Is Golfing Fun?

January 16, 2013January 16, 2013 / The Grateful Golfer / 7 Comments

Golf is a good walk spoiled – Mark Twain

Is golfing really fun? What is the major draw for people to spend 3 – 5 hours outside chasing a little white ball? I have heard, read and watched many aspects of the game, but is golf really fun? Well, I am here to say without a doubt that golf is fun…..if you get it!

Hole-In-One, 26 Jul 12, Osprey Links Golf Course

Throughout my life, many people have asked me about golf? They wondered why I devoted so much time to a sport that looked easy to play, but in actuality was very difficult. I would explain about the personal challenges, the uniqueness of each round, the enjoyment of spending times with new and old friends, but they never seemed to get it. They just could not grasp the concept of how golf enriches our lives.

I actually had this conversation not to long ago and it made me think of why I spend 25 hours a week practicing, playing and learning about a sport/hobby/pastime. Well, I have finally reach a definitive conclusion and I am sure it really only makes sense to me. My darling wife supports my golf habit, my friends laugh at my desire to constantly play, and my family have given up trying to explain it. So here is my reason why I love to play golf:

IT MAKES ME HAPPY! Yup that is it. It makes me happy. The joy I feel when I walk up to the first tee in anticipation of what is to come is something I have always enjoyed. Stroking a hole-in-one (three times) provides an almost unexplained sense of excitement. Walking early in the morning, experiencing the sunrise, listening to the birds and watching the wild life is so peaceful. Watching your friend achieve a milestone and sharing in their triumph. Connecting with people from around the world and sharing a common theme that only golf can offer is rewarding. Teaching your children how to play golf is priceless. I could go on and on, but I believe you get it!

I am grateful for being able to enjoy golf. It has brought untold joy into my life. I believe golf is the best sport in the world. I truly am a grateful golfer.

What has golf done for you?

When to Step Back

January 12, 2013January 12, 2013 / The Grateful Golfer / Leave a comment

We have all seen the famous shots of Tiger Woods stopping his swing on the down stroke and stepping back from the ball. Something disturbed his concentration and he reloaded for another shot. Also, I have seen players of all kinds step up to the ball, then something has changed and they take a step back. Additionally, I have seen players step up to ball and say after their hit that they should have stepped back from their ball.

So when is the best time to step back from the ball? And what should they do next?

I have not found any advice out on the net, so I am going to offer mine. Generally, I step away from the ball for three reasons:

I have chosen the wrong club. I was in between clubs and changed my mind. Usually, I am not confident on my club selection and realize I better make a change. This does not happen often, but course conditions, the wind or yardage are the contributing factors to wanting to make a change.

Something disturbs my pre-shot routine over the ball. This could be anything from my foot being in a hole that forces me to loose focus, a loud noise, someone talking, I am hungry, or being attacked by mosquitoes! Regardless, my pre-shot routine was altered and I needed to start again.

I lose my aiming line. Sometimes while standing over the ball, what I have decided does not match what I see over the ball. This causes some confusion so I must step back and re-evaluate my earlier decision. Most of the time my initial choice was the correct one. However, I had to make sure.

Basically, these are the majority of times that will cause me to step away from the ball. Regardless of the reason, it is vitally important that after stepping back from the ball, you go through your entire shot routine again. By shortening your shot routine, you increase your chances of playing a poor shot.

These are the reasons for me stepping back from the ball; are there any others?

Terminology – How Confusing!

January 10, 2013 / The Grateful Golfer / 3 Comments

I love to visit golf blogs. I have a few favorites and I like to post comments on great articles. Well the other day I was posting on MindfulGolfer.com regarding chipping and pitching. Well, not paying attention or something (actually not enough coffee probably) I confused golfing terms. I confused chipping and pitching. So I thought I would write the definitions of these terms to make sure I am all squared away. So here it goes:

Chip shot – a chip shot is generally a shot played around the green in which the player hits the ball into the air and rolls it forward towards the hole. The distance the ball travels in the air depends on the distance the ball is from the hole.

Pitch shot – is played from 30-60 yards. The ball goes high in the air with very little roll when the ball hits the green. The idea is to stop the ball quickly close to or in the hole.

Bump and Run – the ball has very little height after contact and lots of roll. It is generally used around the green in place of a chip shot.

More in-depth definitions can be found at About.com Golf.

The confusion occurred when I said I use my 7-iron for a pitch shot instead of chip shot or bump and run. Needless to say, I confused my host. I have clarified my remarks, but I realized how easy it is to confuse people when talking about golf. So in the future, I am going to make sure I use the correct terminology when talking about golf, especially to people who may not know their meaning anyway. I love learning new things! I am a grateful golfer!

Golfers and Their Toys!

January 8, 2013 / The Grateful Golfer / 1 Comment

This is my 100 Post. Thanks for reading.

Golfers love to talk about their clubs and equipment. I believe the most interesting pastime for Canadian golfers in the month of January is talking about the new stuff they received for Christmas.

Between Christmas and New Years, a friend and I went to Golf Town on our yearly pilgrimage. While in Golf Town, I bought a Callaway Razr Fit drive and 3 wood. It was a deal I could not pass up. My friend bought a PING cart bag and four-wheeled push cart. We were very happy with our purchases and are anxiously waiting for spring to try them out.

Today in the gym, another golfing friend asked me about my new “weapons”. I never told him about my purchase, but through our conversation I found out that my friend had told him. We excitedly talked about our purchases after he told me about his great deal on shoes.

Another time while waiting for a meeting to start, I had time to discuss my Golf Town trip with usual playing partner. He was unable go with us and I as I went through all the details he expressed joy for our success and disappointment he missed a trip to the golf store. We agreed to make a trip in the next month or so in search of some more deals.

I could go on and on, however I believe you get the picture. We Canadian Golfers love to tell stories during the winter months. We dream about the good times to come and the excitement of hitting the links for the first time. The more I think about it, the more grateful I am to be a golfer. Life is fantastic!

Do you have an stories to share about your recent golf purchases?

Golf vs Basketball – Is There a Comparison?

January 7, 2013 / The Grateful Golfer / 2 Comments

I have played golf and basketball most of my life. In my early years, basketball dominated most of my time, but as I slowly aged; golf started to take over as my number one sport. At 51, I ache way more after a basketball practice than I do after a game of golf. But can the two sports really be comparable? I say absolutely and here is how:

Both are played with round balls.
The goal is to put the ball in a hole.
Both take coordination to play. (unlike football and hockey – just kidding)
Both require practice to achieve success.
Both require intellect to play.
They are played before crowds (the pros anyway).
You can give advice on how to play (well maybe this is not a good idea).
You have to leave the couch to play them.
They are great ways to meet people.
They both are lots and lots of fun to play.

Okay, all joking aside, golf is really about having fun. We always talk about how to improve our game, what we could have done better during our round, but ultimately, if we were not having fun playing, than why would we play!

Golf and basketball have been my favorite sports through my life and I am grateful to have been able to enjoy them both.

How about you? See you on the links.