River Hills champ happy to promote local club

BY CARLA ALLEN

The Coast Guard

NovaNewsNow.com

Jody Swim is hoping to add another win to his record this week at the 2007 Nova Scotia Men’s Amateur Championship at the Seaview Golf & Country Club in North Sydney. The tournament begins this Wednesday, July 4.

Swim captured the Nike Nova Scotia Golf

Association mid-amateur championship at The Links at Penn Hills in Shubenacadie last month. His final round of an even-par 72 put him at 1-under over the 36-hole tournament and guaranteed him a spot with three others on the provincial team to compete at the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur championship from Aug. 21 to 24 at The Oaks Golf Club in Delaware, Ont.

In 2004 Swim made the provincial team and went to the Canadian Nationals in Chester.

The River Hills Golf & Country Club 15-year veteran member is pleased with the wins, but more for the club than himself.

“What means the most to me, is that this is going to be a showcase for River Hills,” he said.

“We’re not that well known in other areas of the province. I’m hoping we’re going to get recognized as a strong golfing area in Nova Scotia.”

Swim started tromping the course with his father when he was 10 and says his home turf has been a terrific training ground.

“I think it’s a real benefit to be a member here. It’s a tough course. The wind is always blowing and you have to learn how to play in the wind and to keep the ball low. When we go away we’re really well prepared for any conditions because this throws everything at us, the cold, the wind. There were four of us at the Mid-Am and we all had good finishes. I think three guys were in the top 20 from River Hills out of 130 golfers.”

Swim almost had to give up the season because of torn back ligaments he suffered from lobster fishing. He tried chiropractics and massage therapy, but it wasn’t until he sought help from acupuncture that he experienced relief.

“I had two sessions of acupuncture. It was just amazing. I went from not being able to play on a Wednesday morning, to playing in the tournament that weekend. It was unbelievable how much it helped,” he said.

The win at the Links also helped him deal with leaderboard jitters. After spotting the numbers and realizing he was the only one in the red (under par) he became really nervous.

“I started playing really defensive. I just wanted to make pars. I think that hurt me more than helped me to see that. Next time it will be easier. Next time I’ll be better prepared for it. I’ve been here before and I handled it,” he said.

Swim usually plays four to five times a week and says his strong points are staying focused and playing “smart golf”. Among his clubs are Calloway X20 Tour irons, a Ping G2 driver, a TaylorMade Burner 3-wood, and his favorite - a Nickent hybrid 3-iron.

“It’s a three-iron loft but it’s got a wood shaped head on it and it’s so much easier to hit than a three-iron. I can get the ball really up in the air with that,” he said.

For the Seaview tournament Swim will join a field of 143 golfers vying for one of four spots on the Nova Scotia team that will be competing at the 103rd Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, Aug. 10-17, at Riverside Country Club in Saskatoon, Sask.