GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism PHED 140 Golf for Beginners (1) Spring 2013 DAY/TIME: MW 1:30-2:45 (Sec 5P1) LOCATION: Fairfax campus and Oak Marr Golf Complex, Oakton, VA PROFESSOR: Joseph A. La Marca, M.A., M.B.A. EMAIL ADDRESS: JLaMarca@GMU.edu OFFICE LOCATION: OFFICE HOURS: PREREQUISITES None As arranged on campus or at golf complex By appointment PHONE NUMBER: FAX NUMBER: 703-475-6962 (cell) 866-269-0389 COURSE DESCRIPTION A practical course designed for students with little or no golf knowledge. The course involves activities to teach students the 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. NATURE OF COURSE DELIVERY: Face to Face 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
ATTENDANCE (60%) As a practical consideration, one absence will be automatically excused. However, 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, the facility manager 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. In any case, considering the distance from campus and the traffic, there is no penalty for arriving later than class start or departing earlier then class dismissal. Drive carefully to and from the golf facility! WRITTEN EXAM (25%) Exam questions are almost exclusively short answer or essay types and are subjectively graded. Typical topics include swing principles, scoring rules, etiquette, strategy, club selection, famous players, coaches, courses, authors, and information sources. 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 such practice days. SWING SKILLS ASSESSMENT (10%) 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 The entire PHED 140 experience is designed to lead to on-course play. Therefore, before the end of the course you must complete an unsupervised round of golf consisting of at least nine holes and submit a short report in which you describe your experience. The content of your report is not graded, but if you do not submit it before the agreed date, you will receive the grade of IN ( Incomplete ) for your final PHED 140 course grade for the semester. You may play the round at Oak Marr or at any comparable or more difficult course, and you must follow local course rules and etiquette standards while keeping up the pace of play. Grading Scale A+ 98-100 C 73-76 A 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 sun glasses help a lot, since the driving range faces the afternoon son. 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.
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: DAY TOPIC Club(s) LOCATION READINGS COMMENTS 1 2 Introduction to PHED 140 and Intro to Golf Putting: Target Selection, Alignment, Swing 3 Chipping 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Pitching, Intro to Full Swing Full swings with short irons Sand Shots Full swings with medium irons Scoring Rules, Etiquette, Club Selection, Strategy, etc., via oncourse walk Full Swings with long clubs, Skills Assessment Preview Skills Assessment I Exam Preview Skills Assessment II None Putter Any club from Sand Wedge to 7- iron Sand & pitching wedges Either Pitching wedge, 7,8 or 9 iron Sand Wedge or Pitching wedge Either 5,6, or 7 iron None, but if hard rain, 4 or 3 iron or hybrid, plus any wood, except 1-W 4 or 3 iron or hybrid, plus any wood, except 1-W All None All FFx campus Aquatic Center, Room 112 Oak Marr practice putting green. Oak Marr short game practice area. If rain, sheltered driving range. If time before first class, read all materials on the class web site, syllabus and this schedule. In Optional Text read Chapters 1-3. Putting notes in Resources section of class web site, Optional Text Chapter 10 and pp.191-200 Chipping notes in Resource section of class web site and Optional Text Chapter 11, except pp. 146-157 Pitching notes in Resource section of class web site and Optional Text Chapters 6-8, 9, 13, and pp. 146-151. 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 syllabus and Activity Schedule. Do not bring rental balls to this class; the golf school will furnish them. If hard rain, this class will be cancelled, so watch your email and see class web site. Last class day to drop course without tuition penalty and last day to pay $34 golf school fee is Mon, Mar 25. Do not bring rental balls to this class; the golf school will furnish them, unless we move to the sheltered driving range because of hard rain. If that happens, you can acquire them then. Optional Text Chapters 9, 13 Oak Marr sand bunker. If rain, driving range. Oak Marr golf course. If rain, sheltered driving range. FFx campus Room TBD Sand notes in Resource section of class web site, and Optional Text, pp. 152-157 Full Swing notes in Resource section of class web site and Optional Text Chapters 9, 13 Optional Text. Chapters 4, 5, 12, and all of both Optional Booklets, and On Course Walk notes on class web site Full Swing notes in Resource section of class web site and Optional Text Chapters 9, 13 Review all previous reading assignments, except Optional Text Chapters 4, 5, 12, pp. 152-157 and booklets. Review all previous reading assignments. Review all previous reading assignments, except Optional Text Chapters 4, 5, 12, pp. 152-157 and booklets. Do not bring rental balls to this class; the golf school will furnish them, unless we move to the sheltered driving range because of hard rain. If that happens, you can acquire them then. 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 on driving range; in that case, rent balls. Also, bring skills! Please bring to class a printed copy of the Review/Pre-Test Handout from Resources on the class web site. Also, bring skills! 13 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. 14 Exam FB, Crs Critique None FFx campus Room TBD None None 15 Play at least one round of at least nine holes during At least Putter, Wedge, Medium Iron, and 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, 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
Note: Faculty reserves the right to alter the schedule as necessary. Student Expectations Students must adhere to the guidelines of the George Mason University Honor Code [See http:// oai.gmu.edu/honor-code/ <http://oai.gmu.edu/honor-code/> 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]. CORE VALUES COMMITMENT: The College of Education and Human Development is committed to collaboration, ethical leadership, innovation, research-based practice, and social justice. Students are expected to adhere to these principles. Additional Information and Requirements CLASS WEB SITE: http://mason.gmu.edu/~jlamarca/phed140.html or simply, http://tinyurl.com/phed140 INSTRUCTOR PROFILE: http://mason.gmu.edu/~jlamarca/140prof.html or simply, http://tinyurl.com/140prof OAK MARR GOLF COMPLEX INFORMATION: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/golf/oakmarr OVERVIEW: Welcome to PHED 140! Our first class will meet in Room 112 of the Aquatic Center on the Fairfax Campus. This meeting is an orientation to PHED 140 and to the ancient and popular sport of golf. All but three other classes meet at the Oak Marr Golf Complex, in Oakton, VA, just north of Fairfax City; please see directions near the end of this syllabus or follow the map link, above. Please do not bring any golf clubs to this first class PHED 140 begins with an overview of the sport, then builds swing skills by gradually increasing the length of clubs used, the length of swings, and the complexity of strokes. The lessons usually follow this sequence: putts, chips, pitches, full swings with short irons, sand shots, full swings with medium irons, and full swings with long clubs. Although the emphasis of this curriculum is on skill building, PHED 140 is about more than hitting golf balls straight and far. The course is a mixture of theory and practice. The written exam review class is a lecture/discussion of swing principles, scoring rules, etiquette, strategy, trouble shots, club selection, key professionals in the industry, etc. You will also walk the golf course with the instructor to bring the learning points to life and to prepare for playing at least nine holes of golf as the final course requirement.
ASSEMBLY AT OAK MARR GOLF COMPLEX: When classes are held at Oak Marr, please convene at the picnic area between the club house and the short game practice area. If you arrive late for class, meet us wherever we will be learning, as indicated in the separate Activity Schedule. Kindly minimize time inside the club house, for the building is small, and our class size tends to crowd the place. EMAIL: Expect several emails from the instructor during the course. You must have an active GMU e-mail account that is not over quota, for none will be sent to a different account. To make sure you have not missed any emails that go to the entire class, please check the class web site occasionally to view the log of sent emails. TRANSPORTATION: Although we will make every attempt to form car pools, you may choose to (or you might need to) arrange your own transportation to Oak Marr Golf Complex just north of Fairfax City. Public bus service is available, but requires a transfer; info: 703-385-9859, http://www.fairfaxva.gov/cuebus/cuebus.asp. Incidentally, if you have not done so already, you should consider signing up for the Mason Alert system, alert.gmu.edu, which provides emergency information of various sorts, including traffic problems in the vicinity. Your drive from the Fairfax campus should take no more than fifteen minutes. In any case, tardiness is NOT an issue--safety is! Drive carefully; if you need to leave golf class early to insure timely arrival at your next class, simply do so. ATTENDANCE: While tardiness is administratively acceptable, you may not be expecting certain questions on the exam that are relevant to the coursework on those occasions. You will find broad learning points in the "Resources" section of the class web site, but other testable targets of opportunity do emerge from the dynamics of various classes; so, if you miss part of any class, obviously you should find out from other students what you missed. Group study sessions are also a good idea, especially for the written exam. Because of the shelter available on the driving range at Oak Marr, classes usually DO meet in inclement weather. Even if a short game skill is scheduled outdoors, we simply change the lesson plan and learn at the sheltered hitting stations, instead. If lightening is in the area, we move indoors until it passes. However classes will be cancelled in the event of forecasts of severe storms or sustained periods of lightening. Look for notices of cancellation in your GMU email box and on the class web site. If weather deteriorates near class start time, you do not have internet access, and you have doubts about the class being held, phone the instructor s cell at 703-475-6962, but WHEN IN DOUBT, COME OUT! When you do, be sure you initial the Class Attendance Sheet. FEES: The fee for PHED 140 listed on Patriot Web is the anticipated accumulated costs to the student by the end of the term. More information on this subject appears in the following paragraphs. GOLF CLUBS: You may use your own clubs or use loaner clubs. The instructor will have loaner clubs available at no charge for both men and women and for left and right handers. For practicing between lessons, you may borrow clubs at no charge in the Oak Marr club house. However, loaner clubs are not provided for your on-course play at the end of the term, but rental clubs are available. If you choose to play at Oak Marr for your on-course performance requirement or at any other time, plan to spend $5-7 for club rental, if you do not own clubs or cannot borrow any from someone else. For another $4.50 you may choose to rent a pull cart to carry the bag of clubs I ADVISE AGAINST YOUR BUYING CLUBS UNTIL THE END OF THE TERM. THEN BUY CLUBS CUSTOM-FITTED for your size and swing style by having them fitted by a certified club fitting professional. Custom-fitted clubs do not always cost more, but even when they do, be assured that fewer custom-fitted clubs would serve you better than a complete set of clubs that are not suitable for you. You can always order more clubs to fill your bag later, since the fitter will have your specifications. GOLF SCHOOL: The published fee for the course includes the fee to be paid to the Every Body Golf School at Oak Marr. The golf school provides various services for GMU students, such as reserving hitting stations, answering questions from students, giving advice on club purchases, lending golf clubs and training aids for lessons, and providing golf balls for the short game learning area during classes. Please pay $34 for the term at the golf school office, located behind the club house. PAYMENT MUST BE MADE NO LATER THAN THE LAST DAY TO DROP THE COURSE WITHOUT TUITION PENALTY.
RANGE BALLS: Golf balls you will need for class meetings in the SHORT GAME PRACTICE AREA are available from the golf school at Oak Marr without further charge, provided you are willing to pick up balls at the end of class and return them when finished practicing. If you leave before the end of class, you must arrange for a fellow student to pick them up for you. However, if inclement weather moves us from the short game practice area to the range s sheltered hitting stations, you will need to rent balls from the pro shop on those occasions, as you would for any class held on the driving range. The estimated cost of ball rental is included in the published course fee. Rent golf balls for use on the driving range by purchasing tokens at the Oak Marr club house to use in the machines that yield the balls. You will need at least one token for each lesson on the driving range. One token costs about $7, but the more tokens you purchase at one time, the less each token will cost. Therefore, if you pool your money with other students to buy them in bulk, the cost per ball will be considerably less. For current rates, see http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/golf/oakmarrgc/rates.htm. GREEN FEE: To satisfy the one time on-course play requirement of PHED 140 you may choose to play either at Oak Marr or any course that is at least as challenging as Oak Marr. For the latest rates, see http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/golf/oakmarrgc/rates.htm. PHOTOGRAPHS: Photos of the class during the term will be posted to the class web site on the world wide web. Moreover, they may be used by the university in promoting classes. If you have no objection to being so photographed, please sign and return the form at the end of this syllabus. DIRECTIONS TO OAK MARR GOLF COMPLEX: The address for your GPS is 3200 Jermantown Road, Oakton, Virginia. From GMU: Drive north on Rt. 123 through the city of Fairfax. After crossing over I-66, turn left at the second traffic light onto Jermantown Rd. Turn right at the next traffic light into Oak Marr. Keep left at the junction with the road to the Oak Marr Recreation Center, carefully avoiding traffic exiting the Recreation Center parking lots, from which drivers seem to have limited visibility. If you get lost, just phone the Oak Marr golf complex at 703-255-5391, ext. 4. See http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/golf/oakmarrgc/directions.htm. INSTRUCTOR NOTE: I sincerely hope you enjoy the class and will benefit from this experience to help you enjoy this wonderful game of golf throughout your life! If you have any questions, contact me at jlamarca@gmu.edu or 703-475-6962. Now, please sign the statement on the next page as soon as the statement is true, and bring it to the first or second class you attend.
I HAVE READ THOROUGHLY THE ENTIRE "FALL 2012 GMU PHED 140 SYLLABUS, SEPARATE ACTIVITY SCHEDULE, AND CLASS WEB SITE; AND, IF NECESSARY, I HAVE OBTAINED SUFFICIENT CLARIFICATION FROM THE PROFESSOR. SO I UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING I HAVE READ. FOR EXAMPLE, I HAVE NO DOUBT ABOUT WHERE THE CLASS WILL MEET EACH TIME, WHAT I NEED TO DO TO PREPARE FOR CLASS, AND WHAT TO BRING TO CLASS. MOREOVER, I AM SO READY TO LEARN THIS GREAT GAME OF GOLF! Print Name Signature
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