Newsletter #1 -New Post: Feature Friday

Hi Friends,

Hope you are having a good week and managing to get out and play some golf,

Today we have an interview with the supremely talented double Club Champion from 2 different hemispheres, Paul Jackson, otherwise known as Jacko.

Everyone who knows Jacko is aware of his supreme ball striking and occasional inconsistent putting (Sorry Paul, although a change in putting stroke has improved this enormously - fyi The claw grip).

You wont find a better ball striker at club golf level, it is seriously impressive to witness.

I had a chat with Paul to understand his golfing journey a little bit more and see what lies behind a scratch golfer and Club Champion X2

1. Give me a little overview of your golfing background? 

I’ve played golf all of my life and as long as I can remember.  My granddad introduced me to the game on a tiny pitch and putt course in Bedgrove, Bucks that no longer exists at around the age of 6. 

The first club I joined was Weston Turville GC in Bucks which was a short walk from where I lived.  Like many juniors I have happy memories in the summer holidays of my mum dropping me off in the morning, spending all day playing golf and walking home when it was dark.  I joined Weston Turville as this was where my Granddad played and from an early age I played roll ups and club comps with him and he taught me the etiquette of the game.  I played county golf in my teens for the BB&O and many county opens.  I’ve been a member of a golf club for the best part of 35 years most recently The Addington. 

2. Biggest golfing achievement? And have you won any Club Championships? 

I’ve won two Club Championships, one when I was a at Weston Turville in 1998 and one in 2011 at Methven GC in New Zealand. 

I don’t remember much of my win at Weston Turville but what I do remember was a few key members fighting the case for juniors being allowed to play in men’s comps.  When I first joined in the early 1990’s we were prohibited from playing in any of the men’s competitions.  The junior section started to get stronger, partly as a result of the free coaching the pro gave out and several of the better male players lobbied for us to be allowed into the men’s comps.  Eventually we were and I managed to win the club champs but not until I was 19. 

I can remember my win at Methven vividly though.  In 2011 I joined Methven GC whilst I was doing a ski season at Mount Hutt.  Their club championship was run in a knockout format and I managed to get to the final.  For finals day they closed the course and several of the KO finals were played.  For the club champs final I was playing against a local sheep farmer over 36 holes.  The day felt really special as lots of the members and people from the local town followed the match.  I was one down in the morning round playing the 18^th.  The 18^th is a par 5 with the green in front of the club house.  I’d laid up to about 40 yards and holed the pitch for a birdie and to take the match to all square going into the afternoon with a decent sized crowd going wild on the patio.  In the afternoon I was two up two to play on the 17^th which is a par 3, I hit the green but three putted to go up 18 1 up.  18 is a par five which I took on in two this time, with OB down the right I favoured a left miss but pulled it onto the practise putting green.  After some debate on where I could take relief I hit a flop shot onto the green and two putted for a par and to win the match. 

3. Biggest competition entered? (Open qualifying, English Am  etc etc) - how was that Experience? 

Open Qualifying in 2023 at Rochester and Cobham.  I think that’s the most nervous I’ve been playing golf.  With all of the rules officials, quality golfers with their caddies and what was at stake it was the most serious golfing environment I’ve been in.  I nearly backed out of it several times before I teed off on the first, it definitely helped having someone caddying and some familiar faces following (and looking for my ball). 

Ed note - ME! I was looking for his ball - alot!

3. Favourite current and all-time golfer? 

Tiger.  When I first got into golf my role models were people like Nick Faldo, Tom Kite and Ian Baker Finch, not that cool!  Tiger changed everything, made it a sport, made it exciting with his fist pumps and club twirls (perfect for juniors to replicate) and almost made golf cool.   

4. Favourite tournament? 

The Masters just above the Open.  Being at the same course every year seems to make the wining moments more memorable.  Plus the two greatest wins of all time, the 1997 and 2019 Tiger wins.   

5. Best golf holiday destination? 

I can’t choose, anywhere with good drinking and golf, I enjoy a good mix of golf and drinking for a golf trip so anywhere really, Spain, Scotland, Ireland… 

Ed note: Knowing Jacko as I do I am not in the least surprised he said anywhere with good drinking 🍻 

6. Your top 3 tips for other golfers to improve? 

Hit it further. 

Get better at long putts 

Get better at short putts 

7. What are you currently working on within your game? 

8. Current swing thought/s if any? 

Trying to move into flexion on my downswing to prevent the opposite happening.  Feel like my chest is moving down and creating a pinch in my left part of pelvis. 

9. Drive for show, putt for dough or other way round? 

Drive for Show, Putt for dough 

10. Do you do any work with your Stats? if so what platform do you use and any further comments? 

No but I should 

11. Do you have a golf coach/instructor? if so who?  Do you follow any swing methods (stack and tilt, rotary, MORAD, one plane etc etc 

I change golf instructors too often.  I seem to use different elements of what different instructors have taught me. 

12. Favourite training aids? If any 

Golf net in my garden, nothing better than mindlessly smashing balls. 

13. WITB?  Any planned upgrades? 

Callaway Epic Driver (Needs an upgrade) 

Taylor Made  2 iron

Titleist T100 irons 

Vokey SM8 wedges 52, 54, 60 

Scotty Cameron Putter 

 Best golf anecdote: 

In 2002 I was at Pinehurst North Carolina on the range on course No7.  It was just me and a lady member and randomly there was a ‘tramp’ hanging around on the range.  Whilst we were hitting balls the tramp urinated on the range, the lady was offended and left.  The tramp came over to me and started talking to me, saying that I wasn’t that good at ball striking.  He was overweight and most of his teeth were missing, he also had stains down his top.  He asked if he could hit some shots with my club so I let him.  He had a strange swing but hit struck it perfect, he hit more and every shot was identical, I’ve never seen anyone hit an identical trajectory shot over and over like this before.  He mumbled to me after every shot about how good he was and how rubbish I was.  We alternated for about an hour, every shot he hit was identical and he said every shot I hit was rubbish.   

I drove back to the pro shop after an hour and told the guys that there was a tramp on the range and he’s the best ball striker I’ve ever seen, they all laughed “that’s not a tramp, that’s Moe Norman” they said!!!

Ed note: Moe Norman !!!!!!!!!!!! Jacko casually hit balls with the absolute legend that is Moe Norman who Tiger Woods said is one of only two players to have ever “owned” their swing and didn’t have a clue who it was - WOW!

Thanks a lot Paul and best of luck at your new golf club down in the Cotswolds (I hear through the grapevine you have already won a Scratch major there 👌 )

Coming soon to a “A Round with Jerry”…..

• Another interview with a double Club Champion.

• A deep dive into last art of Plumb Bobbing (green reading method)

• Review of Precision Golf’s premium(££) club fitting service.

• The real truth about Golf and Consistency

• The swing method to hit tight powerful draws every time!

Stay tuned 🙏

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