Bazzle dazzles with smooth golf swing
- Updated: October 7, 2014
GLENNON BAZZLE
By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today
OXFORD – A wiry, senior golfer made his way onto the tee and stared down the wide fairway laid out in front of him. At the proper moment, he unfurled a smooth, fluid swing and sent the ball well past every one of his younger playing partners.
Glennon Bazzle will be 71 in nine days, but his golf swing was as fresh and uncomplicated as any of the best ball strikers on tour. It’s the product of a lifetime of study — not only of the swing, but the mechanics that go into it.
He regularly sent his drives 235-240 yards in Monday’s stroke play round of the Masters Games of Alabama at Cider Ridge Golf Course, an outcome much younger players would envy. He says there’s no reason recreation players his age can’t be swing as smoothly.
“What I know is no one can swing like anyone else and that’s where the problem is: Most people are trying to do like somebody else,” he said. “That’s why instructors run into a whole lot of problems, because they want to go by the book and if you’re not doing it this way than the student feels as though they are failing and they lose interest, and that’s not going to work.
“Most people want to hit a golf ball, they don’t want to swing a golf club. When I realized it’s a swing and not a hit, then that’s what I do.”
Chances are you haven’t heard of Bazzle, but some of the biggest names in the game have. His theories on the swing grew out his days as a master masseur at some of the most prestigious hotel resorts and country clubs in the country. It was through that experience he discovered a correlation between improper swing mechanics and the injuries he was seeing on his table.
In time he wrote a best-selling book – Anatomy of the Perfect Golf Swing. Oddly enough, it started out as a coloring book for children, but now has been printed in four languages and is on the shelves of some of the most famous personalities – teachers, pros and players — in the game.
Steve Akers, a starter at Cider Ridge, recognized Bazzle and regaled him with a story about buying a books from the author personally at Highland Park. “It had some good stuff in it,” he said.
Some believers didn’t have to read the book to know the New Orleans native was on to something.
“We were playing in a tournament one day,” Bazzle said. “I’m taking a practice swing – it wasn’t even my turn – and this guy was sitting on a cart about two groups behind me, he jumps up and says, ‘Oh man, that’s what I’ve been looking for. That’s what I want.’ He knew it when he saw it.”
Now, the younger guys he plays with believe he’s taking advantage of them playing a forward tee. On Monday he shot 85 to finish second in his age division.
“They tell me you can’t play up there; they want me to go back to the blues or the whites,” Bazzle says with a laugh. “I tell them when you get old enough you can come up here with me.”
Steve McFarland, a 52-year-old custodial worker from Athens, won the first medal of the Games when he shot 1-under-par 71 in the golf tournament. His round was highlighted by four birdies.
He came in with an impressive golf resume, having won club championships at Creek’s Bend GC in Hixson, Tenn., and Dogwood Hills in Flat Rock.
He got interested in the Masters Games while caring for his elderly father. He plans to compete in several events this week and later Monday won his age division in the men’s softball throw.
“I’ve just been playing well,” he said. “I really worked hard. I really focused on this.”
MASTERS GAMES GOLF RESULTS
Men’s Division
50-54
Steve McFarland, Athens 36-35—71
Rick Callahan, Pell City 47-48—95
55-59
Al Muskewitz, Anniston 37-40—77
Joel Hamm, Cherokee 42-45—87
Steve Reasonover, Trussville 55-50—105
Royce Duncan, Loxley 70-67—137
60-64
Steve Schmitt 43-39—82
Paul Weinberg, Meridianville 41-41—82
Steve Frazier, Valley 42-49—91
Russell Paulson, Pinson 49-46—95
65-69
Tommy Irvine, Tallassee 41-43—84
Glenn Neal 45-43—88
Thomas Rubidoux 45-51—96
Theo McConnell, Valley 48-53—101
70-74
Seth Granberry, Auburn 38-43—82
Glennon Bazzle, Birmingham 44-41-85
Mickey Moore, Albertville 46-48—94
Kerry Poland, Heflin 49-45—94
John Parris, Montgomery 47-51—98
Jimmy Gilson, Valley 47-51–98
75-79
Don Lambert, Trussville 40-38—78
Tommy Hatchett, Tallassee 42-38—80
Neal Hodo, McCalla 43-51—94
Mack Green, Oxford 45-50—95
80-84
Marion Price, Huntsville 38-39—77
Billy Ledbetter 38-42—80
John Lovett, Montgomery 37-43—80
Lawrence Miller, Valley 42-42—84
Ladies Division
60-64
Annie Ingram, Weaver 48-49—97
65-69
Tammie Gilbert 43-50—93
Barbara Gill, Weaver 49-49—98
Myrna Moline, Birmingham 57-56—113
Claudia Barbee, Silverhill 73-69—142
75-79
Edmonia Borden 45-53—98
Annie Lovett 52-49—101
Joyce Milner, Valley 65-69—134
80-84
Annye Braxton 49-51—100
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