Golfing in the Rain

June 12, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / 8 Comments

Well my first two days of the golf tournament were postponed. In the last 36 hours our area received about 80 mm or rain. Our course is under water and it is draining very slowly. It is unlikely we will be able to play on Friday, so the entire event will be delayed one week. Of course I am disappointed, but at least the event is not cancelled all together. But, as always, each experience is a learning one; so now we talk about playing golf in the rain.

Many golfers dislike the rain. Personally, it does not bother me because I believe I have a fool-proof system to keep the important aspects of my equipment and body as dry as possible. The first important point has to do with equipment. I carry the following when I suspect it is going to rain:

Plastic cover that actually covers my entire golf bag;
a 64 inch umbrella that can be attached to my golf cart (which I push so it does not hurt my shoulder);
clear plastic freezer bags to keep my score card dry;
spare socks in a clear plastic bag;
spare clothes in the car for after the round;
two towels so I can hang them under the umbrella; and
a hat and rain suit.

All of these things keep me very dry unless it is really pouring, then I just have to suck it up and be grateful I can still golf. When making a shot, expect on the green, by routine is very simple:

I point my clubs into the wind because it cuts down on spray;
I remove my club while under my umbrella and wipe the grips (if required) with one towel and my hands with the other;
I normally do not take a practice swing, so I walk out behind the ball and visualize;
step up and hit the ball;
walk back under the umbrella, wipe my grips and replace the club; and
seal up my plastic cover and move on.

When putting, I use a slightly different routine:

I take out my putter and wipe the grips and my hands;
I take the umbrella with me – my clubs are covered with plastic;
stand behind the ball and read my line;
adjust my ball still holding the umbrella;
place the umbrella at the one o’clock position with the top facing the wind. It is usually about 6-10 feet away; and
make my putt and collect it from the hole. If I miss, I go mark the ball (if required) before retrieving my umbrella.

Playing in the rain will mess with a golfer’s normal routine. However, I have found that by following my routine, the rain does not bother me as much as others. Following a routine is the best way to break 100 or lower your score; following a routine in the rain only helps more. A couple other things to consider when playing in the rain:

most shots will need an extra club due to lack of roll and the rain hitting your ball during flight;
greens will play slower than normal;
if you are wearing a rain suit or outer clothing, your swing will feel different. Focus on contact not swing mechanics and this will help ensure solid ball striking;
course management may have to be adjusted due to the rain reducing the distance your ball carries; and
the noise of the rain hitting your umbrella, rain suit or the ground may affect your concentration – just ignore.

Golfing in the rain can be difficult, but if you develop a routine, understand the impact of the wet weather, and focus on what you already do well, your score should remain the same. If not, always remember you could be working!

If you have any suggestions on how to improve my routine, I would love to hear them.

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

Canadian Military Golfing Competition

June 10, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / 13 Comments

As in previous years, tomorrow I am entering a stroke-play tournament to represent my military Wing at the Ontario Regional Golf Championship in July. This tournament is a three-day combined stroke event where the top five male and top two female players will move on to the next level. The Wing golf tournament will be played at the Roundel Glen Golf Course in Astra, Ontario.

This is my first attempt at my new Wing. The format is a bit different, but it works. After three days of competition, the top four male players are guaranteed a spot on the Wing team heading to the Ontario Golf Regionals. The fifth place player has to play one more time in an all or nothing 18 hole playoff with all the players who could not make the original tournament due to work commitments. The winner of this one day event is the fifth member of the Wing team. The results should be very interesting and I will keep you posted!

The Ontario Golf Regionals, played at the Garrison Golf and Curling Club in Kingston, Ontario, is a three-day stroke-play event with several competitions in one. First, there is the overall team competition. Each day, the lowest four scores of the seven players are used to determine the total score for the Wing on that day. (For those who think that the female scores do not count, think again; they are usually used a couple of times during the tournament) After three days of competition, your total team score will be use and lowest team score wins the event. That Wing is crown Ontario Regional Team Champions. They receive a pennant which is proudly displayed at their home Unit.

Another event inside of the team competition is the singles competition. The person with the lowest score after three days is crowned the Ontario Region individual champion (men and women). Additionally, the lowest five male and two female scores make up the Ontario Regional team that represents their region at the Canadian Forces National Golf Competition.

The National Competition, played at the same course as the Ontario Regional Competition, is the same format as the Regional Competition except the players are significantly better. It is an exciting time of military golfers and believe me, bragging rights are as important as the hardware.

I am excited to start the tournament tomorrow and my GAF (Golf Attitude Factor) is extremely high!

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

Reverse Engineering In Golf

June 8, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / Leave a comment

Yesterday, my friend and I left the first tee with a high GAF (Golf Attitude Factor) and strong feeling of wellness. How could we not; after the fourth hole the beauty of our home course was only overshadowed by quiet serenity of playing golf with no one else around. No kidding, we owned the course and calmly played the rest of the round bathed in the beautiful sun, the musical harmony of nature and the refreshing aroma of life rekindled. It really was a great round of golf and more importantly, I learned something new!

Course management is as important to lower scores in golf as mustard is on a hot dog at the ballpark. They really are inseparable and if used together a positive outcome is almost assured. During our many conversations, my friend reminded me of a very important and often overlooked aspect of good golf; that course management always occurred from the green backwards. The Golf Channel has a great article for review of before mentioned points about course management. There are many ways to effectively use course management techniques, but no matter what, the process is still the same.

It is critical to work from the green backwards. For a par 4 let me explain:

Looking backward – to approach from the right side of the fairway is best.

Every green has its challenges. Most of the time, aiming for the center of the green is the safest and most effective shot, especially for those trying to break 100. For players who want more of a challenge, it is important to consider the location of the pin. Sometimes the pin will be tucked behind a bunker or near the dreaded knoll that makes putting extremely difficult. Pin location will determine whether your previous shot should be on the left or right side of the fairway. Knowing what side of the fairway your second shot needs to be will help set up your tee shot.

Tee up on the left to ensure the best approach to the green.

Now that you know what side of the fairway you need to be on for your next shot, setting up for your tee shot is easier. A general rule I use is that – left side fairway, right side tee box; right side fairway, left side tee box. By setting up on the opposite side of the tee box to where you want your ball to finish helps reduce errors and ensures that even on miss hits the probability of success is higher.

If you are playing a par 5, add one more step using the same logic and process. It may seem like I am suggesting a crisscross pattern down the fairway, but I am suggesting that you choose the path that best suits your game and achieves the result of playing the ball to improve your chances to score low.

On a par 3, I would recommend that the general rule of alignment still works. Obviously, hazards and pin location are very critical for shorter holes, but I think you get the point.

Reverse engineering in golf applies to course management. Working from the hole backwards is the logical way to lower your scores. Course Management from the green to tee will cut mental errors, lower your score, and improve your overall mastery of golf.

As the late great Bobby Jones said, “The secret of golf is to turn three shots into two.” That is course management in a nutshell!

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

Playing Golf Well

June 6, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / 2 Comments

“Playing Golf Well” is a standard line used by many who are trying to catch your attention. However, have you ever really examined the words to see if they really mean anything. As I dissect those three little words, several things strike me as peculiar, interesting and funny all at the same time. Here is what I mean:

Playing – is to exercise or an activity for amusement or recreation. This definition of playing strikes me as something to be enjoyed, to have fun, or to experience in a positive way. Additionally, playing with something allows the taking of chances and trying new variations of the same game. Overall, playing suggests taking chances during an activity for fun and/or enjoyment.

Golf – a game in which clubs are used; to hit a ball in succession for varying distances; to place in a hole with as few strokes as possible! Well that sounds like a fun activity to me! It is a sport, a verb, a business, a highlight or the bane of someone’s existence all in one. Golf can be….well, just about anything to anyone.

Well – is a noun, adverb, interjection, adjective, and a descriptor! This word can be used in so many ways that to try and describe them all would take longer than this article! In this case it is a comparative word to describe performance measurement. It is not a great word to imbue excitement or extreme joy, but a mediocre word that has a sliding scale of subjectivity!

So what does the journey into the examination of three little words actually mean to anyone?

Golf is a game that is meant to be played just for fun; Golf is a game that allows us to take chances with the intent of getting better or just having fun; Golf is a game where only the player can determine how well they played in relation to their own expectations; finally, Golf is a game that is to be enjoyed by the player at their own pace, skill level and desire of execution!

Playing Golf Well is only determined by one person….YOU!

Personally, I am grateful for the game of golf. I love to play just for the fun of it!

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

Par 3 – Are They Suppose To Be Easy?

June 4, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / 10 Comments

Most courses have at least four par 3 holes. Some will have five or six, but in general four is the normal number. Playing from the blues (furthest back tee box) most par 3s will play between 160 – 185 yards; challenging but not demoralizing. Personally, I consider par 3s scoring holes. I expect to birdie at least one per round and par the other three. This may sound a be ambitious, but given the general length of most par 3s, not unrealistic. Additionally, most par 3s are spread evenly throughout the course, which is an advantage because they help with the flow of each round.

Hole 1 halfway up the fairway.

Hole 3 from Tee Box.

Well, my confidence of conquering these short holes has taken a bit of hit as of late. My home course of Roundel Glen has a different course set up that challenges even the most experienced amateur. All but one of the par 3s are long, difficult to approach, and well guarded. Adding to the difficulty, when I play in the morning there is very little roll and the ball does not travel as far because it is cold. In addition to their length, the par 3s are placed in more challenging positions which disrupts the normal flow of a golf course. From the blues this is what it looks like:

Hole 1 – Par 3 – 210 yards – 3 hybrid;
Hole 3 – Par 3 – 205 yards – 3 hybrid;
Hole 10 – Par 3 – 200 yards – 3 or 4 hybrid; and
Hole 17 – Par 3 – 173 yards – 6 iron or 5 hybrid.

Roundel Glen’s course layout is actually very good. I like the course, but I need some help. I have racked my brain on ways to play these holes. In the middle of the day, I can easily reach the green with the clubs shown, but in the morning it is very difficult. My woods, even choked down, do not work – I have tried.

At this time, I play these holes by trying to hit as close to the green as possible (and sometimes on) and relying on my short game to eek out a par. Not sure there is any other way to play these holes. If you have any suggestions I am all ears!

I am a grateful golfer! Always willing to accept advice!