Are you harder on yourself than anyone else? Do you consider yourself to be a very inconsistent golfer? Have you thought, “Why do I keep doing this to myself?” Well luckily for you, so is everyone else!

One of the most enjoyable aspects of golf is when you finally connect perfectly on a shot that shows you what you are capable of. On the flip side, it can also be frustrating to know what you can do, but wonder why you can’t do it every time. I’m here to tell you that every.. single.. golfer.. goes through this rollercoaster of emotions that you are on. However, I want to tell you why you need to play golf through a lens of seeing the glass as half full

Did you know that the average score for an 18 hole round in the United States is 102? Yes, that means that if you shoot a 101 you are an above average golfer. See, doesn’t that make you feel better already?!? For a 9 hole round, this would mean that the average score is around 51 for those of you who love to play your rounds here with us at American Classic.

From a mental state though, it’s so important to play golf with confidence. Now we all can agree that this is the most humbling sport on the planet, but it’s extremely important to go into every shot with the confidence that you are going to hit it exactly where you want to. Instead of getting mad though when you miss your line, try to find the positive in the swing and build off of it. 

For instance, when you blade one off the tee and it rolls for 50 yards, be happy that it stayed on the fairway and at least was heading towards your target. More times than not, this means that you were set up correctly but maybe you rushed your swing or got a little antsy and looked up before connecting with the ball. When it’s a minor swing fault like that, there’s zero reason to beat yourself up about it and instead, use it as a learning experience to adjust for the next swing.

If you are unsure of what you did that caused you to miss your line and target, don’t be afraid to take a golf lesson. When someone inquires about lessons, their number one request is to be more consistent. Of course you can watch endless videos and read several articles, but every swing is different and having someone physically present to teach you about your swing can make all the difference. If you feel and know that you have it in you to play golf, there’s so much knowledge and experience to gain by scheduling a lesson to help your ball striking.

Now that we gave you our sales pitch on why you should take a lesson with one of our golf pros, we want to stress the importance again of playing golf as the glass is half full. In the history of golf, no one has ever mastered how to hit the ball perfectly straight every time and if you watch the tour players, they too have their share of chip shots out of the bushes and trees (Thank you Phil). That is why it’s important to learn from every shot, and allow them to help those bad swings be fewer and far between. Plus, golf is much more fun to play when you aren’t afraid to fail and learn. Learn from every shot, play with confidence, and always look for the positives in your round.

-Austin Ebersole, Head Golf Professional at American Classic GC

As the calendar turns to April and the flowers start to bloom, golfers from all over the world begin to get excited for one of the most highly anticipated sporting events of the year, the Masters at Augusta National. 2020 saw the Masters be played back in November thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, but 2021 brings hope and excitement back to the Spring for the most prestigious tournament on the PGA schedule.

Beginning on Monday, April 5th, the players participating in the tournament will go through their practice rounds to gear up for the weekends event. This year, they will be able to go through 3 practice sessions from the 5th through the 7th as the famous Par 3 Contest has been cancelled for this year. The Par 3 Contest is traditionally held on the Wednesday before the tournament, but this year’s Wednesday will simply present another opportunity for the guys to get another practice round in.

More importantly though, we are excited to announce the menu that 2020 Masters Champion, Dustin Johnson has chosen for the Masters Club Dinner. This is one of the coolest traditions in sports as it is a dinner that is dedicated to previous Masters Champions and to celebrate the previous years champ. With Dustin Johnson winning last year’s tournament, he gets the honor of choosing what this celebrated group gets to eat. Here is what the Masters Champions will be eating on Tuesday, April 6th:

Appetizers

Pigs in a Blanket and Lobster & Corn Fritters

First Course

House or Caesar Salad

Family Style Sides

Mashed Potatoes & Spring Vegetables

Main Course

Filet Mignon & Miso-Marinated Sea Bass

Dessert

Peach Cobbler & Apple Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream

Now that we have you excited for the tournament and your belly growling for this tasty menu, let’s look ahead at some of the favorites to win this year’s Masters. The golfer with the greatest odds to win this year is last year’s champion, Dustin Johnson at 8-1 odds. Following DJ is Bryson DeChambeau at 9-1, Jon Rahm at 11-1, Justin Thomas at 11-1, and Rory Mcilroy / Jordan Spieth at 14-1 to round out the top 5. To have some fun with the crew, I went ahead and asked who our staff thinks will win this years Masters and here is who everyone has chosen:

Britt– Bryson DeChambeau

Sam– Jordan Spieth

JRod– Bryson DeChambeau

Brandon (AKA Frank)– Tommy Fleetwood

Scott- Paul Casey

Anthony- Justin Thomas

Rock– Jordan Spieth

Bonnie– Sergio Garcia

Pappy Harry- Jordan Spieth

Barb– The guy with the lowest strokes

Austin– Xander Schauffele

To wrap things up, we also want to share with everyone that we will be hosting a tournament next weekend at the course through the 18 birdies app. It will be our first ever ACGC Virtual Masters Tournament! To enter the tournament, you simply have to download the 18 birdies app, hit play, tap on tournament, and enter code 5843. Then you just have to book your tee time and complete one 9 hole round between the 8th and 11th to compete in the event. Don’t forget to have the app open while you play so you can submit your official score! After finishing your round, feel free to stop in and grab a bite to eat at the Cafe as we are planning on offering several food & drink specials to honor the Masters tournament.

Happy Masters Week everyone!

-Austin Ebersole, Head Golf Professional at American Classic GC

Last week in our blog, Austin wrote about how it is fun to golf with others.  While it is very fun to golf with others and is something I enjoy very much, I have empathy with those who would rather not be paired up with strangers at the golf course.  Sometimes, we all just want a relaxing solo round to ourselves or a nice round with the one friend we brought with us.  Evening twilight rounds or really early morning tee times can still allow for this type of round, but most rounds played at busy times will likely not give you that luxury. 

Golf courses have to pair people up to achieve a steady pace of play and to also ensure the maximum number of golfers can use the course on a given day.  Since this is something you will likely experience at many golf courses you may play, I wanted to talk about some tips to help make your paired up round stress-free and fun!

Tip #1: Maintain Pace of Play

I think one of the biggest misconceptions I have seen related to pairing up is that people may not enjoy playing with you based on skill level. Many people do not want to play with strangers because they feel they are not good and do not want to interfere with a stranger’s round.  From what I have seen working at the American Classic Golf Club and playing many other golf courses, people do not care how good you are.  What they care about is how fast you play.  It does not matter what you score and shooting a 110+ can still be enjoyable with any person, regardless of skill level, if you do not hinder pace of play and pick up when necessary.  So, play fast and have a great round with players of all skill levels!

Tip #2: Play the Tee Boxes for Your Game

A good way to keep pace with any player is to play the tees that best fit your game. If you are paired with experienced golfers who decide to play from the back tees, do not feel like you have to play back there with them.  Playing from forward tees will not only make your round more enjoyable but will also help keep your group moving.  

Tip #3: Play One Ball

It can certainly be annoying getting grouped with somebody who constantly drops 2-3 balls onto the tee after their first tee shot. This not only slows the pace of play within your group and the course, but it can also hinder your playing partners rounds.  Some people might not know they are not supposed to do that, so if you happen to get paired up with somebody who is constantly doing this, politely asking them to play one ball will likely get them to stop.  If the course is not too busy and your group is on board, then by all means play an extra shot or two here and there but avoid doing this right out of the gate.  

Tip #4: Don’t Show Off 

For more experienced golfers, I think the easiest way to ruin a golf round with strangers is to show off.  Constantly talking about how good you are and always looking to one-up you’re playing partners can make for an annoying round. Many people you may be paired up with are not looking for competition and did not show up to the course to watch how good you are.  Play your game as you want to the best of your ability but avoid showing off to your playing partners!  

Tip #5: Be Friendly 

This is a good way to be in anything you do, but this is especially true in golf.  Even if you are unhappy to be paired, there is no reason to be rude to your playing partners.  There is no need to be ultra-social and outgoing, and it is totally fine to do your own thing on the course by yourself or with your one friend you came to the course with.  Regardless, being friendly and somewhat social with your playing partners will make for a great round no matter who you are paired with.  

I understand the pressures that can come with playing with strangers.  I used to dread being paired up with strangers too, but now I enjoy it.  Stick to these tips and keep an open mind, and who knows you may just meet some great people in the process!

-Sam Cresta, Assistant Golf Professional at American Classic GC