On the Mark Golf Podcast

Geoff Shackelford is an author of eleven books, a journalist, a TV personality (NBC Golf Channel) and the Co-designer of five Golf Courses in the Los Angeles area. Thanks to his incisive and curious mind, Geoff is widely researched, and holds one of the most respected opinions on golf course design in the game. With that in mind he joins us to discuss golf course design and how understanding its concepts can help you to improve your course management. He talks about the "Golden Age" of design and architects like George Thomas, Alister MacKenzie and CB MacDonald. He describes the design elements they employed and what he appreciates about them. He also talks about modern-day architects like Pete Dye and talks about some of the holes, and their design at TPC Sawgrass. Geoff also elaborates on some of his favorite holes on The PGA TOUR and highlights how understanding undulation, angles, yardages, camouflage can improve your decision-making, course management and scoring.

Kevin Sprecher is the Director of Golf Instruction at Sleepy Hollow CC in New York. A Golf Magazine Top 100 Instructor, Sprecher is sought out by golfers of all skill levels for his complete approach to golf instruction and game improvement. In this podcast Kevin shares simple ways to lower your golf scores.  He discusses a wide range of topics including: The importance of Club-fitting and how adapting your swing to ill-fitting clubs can ruin your game Golf swing changes - Wholesale and "Band-aids." A Team approach to instruction for greater success Course Management Proper Practice regimens Wedge play and scoring shots, and  Good footwork and its influence on power, control and balance.

Debbie Doniger, a former LPGA and LET Golf Professional, has parlayed her playing experience into a successful career in golf instruction. She is the Director of Instruction at Glen Arbor GC (New York), a Golf Magazine Top 100 Instructor and a voice on SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio. Debbie joins "On the Mark" for a second time to help you to a better, more efficient golfswing, by way of specially designed drills and practice. Debbie shares 5 drills to improve your understanding of the correct feel, motor patterns and spatial relations of specific areas in your swing, from the Top of the Backswing, to the Transition, to Impact, to Post-Impact through to the Follow-through.    

Mike Adams is a Hall of Fame Golf Instructor who has worked with PGA TOUR and LPGA winners and Major Champions. Terry Rowles has also amassed a noteworthy resume of champions at every level of the game. The two have collaborated to become a force in the world of golf instruction and they join "On the Mark" to share ideas and advice on how to gain an extra 10 MPH of clubhead speed without any additional effort. They address: Taking the Governor off your swing to facilitate more offensive-minded swings; Plugging power leaks; Consistent and square contact; Technology and the correct use thereof; Ground Reaction Forces and how to correctly exploit them; Maximizing your own "blueprint", and Clubhead speed misconceptions.    

Karl Morris is Europe's leading Performance Mind Coach, delivering cutting edge methods of peak performance and goal achievement to a range of clients across sports and business. He joins our podcast to talk about his most recent book (with Gary Nichol) "The Lost Art of the Short Game" but he also joins to help you to lower your golf scores. The first point he delves into is "connecting you to your golf club", the implement in  your hand designed to maneuver the golf ball. He also discusses the "True Potential" of your Short Game and "Why You Play Golf When You Play Golf" (Vin Harris), Choosing the Right Tools for the Short Game (with insights from Bob Vokey); Shot Creation and Trajectory Shaping; Motivation for Investing in Your Short Game, and Practicing with an "Awareness" Mindset. Karl also shares Professional illustrations from Tiger Woods.

Matt Kuchar is a 9x PGA TOUR winner, a PLAYERS Champion, an Olympic Golf Bronze Medalist, The Vardon Trophy (PGA TOUR Leading Scoring Ave.) winner and The Byron Nelson Award (PGA TOUR Lowest Adjusted Scoring Ave.) winner. A former USA Ryder Cup and President's Cup Team member, Kuchar has long been one on the more consistent players in world golf. He joins Mark Immelman to discuss his career in, and approach to, golf. He talks about his college career at Georgia Tech, winning the US Amateur, winning on TOUR and then navigating through a slump in form en route to becoming one of the PGA TOUR's leading players. He also talks at length about golf swing changes, putting changes, and course management for more consistent scores.

David Armitage (Scotland) is a Master PGA Professional and one of the leading golf instructors in the game. Based in Miami, FL, he is sought out by PGA TOUR, Korn Ferry Tour and DP World Tour players for his insights and passion for player improvement. David joins "On the Mark" to share ways to improve your ball-striking, and by extension ball-compression and power, trajectory and distance control. He not only addresses the physical and golf swing elements for good ball-striking, he also addresses the mindset and discipline of doing the correct things consistently for long-term success.  David delves into: Golf Swing Sequencing (incl. Backswing Loading, Transition and Pressure Shifts), Low-Point and Angle of Attack Control, and Tempo and Rhythm.  He also shares insights learned from Tiger Woods and Butch Harmon including a drill to improve golf swing sequencing. Along those lines he shares takes from Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus on how good ball-striking occurs, and finally, David shares drills to help you eliminate Toe, Heel, Fat and Thin strikes.

Fred Couples is a Hall of Fame inductee, a former OWGR World #1, the 1992 Masters Champion, a 2x PLAYERS Champion and a 15x PGA TOUR Winner. Long known as "Boom Boom" and the owner of one of the smoothest golf-swings ever, Freddie joins "On the Mark" to talk about his career in golf, his ascent to the top of the game and he walks us through his victory in the 1992 Masters. Fred talks about growing up on a Public Course and the lessons he learned there. He delves into swing speed, power, swing rhythm and tempo. He talks about maintaining golf swing consistency and longevity. Fred talks about course mindset, golf swing triggers and pre-shot routines. He shares how he practiced, what he did after a bad day of golf, and which golfers he liked to watch and learn from. He talks about the mental approach to golf how he dealt with pressure; he shares some course management insights and tells why he never wore a golf-glove. Fred further shares the importance of using the correct equipment, especially the golf-ball and he talks about why he has used a Bridgestone golf ball for his entire career.

Jon Shoepf is a Golf Digest "Best Young Teacher" and on of the Golf Digest "Best Teachers in California". A former disciple of Jim McLean, Schoepf joins us to explain the value of being athletic as you embark on game improvement and golf swing changes. As he dives into the concept of athleticism and the athletic nature of the golf swing, Jon shares his 5 Principles for Success: Trusting a System and not a Method; Exploring all Roads; Understanding Your Blueprint; Being and Staying Disciplined, and Going All In.  He also elaborates on a few important areas and elements (the Start, the Transition, Impact, Balance and Swing Speed) in the golf swing. He further describes how you can respect them in an athletic and functional sense as you work toward improvement.

Tyler Slocum is a Class A PGA Professional and a Jim McLean Golf Master Schools Instructor. One of the bright young minds in the game he believes that "the ultimate judge of the golf swing is the golf ball, and the whole goal is to hit solid, desirable shots under pressure." To that end he joins us to help you build a better, more functional backswing. As he dives into the backswing he illustrates his "4 Points of Reference, where they are and the areas they occupy. He also addresses the following elements: Creating Swing Momentum, Swing Triggers, Swing Sequencing, Body Tilts, Pressure Shifts, Shaft Planes and Pitch, Clubface Orientation, Allowable Head Movement and the action of the Lead Foot going back. He also shares tips and drills to groove your move.