The Swing Song
from "The Education of a Golfer" by Sam Snead
Today we launch a new 7-part series based on The Education of a Golfer by 82-time PGA champion, Sam Snead.
Sam writes, “I grew up in the mountains of Virginia where the valleys are so narrow that the dogs have to wag their tails up and down. I never had money for lessons or green fees.”
This was the early 1930s. But even with primitive golf technology, Sam often drove over 300 yards. That would be like Byrson averaging 400 today.
Before joining the tour, Sam worked as a club pro. He’d tweak your technique, then teach you to hum a song called The Merry Widow’s Waltz. Take a listen…
That song might add 20, 30 yards to your drive. To explain how, Sam shares one of the most embarrassing moments of his life.
“How dare you…”
As a club pro, Sam played a lot of golf. One day, he came to the 5th hole. Par four, 335 yards. A group was on the green, but Sam thought he was safe to play. He writes, “I tagged one and that little dog caught some breeze and just kept going.”
The ball bounced on the green and struck Mr. Alva Bradley on the backside. Bradley was the director of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, which owned the golf course. He was furious. “How dare you hit from the fairway onto an occupied green?!”
Bradley threatened to have Sam fired—until he realized: Sam wasn’t in the fairway. Sam had driven the green. And that’s where the song comes back into our story.
“I always hum a tune.”
Over the next few months, Sam cured Bradley’s slice. But distance was still a problem.
Sam said, “I always hum a tune while driving. It helps you feel the cadence of your swing.” So he taught Bradley to hum The Merry Widow’s Waltz. Listen to it again…
On the one beat, Bradley took his club back. On two, he paused at the top. On three, he started his downswing. On four, he completed his follow-through.
Bradley began to feel the rhythm of his swing—and thanks to the song, he could repeat that rhythm every time. Before the season ended, he added 40 yards to his drive.
Sam writes, “He felt silly humming that song. But he didn’t complain when he broke 90, or when he got into the low 80s and stayed there.”
“Where words fail, music speaks.” Hans Christian Andersen
You get more distance when you swing with your rhythm. Rush or hesitate, and you lose yardage. That’s why Sam wants each of us to find our swing song.
Your song might have four beats like The Merry Widow’s Waltz: takeaway, pause at top, downswing, follow-through. Or it might have three: takeaway, downswing, follow-through. It might be faster or slower. But once you choose a song that matches your swing, you can always find your rhythm. And according to Sam, that song and that consistency will take your game to a new level.
That’s all for now. Tomorrow, Sam offers some fresh advice on first tee jitters. Until then, keep imagining what’s possible.
I love this idea. I think my swing song would be a bit slowly than Sam's. More like "Edelweiss" from the movie "The Sound of Music."