The Barclays Golf Academy Presented By Lynn Blake Golf / 2008

tincup2004 · #1 08-25-2008, 10:24 AM

Hey Mike

Thanks for your hard work with all the photos and vid clips. Listening to Ted teach reminded me of Destin not too many moons ago. Take care.

GLFNVEG · #2 08-25-2008, 10:57 AM

Originally Posted by tincup2004

Hey Mike

Thanks for your hard work with all the photos and vid clips. Listening to Ted teach reminded me of Destin not too many moons ago. Take care.

ARE THERE SALOONS IN DESTIN?

birdie chance · #3 08-25-2008, 09:06 PM

I had the great pleasure of visiting the Barclays Academy on Saturday. Wow was it an impressive set up! I first got to meet Mr. Jeff Hull who I felt I already knew from watching his iconic videos on LBG, very cool, very patient guy, who analyzed my swing on video. I was coming OTT (yikes!) so Jeff had me set up at address with my RFA more on plane and I took a practice swing with a Smart Stick tracing the plane line with the laser. Very cool, I had practiced with dowels before per Yoda's instruction on the site but this was something else, Jeff then showed me the "after" video with my new alignments comparing it to the "before" and what a difference! Thank you Jeff! I am studying myself on video for the first time and have my work cut out for me for the range this weekend. Well after my session with Jeff I looked around for Yoda and saw him just outside walking pretty fast (towards me?!!) Now we have never met before so I thought wow this is incredible somehow Yoda recognizes me and is so happy to see me even though I just proved to Jeff Hull I'm swinging OTT! So I got nervous because I am in awe of Mr. Blake and he has an amazing presence, piercing eyes and magical aura. The unmistakable Lynn Blake finally in person! So as I stepped in front of him, "Hello Mr. Blake!!" he slid around me but looked me straight in the eyes kindly and without skipping a beat he said "Yes Hello there give me a few minutes I'll be back I need to talk to this guy..." and he darted off to the lawn to meet with some dude who looked like a CEO. Well that dude turned out to be none other than Mr. Robert Edward "Bob" Diamond, Jr., President & CEO of Barclays PLC!! Heavy! So yeah I took a number...Ok I'm not completely serious but Seriously, Mr. Blake is a true gentleman. It was a real honor. Sorry if this sounds like a fan letter but I am a huge fan of LBG.
Thank You Lynn, Thank You Jeff! I really had a great time and learned alot!
All the best for your next Barclays Academy. Liberty National? I'm in your corner in NYC.

Timothy Elliott
"Birdie Chance"
Bronx, NY

***Yoda*** · #4 08-25-2008, 09:44 PM

In the past four and one-half years, there have been many LBG events spanning several days. The months and weeks before are filled with preparation and anticipation. The event itself is all consuming and bursting with excitement, energy and total engagement. Immediately afterwards is a different story . . .

The staff has gone, the equipment is boxed and our teaching bays stand empty. At that time, I always experience intense feelings of gratitude and appreciation for what has just occurred. At the same time, I feel an overwhelming loss. What had become so close and so special is now gone, and I want it back. But the job is done, and life moves on.

I spent this past week with an incredible team of top-notch professionals performing an important function for the title sponsor of a major PGA TOUR event. It doesn't happen every week, but when it does, it's special, and you do your best to create a resounding success. But when it's over, it's over, and you feel the vacuum.

The good news?

It's time to begin again.

I start tomorrow.

Five lessons are scheduled . . .

And I can hardly wait.

**EdZ** · #5 08-25-2008, 10:50 PM

It was truly a pleasure to help out again this year in such a unique setting and I look forward to next year at Liberty National. Great to see all of you guys again, and thanks for all the outstanding pictures and video 6B. Great stuff!

No description of the Barclays would be complete, of course, without taking about the "best shot" of the event.

No, it wasn't hit by VJ to 17, or on the 18th green by him, or Sergio....

It was hit by Lynn Blake - Yoda, the one, and only.

All week we had been hitting shots to the heavily contoured practice green, both in the clinics we gave to nearly 400 people, and after we had finished for the day, and all week it was clear - there was no getting to that back right pin about 40 yards out. Nope. Nothing anyone could do could get it within 6 feet.

That pin was on the top of an upside down bowl. You could hardly even place a ball near it and have it stay.

So during our last clinic, as Lynn once again demonstrated......

"This is how you hit a shot... you keep your left wrist flat, and your right wrist bent.... like this..... "

On the fly. Directly in the cup.

Perfect.

The one and only, Yoda.

***Yoda*** · #6 08-26-2008, 12:21 AM

Originally Posted by EdZ

All week we had been hitting shots to the heavily contoured practice green, both in the clinics we gave to nearly 400 people, and after we had finished for the day, and all week it was clear - there was no getting to that back right pin about 40 yards out. Nope. Nothing anyone could do could get it within 6 feet.

That pin was on the top of an upside down bowl. You could hardly even place a ball near it and have it stay.

So during our last clinic, as Lynn once again demonstrated......

"This is how you hit a shot... you keep your left wrist flat, and your right wrist bent.... like this..... "

On the fly. Directly in the cup.

Perfect.

The one and only, Yoda.

Thanks, Ed, for this recall. Fun!

And thanks also to Randy Friedman, author of her new book Your Inner Swing http://yourinnerswing.com/. After the close of play on Friday, our Barclays Golf Academy staff was hitting shots to that pin, and I said: "Randy, the only way to get this shot close to the hole is to make it."

So, she said, "See it and jar it."

Two days later and with that thought processed, that's exactly what I did!

Ed, you were an integral part of our team last week and saved our bacon by modifying the computer audio settings at the last minute on the new swing analysis software. We had a problem early Thursday morning that no one on hand could solve, and West Coast tech support was three hours away. You stepped into the breach and got it done. Thank you, my friend.

P.S. Regarding the Shot Heard 'Round Ridgewood --

-- you forgot to tell'em about my Hale Irwin 'run-a-round' high-fiving the gallery of approximately 50 Barclays clients. Alas, 6bMike, our staff photographer, had 'left the building' just an hour before and missed the event. And so, like Sarazen's double eagle in 1935 to win The Masters, that shot and its aftermath lives on in the memory of the few who were there.

Well . . . kinda.