We have taken the liberty to add friends with whom we wanted to share our newsletter. As with all transmissions these days, this one doesn't have to be in your inbox. If you prefer not to have it sent every two months, just let us know.

Also, we have elected to provide a URL from which our readers may download the current issue so as to deter anything resembling "spam."Thanks, CGM

One Under Par
Volume 6, number 3

A Newsletter fromKeyGolf.....June, 2005

Of Sounds and Meanings

Plenty of messages arrived in the past two months in our "inbox." We will put a few below - the happy ones - having removed any identifying marks.

We didn't want to bother with the much larger number that contained things like "Help, I'm slicing the ball, or hooking the ball, or have too steep a backswing, or I'm too fast, or too far on the inside on the takeaway, or I can't keep my balance when I swing," or "my mind is out to lunch," or (and this is the "kicker")..."I came across your site and noticed that you also market a golf improvement e-book... the reason that I am writing today is that I would like you to consider becoming a Joint Venture partner. I have made JV partnering a main source of driving traffic to my site and my affiliates sites and your site and products appear to be a good compliment."

The group below represent what we prize in the game, or as Mastercard puts it - the "priceless" nature of pleasure and fun that so thoroughtly illustrates the kind of well placed, lively motivation that keeps us going to the first tee time after time. The paragraph above seems to reflect a lot of over-extended, hard work, struggle, and uncertainty, not unlike the excess of unwanted ePaper that comes through in behalf of Cialis, Viagara, Levitra, and Propecia that clearly doesn't serve much of any purpose except maybe an indication of widespread fundamental lack of self-sufficiency. (Unfortunately, we see a lot of that same demeanor in golf ads, too, especially those about training aids that promise "muscle memory.") Of course, we shouldn't shout too loudly, since the "Cialis Western Open" is coming up - and you can draw your own conclusions concerning the degree of difficulty of that event, if not where and for what a lot of bucks are being spent these days, not to mention we should be able to see a lot of shots hit stiff there in a four hour round (pun intended).

Looking around, one can hardly miss the fact that there are some strange things taking place, some of which cast a shadow on the game we all love and throw a less than complimentary light on those who play it. No question, it is subtle, but both the sound and the meaning often show a serious contrast between what the game really contributes to most of us and what position it holds in some other lives. So we thought just maybe a few words might solicit an exceptional kind of enlightenment for all of us. First comes the "Sound," and then the "Meaning...."

Consequently, this month shapes up a little differently. The emails we are sharing gave us reason to cheer a little. Not as much, maybe, as our favorite bartender in the historic sit-com known as “Cheers” always seemed to express, but with at least as much satisfaction. If this does nothing more than bring home the solid character and nature of what's important in the game, that's productive enough for us. Hopefully, for you too. The quotes below are untouched and unedited, so we offer them without names or quotation marks. Supply the "marks" for yourselves and enjoy with us.

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Number One:
I recently purchased the 'Double Connexion' download and after just two games using the 'Clear Key' I shot one of my best rounds ever. My handicap is 13 and last week I shot 80, and had I not missed four putts from within five feet I would have shot a personal best best of 76.Up the time I started using the 'Clearkey' I found it very difficult to get MY BACKSWING STARTED but there has been a major improvement in that area since I started using the 'Clearkey' - Thanks very much.

Number Two:
Why is it that the automatic approach (clearkey) has not got more acceptance? I suppose there is not a short answer to that question but I find it strange considering that there has been some success on the biggest stage (PGA Tour)
I also find it strange golfers are happy to try quick-fixes, new clubs and radical swing changes but are reluctant to do something that matches them perfectly and actually works.
A few weeks back in the golf final I played in I had a number of people watching my group. Some were impressed with the distance of my drives. A couple of guys had a look at my driver and were quite disappointed when I told them that it is just a cheap copy ($150). After the round I was talking to them and they were asking me about my golf swing. I told them that I didn’t have a coach and I worked full time so I hardly ever practice. I mentioned to them about the automatic process and they both looked at me like I had two heads! If I told them that I was working with a new swing coach who had developed the ‘secret move’, I bet they would have been far more interested.

Number Three:
Just wanted to add to your list of testimonials.. I haven't been using Clearkey for a while as I've been learning a completely new swing and didn't feel completely confident it was bedded in. Anyway, Saturday I qualified for the 36 holes finals of our Club Championships and decided to use Clearkey for all my shots, something I've never done before, but my putting has been a nightmare...To cut a long story short, played both rounds under my handicap, strokeplay off the back tees in strong winds , and finished 5th ahead of many players with much lower handicaps. In the last round I was paired with 2 of our 1st team members and beat them both. The benefits on full shots were as I remembered, more distance, better quality of strike. The real improvement was in putting, not only making some 5 footers but my distance control was superb, and even the putts I missed always got to the hole.Tuesday, I was so excited to apply keygolf, I used the "Going Automatic & "Mary Had a Little Lamb " for a quick afternoon round. 2-sand saves, 6-birdies! Like you said, golf can be fun. This was the first time in 20-years I really had fun playing golf. When I have grasped the entire KeyGolf, I know I will have even more fun!

Number Four:
I think I may have turned the corner with my putting problems. Played in a golf final yesterday and putted really well. I have been struggling badly over the last few weeks with many yips and short misses.
I have found a clearkey that works well for me and I made sure I kept saying it under pressure. I think many people believe I have completely lost my mind when they can hear me talking while I play. I don’t care and the louder I say it the better it works.
I made some crucial putts near the end of the round and that helped secure a win for the team. I gained a lot of confidence from it which was really good.

Number Five:
The clear Keys worked really well. In fact I was actually using my clearkey after my shot had completed or when the putts fell in. It's the first time in a long time I played with no fear, had a great time barring the results and found the Golfing experience to be a joy. An interesting thing that helps with pressure shots and putts is, is to place yourself (as part of yourpreshot routine) as if you were about to play the shot, tell yourself that you have been in the pressure position walk away, then go through your preshot routine, use your clearkey and play the shot. All the pressure is released because you don't have any stupid thoughts going through your head and you play naturally. My only downfall was that I also was thinking mechaniics on 3 shots and this led to 2 big scores. Best to stay out of your own way.

Number Six:
...they are interesting to read, especially when coming from the clearkey perspective. Although I am still learning, it is much more fun reading this type of mental instruction when you know how to combat the symptom. It is also amazing that instructors have got away with talking about the problem and not a solution for so long.

The Inner Game of Golf was the first mental golf book I read and got me interested in human learning etc.
I made good progress with the Back-Hit drill but later changed to counting from the moment I started walking to the ball. Sometimes I would get a bit regimented with the counting… matching steps/ movements etc. But when I did it properly I could hit the ball well and finish my swing on ‘11’ or ‘12’. I only stopped doing this after I read your book. Interestingly enough I never ‘counted’ while putting. Not sure why, but what a stupid mistake! I can see now that the clear key approach fills in the blanks!

Number Seven:
I want to mention that so far all is going well, I just returned from a most productive practice session applying the ’’32 ball’ method.
I must say that for the first time, I feel that I can swing at the ball freely, without worry, when I want to. I’ve only played 1 round so far (using  a clearkey), and shot 77 on a difficult course from the back tees.
My putting was not as good as it should have been or I would have scored better. I look forward to this season with great excitement. I know it will take some time to truly get to pure “automatic” golf.
BTW, your profile was right on, and you book is fascinating. I will update you in a few weeks and let you know how my progress is coming along. I also look forward to the next newsletter. My only regret is not finding
your book years ago!  Thank goodness for the internet!

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And so now, as soon as this is posted, we are off, computer in hand, for a holiday in Amish Country. That's where we go when we want to roll back and see another kind of life. Besides, two of our favorite all-time movies are "Witness" and "For Richer Or Poorer." Good Golfing to All!

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