GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY
School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism
PHED 140—Golf for Beginners (1)
Fall 2011
DAY/TIME:
/MW 3:00-4:15 (Sec 5P2)
/ /LOCATION:
/Fairfax campus and Oak Marr
Golf Complex, Oakton, VA
PROFESSOR:
/Joseph A. La Marca, M.A., M.B.A.
/ /EMAIL ADDRESS:
/OFFICE LOCATION:
/As arranged
/ /PHONE NUMBER:
/703-475-6962 (cell)
OFFICE HOURS:
/By appointment
/ /FAX NUMBER:
/866-269-0389
PREREQUISITES
None
COURSE DESCRIPTION
A practical course designed for students with little or no golf knowledge. The course involves activities to teach students basic golf terms, rules, and techniques for the full swing, putting, chipping, and pitching, as well as playing on a golf course.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
At the completion of this course students should be able to:
1. Explain the relationship between stance and posture in maintaining stability and generating power in executing a golf swing.
2. Explain basic golf rules and demonstrate an understanding of these rules by playing at least 9 holes with no errors during application of these rules.
3. Demonstrate proper golf course etiquette.
4. Develop the level of playing fitness and mental focus necessary to play a round (9 holes) of golf.
READINGS (in addition to any handed out, emailed, or posted on the class web site)
• RECOMMENDED BOOKS:
• Ruthenberg, Stephen J. (1992) Golf FORE!! Beginners: the FUNdamentals, Lansing, Michigan: RGS Publishing. This book is the one your course schedule refers to as “Optional Text.”
• Pelz, Dave (1999) Dave Pelz’s Short Game Bible, New York: Broadway Books.
• Summerall, Pat (1999), Business Golf: The Art of Building Relationships through Golf. Carol Publishing Group.
• Woods, Tiger (2001) How I Play Golf, New York: Warner Books.
• RECOMMENDED BOOKLETS (very inexpensive)
• “Easy Way to Learn Golf Rules.” National Golf Foundation.
• “Golf Course Etiquette.” National Golf Foundation.
EVALUATION
Requirements
• Assurance that you have read and understood everything in this syllabus and the class web site. (5%) Every semester the syllabus gets longer as I try to include answers to the questions that have come up in the past, for the nature of PHED 140 differs from the usual academic class; most of our classes do not even meet on campus, for example. However, because the syllabus is long and detailed there will be a natural tendency for you to stop reading or to gloss over important parts. Therefore, I ask that you take the time to read everything carefully, ask questions about anything you do not understand or about anything that is not covered in the syllabus; then sign the statement on the last page of this document, remove it from the document, and turn it in as soon as the statement is true, preferably at the first class meeting.
• ATTENDANCE (50%) – As a motor skill obviously the golf swing is not something you can learn to do very well in the library. In order to obtain good results you must do it physically and get immediate feedback from an instructor. You cannot do that unless you come to class. The Fairfax County Park Authority course where we meet has historically been very accommodating for GMU students. However, certain events can take precedence over our classes. Moreover, they cannot control the weather, so it is your responsibility as a student to check your schedule, your email, and the class web site for any schedule changes before departing for class.
Whenever you must miss a class, it will be your responsibility to contact a classmate to learn what you missed. You may miss no more than one class to get full credit for Attendance.
Late arrival from a previous on-campus class or early departure to insure timely arrival at your next class IS acceptable. We usually delay within reason the start of formal instruction until the arrival of students we know have to come late, and we typically dismiss class a little early when students routinely have to leave early for the next class. Drive carefully to and from the golf facility!
• WRITTEN EXAM (20%) – Exam questions are almost exclusively short answer or essay types and are subjectively graded. Typical topics include swing principles, scoring rules, etiquette, strategy, trouble shots, club selection, authors, coaches, players, information sources, etc. You can earn bonus points toward this exam according to the number of times you practice your skills at a driving range or short-game practice area on days between classes! (Playing golf, itself, does not satisfy this requirement. Keep a log of your outside-of- class practice sessions; you will not have to turn in the log, but you will need to remember the number of practice days.
• SWING SKILLS ASSESSMENT (20%) –Your score in this category will be subjective, based on evidence of competency, or at least significant improvement in skills, such as putting, chipping, pitching, and full swings.
• ON-COURSE PERFORMANCE (5%) – You will receive maximum points for simply reporting your experience in the completion of a 9-hole round of golf, following USGA and local scoring rules and etiquette standards. The comments in your report are not graded; the on-course play is Pass/Fail. You only fail this category, if you fail to report completion of nine holes of golf during the scheduled period. The entire PHED 140 experience is designed to lead to on-course play. Therefore, if you do not report completion of this requirement during the prescribed period, you will receive a grade of “IN” for the final PHED 140 course grade. You may play the round at Oak Marr or at any comparable or more difficult course.
Grading Scale
A+ / 98-100 / C / 73-76A / 94-97 / C- / 70-72
A- / 90-93 / D+ / 67-69
B+ / 87-89 / D / 63-66
B / 83-86 / D- / 60-62
B- / 80-82 / F / 0-59
C+ / 77-79
DRESS CODE
Please wear comfortable clothing suitable for most outdoor athletic activity during the season; billed caps and umbrellas often come in handy, too. Athletic shoes are fine, but general street shoes do not provide adequate support for the golf swing. Moreover, sports shoes with metal spikes are prohibited at Oak Marr, as are open-toed shoes. Please do not wear sandals or flip-flops! If you play your on-course performance round at another course, be sure to ask about the dress code there. For example, although all courses allow shorts, many courses other than Fairfax County Park Authority courses prohibit jeans and require a collared shirt that is tucked in.
PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS
Students with injuries or pre-existing conditions that may affect performance must inform the instructor.
A tentative course schedule follows on next page. Please see “Additional Information and Requirements” after that.
TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE: The following schedule, written before classes begin, is for general information only. Find LATEST CHANGES, including specific dates, in the separate document, entitled, “Activity Schedule.” It is emailed to students and is also available by following the “Schedule” link on the class web site: tinyurl.com/phed140
DAY / TOPIC / Club(s) / LOCATION / READINGS / COMMENTS1 / Introduction to PHED 140 and Intro to Golf / None / FFx campus Aquatic Center,
Room 112 / If you have time before first class, peruse all materials on the class web site, especially the Orientation Class Agenda and Intro to Golf in Resources section. Also, read thoroughly the syllabus and this schedule. In Optional Text read Chapters 1-3. / The objective of this class is to get acquainted, form car pools, answer class member questions about the course, and introduce the sport, its equipment and terminology. Please do not bring any golf equipment to this class. Do bring the signed last page of the syllabus, if that statement is true.
2 / Putting: Target Selection, Alignment, Swing, Distance control / Putter / Oak Marr practice putting green. / Putting notes in Resources section of class web site, Optional Text Chapter 10 and pp.191-200 / Normally we can work under shelters, but they will be occupied by Junior Golf Campers this day. Therefore, if rain, this class will be cancelled!
3 / Chipping / Any club from Sand Wedge to 7-iron / Oak Marr short game practice area. If rain, sheltered driving range. / Chipping notes in Resource section of class web site and Optional Text Chapter 11, except pp. 146-157 / Rent balls only if rain moves us to driving range.
4 / Pitching / Sand Wedge and any club from Pitching Wedge to
7-iron / Oak Marr driving range / Pitching notes in Resource section of class web site and Optional Text Chapters 6-8, and pp. 146-151. / Please rent balls.
5 / Full swings with short irons / Short iron (9 or 8) / Oak Marr driving range / Full Swing notes in Resource section of class web site and Optional Text Chapters 9, 13 / Please rent balls.
6 / Sand Shots / Sand Wedge (if rain, any club from 7 -5 iron) / Oak Marr sand bunker. If rain, driving range. / Sand notes in Resource section of class web site, and Optional Text, pp. 152-157 / Rent balls only if rain moves us to driving range, in which case we will do the Full Swings lesson.
7 / Full swings with medium irons / Any club from 7 -5 iron / Oak Marr driving range / Full Swing notes in Resource section of class web site and Optional Text Chapters 9, 13 / Please rent balls.
8 / Scoring Rules, Etiquette, Club Selection, Strategy, etc., via on-course walk / None, but if hard rain, 4 or 3 iron or hybrid, plus any wood, except 1-W / Oak Marr golf course. If rain, sheltered driving range. / Optional Text. Chapters 4, 5, 12, and all of both Optional Booklets, and On Course Walk notes on class web site / Quite a few written exam questions come from this class. If you arrive very late for the on-course walk, you may not be able to join the class on the golf course. Remember, no open toed shoes allowed on the course. Please do not bring clubs onto the course. If hard rain, will do next full swings lesson; in that case, rent balls.
9 / Full Swings with long clubs and Skills Assessment Preview / 4 or 3 iron or hybrid, plus any wood, except 1-W / Oak Marr driving range / Full Swing notes in Resource section of class web site and Optional Text Chapters 9, 13 / Please rent balls.
10 / Exam Preview / None / FFx campus Room TBD / Review all previous reading assignments. / Please bring to class a printed copy of the “Review/Pre-Test Handout” from “Resources” on the class web site.
11 / Skills Assessment / All / Oak Marr driving range / Review all previous reading assignments, except Optional Text Chapters 4, 5, 12, pp. 152-157 and booklets. / Please rent balls. Bring skills!
12 / Written Exam / None / FFx campus Room TBD / Review all previous reading assignments. / You will not need Scantron sheets; you will need a pencil or pen.
13 / Written Exam feedback, Course critique / None / FFx campus Room TBD / None / None
14 / Unsupervised Play of at least one round of nine holes. / At least Putter, Wedge, Medium Iron, and any long club. / Oak Marr golf course or any comparable or more difficult course / On-Course Final Preparation material in Resources section of class web site. Review all previous reading assignments, especially the etiquette sections. / Make your own tee time. Play with pleasure, skill, courtesy, and speed, following USGA scoring rules and etiquette conventions. Email instructor your reflections on the experience. Your comments are not graded; the on-course play is Pass/Fail. You only fail if you fail to report completion of nine holes during the allotted period. In that case your grade in the course will be “IN.”
Note: Faculty reserves the right to alter the schedule as necessary.
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Student Expectations· Students must adhere to the guidelines of the George Mason University Honor Code [See http://academicintegrity.gmu.edu/honorcode/].
· Students with disabilities who seek accommodations in a course must be registered with the George Mason University Office of Disability Services (ODS) and inform their instructor, in writing, at the beginning of the semester [See http://ods.gmu.edu/].
· Students must follow the university policy for Responsible Use of Computing [See http://universitypolicy.gmu.edu/1301gen.html].
· Students are responsible for the content of university communications sent to their George Mason University email account and are required to activate their account and check it regularly. All communication from the university, college, school, and program will be sent to students solely through their Mason email account.
· Students must follow the university policy stating that all sound emitting devices shall be turned off during class unless otherwise authorized by the instructor.
· Students are expected to exhibit professional behaviors and dispositions at all times.
Campus Resources
· The George Mason University Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) staff consists of professional counseling and clinical psychologists, social workers, and counselors who offer a wide range of services (e.g., individual and group counseling, workshops and outreach programs) to enhance students’ personal experience and academic performance [See http://caps.gmu.edu/].
· The George Mason University Writing Center staff provides a variety of resources and services (e.g., tutoring, workshops, writing guides, handbooks) intended to support students as they work to construct and share knowledge through writing [See http://writingcenter.gmu.edu/].
· For additional information on the College of Education and Human Development, School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism, please visit our website [See http://rht.gmu.edu].
Additional Information and Requirements