Eagles Eagles Eagles

May 16, 2013 / The Grateful Golfer / 4 Comments

What is cooler than getting an eagle! Ok, a hole in one for sure……I know a double eagle! But back to reality. Eagles are a goal of mine every year. I try to make five eagles every year. Last year I only had three! But with my new driver and three wood, I hit the ball a bit longer so I am anticipating more opportunities to make eagle. I already had one opportunity this year and missed.

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!

Happy Mother’s Day

May 12, 2013 / The Grateful Golfer / 5 Comments

Today is a special day! This is the day that everyone should be grateful to their mother for all the wonderful things they have done for us. My mother was awesome! She was an avid golfer and picked the game up at 44 years young. She cared, loved, guided and shaped me into the person I am today. She was always my guiding light. I am truly grateful for all the wonderful things she did for me through the years.

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 Fifth Major

May 10, 2013May 10, 2013 / The Grateful Golfer / Leave a comment

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!

Four Bad Holes

May 9, 2013May 9, 2013 / The Grateful Golfer / 1 Comment

Today I played Timberwolf Golf Course in Sudbury, Ontario. Our pilgrimage to this course was well worth the trip. The fairways were in great shape and the greens were in pretty good shape. We played in under 4 hours and everyone had a great time.

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.

Grateful to be Golfing

May 8, 2013 / The Grateful Golfer / 2 Comments

Well, I have two games under my belt and each time I played my game was a bit better. The first round I was lucky to finish because I was tired and not at all ready for a round of golf. But, I was grateful to be playing and I have not complaints.

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!