Rinker’s Golf Tips June 29th Guest Donnie Hammond. Donnie started playing golf like a lot of kids, with his father, out at Westminster near Frederick, Maryland. After golf they would go watch the Colts practice and in 1974 that was the era of Johnny Unitas, Ray Berry, Lenny Moore and Coach Don Shula. In 1975 on his way down to visit Jacksonville University, Donnie and his dad stopped at the Masters where Donnie ended up being a gallery guard. Donnie sat right behind the 16th green and watched Jack Nicklaus sink that 60′ putt to help him win the Masters. Donnie talked about starting on the golf team his freshman year and how that really helped is his development of his golf game. No better time than “Playing time.”
I asked Donnie about the best tip he ever got and he said, “Hit the ball the correct distance.” He was able to do it by feeling the correct tempo and hitting the ball on the button! The best putting tip he received was to “Keep your head down.” Keep your head still and over the ball until your follow through is complete. We discussed his best ever stretch in 1989 where he won the Texas Open by seven strokes, finished second the next week getting him into the Tour Championship where he finished 5th. Unfortunately the Tour ends and doesn’t start up again for 9-10 weeks. Donnie said he was “streaky” and a lot of players earn most of their money in two to three week stretches.
We had a caller ask about the first part of the downswing and Donnie described how at the top he turns his hips away from the target just a little more as he drops his arms and hands into the slot. He feels he gets a little more solid hit doing that. Donnie told a good story about playing in the Jerry Ford Invitational in Vail. He had a 35 handicapper who on their 35th hole of a 36 hole tournament finally hit a green in regulation and could help the team getting two shots. He asked Donnie to line up the 40′ putt for him and after full surveillance, Donnie held up his hands spread wide and said, “Jim, it breaks about three feet.” The guy thinks and responds with, “Which way?” Yeah, well he three putted for a 4 for a 2 and helped the team. Donnie Hammond can be reached at @DonnieHammond.