Page 38 - Golf Champion - June 2020

[GOLF LESSON]

Laird Small o help golfers keep primed for their return to the
Master Instructor, Pebble Beach Golf Academy Tcourse, Laird Small, director of the Pebble Beach
Golf Academy at Pebble Beach Resorts, has shared
After more than 28 years of working at Pebble Beach, some simple tips that can be done from the comfort
Laird Small is comfortable calling the famed golf re- of home. But before getting started, set the scene by
sort his home. A consummate golf professional with a tuning into Pebble Beach’s live cam that captures the
wealth of experience and an intrinsic love of the game, crashing surf and spectacular mountain backdrop
Small has served as the Director of the Pebble Beach surrounding the 18th hole – the most famous finishing
Academy for 19 years. Prior to that, he was the Head hole in golf.
Professional and Manager of the Spyglass Hill Golf
Shop for nine years. x Maintain rotational flexibility – The tension created
In 1996, Laird helped launch—and bring to national in this exercise opens up the chest and can help add
prominence—the Pebble Beach Golf Academy. In ad- much needed rotation to your swing.
dition, he was instrumental in the development of the 1. Face the doorway to your bathroom.
AT&T Pebble Beach Junior Golf Association, which 2. With your shoulders back, extend your right arm
hosts about 2,500 kids year-round. out and place your right hand flat against the door
Laird’s many accolades include: 2003 National PGA frame. It should be at shoulder height.
Teacher of the Year; recognition by Golf Digest as one 3. Hold your hand in place and turn your upper body
of the country’s top 50 greatest teachers for every con- to the left. Your trail arm will stay behind you.
secutive year since 2007; and being named one of the
country’s top 100 teachers by Golf Magazine—one of For the left-handed golfer:
the most prestigious honors golf professionals can at- 1. Face the doorway to your bathroom.
tain. He was first inducted into the list in 1995 and has 2. With your shoulders back, extend your left arm
been on it every year since. out and place your left hand flat against the door
A graduate of San Jose State University in Recreation frame. It should be at shoulder height.
and Leisure Studies, Laird is a Class A-14 teaching pro- 3. Hold your hand in place and turn your upper body
fessional. He has completed multiple certifications to the right. Your trail arm will stay behind you.
with the PGA Business School, HeartMath Coaching
and Titleist Performance Institute. In 2002, the PGA of x Keep your head down – This exercise will train you
America awarded him the prestigious status of Master to keep your body in position throughout your swing
Professional, with a Specialty Certification in Teach- and keep your head down from back swing to follow-
ing and Coaching. through.
Laird is the author of Play Golf the Pebble Beach Way, 1. Get a hand towel from the bathroom and fold it
co-author of GolfCordz the Power Source and regularly three to five times.
contributes articles for Golf Magazine, Golf Tips Maga- 2. Stand facing a wall in your hotel room and get
zine and Golf Digest. Some of his many students over into golf posture. You should be at least one foot
the years have included Bill Gates, Tom Kite, Oprah from the wall.
Winfrey, Steve Young, Kirk Triplett, Warren Buffett, 3. Lean forward and place your forehead against the
Bob Wolcott, Orel Hershiser, Josh Duhamel, Paul Mc- wall, cushioned by the towel.
Ginley and Julius Irving. 4. Cross your arms over your chest, with the finger-
tips of each hand touching the opposite shoulder.
some simple tips that can 5. Proceed to make turns back and forth, start-

be done from the comfort ing with your left shoulder down and your right
shoulder up.
of home 6. Continue for 30 seconds to one minute while
keeping the towel in place.

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