Taking photos at golf tournaments is a unique way of driving home all of the tips you’ve ever been given about how to play golf. You get to see players of all skill levels competing under intense pressure. You get to see approaches that work, and approaches that don’t.
After spending countless hours shooting and editing images from week-long tournaments, some common themes start to filter through. They may be the same themes I’ve heard from numerous golf lessons; from well-meaning partners while on the course; or from the hundreds of YouTube videos viewed over the past few years. But somehow, they take on a different reality when viewed from behind a telephoto lens.
The images below were captured during a number of tournaments held at the Country Club of New Bedford (in Dartmouth, MA). The annual August Fourball tournament is claimed to be the longest continuously run competition of its kind in America. Sixty-four two man teams compete over six days during the first week of August each year. A few weeks later, a somewhat smaller field of women teams compete in the CCNB Women’s Invitational Fourball tournament.
Lesson #1: Drive for Show
It may not be the most important shot in golf, but a good tee shot is certainly a nice way to start. As I took photos at the tournament, I noticed that the better players usually had smooth, balanced swings off the tees.
Lesson #2: Easy Does It
Every golf pro I’ve taken lessons from has told me, using slightly different words, to take it easy and slow things down (“…the ball is already dead“). While I get it on an intellectual level, it’s not as easy as it sounds. But the better players I followed on the course demonstrated the importance of pulling it back just a little.
Lesson #3: Hold Your Finish
Holding your finish at the end of the swing is another tip I’ve heard often. Again, the better players seemed to do it more consistently. And photographers appreciate it because it makes for a great image.
Lesson #4: Keep Your Head Down
Because I usually take multiple shots every time a player swings, I can tell when someone raises their head too soon. When players keep their head down through impact, the difference is pretty dramatic.
Unconventional Swing Styles Sometimes Work
There are, of course, some great players who have golf swings that are pretty unique. File under the category of “if it works, don’t fix it”.
Myth: The Easiest Shot in Golf
This may be the biggest lie told by golf professionals. There’s nothing easy about bunker shots. That’s why the good ones are so spectacular.
Lesson #5: You Gotta Practice Your Short Game
It sounds a lot like telling your child to eat their vegetables. But after photographing a number of golf tournaments, I am convinced that players with solid short games have far better chances than those who don’t.
Lesson #6: It All Comes Down to Putting
But in every important match, it always seems to come down to the player(s) that can make the putts that matter. And in tournament golf, putting offers the most dramatic moments.
