Friday, May 16, 2008

It's Swing Time!


The winter clothes are sealed up and packed away. And with each tub of sweaters, scarves and turtlenecks that went down into the basement, an equal number of clothing tubs and summertime toys came up. The back of my Jeep looks like I'm ready to set up a sports-themed flea market at a moment's notice: mountain bike, tennis racquet, court shoes, golf clubs, golf shoes and visor, hiking boots, dog leashes, water bottles ... and who knows what's hiding under the seats?

I think this is going to be the swing-sports summer for me, though. I took tennis lessons all winter and I think my tennis swing has me ready to take on some contenders. (Thanks, Bob - and West River Tennis - you are the master!) Last summer's thumb surgery cost me my golf game, so I was pleasantly surprised when my trip to the driving range this week was rewarded with golf swings that landed most shots on the target greens. I also tried a friend's No. 4 hybrid and now I gotta get me one of those!

Instruction is a specialty of Okemo Valley Golf Club's Head Golf Professional Michael Santa Maria. This is the summer I'm going to take my golf game to a new level ... with the help of Mike and that new hybrid. Mike's arrival last summer marked a new direction for golf instruction at Okemo Valley. The most noticeable is an "a la carte" approach to daily three-hour clinics being offered. Each day, students will be instructed on full-swing fundamentals and will be able to choose from a variety of topics they would like to work on, ranging from short game techniques to shot-making to course management and everything in between. This new “a la carte” approach to OVGC's learning program provides students with the opportunity to reserve their programs by the day or multiple days - whatever works best for their individual schedules.

New this year is Mike's introduction of a weekly women's clinic and a junior clinic, as well as a junior golf camp. More information is available online.

So, whether you find me on the court or the course, this year I'll be the one with the great swing. Cheers!