Well, fellow golfers, Happy New Year!! May we record more eagles, pars and birdies in `07 than in `06 (I'd settle for less double bogeys, myself)!

Many of us here in North America have a little golf "down-time" for the next few months due to the onset of winter.

Or do we?

My swing instructor, Mark Greenwood, Director of Instruction (Canada) for Swing Machine Golf has some very sound thoughts on that subject.

I asked him what he would recommend to stay in tune during the winter.

First off, he said, don't just go out to a golf dome somewhere and hit a hundred balls. "Take a couple of tune-up lessons so you have something to work on rather than just beating balls", he told me.

"I would also work on my short game", he said. "How many times do we leave it in the rough or skull it over the green when we're just a few yards from the hole?" Uh, more times that I'd care to count?

Mark also counsels that amateurs could really benefit by knowing how far we hit our short irons. And not just with a full swing but with a three-quarter, half and quarter swing. This is sort of like the Dave Pelz method but it works.

"And I'd advise getting one of those automatic putting mats", Mark continued.
"For a club that we use roughly 33% of the time, we sure don't practice with it enough".
Amen to that. Getting properly fitted for a putter, just as you would with a driver, is critical as well, he said.

And when you've got the right putter?

"My drill all winter is to make 20 in a row from 8feet. Then 20 from 6feet. Then 20 from 3feet. If I miss at anytime I start all over again. Once you complete all 60 and don't miss once, start again. I have passed many hours doing this. It will pay off on the green in confidence and putts per round".

Who said golf was an easy game?

By the way, check out swingmachinegolf.com. This is a swing technique that is tailor-made for the amateur golfer. And I can tell you it works! My drives used to be a paltry 210 yards off the tee - and usually into the rough, water or trees. Now they're about 245 and mostly down the middle. It's amazing how different the game is when you play your second or third shots from the fairway!

As always, I welcome feedback from you fellow golfers! Let me know what you're thinking or what you want to see here at eagleparbirdie.com. How about questions for a few teaching pros? Mark Greenwood from Swing Machine Golf is more than willing to chime in and I'm working on a few surprises, too. Like Lorie Kane's swing coach, Anne Chouinard and former LPGA player, Sandra Post.