Get To Know Your Pro: 10 Questions with Hank Vereschzagin, Apprentice Professional

Welcome to our new series, Get to Know Your Pro: 10 Questions with… where we delve in to what REALLY makes our golf professionals tick!

Up first is Hank Vereschzagin, an Apprentice Professional at the Haggin Oaks Golf Complex in Sacramento, CA.

Hank was born in Sacramento and attended Christian Brothers H.S. and played varsity baseball. He then played Division I baseball at Centenary College in Shreveport, LA. Hank currently carries a plus handicap and is at the beginning stages of working toward his PGA membership.

Hank kindly took a few moments out of his day to answer our questions.

B: If golf had a walkup song to the 1st tee, like in baseball, what would be yours and why?

H: (Laughing) Miserlou by Dick Dale

B: First golf club you ever bought?

H: That would be the Northwestern Chi Chi Rodriguez Set. I saved up an entire year of allowance to purchase on my own. It included the 2-wood, 3-iron, 5-iron, 7-iron, 9-iron and pitching wedge.

B: Who taught you how to golf?

H: Didn’t take first formal lesson until I was 22 from Clyde Daniels at Bing Maloney Golf Course. Before I took lesons I read Ben Hogan’s “5 Lessons” and Jack Nicklaus “Golf My Way”.

B: How many pairs of golf shoes do you own?

H: This may get embarrassing… Oh, let’s see (starts counting under breath)…. 6 Footjoys…. 4 Adidas…. 15 Pairs of golf shoes. Wait. Change that to 18. I have 3 more pair coming!

B: Lowest round ever shot?

H: 63 at Rancho Murieta South Course. First time playing that course. August 25, 2015.

B: What is your least favorite thing to do on a golf course?

H: Shank a golf ball.

B: Favorite Golfers?

H: Fave golfers now on Tour?

B: Doesn’t have to be, could be of all time, but if you’d like to go with today’s golfers…

H: Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Morgan Hoffman and Lydia Ko.

B: Who influenced you the most?

H: Influenced me the most? That would have to be Hogan and Nicklaus.

B: Favorite Course to Play?

H: Pasa Tiempo in Santa Cruz. It’s an Alister MacKenzie designed course. In fact, his final home was built there.

B: Who’s swing would you like to have and why?

H: Ben Hogan had one of the best swings ever. Can I pick two?

B: Sure.

H: Tiger Woods in 2000 when he was the best player to swing a club. I model my swing and tempo on VJay Singh and Fred Couples. Everyone has a natural tempo and if I try to mimic theirs, I get my best results.

Thanks, Hank!

Below you’ll find a bonus tip from Hank on drills for distance control putting: