It's finally official, my book is available for sale.  The process seemed to take a lot longer than I thought it did but it's also my first experience with publishing.  I must say though that I am proud of the finished product.  I'm now in the process of getting my press release distributed nationally.  For now, the only place to get your hands on my book is online at www.strategicbookpublishing.com/GolfFitnessFORMEN.html

I'm not sure how big this book will get.  I'm not sure how many copies I will sell.  I am sure that the men who do decide to read my book will get a kick out of the way it is written.  It's not a long book by any means.  I didn't write the book with the intention of it taking someone a week to read.  Golf Fitness FOR MEN was intentionally written short and concise.  I wrote it to be an easy reference guide to keep men on track for improvement in their golf games and their health.  There is nothing of it's kind out on the market today so I hope to fill a niche that has been forgotten.  There are plenty of books out there specifically for women, but when it comes to men, we often get the short end of the stick.

- Clayton Garland, PGA, C.G.F.I.

  

Basics.  Fundamentals.  Call them what you will, there is no substitute.  All too many golfers opt for the swing fix that takes the least amount of time with the least amount of effort.  Manufactures and business men alike make a fortune off of selling swing-aids to high handicap golfers.  The marketers of these swing aids know how desperate we golfers are to shave strokes off of our games.  They play on the nerve of a revolutionary new idea that will change the way you play golf.  Early morning and late-night infomercials flood the airways with cheap training aids promising to increase distance and improve accuracy.  I've seen many of them and I have to admit, they are pretty convincing.  Heck, I almost picked up the phone myself a few times. 

Here's the issue: how many golfers can you think of that swing the same way?  How many swing faults can lead to a slice?  A LOT!  There is no one-size fits all method to fixing your golf game.  In fact, some aids that are intended to help swing faults can actually make them worse.  I don't want to mention any by name but I've tried a few myself and the intention of the aid is all well and good, but the logic simply falls short.  If you have your heart set on buying a training-aid, at least do some research and also know what you need.  Here's an idea, go down to visit your local golf professional or swing instructor, get a 30 minute lesson and find out what the cause of your swing problem is, then search for a swing aid accordingly.  You're going to be pretty ticked off when you spend $75 on a training aid that makes your game worse! 

My advice, stick to the basics.  Work on your grip, alignment, and posture.  I know these are not the most flashy and glamorous aspects of the game, but they are the most important.  It's impossible to have a solid and repeatable swing with poor fundamentals.  Your swing will simply break down under the weight of compensation.  Build your swing from the ground up and I promise you will not be disappointed.  The beauty part about working on your fundamentals: you do not need to hit golf balls to improve.  Sitting on the couch working on perfecting your grip is just as good as perfecting it on the range.  When I work with guys who have never played golf before, my first lesson to them is to work on their grip.  I don't let them go to the range until they can prove to me that they are comfortable with the grip I have taught them.  You want to improve your consistency?  Perfect your grip.

-Clayton Garland, PGA, C.G.F.I.

  

It's one of my favorite times of the year, Sunday of the US Open.  Right now I set and watch as Tiger Woods and Lee Westwood trot down the fairway of the 18th hole, one shot behind the leader.......Rocco Mediate.   Now I could wait until the end of the tournament and comment on the outcome, but I am inspired to write now.  Rocco Mediate is the leader in the clubhouse of the US Open...wow.  The fan following behind the big man is tremendous.  I can't wait to see what this Open holds but either way one thing is certain, the underdog never let down. 

What I admire most about Rocco's journey during this US Open was his demeanor.  The man conducted himself as a true gentlemen and champion.  Always being respectful of his playing partners and giving smiling waves to the crowd with every compliment.  I don't mean to poke fun but I had to laugh while watching Rocco play today.  He wears more flair than a hostess at TGI Friday's and wears his pants around his rib cage.

Despite this, the man seems to stand for all that is real in golf.  Rocco is the little kid in all of us who dream of winning the US Open.  He puts a smirk on the faces of every golfer who loves to see the underdog knock off the champion.  It's nice to see a genuinely nice guy be in the position to have one of the greatest honor's in sports placed upon his shoulders.  Win or lose Rocco, you've shown the world in prime time what a true golf professional should be: genuine, appreciative, and humble.

-Clayton Garland, PGA, C.G.F.I.

  

"Falling is easy, it's getting back up that becomes the problem.  If you don't believe you can find a way out, you've become the problem" - Staind

It rings true in all walks of life.  Getting knocked down is inevitable, it's getting back on your feet that is the difficult part.  We're taught that failure is a bad thing....I disagree.  If it wasn't for failure, victory would not taste as sweet.   

If we never failed we would never learn.  My dad always said the best way to learn is the hard way.  He'd let me find out the hard way by falling flat on my face.  "Son, go ahead and try for yourself, and when you fail to the point of giving up, then I'll help you".  I didn't appreciate it then, but upon reflection I'm glad to be so lucky.  


Failure builds character and tough skin.  It's not only about learning but about appreciation.  Next time you face a hardship or tribulation remember this: adversity stares at us all with unwavering tension.  Do you have the tenacity and depth of spirit to stare it right back?

-Clayton Garland, PGA, C.G.F.I.

  

There are a thousand golf gizmo's and training aids on the market today.  I have a few of them myself.  Some of them work and some of them are a cheap ploy at a quick buck.  Fixing your golf swing with a training aid is like trying to put a Band-Aid on a broken arm; you're not getting to the root of the problem.  Quick fixes like diet pills are just that, quick.  Results may surface but old habits will soon take-over.

There are two ways to approach an inefficient golf swing:

1.  Work around the bodies limitations in flexibility, strength, and stability (do the best with what you got)


2.  Work to fix physical limitations, then build a swing from a solid foundation

Stretching and strength training techniques help to increase flexibility and stablilty.  Increasing your flexibility will also decrease your risk of injury.  Strengthing the muscles that protect the spine, pelvis, and glutes is essential to maintain proper posture during a golf swing.  Any loss of posture could equate in lost distance and efficiency.

The Titleist Performance Institute was created with the sole purpose of understanding and eliminating the physical limitations that hinder a golf swing.  Numerous PGA Tour professionals work under the TPI program with great results.  They even have their own show on The Golf Channel, "Golf Fitness Academy". 

-Clayton Garland, PGA, C.G.F.I.

  

In honor of Memorial Day I want to take a second to thank all the veterans and current soldiers for the sacrifice of their lives for the cause of liberty.  The reason we have the greatest country in the world is because of these brave men and women who risk their lives for us.  The foundation of our nation was poured with the blood and bone of patriots dedicated to the cause of these United States.  I’ve been blessed with the ability to visit the war memorials in Washington, DC.  For those of you who have not checked it out, I would highly recommend you take a trip to DC to witness these powerful and historic sites.

Most of us have someone in our family that has served or is currently serving.  Personally I have a grandfather who was shot in WWII, a grandfather who was a Marine, a cousin who is in the Air Force, a best friend who is a JAG officer, and a boss who served as a surgeon in the armed forces. 

In order to achieve our goals we must ultimately sacrifice.  The degree and level of our sacrifices will vary, but their existence is inevitable.  While you do not have to risk your life in the gym to pack on a little extra muscle or burn a few pounds of fat, there is still a sacrifice that must be made.  When looking at the big picture, the sacrifice of losing a little weight is minor when compared to the men and women who sacrifice their lives.  So next time you think something is too hard or too challenging, think about all those who are fighting and giving their lives so that you even have the opportunity to achieve.

-Clayton Garland, PGA, C.G.F.I.

  

"Things are not always what they appear to be"

"Perception is Reality"

Ok so why did I start off this blog with two random quotes?  Well because they go hand in hand and directly relate to what I am about to talk about: muscles.  Yeah go figure right, I'm going to talk about muscles on a fitness blog!

I write about this because a new member here at the gym talked about how his back always tightened up on him when he walked, ran, and randomly through the day.  So naturally he stretched out his back as much as he could...still no relief.  Well this something must be wrong....right?...wrong.

What they didn't know was that the reason their back was tight was not because they had tight back muscles, but tight glute muscles!  The glutes and the lower back tie into each other and work in unison.  What the problem in this senario was that the overly-tight glute muscles were pulling down on his back muscles causing them to tighten up. 

We stretched his glutes for a while and the stiffness went away....imagine that!  Sometimes things are not always what they appear to be.  Back tight?  Maybe it's your butt!

-Clayton Garland, PGA, C.G.F.I.

  

Ever do a bench press and feel the pressure in your shoulders or do a squat and feel the stress in your lower back?  That's due to one of two reasons:

1.  Your technique sucks
2.  Your are not properly firing the target muscles

I'm going to address the second issue: firing the target muscles.  This is one aspect of training that I find is neglected 99% of the time.  News flash:  squats are for your legs not your back!  Next time you perform a squat try to only push with the muscles in the legs.  Think of only your quads and calves firing in an effort to press the weight up.  After you complete your set flex your legs....yes you heard me .... flex.  Flex the muscles of your legs and hold for 15 seconds.  Focus on only contracting the muscles of the quad, then do the same with the calve muscles.  This will do two things:

1. Give your muscles an additional contraction
2. Increase your minds connection with those muscles

Posing is not just for bodybuilders folks, it is a necessary action in your quest for that ultimate physique.  You have to be able to fire and contract the proper muscles for the proper exercise to maximize your output and muscle fiber stress.  If you are performing a bicep curl, you want to have the feeling that you are squeezing the weight up with only your bicep.  Same flexing rule applies here as will all exercises...flex after each exercise to create a mind-muscle connection. 

I promise this will increase your workout productivity and lead to bigger gains.

-Clayton Garland, PGA, C.G.F.I.

  

I'm going to be doing my first volunteer work in a while this weekend.  I'll be helping out my Rotary Club at the Cary YMCA this Saturday and I'm looking forward to it.  I remember being a high school student and the councilor telling me that I need to do more volunteer work and community service to boost my resume for college.  At that time, doing something that I wasn't getting paid to do was the last thing I was going to do. 

Now I love helping others.  Anytime I can help out someone who is less fortunate than me I feel it is my obligation to contribute aid.  Maybe it's a product of my Masonic teaching or maybe it's just that I'm getting older.  I know for a fact that my Masonic journey has really made me a better man.  I have my grandfather to thank for that.  I take a lot of my qualities from him.  He was a big giver to children's homes and crippled.  I'm going to try to follow in your footsteps paps! 

What I take from giving is pure satisfaction and contentment.  Thus the title:  Give A Lot, Take A Lot.

-Clayton Garland, PGA, C.G.F.I.

  

I just got back from spending the weekend in Atlanta at a Titleist Performance Institute level 1 seminar.  It was one of the coolest experiences of my life.  I never thought it would be possible to learn that much in one weekend.  I'm a golf professional and I still was learning all kinds of new stuff that I had never heard or even thought of before!  The seminar, which qualifies me to be certified as a Golf Fitness Instructor discussed human anatomy and the biomechanical connection with the golf swing.

Dr. Greg Rose and David Phillips were the lead speakers at the seminar.  They are the co-founders of the Institute and work with a lot of PGA Tour golf professionals on a regular basis.  The entire TPI staff was extremely knowledgeable about golf, fitness, and the human body. 

What I thought was the most interesting was what is considered "fit" in golf.  John Daly is considered pretty fit for golf.  Now anyone who knows who John Daly is would not put him in the fit category by any stretch of the imagination!  The mental stereotype that the participants had to overcome was what the TPI definition of "fit" was.  Mobility and Stability of joints and muscles is what separates the fit from unfit in golf.  That being said, I can't condone being a slob....your body still needs to be healthy.

-Clayton Garland, PGA, C.G.F.I.