Sports

The Putting Doctor Talks Golf

Joe Bermel explains the keys to consistent putting.

Joseph Bermel Jr. is well known in the Sayville community as he has lived there for many years, but not everyone knows him as he is known in the golf world – he is The Putting Doctor.

Bermel, who is one of 15 children raised in Islip Terrace and a Chaminade High School graduate, was first on the golf course as a caddy in eighth grade. He spent a summer making tips as a caddy and then a college friend, at the University of Dayton Ohio, got him interested in playing golf.

He quickly realized that he had a gift for putting and considering that putting is 40 percent of the total golf game, Bermel realized that he should share his gift.

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Approximately 30 years ago, Bermel started teaching golf. He offers private and group putting instruction all year round. Also available are private pitching and chipping lessons, as well as the general swing.

"There is an emotional high for a golfer to watch his ball go far," said Bermel. "You don't get the same feeling when you are putting so that is why people spend so much time at the driving range and not enough time practicing their putting skills."

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Driving, Bermel explained, is only 14 percent of the game.

When asked what the most common mistake that he sees in his putting students, Bermel said that people tend to decelerate on the forward putting stroke. He also added that people tend not to finish the putting stroke, and he helps them to correct this.

The Putting Doctor is passionate about putting. His study of the putting game, disciplined approach, and most importantly, commitment to practice, initially helped him maintain a single digit handicap over the past 30 years. This dedication and resulting success helped him develop easy to learn methods to share and teach others to be successful at putting and thereby shoot lower golf scores, thus enabling them to enjoy the game much better.

Bermel's students continue to come back for more lessons to further enhance their golf game. "I really enjoyed my lesson," said Elizabeth, one of Bermel's students." I've played two rounds of golf since and my putting has been spectacular. I think Tiger should pay him a visit."

Seven years ago, Bermel was branded The Putting Doctor and he put out a DVD "How to Putt Well," which is available at his website www.theputtingdoctor.com. Bermel offers gift certificates for lessons as well. Contact him at 589-1384 or visit his website.


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