Gary went to the University of Florida, they won the NCAA in 1973, and in 1974 things were very close with Wake Forest with just a par five to play. I asked Gary about that final hole and he said, “I’d like to tell you that I’ve gotten over that, but I probably haven’t.” Gary was playing with and tied with Curtis Strange for the individual title and the Gators were one stroke behind Wake Forest. Gary hit his second shot just through the green and Curtis hit a one-iron 12 feet away. Gary felt like he needed to chip in to give the Gators any chance and he chipped it inside a foot and tapped in for birdie. Curtis proceeded to roll the ball into the cup for an eagle three and Gary said, “I’m almost over it now some 40 years later.”

We had a caller ask about how to get more speed in his swing and Gary said that flexibility is one of the biggest keys and he has been doing Pilates for 7-8 years. Stretching and keeping the joints where they can move keeps the body lean and strong. Secondly watching what you eat and the portions that you eat is another key to well being.

Gary talked about Rory McIlroy and how he’s ok hitting just one shape shot when he plays, which is a high draw, even on holes that would call for a fade. Find a shot that you can play and stick with it. Jack Nicklaus did pretty well with a high fade. Got to go with what you are confident with and the more confident you are, the better you will play. Good course management is not doing more than what you can do. Even the tour pros are more conservative around the greens because their worst shot will be better than their worst shot trying to get too cute. Lastly Gary talked about keys to putting and he said he’s a firm believer in being able to control distance. “I have a sense of feel as to what the length of the stroke I need and the effort level. If you can’t control distance it’s going to be very hard to read greens, they go hand in hand,” he stated. A good putting drill is to lay the flagstick 18” behind the hole and hit some ten footers that get to the hole but don’t hit the flagstick. Don’t worry about making the putt. “I still do that drill today. It’s amazing how many putts go in if the speed is correct.” Watch for Gary Koch on NBC and Golf Channel in 2015.

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Even though we have all this new technology in clubs, balls, shafts, and being fitted properly, the best players in the world still don’t hit more greens in regulation than Hogan and Nelson did which is 12-13 GIR per 18 holes. So, can you shoot under par hitting 11 greens or even 9 greens because the Tour pros can. Bob played recently with his 95 year old father and it seemed like every hole he had a shot from 30-60 yards short of the green. Higher handicappers have even more shots from inside of 100 yards than the pros do, so that third shot into a par four is huge for their scoring. Hit it within 15 feet and they are making a par or bogie on every hole.

Bob would like his golfers to play as if they removed their conscious mind and just reacted to the target. Being in the right state of mind is more important to the best putters in the world than whether or not they made the putt. Want a calm and quiet mind and identify the target before you walk into the ball. Then just see it and do it. Most people get way too perfect in their reads and over think it. A line on the ball helps some players quiet their minds but it doesn’t help everyone. There are constant urges to get too perfect. “My players don’t spend too much time over the ball, so don’t take too much time to take the club back after looking at the target,” Bob said. Bob has a new book coming out in the spring titled, “How Champion’s Think.” Dr. Bob Rotella can be reached at www.drbobrotella.com

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