John Erickson (golfer)

John Erickson
Personal information
Born (1964-01-05) January 5, 1964
Nationality  United States
Career
College Fresno State
Status Professional
Former tour(s) PGA Tour of Australasia
Canadian Tour
Professional wins 1

John Erickson (born January 5, 1964) is an American professional golfer who played the Canadian Tour from 1987 to 1994 and the PGA Tour of Australasia Tour from 1987 to 1992.

Competition

Erickson was a top national collegiate player at Fresno State - Sun Bowl All American, 1985 Big West Conference champion, NCAA All-American as well as a quarter finalist in the 1983 U.S. Amateur. As a pro he won several events worldwide including the 1991 Windsor Charity Classic shooting a 17 under par tournament record score of 271 (68-67-67-69) on the Canadian Tour. He was one of the last players to win an international event using a persimmon driver. In 1991, Erickson was a Sony World ranked professional player.

In November 2008, Erickson made a return to professional competition and the winner's circle taking home a 7 stroke victory in the Las Vegas Classic Club Open played at Las Vegas National Golf Club which hosted the Las Vegas Invitational on the PGA Tour throughout the 1960s and 1970s. The event was unique in that it required players to use equipment no later than 1979. No metal woods, long putters, or wedges over 56 degrees were allowed. The event followed the rules and guidelines of the Traditional Rules of Golf (TRGA).

The Golfing Machine

Erickson was an early protégé of the controversial teaching method "The Golfing Machine" that was based upon the book of the same name written by Homer Kelley. The Golfing Machine drew from physics and geometry, breaking the golf swing down into 24 components, 4 power accumulators, 16 variations, and 4 imperatives. The objective nature of the teaching methodology differs from the past in that the teacher must remain objective and not inject a subjective or mysterious nature into instruction. "Complexity is far more simple and workable than mystery" quoted from "The Golfing Machine" (preface). Bobby Clampett, and Mac O'Grady were also having success using the Golfing Machine model around this time period.

Retirement

In 1994 Erickson retired from competition to pursue other non golf interests. As a golf purist, he believed woods should be made of wood or persimmon, strongly opposed perimeter weighted irons, and believed golf courses were sacred sites to celebrate and play the ancient game, not a vehicle to sell real estate home lots. Erickson believed golf should be a game of physical and mental skill, much like Chess where the rules for play are honored and respected. He believed the USGA sold out to equipment makers, prostituting the game for profit, forcing a new technology upon golf, which in the past had been a game of integrity and tradition. Erickson believed the world's classic old courses were not meant to be lengthened and in doing so, disgraced the design, shape, and intent of the holes these visionary architects so masterfully crafted. Erickson is outspoken about his support for famous golf architect Alister MacKenzie's ideals, who believed golf should be walked, and the game should be more about skill than the pursuit of technological advances in equipment.

Erickson lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and still plays golf with persimmon and blade style irons, and rarely plays a round with anyone using metal woods or perimeter weighted irons.

Author

Erickson has been a consultant for the Traditional Rules of Golf Association (TRGA) and has been a contributing author and part of the TRGA brain trust.

Erickson is also working on a book about the golf swing.

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