Where are all the Sagutogolf students from?

Thanks for the progress report, Dale! Indeed - once we get that first taste of extra-crispy KFC the craving for it becomes insatiable. You're on a good path. Work the process; embrace the challenge!

@galaxystephens - Welcome to the school and to this great forum community!!

Slow, steady, and sequentially is the recipe for fast-tracking your way to crispy ball striking success, so keep doing what you're doing and hopefully the weather will be breaking soon up there!!

Welcome to this awesome game and this great forum community, @kdkong17!!

Welcome to this great forum community, @Rob B (That Post)!!

By the way, given your plans to relocate to the Grand Strand have you considered looking into the Myrtle Beach World Amateur? It's a fantastic tournament for golfers of all ages and skill levels. Here is a post with some information.

That's interesting. I'm a member at Beckett Ridge just down the road from Elks. I've never played there though.

I can take a hint! I won't post so much anymore!

It wasn't a hint, Bob - just an observation......😎

August doesn’t work. Have too many other obligations then…

Nah - not with all the various handicap divisions as well as the "Just for Fun" option.

I would love to go but my Lions Club scramble is that weekend!

Ryan, have you seen the comment thread in this forum concerning the Myrtle Beach World Amateur golf tournament? We are trying to get some Saguto golfers to attend this tournament held the last week in August. More info in the thread. @Tom Saguto may join us there for a meet and greet.

@Ryan McDuffie - Here is the Myrtle Beach World Am post. Hope you can make it!

Hi and welcome! I began playing golf at Port Royal in Bda, back around 1980..Frankie Rabain was the Pro..I later took lessons from his son Rawn...All the best!

Thanks, Port Royal was a deadly course to me....Appreciate you, bless

Welcome to this great members forum community, @supaman.pitcher69!!

Here's some preliminary advice to help you get off to a good start in the school:

1) Regardless of a member's skill level, this swing necessitates a complete reboot for someone transitioning from a shift & lift swing (which is typically the case), and therefore it is imperative that one take sufficient time to ensure that the fundamental components are mastered. From the ground up there is nothing superfluous in the Stack & Tilt swing - in other words, everything with a purpose, and a purpose for everything. (For example, contrary to shift & lift where you may be taught to keep your trail foot perpendicular to the target line as a means of "creating resistance" in your trail side, in S&T we flare both feet out 10-20 degrees in order to facilitate a free flowing, inclined hip and shoulder turn.) I cannot emphasize this enough, as frustrations predominantly occur when students jump ahead in the curriculum without properly dedicating themselves to the foundational base upon which our consistently repeatable, powerful, low maintenance swing must be built. Chapter 1 of the Golf Swing Simplified program (GSS) and Part I of Get Out & Go Play (GOGP) both address this.

2a) GSS: One of the many great things about this swing is that you can achieve solid ball striking even at the most basic levels. This is why I oftentimes will suggest that students park themselves on Chapter 2 of the GSS course for an extended period of time after locking down Chapter 1's foundational elements. Chapter 2 reinforces the body motions and the weight-forward component, and it culminates with what I call "The Best Golf Swing Practice Drill of All Time". Work yourself sequentially and gradually through the chapter, and then commit yourself to that drill in Lesson 2.8. Learn it. Practice it. Master it. You can even use this partially abbreviated swing on the course and play quite well with it as it will provide plenty of distance. (It actually is the full swing minus just a couple of power accumulators.) Once you've got that down, you will be well prepared to move forward in the curriculum and well on your way towards taking ownership of YOUR swing!

2b) GOGP: This quick-start program is exactly as it sounds - it is designed to fast-track you out onto the course so you can have fun - and success - playing as you learn! Should you choose this path, everything in #1 above still applies, and as implied above in 2a you will still want to work through it sequentially and gradually, mastering each lesson before moving ahead to the next one. In this program, Drill #5 - The Flying Wedge is the one you'll want to park yourself on and nail down.

3) Also, as you progress always keep in mind the V1 Swing Video Analysis, an effective and inexpensive service that I highly recommend to everyone in the school. I liken it to bringing your swing into the shop for a tune-up or minor repair. Scheduling one on a quarterly basis for preventive maintenance will do wonders for keeping things humming along nicely, and it's also a great tool for pinpointing and resolving any issues that arise. The process involves downloading the free V1 app and then submitting two videos to me through the app - one down-the-line (captured from your stance line, not the target line) and the other face-on. You'll find more information about the V1 Analysis on this page of the Saguto.Golf site. I cannot overstate the value of the V1 Analyses as a supplement to what you are learning in the school, especially if you wish to fast-track the process.

I look forward to assisting you through the school’s structured lessons and drills towards building a consistent, low maintenance, powerful, body-friendly swing that will bring your enjoyment of this great game to a new level!

Tom

Awesome!! Welcome (velkommen 😎) to this great forum community, @Emil BaldBird

Tusen takk Tom! 😁🙌

Welcome to this great forum community, @mcphersonjim47!!

Welcome Aboard! So nice to meet you!

Welcome to the school and to this great members community, @ndiblasi!!

I'll be sure to pass along your seal of approval to my dad for all that Skynyrd and Hatchet brainwashing during my formative years..... 😆

With regard to shaving down that handicap, here's some preliminary advice to help you get yourself on the path towards immediate improvement:

1) Regardless of a member's skill level, this swing necessitates a complete reboot for someone transitioning from a shift & lift swing (which is typically the case), and therefore it is imperative that one take sufficient time to ensure that the fundamental components are mastered. From the ground up there is nothing superfluous in the Stack & Tilt swing - in other words, everything with a purpose, and a purpose for everything. (For example, contrary to shift & lift where you may be taught to keep your trail foot perpendicular to the target line as a means of "creating resistance" in your trail side, in S&T we flare both feet out 10-20 degrees in order to facilitate a free flowing, inclined hip and shoulder turn.) I cannot emphasize this enough, as frustrations predominantly occur when students jump ahead in the curriculum without properly dedicating themselves to the foundational base upon which our consistently repeatable, powerful, low maintenance swing must be built. Chapter 1 of the Golf Swing Simplified program (GSS) and Part I of Get Out & Go Play (GOGP) both address this.

2a) GSS: One of the many great things about this swing is that you can achieve solid ball striking even at the most basic levels. This is why I oftentimes will suggest that students park themselves on Chapter 2 of the GSS course for an extended period of time after locking down Chapter 1's foundational elements. Chapter 2 reinforces the body motions and the weight-forward component, and it culminates with what I call "The Best Golf Swing Practice Drill of All Time". Work yourself sequentially and gradually through the chapter, and then commit yourself to that drill in Lesson 2.8. Learn it. Practice it. Master it. You can even use this partially abbreviated swing on the course and play quite well with it as it will provide plenty of distance. (It actually is the full swing minus just a couple of power accumulators.) Once you've got that down, you will be well prepared to move forward in the curriculum and well on your way towards taking ownership of YOUR swing!

2b) GOGP: This quick-start program is exactly as it sounds - it is designed to fast-track you out onto the course so you can have fun - and success - playing as you learn! Should you choose this path, everything in #1 above still applies, and as implied above in 2a you will still want to work through it sequentially and gradually, mastering each lesson before moving ahead to the next one. In this program, Drill #5 - The Flying Wedge is the one you'll want to park yourself on and nail down.

3) Also, as you progress always keep in mind the V1 Swing Video Analysis, an effective and inexpensive service that I highly recommend to everyone in the school. I liken it to bringing your swing into the shop for a tune-up or minor repair. Scheduling one on a quarterly basis for preventive maintenance will do wonders for keeping things humming along nicely, and it's also a great tool for pinpointing and resolving any issues that arise. The process involves downloading the free V1 app and then submitting two videos to me through the app - one down-the-line (captured from your stance line, not the target line) and the other face-on. You'll find more information about the V1 Analysis halfway down this page on the Saguto.Golf site. I cannot overstate the value of the V1 Analyses as a supplement to what you are learning in the school, especially if you wish to fast-track the process.

I look forward to assisting you through the school’s structured lessons and drills towards building a consistent, low maintenance, powerful, body-friendly swing that will bring your enjoyment of this great game to a new level!

Tom "Free Bird" Saguto, PGA

Thanks for the warm welcome and the quick pointers. A video analysis is definitely on my list of to-do's, but it will have to wait until I get over an ankle injury that I've been dealing with since September. The upside of the injury is that it's kept my limited practice time restricted to the partial swing drills you mentioned above. The right hand wedge seems to be key for me making consistent contact and is what I'm trying to focus on right now.

Thanks again for the welcome and looking forward to further participation in the member community.

Welcome to the school and to this great forum community, Steve!!

Here's some preliminary advice to help you get off to a good start:

1) Regardless of a member's skill level, this swing necessitates a complete reboot for someone transitioning from a shift & lift swing (which is typically the case), and therefore it is imperative that one take sufficient time to ensure that the fundamental components are mastered. From the ground up there is nothing superfluous in the Stack & Tilt swing - in other words, everything with a purpose, and a purpose for everything. (For example, contrary to shift & lift where you may be taught to keep your trail foot perpendicular to the target line as a means of "creating resistance" in your trail side, in S&T we flare both feet out 10-20 degrees in order to facilitate a free flowing, inclined hip and shoulder turn.) I cannot emphasize this enough, as frustrations predominantly occur when students jump ahead in the curriculum without properly dedicating themselves to the foundational base upon which our consistently repeatable, powerful, low maintenance swing must be built. Chapter 1 of the Golf Swing Simplified program (GSS) and Part I of Get Out & Go Play (GOGP) both address this.

2a) GSS: One of the many great things about this swing is that you can achieve solid ball striking even at the most basic levels. This is why I oftentimes will suggest that students park themselves on Chapter 2 of the GSS course for an extended period of time after locking down Chapter 1's foundational elements. Chapter 2 reinforces the body motions and the weight-forward component, and it culminates with what I call "The Best Golf Swing Practice Drill of All Time". Work yourself sequentially and gradually through the chapter, and then commit yourself to that drill in Lesson 2.8. Learn it. Practice it. Master it. You can even use this partially abbreviated swing on the course and play quite well with it as it will provide plenty of distance. (It actually is the full swing minus just a couple of power accumulators.) Once you've got that down, you will be well prepared to move forward in the curriculum and well on your way towards taking ownership of YOUR swing!

2b) GOGP: This quick-start program is exactly as it sounds - it is designed to fast-track you out onto the course so you can have fun - and success - playing as you learn! Should you choose this path, everything in #1 above still applies, and as implied above in 2a you will still want to work through it sequentially and gradually, mastering each lesson before moving ahead to the next one. In this program, Drill #5 - The Flying Wedge is the one you'll want to park yourself on and nail down.

3) Also, as you progress always keep in mind the V1 Swing Video Analysis, an effective and inexpensive service that I highly recommend to everyone in the school. I liken it to bringing your swing into the shop for a tune-up or minor repair. Scheduling one on a quarterly basis for preventive maintenance will do wonders for keeping things humming along nicely, and it's also a great tool for pinpointing and resolving any issues that arise. The process involves downloading the free V1 app and then submitting two videos to me through the app - one down-the-line (captured from your stance line, not the target line) and the other face-on. You'll find more information about the V1 Analysis halfway down this page on the Saguto.Golf site.

Let's get you out of playing "swing roulette" and into a sure bet!! 😎

Welcome to this great forum community, Robert!! I know we have many New Englanders in the school. You may even find a few when searching through the pages of this comment thread.

I agree about the course closings… Highland closed a few years ago, Bungay Brook closed last year and I’ve heard rumors about Heatherhill. Where do you get S&T lessons on the Cape?

Re: NE Harness Raceway (it’s long gone)

You wouldn’t recognize the place… Gillette Stadium and Patriot Place (restaurants, bars, stores, entertainment)

The League I play in at Chemawah in N. Attleboro moved from Bungay Brook last year. Heather Hill is a dump. Last year, I also played at Wentworth in Plainville. It's owned by the same guy that owns Heather Hill. Wentworth is also terrible. They do a minimum of course maintenance. I had to throw away a pair of golf shoes after walking on a day they didn't clean up after the geese! Also, they don't monitor the drinking. My car, parked in the parking lot, was hit by a drunk driver. They knew who it was because he left his credit card on the bar. Police finally caught him driving in town. I think the owner of both courses is waiting for a good offer from a developer.

I take my S&T lessons at Holly Ridge Golf Club in Sandwich. The Pro is Darren Falk.

He's an authorized S&T instructor. He is on the same page as Tom. Since I've been following Tom for 2 years, I know all the words. When Darren starts a sentence, I can finish it. It's all in my brain. I just have to get into my body! I'm going for another lesson on Monday. My League play starts Tuesday.

Paula

Welcome to this great members' community, Garry - we hope to see you participating here in the forum on a regular basis!!

TS

Welcome Garry! I had the opportunity to visit Perth back in the early 80’s. Beautiful country and wonderful people!

Welcome to the school and this members forum, @jcgould!! We're looking forward to hearing from you regularly in this tremendously fun and supportive community!!

Tom

"Rode a boy with a 6-pack in his hand...." (Sorry - my dad is from Syosset and is a big Billy Joel fan 😎)

Welcome to this great forum community, Steven!!

Has your Dad played the Town of Oyster Bay course which is right by Syosset? That’s where I practice.

Dad told me that he played there a couple of times before he moved off the Island. Very nice track which he said was built on the grounds of an old estate with a beautiful mansion.

He played most of his LI golf at Bethpage and Sunken Meadow.