Join us as we travel on the PGA Tour with Parker McLachlin, a former Punahou athlete. McLachlin and Castle alum Dean Wilson are the only Hawai'i golfers on the PGA Tour. McLachlin, Waikoloa's touring pro, will write his impressions on events that he has just completed and tournaments that are coming up on his calendar.

Aloha from Orlando!

After a busy West Coast swing, I was in need of some time off. So I took three weeks off the Tour. I spent some time with Sean Foley, my swing coach, in Orlando; did some skiing in Sun Valley; and spent time relaxing in Arizona sleeping in my own bed and getting back into my normal routine.

Growing up in Hawai'i, I obviously didn't spend much time snow skiing. But I've been fortunate that my wife, who grew up in California, has taught me over the past five years to survive on the slopes. We try to go skiing at least once a year as a nice getaway from golf in the spring.

The trip was successful, meaning I came back with no broken bones or torn ligaments! I'm not really the guy who gets a rush from doing jumps or weaving through trees. For me, it's more about being out there in a different environment.

Last week in Tampa was my first event since taking the time off. Even though I missed the cut, it was a good stepping stone. It was great to implement some of the changes Sean and I have been working on. We can sit on the range and perfect it but doing it under tournament pressure is different. I hit some great shots under pressure, controlled the ball well and felt like I made some big steps forward.

It's not an easy thing to implement changes to your swing. It doesn't feel like a natural movement at first. But I feel like I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, and I'm much closer to getting it down than when the tournament started. It's that natural progression and improvement that gets me excited about the weeks coming up.

Now I'm in Orlando for the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill. Kristy wasn't with me last week in Tampa, but I'm glad she's with me for this week's event. When she's not with me, I tend to eat a lot more takeout instead of healthier food.

The course here at Bay Hill is in excellent shape and this week's field is strong. With Tiger playing, it's sure to be exciting.

I'm looking forward to learning more about my new swing. This week will be challenging, but with great weather and a nice course, it should be a good one.

Mahalo,

Parker