2008 Product Review By Scott Allan
CPGA Professional
 

  
   Not many Canadians involved in the golf industry can lay claim to being CSI: Certified. Actually, it’s probably quite safe to say that there simply are none. That was until David Shein and his brother Terry Shein of Tee-Max Strategic Solutions acquired the Canadian rights to SNAG (Starting New At Golf) and in partnership with the B.C. Golf Association, invited a few CPGA Professionals to participate in a CSI: training session. 

  I’m sure it wasn’t your typical CSI: training one would receive. There were no fingerprints to pull, DNA to analyze, witnesses to interrogate and most importantly, no one got hurt. This training session was all about learning how to safely and effectively teach the “fun”damentals of golf to up to 32 lively elementary students, all within their scheduled 50 minute Phys Ed class. Quite a tall order when most Golf Professionals generally instruct a group at a 6:1 or 8:1 ratio at the most – and that’s adults we’re talking about.

  David provided us with a complete history of the SNAG program, from how Wally Armstrong (former PGA Tour Player and trick-shot artist) and Terry Anton (former PGA Tour Pro) invented and marketed the products, to the unbelievable growth of SNAG in countries throughout the world. The brightly colored oversized SNAG golf clubs (launchers and rollers), combined with the oversized balls (slightly smaller than a tennis ball) and big targets, instantly give the students the “I can do this” attitude. In some countries, SNAG has become so popular that schools have set up leagues and compete against each other, similar to our Canadian high school basketball or volleyball leagues.

  The SNAG program has all the bases covered, literally. There are the hoop-clocks (hula-hoop sized “on deck circles”) that designate the safe waiting zone for golfers that are not actively hitting a ball, and the aptly named “launch pad”, the portable rubber hitting mat and tee that allows golfers to swing safely on any surface including cement, gravel and your community gymnasium floor. The oversized balls and clubs aid the golfer in seeing immediate success and improvement, which are a couple of the biggest factors in why golfers continue to enjoy the game of golf and are some of the biggest challenges golfers face when trying to learn with standard sized golf clubs and balls.

  During the training session, David walked us through the various stations and let us test our skills. It’s surprising how many different shots we were able to perform in the gym using the SNAG equipment – putting, chipping, pitching, full swing – you name it, we did it. With limited flight balls that fly about 50 yards max, setting up in the schoolyard and playing is a definite thrill for the students. And just like any school activity, the importance of safety was stressed by David as he explained the layout of the stations inside the gymnasium. The closest anyone came to an injury during our training session occurred when Debbie Pyne, BCGA Managing Director of Player Development, bravely volunteered to slip on the “Sticky Jacket and Helmet” and we all took turns trying to attach balls to her helmet. The jacket and helmet are optional SNAG accessories intended to crank up the excitement and provide a human element to target practice. Debbie was a trooper, but judging by the laughs that echoed underneath her CCM helmet, it was well worth it.

 
  With the CSI: training complete, we were now ready to go “live” and the staff at the B.C.G.A. office (Brad Ferguson and Debbie Pyne) scheduled some schools in the Richmond and Kelowna regions. I must admit I was a bit nervous to venture into that first Kelowna gymnasium where students have been known to get a little disrespectful towards their gym teachers, not to mention the “sub”, which is basically what I was.

  Armed with all the SNAG equipment and colorful targets, my fear gradually turned into excitement as I watched the students walk single file into the gym. The phrases “oh cool”, “awesome” and “wicked” trickled out of pretty much all the boys’ mouths, while most of the girls chose big smiles as their reaction of choice. And when it came time for the students to test their skills, those smiles were quickly accompanied by laughter and giggles – Junior Golf at it’s finest. 

  With all the educational and health benefits that SNAG is offering up to our future little linkers, it’s no wonder that Debbie Pyne is smiling from ear to ear as she and the B.C.G.A. implement the SNAG program into schools throughout British Columbia. The School Golf Program is another large step closer to taking the Junior Golfers “From the Playground to the Fairway”.

  So here we are, a handful of CSI: trained Golf Professionals, excited and anxious to do anything we possibly can to help grow the game of golf in Canada. Oh, and before you go searching through the television listings looking for the new CSI: Junior Golf in Canada episodes, let me save you some time. The CSI: training we went through stands for “Certified SNAG Instructor” – coming soon to a School / Golf Facility near you!

                                                
               For more information on SNAG Golf visit www.snagcanada.com.

       Scott Allan
CPGA Professional
      


  _______________________________


Spring Golf - "Swingin' for the Fences"
By Scott J. Allan
CPGA Professional

  Every golfer anticipates the days leading up to "opening day" at their local golf facility – and most end up satisfied with their performance that first round. But not all.

  If you were one of the unfortunate golfers who didn’t get away this winter to a sunny destination to work on your swing, don’t expect much from your game right out of the gate this spring. You’re going to hit the occasional “Hosel-Fade”, “Chili Dip” or the ever popular “Bladed” shot (where your ball sails over the green, leaving you with glorious opportunity to repeat your performance). Welcome to Spring golf!