Another great summer of golf has passed, yet many great events run by your Alabama Golf Association (AGA) take place in the fall as well. In addition to the State Club Team and the State Mid Amateur, the staff handled the UAB-sponsored collegiate tournament at Shoal Creek in September.

Congratulations to the Hoover Country Club team of Will Swift, Max McClain and Patrick Levio for their win and to Will Swift for winning the State Mid Amateur at the Country Club of Mobile.

Also this fall, we were involved in the Southeastern Team Championship, which brought together the best amateurs of the states of Alabama, Georgia and Florida to compete. As I write this, we're also looking forward to the final event of the season, the State Senior Four-Ball at Riverchase Country Club in Birmingham.

Once again, it has been an honor and a pleasure to serve as your president. Please let us know if there is anything we can do for you or your club.

Hit 'em straight!

Billy Wood, AGA President

For the second year in a row, Will Swift has been named the Alabama Golf Association (AGA) Player of the Year. The Player of the Year award is given to the golfer who earns the most tournament points throughout the tournament season.

Taught by his grandfather, Gene Maxwell of Selma, Will has been playing golf since he was five years old. "I played in my first junior tournament at age seven," Will says.

Today, Will continues to enter golf tournaments for two reasons: "The first thing would have to be the friendships that my wife and I have made while playing tournament golf; some of my best friends have come from playing this game," he says. "The second thing is the competition." His most memorable tournament moment was when he won his first Alabama State Amateur in a playoff at Hoover Country Club in 2002.

For Will, the game of golf is a continuous learning experience. He grew up playing with his grandfather and his grandfather's friends and receiving instruction from Bud and Tommy Burns at Selma Country Club. These days, he continues to receive instruction from Brian Wannemuehler, director of golf at Hoover Country Club, and Archie Burroughs, a well-known teacher in Birmingham.

"I also try to spend as much time as I can around the greens, whether it's chipping or putting," Will says. "One of my favorite things to do is to get out late in the afternoons, after work, and walk nine holes. I truly believe that the quality of time you put into practicing golf goes beyond the quantity of hours you put into it. If you are not interested in practicing, there's no reason to be out there going through the motions."

A graduate of Auburn University, Will is employed in marketing at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama. When he's not working or playing golf, he enjoys hunting, fishing, and attending Auburn football games with his wife, Bridges, "especially if they are winning," he says.

The Old Committeeman, while returning to the XIX Hole after posting his score, encountered a friend who asked if he could join the O.C. at the octagonal table. “Yes, of course,” the O.C. said. “You sound serious.”

“Yes, I am,” replied his friend. “What do you say to a club golfer who shows very little consideration of his fellow players during a round? Let me explain. Today, a fellow player, weighing more than 200 pounds, repeatedly stepped on my putting line and leaned on his putter to retrieve his ball from the hole.”

“Two things come to mind,” said the O.C. “One: Does standing on the line damage it without metal spikes? Yes and no. On dry days, no or very little, but on wet days or on soft turf, yes. Develop the habit of just not doing it and whenever or wherever you play, you will not upset your fellow players. The other thing is a guess that he must have broken other rules. Did he?”

“Yes,” was the emphatic answer, to which the O.C. replied, “I had a similar incident last year and here’s how I dealt with it: After getting the courage to face the issue, I reviewed the etiquette section of the Rules regarding course behavior and the same section in the USGA Rules in Brief to refresh my memory. I promised myself that when the other player again did something similar to what your fellow competitor did, I would ask him to join me for a cup of coffee after the round. Then I would give him the Rules and the Rules in Brief and say, ‘Review the etiquette sections and make any needed corrections.’

“It was not long before I had to carry out the promise to myself and when I did, he said, ‘You most probably don’t want to play with me in the future.’ I said, ‘In a way, yes,’ but I added, ‘If you don’t make the necessary changes, you may have difficulty getting games.’ Then I closed by saying that the opportunity was his, the decision was his, and I wished him well.”

After the O.C. finished, his friend said, “This has been a big help; please wish me good luck with my fellow player.”

“I do indeed,” said the O.C., and bid his friend good night as he excused himself.

The O.C. then asked James for his lunch ticket and any other unsigned tickets. James gave them to him and observed, “You seemed to be having a very important coffee.”

Returning his signed tickets, the O.C. replied, “It was. And I hope it works.”

“It will,” James countered. “Your suggestions usually do.”

“With that encouragement, James, I’ll say good night,” said the Old Committeeman.

“Good night, sir.”

Tips from a Pro:
Keep up Your Game This Winter

Alabama golfers are fortunate to have plenty of outstanding golf professionals to provide instruction and encouragement. One of the state's most respected golf instructors, Eric Eshleman, director of golf at the Country Club of Birmingham, joins us in this issue to offer advice for keeping your golf game strong through the cooler months.

Eric has twice been named the Dixie Section Teacher of the Year, has been named a Top Three instructor in the state of Alabama by Golf Digest, and is listed among Golf Magazine's Top Instructors in the United States. He played golf at the University of Nebraska before serving as director of instruction for the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. He joined the Country Club of Birmingham in 2001.

According to Eric, you can - and should - work on your golf game even when it's too cold to actually play 18 holes. He recommends three easy steps for keeping your game intact during the winter months:

1. Participate in a strength and conditioning program. Don't undertake just any strength program, but participate in one that is specifically designed for golf. "Seek out a personal trainer who is trained in golf-specific fitness," Eric says. "Your goals should be to improve strength and flexibility in your large groups of core muscles and your smaller muscles like your rotator cuff and elbows."
   
2. Take practice swings. Eric recommends taking 25 to 50 practice swings in your backyard, three nights per week.
   
3. Get an indoor putting mat. "These mats are sold at most retail golf stores," Eric says. "Use it to make sure you don't lose the feel for your putting stroke."