3 Legends Talk Wedges + Play Where the Babe Ruth Played

TIPS & DRILLS
3 Legends Talk Wedges
Scottie Scheffler demonstrates his approach with coaches Randy Smith and Chris Como

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To Recap…

Scottie Scheffler ranked 1st on Tour this year in terms of Strokes Gained on Approach and 2nd in approach shot proximity, so he might just know a thing or two about knocking it close. Randy Smith (Scheffler’s coach) is the all-time leading PGA of America National Award winner with 18 national awards, and Chris Como is a Top 50 Instructor himself. So when you see all three in the same video, you should seriously take note. Here’s their simple but vitally important advice for great wedge play:

-STEP 1: Keep the hands quiet- contrary to popular belief, you do NOT need a lot of spin to get the ball close. In actuality, if you’re someone who fires your hands a ton to generate speed through impact, it’s likely increasing spin which can really cause the ball to go off-target, especially if there’s any wind at all. By keeping your hands quiet, you simply need to rotate your body back and through to generate great contact with less dispersion.
-STEP 2: Adopt a Stricker-like approach. Steve Stricker was a legend with a wedge in his hands, and his goal was to always match his backswing length to his follow-through length. By creating this symmetry, its far easier to nail your desired distance.

PRO TIP: If your hands are quiet and you follow the Stricker model for swing symmetry, the next step is to dial in your distances. Many players follow the percentage model, whereby each distance corresponds to a number from 0 to 100. An 50% swing with a gap wedge might translate to 90 yards whereas a 75% swing might go 105 yards, for example.

Give it some practice and zero in on your distances with 1-2 clubs as a starting point, and you’ll undoubtedly give yourself more chance to get up and down from the fairway.

COURSES
Play Where Babe Ruth Played
The oldest public course in America

Van Cortlandt Golf Course
Bronx, NY

It’s October, which means the MLB playoffs are in full swing. So we figured what better course to highlight than Van Cortlandt Golf Course in the Bronx, NY, where many baseball greats have been known to play. Known as the “Vanny” by locals, Van Cortlandt is the oldest public golf course in America, first opening for play in 1895. Legends like Babe Ruth and Willie Mays have played here, as well as boxing champion Joe Louis and the comedy trio, The Three Stooges, to name a few.

Situated near the Yonkers border just 350 yards from Van Cortlandt Park-242 St. Subway stop, the course is the most easily accessible NYC course by public transportation. And yet, once you step foot on the property, you’d never know you’re in the Bronx. It feels like you’re somewhere upstate. The entire area surrounding Van Cortlandt Park is a beautiful, peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.

The most talked about hole on the course is the 222 yard, par three 17th. Not only does it play entirely uphill, the green is tiny, and the locals like to call it a “par 3 and a 1/2.” The Vanny has gotten a bit of a bad rap in recent years, but under new management, it has undergone significant improvements over the last year. 7 new greens, new tee boxes and cart paths as well as greatly improved drainage make this one of the best municipal values in all of New York and the surrounding suburbs. As one patron wrote, “The course is looking great! On every single hole you can see the improvements that they are making. As good as it’s looking this year, I can’t wait to see what it looks like next season.”

Rates: $35-62 (+$22 cart fee if you prefer not to walk)

Check out this overview from @birdiehouses

birdiehouses

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STATISTICS
Stat of the Day: Average Proximity to Hole: PGA Tour Pros vs. Average Joes
presented by…

The Stat: The #1 ranked player in 2024 on the PGA Tour had an average proximity to the hole of 33.5 feet (Joel Dahmen), while a 15 Handicap (i.e. a roughly average golfer) has an average proximity of 65 feet.

The Takeaway: We tend to believe that Tour Pros are god-like creatures when it comes to getting it close to the hole from even the most impossible situations. And on the one hand, they do live in a completely different stratosphere. But they also aren’t perfect. Matt Kuchar plays to the average distance on Tour at 37.5 feet, which is nearly the height of a standard 4-story building. So don’t beat yourself up the next time you hit it to 35 feet from a tough lie. That’s actually an above average shot.

Keep in mind the numbers above do incorporate data from ALL approach shots, whether the player is sitting pretty in the the fairway or playing from the trees.

TODAY’S TRIVIA
Answer to Win a Club Glove College Traveler Protective Travel Bag
(1 winner chosen on 10/31/24 across all October trivia entries, 1,000 correct respondents minimum)

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