"IF YOU LIKE GOLF"
weekly online golf column
by
Chris Dortch

August 21, 2001

After shooting a shocking 82 in the final round of the Bear Trace Invitational early last month, Baylor senior Josh Nelms said he was tired of golf.

"I’m going to take a little time off," Nelms said after his 82 followed an opening-round 67.

Nelms might have taken some time off from playing golf, but he didn’t take a break from practicing. The root of his problems at Bear Trace weren’t hard to spot. His tee shots were all over the lot, a problem that had hampered him for a long time.

Nelms went to work. Fortunately for him, his uncle Mike Nelms is head professional at Creeks Bend and one of the more accomplished players in state history, having won the Tennessee Open twice (1981, ’85), the Tennessee Amateur (’74) and the TSSAA Championship (’71). Nelms knows a thing or two about the golf swing, and imparted some of that wisdom to his nephew.

"We worked on shortening up my swing quite a bit," Josh Nelms said. "I was taking it back way past parallel and I’d just lose control. I just wanted to hit my driver like I do my irons. Usually when I hit the ball in the fairway, I’m in pretty good shape."

Nelms’ hard work has paid big dividends, as evidenced by last week, when he finished tied for sixth in the state amateur at The Golf Club of Tennessee—a tough, Tom Fazio-designed track—and second by a stroke at the Brainerd Invitational.

Nelms shot rounds of 71-73-71-73 at The Golf Club, and though his driving wasn’t perfect, it was a lot better.

"I didn’t drive it particularly well there," Nelms said. "But I still hit seven or eight fairways. A bad day now is a lot better than it used to be."

Nelms got a real education in the final round as he was paired with Clay Uselton, who shot 67 and finished second behind winner Tim Jackson, and Rob Long, who shot 68 and finished fourth.

"Those guys were tearing it up on the front," Nelms said. "I was just trying to make pars, and they were making birdies."

Nelms hung in there with the two veteran amateurs despite making a triple-bogey at the ninth hole. He finished his round by shooting 2-under-par on the back nine.

"That did a lot for my confidence," Nelms said.

Mike Nelms thinks his nephew is about to emerge as one of the state’s best players, and sees a future for the 17-year-old in college golf.

"I think the work on his swing is paying off," Nelms said. "His problem has been that in pressure situations—which you strive to get in—he had a tendency to spray his driver. He’s always been a good chipper, putter and iron player.

"But he’s the kind of kid who will work, which is unseen this day and time. He works at it hard, seven days a week."

King Oehmig, Nelms’ coach at Baylor, has delighted in the youngster’s improvement.

"Josh is a fine young man," Oehmig said. "Intelligent, hard working and serious—and completely unspoiled by his parents. If I were in combat, I would want Josh Nelms in the foxhole with me. He is tough and determined. He will play golf in college and do well there, and even beyond. He’s a pleasure to coach."

Nelms is already getting overtures from Middle Tennessee State coach Johnny Moore, who has been successful in recent years mining the Chattanooga area for talent. Former Baylor star Richard Spangler played at MTSU, as does former Soddy-Daisy stalwart Patrick Williams.

"I’d love to play college golf," Nelms said. "I’m wide open right now, but we’ll just see how it goes. Right now, I have no individual goals, except to play better at the state [high school] tournament. I’d love to help us win another state championship."