According to Golf Gurus of America, many of its members are now specializing in helping students differentiate between a 7-iron and a lob wedge. GGOA President Tom “Double-Wrap” McCauley says that “players who’ve had a few beers often mistake the 7 for the L. We see this frequently during ‘Cart Paths Only’ days; the player grabs the wrong club and lurches to his ball. If he realizes his error, he either returns to the cart for the correct club — contributing to slow play — or just ‘hits and hopes.’”
Many 7/L teachers such as Tony Ferrule have set up shop in retirement golf communities such as The Villages in Florida. “Most of my students are far-sighted and can’t see the iron’s number or letter without their glasses,” says Ferrule. “So they’re more inclined to pull the L instead of the 7. And vice versa.
“I provide hands-on, one-on-one, on-course coaching. At first, I clamp a magnifying glass to the golf cart. This gives the student the confidence to select and view the correct club, removing tension from the pre-shot routine. After 6 weeks, the student may use the magnifying glass only on alternate holes. And after 10 weeks, I remove the magnifying glass from the cart; pulling the correct club — whether it’s the 7-iron or the lob wedge — becomes second nature for the student. It’s extremely gratifying to be a part of this learning experience.”
GGOA’s Tom McCauley adds: “We’ve noticed that students who have the 7/L flaw also mistake the 6-iron for the 9-iron. So there are some lucrative up-sell opportunities here for 7/L instructors to grow their business. Teaching pros who wish to be certified as Master 7/L/6/9 Instructors should email me for more information: [email protected]
