“Winter for summer and summer for winter” is a phrase Ryan Stack used years ago that I narrowed.

Stack was a former University of South Carolina basketball player who evolved into a European basketball star.

What he meant was that winter performance during the basketball season could inspire summer work for the basketball player, showing the player weaknesses that needed strengthening. Then, the summer work would be seen in performance during the actual basketball season.

Jack Nicklaus used each winter to do exactly the same thing. The Golden Bear, who started his pro career while living in Ohio, would actually practice in his basement during the off season to improve his fundamentals. So the annual schedule for golf Nicklaus used was just the opposite of Stack’s basketball reference.

There are three parts to this week’s lesson. The first is to consider using this winter as your golf training season based on your summer performance.

The second is to establish a list of objectives within your game that are interesting for you to pursue. The third is to set a plan of action and start your pursuit.

It’s important, in my opinion, for golf training to start with the most interesting aspect of your game. Like Nicklaus, there is something you can do at home this winter that could influence your performance next spring and summer.

Registration for the 30th season of the Winter Tour is upon us. You can now register through a host park or the three local recreation departments — the Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission, the Lexington County Recreation & Aging Commission and the Richland County Recreation Commission.

It is conducted Sunday afternoons during the months of December, January and February at close to 20 local golf courses. For specific information or questions, call (803) 781-2063.

There are three unique distinctions about this developmental golf program. The first is parents and grandparents are encouraged to caddie for their players.

Numerous older school players would use caddying as mental preparation to play better. Most skilled players would gladly caddy for the lesser skilled for teaching and coaching serves to reinforce their personal understanding of the fundamentals.

The second unique aspect of this program is all of the learning is done on the course. The learning focus is on the cognitive or mental development of the player.

The third distinct feature is brand new players are encouraged and actually able to learn on the actual golf course.

Know why this is important? That’s right: Learning is more fun on an actual playing field.

What’s also extraordinary is the founding administrative staff is still involved with the program. E. Rutherford, general manager at Linrick Golf Course, and Chris Miller, head professional at Timberlake Country Club, are current board members for this year’s program but were part of the founding team 30 years ago.

There is also a new golf developmental program on the horizon. It will be a diversified developmental program meaning there will be options for families, brand new players and highly skilled players to participate within the same program.

There will be “recreation” as well as “competitive” divisions along with individual and team and even family divisions. All will be participating simultaneously. Golf lends itself well to these kinds of community based options.

We don’t see many of these programs in this country, but it is common throughout Europe.

One of the main themes throughout each division will be time and pace of play. All divisions, from recreational to competitive, will study the art and science of how to play fast golf.