instance the next Olympics in Brazil will include golf and how this is bringing more international attention to the sport and with it better training, science and coaching for athletes in golf.

Mr. Brunton is thought leader in the golf coaching space and has shared his vast coaching experience and details it in this book, High Performance Golf which I highly recommend for anyone with a serious passion to improve.

Mr. Brunton is a Top 100 PGA golf coach and has worked with most of top talent from Canada for the last ten years including Mike Weir, former Masters Champion.

His presentation was essentially bringing all the best practices from other sports into golf and I'm thrilled to share some of these with you.

Here's some important aspects to what a good coach will bring you:

• Help you identify your goals
• Give you a comprehensive physical screen
• Teach strategy and tactics course and game management skills
• Work with you to monitor, measure and reset goals as necessary
• Provide advice and strategies for improving
• Ensure that your equipment and ball is optimally fitted

 And then the next steps:

•         Teach you how to practice effectively
•         Teach mental skills and strategies
•         Teach the rules of golf
•         Teach competitive skills- event preparation/ game plans
•         Help formulate a detailed goal-setting program and training regimen
•         Help establish a balanced and challenging competitive schedule
•         Collect accurate data from rounds
•         Teach proper nutrition and hydration
•         Help create a strength training and flexibility regimen
•         Communicate openly with the athlete, parents and collegiate coaches
•         Encourage and support you on and off the course

Example of a follow-up letter I sent one of my elite junior golfers after nine-hole playing assessment

I enjoyed meeting you and having the opportunity to evaluate your daughter.

Here is my assessment and recommendations:

Strengths- Above average swing speed, confidence on full shots and she enjoys the game

Gaps- Mostly in the scoring zone. I'd like to see her track her putts and average 16 putts or better for nine holes. This will require lag putting practice and getting better at short putts. I told her I'd like to see her be able to make 15 four footers in a row as one of her practice exercises.

I'd like to see you guys sign up for this service that will help her quantify her rounds. From Shot by Shot, you can print out and she can start tracking her nines, http://www.shotbyshot.com/images/scorecard.pdf for us to review. Stats are huge in modern coaching!

Another area in her game for her to improve is for her to take advantage of her length off the tee is to finish with better wedge shots. She needs to learn how to deloft her wedge through impact. To essentially "cover the ball" with her body pivot to create more lag angle through impact. This will give her better compression and distance control.

Looking ahead- I think she can get onto a good college team if she stays motivated, gets good coaching and practices hard.

Suggested coaching program- Two private lessons and two supervised practice sessions a month with other golfers her age. This would be $300 a month.

Our course fully embraces the Youth on Course program ($1 rounds) and we have a great short game practice area and amazing par three course which I'd like to see her playing a lot to fine tune her scoring skills.

Next session- I'd like to bench mark her skills on my radar system at Alameda. This is a combine test of 60 shots and six different clubs. Here's a video describing this bench marking, http://mytrackman.com/public/trackman-combine-intro

Here's a slide show on the Long Term Development Program, http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/tpigreg-264945-parentnightvideo-tpi-junior-golf-parent-workshop-sports-ppt-powerpoint/

Find out more about my golf schools in Napa, www.krismoegolfschools.com

Golf coaching programs in Alameda, www.alamedagolf.com/kris-moe

Call me for more information, 707-529-6458.

Golf Scrambling Challenge at Alameda's Chipping Practice Area

Alameda's Chuck Corica Golf Course's got one of the best short game practice greens ever and now we're giving you the opportunity to check up on your skill level in our Short game Challenge!

From 10 am to Noon this Saturday, December 6th anyone can come out and play the ten hole course we set up. And the best part is that we have a handout with all the averages of the various skill levels from top PGA Tour player to a 36 handicap. Depending on your score you'll see if you have work to do or if you should be working on other aspects of your game like driving.

Kris Moe our Player Development guru will be out there offering free short game tips to help you improve your score.

Alameda's New Golf Practice Membership

The Bay Area's Premiere Golf Practice Location

If you're looking for a great place to practice in the Bay Area we've created a great place for you to work on your game.

Even better, for about $100 a month it's unlimited!

Our Premiere Practice Club Membership

We are very excited to introduce the Premiere Practice Membership, which will highlight our new world-class practice area. Members will access to the practice range, par 3 course, short game area and newly built grass tee at the back of the range (opening January 1).

Become a Practice Club Member and receive benefits including:

• Exclusive Access to the New Private Turf Grass Tee (opens January 1) ….. Up to two practice ball bags (120 count) per Primary Member visit
• Unlimited Range Balls on the Practice Mats
• Unlimited Access to New Short Game Practice Area ….. Includes chipping, putting & practice bunkers 
  The best short game practice place in Bay Area
• Complimentary Play on the All New Mif Albright Par 3 Course
• Preferred Guest Days (opportunity to invite guest at preferred rates)
• Member Complimentary Golf Clinics (Tips & instructions to lower your scores)
• One complimentary Flight Scope Swing Analysis Voucher ($99 Value)
• Joining Voucher Valid for – One Club Logo Hat or Dozen Golf Balls 

2015 Practice Club Price – $500 joining fee | $100/mo.**

** Family membership option, only $50/mo. for each additional immediate family member (spouse and children up to 18 years of age)

Special Bonus for First 20 players to Join as Founding Members

• Pay 2015 in full ($1,200) and receive waived joining fee ($500 savings)
• Expanded Initial Term, valid thru March 2016 (Join early for best value)
• VIP Invite to Play Redesigned South Course Prior to Public Opening…(Must be current member in good standing at time of course opening)
• Par 3 Exclusive Outing with PGA Tour Player James Hahn (priceless)
• Recognition on Founders Club Dedication Plaque

Premiere Practice Club is Limited so Don’t Delay… Join Today by Contacting Club Manager John Vest at 510 747.7820 or john@greenwaygolf.com

http://www.alamedagolf.com/alameda-premiere-practice-membership/

Premiere Practice Club is Limited so Don’t Delay… Join Today by Contacting Club Manager John Vest at 510 747.7820 or john@greenwaygolf.com

Shotgun Start on the Mif Par-3 in Alameda November 15 at 8am!

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Mif Shotgun Saturday, November 15

This Saturday we're having a fun shotgun start at 8:00 am on the Mif Albright Par-3 Course. The cost is just $15 and includes:

• Green fee 
• $5 credit at Jim's to use for a drink (mimosa, bloody mary or soda) or toward breakfast
• Prizes for top team scores
• Prizes for closest-to-the-hole on three different holes

So bring a group or we'll pair you up to get a great start to your weekend!

Contact Kris Moe at kmoe@greenwaygolf.com or (510) 747-7827 to book your reservation today!

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Titleist Demo Day Saturday, November 15th

From 10:00am to Noon try the new Titleist 915's that just came onto the market. 

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Thanksgiving Day 9:00 am Shotgun on The Earl Fry (North) Course

$50 per player includes:  greens fee, shared power cart & breakfast combo at Jim's On The Course

Breakfast combo includes: breakfast sandwich or burrito & small coffee

Play golf and get home in time to carve the turkey!

Space is limited so click here to book your reservation today!

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Cleveland Wedge Clinic - Saturday December 6th - 1:00-2:30pm

$150 per person includes:  1 RTX 2.0 Wedge, 1 Dozen Srixon Golf Balls, Personalized wedge fitting by NCPGA Fitter of the Year Greg Ciavarelli & 90 minutes of expert short game instruction!  Contact Mike Winkenbach at (510) 747-7828 or mwinkenbach@greenwaygolf.com to sign up today!

Check out our website- www.alamedagolf.com

Here's our Facebook- www.facebook.com/alamedagolf

And videos on You Tube- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClaTXQXEjFJQS4rEXjXwaiw/feed

Oh here's our Instagram- http://instagram.com/chuck_corica

What's Happening at Chuck Corica Golf Course (aka Alameda Golf Course)

Remember Our Veterans!

This day each year, we stop to reflect on the American heroes who have fought for our freedom. We are proud to support our veterans and want to invite everybody out to Chuck Corica Golf Complex this Veterans Day, as we recognize how fortunate we are to live in this country. Come visit us on November 11, and enjoy a round of golf with family and friends!

Veteran's Day Special on The Earl Fry (North) Course

$30 per person includes: greens fee, shared power cart & a little fun sized bucket of range balls

Free Golf Clinics from Kris Moe for Veterans November 11

Our Director of Instruction Kris Moe will be offering a free chipping clinic at 10:00 am and a free full swing clinic at 11:30 am for active and retired military!

Also only $7 for the Mif and 50% off range balls all day November 11

*Monthly/Annual Passes are not valid on Tuesday November 11th

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November Twilight Specials on The Earl Fry (North) Course

Weekday

$35 after 10:30am - $25 after 1:00pm - $15 after 3:00pm

Weekend

$45 after 11:00am - $34 after 1:00pm - $20 after 3:00pm

*Rates not valid on November 27th or 28th  

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Thanksgiving Day Shotgun at 9:00am on The Earl Fry (North) Course

$50 per person includes: Greens Fee, Shared Power Cart

& Breakfast Combo at Jim's On The Course

*Breakfast Combo Includes: Breakfast Sandwich or Burrito & Small Coffee

Space is limited so book your reservation today! 

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Check out the new Titleist 915's November 15th

Titleist just released their new driver, fairway metal and hybrid line. They do this every couple years and now they're just hitting the shelves. Here's Kris Moe showing the club.

We'll have our staff out with a launch monitor and you're welcome to try all the 915's with the different shaft types to find your fit.

Cleveland Wedge Clinic - Saturday December 6th - 1:00-2:30pm

$150 per person includes:  1 RTX 2.0 Wedge, 1 Dozen Srixon Golf Balls, Personalized wedge fitting by NCPGA Fitter of the Year Greg Ciavarelli & 90 minutes of expert short game instruction!  Contact Mike Winkenbach at (510) 747-7828 ormwinkenbach@greenwaygolf.com to sign up today!

Contest to win green fees at Alameda Golf Course

Here's a chance for you to win four rounds of golf for the Mif or the North course in Alameda!

Just click the link below and like us on our Facebook page.

New Golf Deals in Alameda, the East Bay's Home of Golf!

Specials through October on the Range, Mif and Short game!

We've got some specials for you the rest of the month

• Early-bird special on the range!  Half price range balls Monday through Friday from open until 9:00 AM
• Tuesday through Fridays - After 3 PM $10 for a small bucket and Mif 9 hole greens fee
• Thursdays 4:00-5:00 PM, free golf clinics with Kris Moe (just buy your range balls)
• Fridays- All-day short game practice pass for just $10!

If you haven't been out to Alameda Golf Course lately (aka Chuck Corica Golf Complex) you're going to be amazed at all the improvements. This includes a new driving range, par three, short game practice area and last Monday we officially closed the South Coure's front nine to build the new Rees Jones designed golf course (opening in 2016).

Like us on Facebook to stay current, https://www.facebook.com/AlamedaGolf

Set the course record at Alameda's Mif Par Three Golf Course

Set the Course Record 

First off if you haven't had a chance to play the "pitch and putt" in Alameda then you are missing out. It is a

Here's the 2nd hole

treasure of a golf experience and it will challenge you at whatever ability level you're playing at.

Each week we've started a program for golfers to set the course record for their age group and gender. So for a week if you shoot the "low score" we'll take your picture, get your name and post that along with your score and date for others in your age category to beat.

Then each week we'll start all over again, giving everyone a change to get up on our "wall of fame".

Pitch and putt may be over simplifying what this golf course offers. The holes aren't 30 or 40 yards they actually range from 85-155 yards and the greens are shaped so there are no flat spots for better drainage. Marc Logan the golf course's designer, who I call the "grass whisperer", since he is truely one of the world's leading experts in growing any grass but especially bent grass. 

I may lose a few of you out there that aren't geeks about putting green surfaces, but I am, because any experienced golfer knows that bent grass greens are second to none for putting surfaces. Mr. Logan is going against conventional wisdom that he can grow and then maintain bent grass in Northern California. Alameda's golf courses are going to prove to everyone that he can with his systems.

We're already really excited the conditions at the new Mif par three and the our new chipping and putting. Come out and check them out and while you're out it keep your score because you may set the course record for the week!

Get Better at Golf Fast!

We're really excited about having a new launch monitor in Alameda (radar system that measures everything to do with impact with the ball and golf club).    And you know, if you can measure it, you can improve it.  Step 1: These days I'm offering what we call "club-gapping" to get golfers excited measuring and how it will catapult you're game to another level.    In club-gapping you'll hit ten balls with the clubs you want to measure.  This will give us a direction and distance profile (notice the oval in the image below, this golfer's pattern is biased to the right of the target line). Below is this golfer's ten drives. We can see a general shape of direction, spin and trajectory.        Step 2: At first most of these numbers won't mean much to you. I'll coach you decipher them so you can make the appropriate adjustments to create your desired ball flight because there is a formula for any ball flight you wish. Let's say for instance that you want a high draw with your driver, no problem, I'd have you swing 8 degrees right with your club path and have your club face four degrees left of that path. And for the desired heighth you'd hit it on the upswing two degrees. Funny part is, I don't care how you do your formula and nor does the radar system. Of course if you are stuck that's where I can nudge you in the right direction :)           Step 3: A few repeat trips to instill your feel-with-what's-real. And then boom, you're calling your shots!   I'm in Alameda Wednesdays through Saturdays for $125 an hour.    Book Now     Keep in mind the launch monitor is the ultimate club fitting tool. So if you're looking to improve your clubs we've got most of the top brands and our pricing is competitive.

New Golf Technology to Improve Game

Hi, Kris Moe here, I've just found a new toy called Game Golf (shot tracking software, yes cyber-metrics is coming to golf). I'm fascinated to see how as a coach I can make this work with my students.

 

Anyone is welcome to join me for a round this Thursday at Stevinson Ranch to test it out. I'm teeing off at noon and all you have to pay is the $50 green fee and that will include range balls. Just call or text to grab a spot or two.

I'm planning on making trips down to Stevinson through the year. It is 90 miles from Alameda so it's a drive but it's truly a great golf course and has one of the top practice facilities in California! I plan having a few golf schools there through the year and they have lodging there if you want to make it an over-nighter.

BTW- we just started doing regripping at Alameda so if you like to come over I'll show you all the grips we

have, fit your hand then have one of our staff put the grips on while you putt or hit some balls (about $8 a club). You can always reach me at kmoe@greenwaygolf.com or check out our website, www.alamedagolf.com

Here's a superb video if your digging too deep of a divot or leaving the ball out to the right, Trackman Maestro on Handle Dragging-