PGA Show in Orlando

Just got back from the annual PGA Show held at the Orlando Convention Center, It's a big show, but not like it was in the '90's when it was huge. That's when golf was on the upswing ... but too many courses opened and too few people took up the game and/or stayed with it. So the saturation of courses mixed with 9/11, lead to a weaker PGA Show during the last decade ... obviously the current economic situation hasn't helped.

But, I still love the Show. It's great seeing all of the club manufactureres such as Titleist and Callaway, all of the cool clothing lines like Polo, Petter Millar, and Bobby Jones ... and seeing some of the crazy inventions that might be the next hot item. Also, it's just fun seeing other pros and old friends ... it's one of my favorite weeks of the year.

This year, I went to a bunch of PGA classes. Mostly, I went to classes about marketing and management ... but I also went to some teaching classes. By far my favorite was led by Manuel de la Torre. Mr. Torre has to be close to 90 ... but, he's still unbelievably into teaching the golf swing and his class was fascinating. He believes in making a swing. Most modern instruction is all about making body movements and being in particular positions. He believes that positions are a result of making the correct swing - not the other way around. He also asked the class questions of cause and effect - the class was stumped, because they don't really understand the golf swing. Look him up on Wkipedia - he's an amazing guy and I think really gets it.

The reason that Mr. Torre's instruction is so out of step with current instruction, is that he tries to get the student to use his mind. Most modern instruction is about turning someone into a robot ... just the opposite of reaching someone's brain and then letting them make a proper golf swing with their unique body. This is at the heart of what I believe is going on in the world. People are easily controlled by "stimulus/response" (remember Pavlov's dogs?). But, I believe that happiness comes from being independent and free from outside control. Obviously, control people have been mastering the art of control - the Soviets believed in controlling all of the Russian people and then later on the whole world. Don't think this controlling isn't happening in the "free world" ... people use it because it works ... I believe it's evil, but it does work. People who are only practical, believe that whatever works is good ... I think that's pretty scary.

Did you ever watch that TV show from the late '60's called "The Prisoner"? I heard that there's a remake. He was trapped on an island where everything was "perfect" ... but controlled ... the only thing he didn't have was his freedom.

I've loved golf because it is an individual game ... you have the freedom to play it your way. Unfortunately, even golf has become under the spell of robot-making control freaks ...but golf will never totally turn into a Soviet style game ... robots don't have brains or hands ... humans do ... and that's what golf is all about.

ps close to the Georgia/Florida border, I saw a billboard that said "WHO IS JOHN GALT" ... I have hope ...