For shorter hitters like me (250 yards of the tee) eagle opportunities are difficult, however I have a plan!  On par 5s that I need a I great drive, I focus on smooth clean contact.  I do not over swing because I usually lose distance because something is out of sync.  Smooth and controlled is the way to go!

Next is my approach shot.  If I am not hitting my three wood, I use one more club than needed! Yup, that is my secret?  The reason is to make sure I swing smooth and controlled.  This type of swing ensures I stay on target and I have enough distance to actually reach the green.  Through the years, experience has shown that I have routinely under clubbed hitting into the green from 215 – 230 yards out.

Last trick is to sink the putt.  While putting, I hit the ball one foot past the hole; instead of six inches on a normal putt?  This extra strength on my putt ensures I do not leave my it short!  And we all know how much that sucks!

Well this is my plan to increase my eagles this year.  What do you think?

I am a grateful golfer!  See you on the links!

I remember when my Mom was 67 years old.  We were talking on the phone and she asked how she could lower her score and increase her distance of the tee.  Both are not necessarily connected, but in this case they were.  I told her she should practice her short game and putting for 20 minutes every second day.  Additionally, I suggested she to go the driving range for a small bucket on opposite days and practice a long controlled swing with her driver.  Additionally, I mentioned that she should stretch to be more flexible.  About 5-10 minutes a day.  She decided to give it a try and to no big surprise it lowered her score.  Distance off the tee did not change, but she was more consistent.  She passed at age 75 and was still breaking 100!

Happy Mother’s Day to all those wonderful moms.  Today is your special day; may it be filled of love, joy, and happiness!

The Players Championship played this weekend is lauded as the Fifth Major.  It is the only significant tournament owned and administered by the PGA Tour.  The majors all have different sponsors.  The Masters is owned by the Augusta National Golf Club; the U.S. Open by the United States Golf Association (USGA); The Open Championship by The R&A, and the PGA Championship by the Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA of America).

This tournament was created in 1974 and Jack Nicklaus won the inaugural tournament.  This tournament has a short history, but gathers an elite field every year.  The tournament runs every year at about the same time with the final round being played on Mother’s Day.  It has a permanent home at TPC Sawgrass since 1982 at the stadium course.

Having the reputation as the Fifth Major is very tough.  The Players Championship is a very young tournament, but has some great highlights.  Tom Alter, PGATOUR.COM, outlines 40 history shots that capture your imagination.  One of the favourites was in “2007 – In the third round, Phil Mickelson’s tee shot at the 10th hole found a fairway bunker. His only shot to the green was through a small gap in the trees. The leader couldn’t win the tournament with this one shot, but he could lose it. So “Phil the Thrill” threaded his approach shot through the trees and onto the green. Climbing out of the bunker, he said to his caddie Jim “Bones” McKay, “I didn’t want to tell you what I was doing.” Mickelson went on to win the first PLAYERS in May by two shots.”  There are many more great stories and are worth a read.

Every tournament has great memories.  If one researched enough, they could find enough great shots to fill a book.  It could be the fact that it has the richest prize money of any tournament.  Or that the winner receives 600 Fed Ex points for winning like the other Majors.  Or that the field is made of the top 30-50 players in the world. Ultimately, this tournament has plenty to offer and continues to be elevated into the top five tournaments of the year.

The greatness of The Players Championship can be supported in the facts on many levels.  However, what is the ultimate driving force that makes it the Fifth Major?  It is RESPECT.  The respect it receives from the players.

In an article by ESPN.COM, on Tuesday Tiger Woods is quoted, “We have our four major championships, and that’s that, …….But if there was going to be another one, this would be it. This is the best field that we have.  We have guys from all over the world playing and, next to the PGA, probably one of the deepest and stiffest fields we’ll face.”

USA Today Sports penned “The Players just gets bigger and bigger,” two-time Players champion Davis Love III said. “The PGA Tour has done a great job in making this our major, the players’ major, and it’s a special tournament.”

The New York Daily News quotes the number 2 in world, “It’s funny,” said Rory McIlroy, who has missed the cut all three times he’s played here.  “It’s a golf course where you look at the field and you’re like, ‘Anyone can win.”

The majority of the golf world respects the Players Championship as an elite tournament.  The players themselves are eager to try their hand at one of the toughest competitions of the year.  As stated by the players, this tournament has proven year in and year out that it is a top tier professional golf tournament.  It is time to give The Players Championship its due and make it the Fifth Major!

I am a grateful Golfer!  See you on the links!

As games go, I was fairly consistent.  I drove the ball well, chipped strong and lag-putted very well.  Overall, I was very happy with my round.  Unfortunately, I had four bad holes.  I am not complaining, but it does baffle me sometimes when I can shoot 6 pars in a row….then a triple.  On the first hole, I was not warmed up and for my lack of preparation I was given a double from the course and I was not in any trouble!  The other double, I actually lost a ball and lipped out for a bogey…so that was okay.  The last bad hole was a bogey on the second hole….such is life.  So if you are adding up my score, it was an 80 with a triple, 2 doubles and a bogey.  Actually, a pretty solid round.

So what did I learn today?  I must start implementing my pre-playing routine.  I must use my own advice and take 5 minutes in my car to focus my mind before hopping out and running to the tee.  I must practice my putting and chipping before I start.  And finally, I must make sure I have all my equipment ready before going to the course….it helps reduce my panic of gathering my stuff!

Today was excellent.  As I do every-time I play, I learn something….or in this case relearn something.  Pre-playing routine is important to eliminating four bad holes!

I am a grateful golfer!  See you on the links.

The second round was more interesting.  Each hole was an adventure.  I would drive well and chip like a clown.  I would chip well and putt like a wimp!  I would putt well….actually I putted terrible because I 3-putted 7 greens.  I am not really disappointed though because this is exactly how every year starts.  On a side note, I shot 80 on the second round….44 – 36.

Regardless of the score, these are the things I am grateful for:

• Playing in the beautiful sun.
• Putting for eagle….and no I did not leave it short!
• Two birdies in on the back nine.
• Hitting four greens in a row in regulation.
• Playing with two of my very good friends.
• Laughing, smiling, and joking around for 4 hours.

I am off to play golf tomorrow with three of my friends.  It is going to be fun and a little sad.  One of my friends is retiring from the military and starting a new chapter in his life.  We only have a short time left to play as much golf as possible.  He will be missed, but not forgotten.

I am a grateful golfer!  See you on the links!

Recently, a rash of fair play questions and rule infractions has plagued the professional tours. The questions regarding stretching or breaking the rules outright has darkened the positive side of golf.  More and more, the rules infractions are not being called by players or the referees on the course, but by viewers on television. That is right, one of the million viewers searched through the rules book and decided that a professional player thousands of miles away has broken the rules and must be penalized!

Of course everyone who follows golf knows about the Tiger Woods and Guan Tianlang rules challenges at this year’s Masters.  In both cases, the rules officials were under tremendous pressure to make an appropriate call.  In the case of Tiger Woods, a television viewer called in and then and only then did the rules committee take action.  Tiger Woods was not disqualified for signing an incorrect score card as many had suggested, but was assessed a two stroke penalty.

During the Wells Fargo Championship last weekend, Sergio Garcia experienced the same as Woods and Tianlang.  A viewer called the championship and stated that Sergio Garcia had marked his ball incorrectly and should be penalized two strokes. Garcia said if had committed a foul he would accept the ruling because he did not want to be considered a cheater.  After review, the rules committee stated there was no foul and Garcia was not penalized.

A person calling in to professional golf tournaments to challenge possible rules infractions is nothing new.  Probably the most famous and likely the first incident occurred with Craig Stadler during the 1987 Andy Williams Open at Torrey Pines in San Diego.  After hitting his drive under a large overhanging branch, Stadler put down a towel, knelt on it and hit his ball.  He continued for the rest of the round and signed his score card.  Later it was determined that he had violated rule 13-3, which prohibits a player “building a stance” and was disqualified from the event for signing an incorrect score card.

In golf, it is completely understandable that if a player breaks the rules, they should step up and accept their punishment.  Additionally, the game insists that players police themselves and to play with integrity and honour.  Unfortunately, the prize money and pressure of playing in front of millions of people may cloud the judgement of some players.  This no way suggests that any player would intentionally break the rules, however some rules are broken and penalties need to be assessed.

So who should be the referees in golf?  Should golf have 1 million referees ranging from TV viewers to the players to the rules officials on the course?  If the TV viewers are included, then golf would be the only sport where fans could directly impact the outcome of a tournament.  This may be a good thing because it would provide an interactive aspect that the PGA may build upon.

As an avid golfer, supporting this expansion of rule enforcement is a bad idea.  It would detract from the spirit of golf.  Players are supposed to play with integrity and honour.  If removing the onus of players to police their own actions and those of their playing partners, golf would become less then it should be.  Currently, the rules committees and the players of any professional golf tournament are plenty to ensure that the rules of golf are followed and applied equally.  Television viewers need to stop calling in when they believe they see an infraction, it only takes away from the spirit of golf.

I could go into all the poor shots I made (and there were a few), but that is not what this blog is about!  It is about being grateful for playing golf and focusing on the fun and positive aspects of hitting the links.  So here is what was great yesterday.

I played with two of my good friends.  We laughed, cried, joked, and supported each other around 18 holes of fun in the sun.  I have golfed quite often with these guys and every time I walk away feeling happy and grateful.  That is what good friends are all about.

The weather was fantastic.  A little wind, bright and sunny, no bugs and the temperature was perfect – 23 degrees Celsius.

I made great contact on some of my shots.  Especially with my new Callaway Razr Fit Driver and 3 Wood.  I have added about 10 – 15 yards distance from my old clubs.  I am excited because using these clubs should only get better as the season unfolds.

I chipped pretty well.  My 52 degree Vokey Wedge was working extremely well.  However, my 56 and 60 degree wedges need some work.  Although, my best shot came from my 60 degree wedge.  I was 5 yards off the green and the pin was 10 paces on.  The grass was thick, so I opened the face slightly, swung with a firm grip and flopped the ball within 6 inches of the hole….and yes I made the putt.  My short game will get better, especially when I practice!

Lastly, I carried my clubs.  Some may not think that this is something to be grateful for, but I do because I like to carry if possible.  Golf is a sport that does require a certain level of physical fitness and carrying my clubs is a good indicator if I am ready for the golf season. I am not far off, so I will be hitting the gym next week.

Yesterday’s round of golf was fantastic.  It was a great way to start my season.  I am looking forward to getting out there on Monday or Tuesday!

I am a grateful golfer!  See you on the links!

As I hit started to hit balls, I realized something:  I should have brought a shovel!  I was digging and scooping and, and, and!  It was not pretty.  I did hit a few good shots with my 7-iron, 3 wood and driver.  However, I planted a garden with the rest.

The main reason I only hit a few balls is to reacquaint my body with golf.  The twisting and moving of my hips and back.  Trying not to hold the club too tight.  The alignment of my body to the direction I want to hit.  All these are important and my experience is not to over do the first time out.

Tomorrow, I hit the links…not that I am ready, but the season started late this year so I am going to compressing my preseason routine.  It was great to swing a club today.  I am a grateful golfer!  See you on the links!

This is most difficult time of the year for golfers.  We wait patiently for spring and every day like today is another body blow.  However, we are tough and we will take it without fear because we know the warm weather is around the corner.

I have heard the rumors and stories of when the courses in the area are going to open and I can hardly wait.  I am very confident the driving ranges will be open next week and golf season will officially begin.  So goodbye snow and move over for the warm sunshine of spring.

I am a grateful golfer.  See you on the links!

I read the rule book.  The RCGA 2013 rule book is not out yet, so I read last years rule book.  I believe it is important to acquaint myself with the dos and don’ts of golf.  It helps with the finer points like the difference between a red and yellow hazard.  Reading the rule book helps me prepare for tournaments or other competitions with those who do not read the rule book.

I watch a couple of golf movies.  I will watch anything new, but if that is not possible I will watch Happy Gilmore, Tin Cup, and The Greatest Game Ever Played.  They are fun movies and they help me mentally to prepare for anything on the golf course.

I check my equipment.  This year I am changing my grips.  I have used different grips through the years, but this year I am trying tacki-mac.  They are similar to Golf Pride Tour Wrap, but cheaper.  Additionally, I washed my clubs, prepare my carry bag and mark my new golf balls.  I also polish my shoes and change my spikes!

Last thing I do is think about what I to accomplish this season.  Each year I make several goals and work to achieve them during my practice and times on the links.  I have not made any quite yet, but I am sure one will be to break par and another to win a tournament.

Traditions are important to me.  The allow me to prepare mentally and equipment-wise for the upcoming season.  Regardless on how I play each year, my yearly traditions are special.  How do you prepare for your season?

I am a grateful golfer!  See you on the links!