MESSAGE FROM THE PROFESSIONAL STAFF
Good Afternoon,
Well, that was disappointing. Like many of you, we were expecting to receive some better news about reopening and had high hopes that we would have the SIM room open as early as Tuesday. This latest news that Niagara will go into the Grey Lockdown zone on the 16th looks like it will prevent us from being open as early as we anticipated. (https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/where-is-your-region-placed-in-ontario-s-2021-covid-19-reopening-framework-1.5306959) With that said, I’m writing this newsletter at 3:40 pm on Friday, February 12th, and if any news changes or we find out that we have the ability to open we will inform you through an email update and our social media channels. In the meantime, for those members who had booked SIM time, we will keep your appointments active until we have all the information we need to make a more official announcement. Look for an update via your online booking on Monday, February 15th. That said, we are going to remain positive and look forward to a golf season that is getting closer by the day.
If you haven’t been using the off-season to get yourself ready for the new year, there is still plenty of time to get started. In this week’s newsletter, we want to highlight 3 products that have ARRIVED in the Golf Shop that can help you do just that. Before we get to that, however, let’s take a moment to introduce you to this week’s Golf Shop Team Member spotlight: ME ;)
Dan Roud
PGA of Canada Apprentice Professional / Golf Shop Manager / Teacher & Club Fitter
Years at Lookout Point: I’ve been in the golf industry since 2014. After spending a couple summers at St. Catharines Golf & Country Club I “took my talents” (As Lebron James would say) to Lookout Point Country Club. I’ve been here for the past 6 seasons.
Where did you grow up playing/learn to play golf?: I am originally from Kingston, On. I spent the better part of 30 years in Kingston and grew up playing golf at a number of clubs in the area. My home club where I spent the most time was the Garrison Golf & Curling Club, an 18 hole course on the grounds of CFB Kingston. I learned to play golf from my Grandfather Bud, and have many fond memories playing with him at the 9 hole Rideau Lakes Golf & Country Club near Westport, On. You may have heard of Rideau Lakes if you have followed Brooke Henderson’s rise to LPGA stardom. My fondest memories of learning the game were hitting balls into the Lake at my Grandfather’s cottage and reading through all his books about Arnold Palmer.
What is your favorite hole at Lookout Point & Why?: I really don’t have a “favorite” hole at LPCC. However, I’d say there are 2 holes that have left the biggest impression on me. The first is really a “shot” rather than a “hole”. The first round I ever played at Lookout, like anyone else who has every stepped foot on the property, I was blown away by the tee shot on 1. Many rounds later, and after many many many mornings watching the sunrise over #1 and the Niagara skyline begin to light up at dusk, I can still say that nothing compares to hitting that first tee shot. That said, my “favourite” hole at LPCC is not even an hole from the original layout. It would be hole #16. I think I’m a sucker for a tough tee shot and I love a hole that puts an emphasis on accuracy - with the tee shot and the very small green, 16 checks those boxes for me. Maybe it’s the power of positive thinking, but I’ve made more birdies on 16 than any of the other par 4’s in my 6 years here.
If you could play any course in the world, what would it be?: I’m going to answer this question a little differently. If I’m picking anywhere in the world, it’s going to be a place like Augusta or Pine Valley. Instead, I’m going to tell you the top 5 courses in Canada that are on my bucket list to play. In no particular order: Cabot Cliffs, St. George’s, Capilano, The Pulpit Club courses & Westmount.
What is your most memorable personal golf moment?: Going to the Masters in 2019. I was lucky enough to get 2 tickets to the monday practice round in the lottery. 2019 was notable for a few reasons but one that flew a bit under the radar was the weather and course conditions leading up to the opening round. I don’t know what we did to deserve it, but the Monday turned out to be one of the best days of the week to be on site with perfect weather all day long. I took my father with me, and besides it being one of my most memorable moments related to golf (I don’t know if we even really watched a golf shot - we just spent the whole day walking the course and being awestruck) it has to also be one of the most special father/son memories that I will cherish for my entire life.
What is your favorite moment in golf history?: This one is kind’ve tied to the last question. Everyone kept hyping up how incredible Augusta National was that I had such high expectations, I had no idea if it would live up to those expectations in person. Like anyone who has had the opportunity to visit will tell you, it literally blew me away, and after being on the property that week, coming home and watching it on TV allowed me to experience it in a whole new way. Combine that with Tiger’s comeback and I’d have to put the 2019 Master’s really high on my list for favorite moments in golf history.
What is a Golf related accomplishment you are most proud of? This was a fun one. As you may know, I only became a PGA professional in early 2020. To this point I have only had the opportunity to compete in 1 professional event - the Pro-Pro team series held at Rattlesnake point in September of last year. My partner was fellow LPCC Professional Adam Steinschifter and on the 16th tee we stood at 1-under par knowing to get into the $$ we would likely need to finish at 3 under or better. That was the first time in my golf life where I felt what I can only assume the Pro Tour players feel on a regular basis - “the zone”. The last 3 holes I felt like I couldn’t miss a shot, I could visually see every break on the greens. Needless to say, I made a couple clutch birdies on 16 & 18 and we tied PGA Tour winner Ian Leggatt for 9th ;)
Who is/was your favorite golfer?: Arnold Palmer. Him, along with my Grandfather are the reasons I grew to love this game.
What are you most proud of in your career?: Well...I've never been one to do things the traditional way. January 2020 marked a pretty big milestone in what had been a 7 year journey. As some of you may know, I left an established career behind to pursue the industry of golf. Many people at the time thought I was crazy to go back to school at the age of 33 and get into an industry that was notorious for being a bit on the volatile side. I've been fortunate to have some great mentors and supporters along the way, and likely would have given up years ago if it wasn't for their constant and persistent encouragement. My daughter Peyton (who was a newborn when this journey started) has been my biggest fan and kept me positive each time I had a hurdle in obtaining my PGA card. The proudest moment of my career so far was achieve that first step of obtaining my PGA status and being living proof to her that you can achieve anything you put your mind to provided you don’t give up, and that you surround yourself with the types of people who will support you through the good times and the bad.
What advice would you offer to people who want to improve their game?: Become an expert at understanding your game. There are so many tools available to you to better identify where you excel and where you struggle. One simple challenge you might want to consider this year is tracking the following 5 stats. I guarantee you that the more you can remove these 5 “issues” from your game, the lower scores will begin to appear. To make it into a fun game - give yourself 1 Point each time you do one of these during a round and throughout the season keep track and see if there’s a correlation between reducing these points and lower golf scores.
No 6s on Par 5s - Par 5s present the biggest scoring opportunities in golf for so many golfers. So while birdies are great, pars aren’t going to kill your round. But throw in a bogey or worse on these scoreable holes, and you’re tossing away the biggest opportunities you have.
No Double Bogeys - This is easier said than done for many golfers, of course, but it’s important to remind yourself that bogeys won’t kill your round, but doubles will. And often times, golfers make double by compiling one or more unforced errors. Playing away from pins, avoid penalty strokes and taking your medicine may not feel heroic, but you’ll scores will improve because of it.
No 3-putts - Three-putting is golf’s ultimate unforced error, and it’s basically impossible to lower your scores if you have a lot of them.
No Bogeys With 9-irons - So you’ve hit a good drive, and you’re standing in the middle of the fairway with a 9-iron (or less) in your hands. You may be thinking that this is a good birdie opportunity. You’re not wrong, but making your birdie shouldn’t be your top priority. Instead, think if it as a great opportunity not to make a bogey. Don’t get greedy. Play it safe, take bogey out of play and take your par. You’ll find you make more birdies along the way.
No Blown Easy Saves - You’re going to miss greens. It happens. And when you do, it’s unrealistic to think you’ll get up and down every time. Set a goal for yourself not to blow any easy up and down opportunities. What counts as an “easy” save? Giving yourself lots of green to work with and, ideally, chipping uphill. Leave yourself enough of those and getting up and down will instantly become easier.
What is your favorite thing on the Lookout Point menu? Easy…The brown sugar hot wings!!!
On behalf of the Professional Staff at Lookout Point Country Club,
Dan Roud
PGA of Canada Apprentice Professional
Golf Shop Manager
NEW PRODUCTS ARE HERE…
SUPERSPEED GOLF
Superspeed Golf
$239.99 Member Price
DOES IT WORK???
The SuperSpeed Golf Training System helps players increase swing speed through a concept called Over Speed Training. Coined by the SuperSpeed Team in 2014, OverSpeed Training resets the normal reaction speed of a learned motor pattern to something faster. This works by first reducing the weight of the golf club, therefore allowing the player to create a faster than normal golf swing. The brain “remembers” this faster speed as the training progresses through the three training clubs, which gradually increase in weight.
For example, a player that is starting at a swing speed of 100 MPH will be able to swing the light club (green) at about 118-120 MPH on average. The player will then move to the medium club (blue). Because the player just produced the 118-120 MPH swing with the green club, the brain remembers the speed of this neuromuscular reaction. With the blue club, that same player will swing at about 115 MPH on average. Then, the player will move to the heavy club (Red), which is 5% heavier than their driver.
Because of this speed reset, the player will swing this club at about 110-112 MPH on average. That is much faster than their normal swing speed of 100 MPH. Once the player goes back to hitting balls, adding back in the skill element of the sport, they will see an increase to about 105 MPH. With continued practice, this will become a permanent increase in swing speed.
While most training aid companies talk a good game, SuperSpeed is one of the few that has been able to provide real data to show that its product works.
But don’t just take our word for it - we already have Lookout Point Members who are seeing incredible gains over the course of the past few months. Here’s a couple of testimonials from Lookout’s very own Matt Bosela and Ted Yong who are currently progressing through the various levels of the speed training protocols.
Matt Bosela
I just finished Protocol 1 of the SuperSpeed system. Six full weeks of speed training with hopes of adding some club and ball speed as I approach my 48th birthday in the spring. I started with a swing speed of exactly 100mph in session one. Today, in session 18, on my last swing of Protocol 1, I hit 109mph for the first time ever with my driver after plateauing for a few weeks at 108. I also hit a personal record 121mph with the light green stick. I’m pretty pumped up with the gains. To those on the fence, SuperSpeed is LEGIT. At this point, the hope is that I’ve locked in these gains but now I head into Protocol 2, where the level of activity (and difficulty) increases, with hopes of adding a couple more MPHs on to those already gained. GREAT workout and highest recommendation!
Ted Yong
Completed Level 1 protocols a couple days ago.
Very happy with Super Speed training so far. The speed gain will come in handy this summer.
PRGR LAUNCH MONITOR
PRGR Launch Monitor
Personal Radar in your pocket!!! Measure your swing speed, ball speed, carry distance, total distance & smash factor.
RAFLEWSKI PUTTING MAT
Raflewski Putting Mat
This 12ft Putting Mat has 3 sections that help you improve your aim, alignment, speed & accuracy.