Golf is an amazing sport because of the countless possibilities each hole offers every time we play it. If you play a hole 100 times, the variables of wind, distance, and tee block placement make that hole dead easy or crazy difficult! Most course superintendents take pride in setting up each hole so all players get the maximum enjoyment out of their time on the links. However, every once in a while a hole slips through the cracks and this happens!
Month: January 2016
Unacceptable Behaviour in Golf
Golf is a game of etiquette, professionalism, good manners, and fair play. Or at least I think it is! Over the past while, I have notice a change in what is considered acceptable behavior on the golf course. An increase of professional players throwing their clubs in the water, purposely breaking their clubs, and flopping their clubs out of their hands at the end of a swing seems to be growing in frequency.
Slow Play Costs Jordan Spieth
Slow Play! No Way!
As one of my must read golf blogs, White Dragon Golf, by Pete Robbins, hammered home a misunderstood point about a contentious topic: Slow Play! This what Pete wrote:
World #1 Jordan Spieth received a slow play penalty at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championships.
Jordan reported that he had no idea why he got the penalty in the first place, he said it was a surprise to his playing partners Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler as well. The official ruling was that he took too long over a putt, while already being on the clock.;
“It didn’t make any sense to me”
“It didn’t affect the round, but Rory and Rickie were surprised as well.”
Under the European Tours slow play policy, two monitoring penalties will result in a fine, of about $2,800.
Rory commented;
“It was a bit of a weird one.”
“Sometimes the refs have to use common sense. With the time we’re allowed if you take an extra look at a putt you’re over the time.”
“But if we’re in position relative to the group ahead there’s no reason to time us.”
So I guess walking around to check all angles of a putt is verboten on the Euro Tour, you just have to stand up and hit it. Officialdom gone mad, if you want to watch the best golf in the world, let the players take some time over a putt. There are too many rules already.
Everyone plays to quick!
As you can see, Spieth’s playing partners were flabbergasted by the call and wondered why the penalty was assessed. The apparently were keeping pace with the group in front of them, and they were not holding anyone up! Thus, is this really slow play.
According to Pete, Spieth took too long over his putt. He had already been warned, thus the reason for the penalty. However, does this really constitute slow play when you are keeping pace with the group in front?
Personally, if a group is keeping pace, it is impossible to call someone for slow play! A player might take a bit longer putting or aligning a shot, but as long as it does not jamb you for time on your shots or cause the group to fall behind, slow play cannot be called. I am not sure what the referees were thinking, but I am sure more of the story will unfold over the next few days!
What do you think? Should Jordan Spieth have been called for slow play?
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
Can I Play Through?
Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. I took this picture a couple of years ago a the Hampton Court Place Golf Club with my buddy Kirk!
I was amazed by the awesome scenery of this royal course. If you get a chance to play it, I would recommend that you do!
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
Understanding Great Golfers
- What makes great golfers great?
- What makes élite golfers, élite?
- What makes superstar golfers, unstoppable?
Belief is a powerful ally!
I have thought about these and other questions regularly. I often wonder why some players seem to totally dominate their respective opponents. This unique situation is not restricted to the professions, but happens in amateur events as well.
Yes, skill has something to do with the answer for sure, but let us assume for a moment that with all physical skills being relatively equal; what is that edge that repeated winners routinely display?
After much thought, I have concluded that the one quality above others that separates champions from the rest is belief. It really is as simple as that; they believe!
- They believe that their swing will happen the same every time.
- They believe that when they decide on a shot, they can make it.
- They believe that they have the skills to succeed.
- They believe that they are the best.
- They believe that they can win all the time.
- They just believe!
I realize that this might be an understatement, but belief is an extremely powerful ally. It is there when you are struggling and can lift you out of the quagmire of self-doubt. Belief can help frame success before you tee it up. Belief builds confidence that can defeat your opponent at any time during a match. Belief can build a foundation for great golf and can help produce low scores.
Does all of this sound simple. Well, it is! Except there is one important action that we must take to make sure belief flourishes in our golf game. Are you ready?
We have to accept belief. We need to whole-heartedly accept what belief is laying down! Removing or changing doubt to belief will immediately change your golf game. Great things will happen if we only believe!
Earlier when I said it was simple….well, maybe believing poses more challenges to our golf game then we expect. I am sure you have heard, “if the belief is strong enough, anything can happen”. This is true.
What happens if the belief is great; we look for ways to improve our game; we see the changes that will make us better; we start to make positive changes and then we start to belief even more! What a great golf cycle.
The great players of golf all have a strong belief that they can always win. They believe they will have their best game every time they stride to the first tee. They just believe.
Belief is a great ally; if we let it into our game!
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
The Grateful Golfer 