PRO'S CORNER
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3 QUESTIONS WITH…
ERIC SOLANDER
C
ongratulations are in order
for Indian Wells Assistant Golf
Professional Eric Solander,
who recently earned PGA Class A
Professional status. "Eric is a special
instructor," says PGA Head Golf Pro-
fessional Tom Burley. "He has the
ability to simplify instruction and
students of all abilities can re-
late to what he teaches."
Solander (pictured)
picked up the game at
age 12 in Missoula, Mon-
tana, and plays to a plus-2
handicap.
What drew you to the game?
I loved the golf course atmosphere.
Whether I was playing golf with my
family, bugging the guys in the golf
shop, or practicing my flop shot
over a pond, I knew this is where I
wanted to be. What is your role at
Indian Wells? To assist in the daily
golf operations, give lessons and to
provide exemplary guest service.
How will earning PGA Class A sta-
tus impact your career? It will pro-
vide me with a platform to help
drive new golfers to the game and
help mentor individuals interested
in becoming a member of the PGA.
M
issing greens is going to
happen. When it does,
simplify your approach to
the chip shot you will hit. Don't try
to hit a shot that is not needed, and
only use a lofted club when you
have to. The idea is to maximize the
distance your ball rolls out on the
green. Practice chipping with vari-
ous clubs to see how the roll varies.
Here are some tips that will help:
9 Set up closer to the ball with a
narrow stance and your hands and
club shaft leaning toward the target.
9 Choke down on the club — the
more you choke down the more
feel you will have when chipping
9 Line the club face up to the in-
tended target while keeping your
stance slightly open. This will allow
for your arms to swing through
uninterrupted.
9 Keep most of your weight on the
left side (for right-handed players).
9 Take the club away with your
arms; try to have minimal lower
body movement on the takeaway.
9 Do not bend or cock your wrists
during the swing; feel as if your
shoulders are doing the job, similar
to a putting stroke.
9 After impact you should end up
in an abbreviated finishing position
with your back heel slightly off the
ground.
9 The key to solid contact is to con-
trol the club face and not let it go
swinging past the hands.
9 Keep your chip shots simple and
watch the errors go away and your
scores drop.
GET ON A ROLL
Keep the ball down for more control around the greens
BOOK
A
TEE
TIME
THE BASIC CHIP SHOT / BY TOM BURLEY, PGA
Line the club face up to the target
with your stance slightly open…
…and don't let the club
face swing past the hands.
