Getting better faster is our continued golf theme. Watching brand new and young players enjoy to attempt and swing at the ball, then their reaction has been the series theme.

Today’s focus is going to be more on technology. Puggy Blackmon, Hall of Fame retired University of South Carolina Gamecock golf coach, is part of a new initiative here locally.

He has teamed with Dr Jay Patel, a Biomechanics movement specialist and Robbie Ingle, Athletic Trainer at the Prisma Movement Analysis Lab in Lexington and it is quite amazing wha they are doing.

“We solve problems by analyzing the athletes motion,” Patel said. “We take information and our technology, then prescribe movement suggestions that increase efficiency.”

“If it’s a complex problem, we have orthopedics doctors, physical therapists and other specialists that can assist in getting the individual on the pathway to enjoy their activity, sport, or even life more,” continued Robbie Ingle.

The 1st week, coach Blackmon did his golf assessment and it made an immediate difference. The next visit, Patel and Ingle counseled me on exercises that could strengthen my body in order to improve my golf swing.

The process was very simple and quick. The combination of expertise, equipment and technology is ultra smooth. So in less than 5 minutes, I could make a swing that was my best ever and without pain.

I’ve had issues with hands and feet for many years and to swing freely was uplifting. The results did carryover to the golf course too and I am having more fun than ever before.

More next week, so stay tuned.

Speaking of fun, the “Winter Tour” got a make up date, courtesy of the Woodlands Golf Club and Robin Waters. Inclement weather caused several events to be canceled this season but Robin Waters found out, then invited the Irmo-Chapin Recreation Commission family golf program out to play a make up date.

There were numerous players from Scott Parker real estate agent, Signature Home & Land, Pitner Orthodontics, Carol French DMD Division 5 & 6 that finished in the dark, but came in smiling.

The last group in was Eli Hooker, with dad Gary, on the bag. Eli is only a few months into the game, getting started this past December.

“I think golf is fun” commented Eli.

“I played long ago but stopped for years,” his dad said. “Eli picked up the game, fell in love with it, then caused me to fall back in love with it and now we spend time playing on the weekends. It’s great.”

Family golf is the spring theme of each of the local recreation commissions, so check out the golf program options in each of the local recreation commissions:

http://richlandcountyrecreation.com/fall-golf-programs-at-linrick-golf-course/, icrc.net, https://sports. bluesombrero.com/lcrac .