Mark O’Meara has 16 PGA Tour victories, eight other wins world wide and he has captured two Majors, the 1998 Masters and British Open Championship. He turned pro in Ben Hogan’s office in 1980 after winning the U.S. Amateur championship.

Currently two of his favorite things are his new course design at Tuhaye, just outside of Park City, and fly fishing in Utah. He has a few things to say, so Hey, Listen Up!

The game of golf is not about perfection. No one has hit every shot in a tournament perfectly.

Balance, rhythm and the grip are the three most important things in the golf swing.

The long bunker shot just might be the hardest shot in golf.

Take care of the golf course, fix you ball marks and a few others while your playing partners are flubbing their putts.

You won’t win many tournaments by leaving it short.

Fix your swing – then worry about your aim.

Control your distances, good players will always be about pin high.

This game is really about good misses and making the right club selection.

Today’s golf equipment, clubs and balls, are fine. If we roll the ball back, that’s like saying “let’s not let anyone over 55 drive a car.”

Today’s athletes are bigger and stronger. Of course they are going to hit it farther. Jack Nicklaus was better than Sam Snead and Sam Snead was better than Gene Sarazen. It’s just always going to be that way.

With all of the improvement in equipment – we all still hit crappy shots.

If you want to be a great player – practice your short game. You don’t have to have great strength to be a great short game player. You have to be able to pitch and putt.

You can’t expect to have a great round by showing up at the course and running to the first tee. Get to the course early enough to get some swings in, start with your short irons and wedges. Find a rhythm.

Whatever club I’m hitting well that day becomes my favorite club. Some days none of them are my favorite clubs.

The tough thing about golf is that you’re accountable for every shot — it can be humbling. With fly fishing, if you cast one into the tree you can cut it off and cast again.

I’ve played Wasatch Mountain, Jeremy Ranch, Park Meadows and the Country Club but if I’m in Utah you will most likely find me on the river fishing. The upper Provo is my favorite.

The great thing about Utah, besides the beauty of the mountains, is that the ball goes farther.

Choose your tee box so you can enjoy your round. Here at Tuhaye we have five different tees. Don’t bite off more than you can chew.

When I slow down, I will be hunting for golf balls
here at Tuhaye – when I’m not on the river.

16 Wins, 2 Majors and all I’m recognized for is being Tiger’s best friend.

Golf is a game of control, keep it in play.