Seltzer set up a 9-hole round with the student to settle the matter. The challenge? The student would hit the ball until it reached 100 yards from the green. Seltzer would take over from there. They would total the strokes as though the two of them were one man playing. "If we didn’t break 45 for 9 holes, I would give him a free full game series of lessons," recalls Seltzer, "If we did break 45, he would have to take the short game series." Together, teacher and student shot 38. The student took the short game series from Seltzer, and after only two lessons, he shot 84. Two months later and six lessons in all on short game found the student shooting high 70’s, low 80’s every time. "It was wonderful," sighs Seltzer.

When it comes to working on his own game, Seltzer hits the dome in the winter for full power shots, focusing on the basics: grip, stance, alignment and posture. During the season – in the summer – Seltzer spends 80% of his practice time on his short game, practicing at least three hours a week. Having won numerous state titles and played in a U.S. Open and five PGA Championships as well as 16 U.S. Club Pro Championships, Seltzer knows the importance of developing a good short game. In fact, he encourages beginners to learn the basics of the short game first.

"Learn to chip and pitch well," advises Seltzer, "It will carry over into the long game." Seltzer adds that learning to grip the club properly first is very important for beginners, then they can learn to swing the club – they shouldn’t focus on hitting the ball. Intermediate golfers should emphasize alignment, posture and swing motion as well as the fundamentals of swinging rather than hitting. Of course, the short game is key to advancing these players. Mental toughness is critical to the advanced player. "These players need to make good decisions and trust them," says Seltzer.

If things aren’t going well for Seltzer during a round, he tells himself to just take one shot at a time. He tries not to think or worry about what’s already happened; he tries equally hard not to imagine what could happen. "The most important shot is the one I have right now," notes Seltzer, "That’s what I tell myself out there." Such concentration paid off at the 1987 Michigan Open when he was tied for the lead going to the 9^th hole on the last day of the tournament at "The Bear" at Grand Traverse Resort. He hit a hole-in-one with a 6-iron at the 179-yard par 3 over water to a back pin placement. It gave him the momentum to shoot 32 on the back and win by six strokes.

Most students come to Seltzer looking for consistency. He meets their needs by showing them why a golf ball does what it does. "I try to help them understand what they have to do to make the ball do what they want it to do," says Seltzer. Through drills and varying positions, Seltzer demonstrates the proper swing motion needed to create different results. He encourages students to pay attention to the motion they make during the swing and how it affects the ball.

Born in Flint, Michigan, Seltzer now resides in Grand Blanc with his wife of 28 years, Pam, and their children, John (21) and Stacey (17). Seltzer attended Flint Southwestern High School and Mott Community College; he played golf for both, having first picked up the game at age 13. His favorite course to play is Pinehurst #2, and he’ll hop a plane to Palm Springs, California – his favorite golf travel destination - whenever he gets a chance. Where ever he plays, he always marks his ball with a dime, heads up.

"I like teaching golf because it’s great helping people understand their swings and discovering why things happen the way they do in their swings," says Seltzer. More than likely, there are many more puzzles out there for Seltzer to solve. Thanks for sharing, Jack! You can e-mail Jack Seltzer for more information at Golf4js51@aol.com.