Author: The Grateful Golfer

Changing of the Guard or Is It?

/ The Grateful Golfer / 9 Comments

In every sport, the changing of the old guard to a new group of defenders occurs about every seven to ten years.  Age finally catches up to the élite; while continuing to empower the stronger, faster, and hungrier players.  Eventually, the young lions surpass their aging heroes and carry the torch forward.  The real question in golf is when does this occur?  

Image from Golf.com

Who will be on top at the end 2014? Rory, Phil or Tiger?

During the past few years, the world of golf appears to have shifted its focus towards younger players and that 2014 will be the year for major changes in the world rankings. However, pundits who follow golf would agree that this potential shift is not an actual power struggle.  It is more like the media creating hype by pitting old bulls like Tiger Woods, Steve Stricker and Phil Mickelson against the young lions like Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, and Keegan Bradley.

The reality of golf at the professional level is that it is all about the hype!  It is no different from any other sport; however its slower evolution does restrict the potential for financial gains experienced by teams like Manchester United or the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Golf is starting to generate a world craze and continues to grow in popularity, but the glacial pace can be frustrating.  As new emerging players try to break into the ranks of the élite, they will find it extremely difficult to sustain the prowess required to stay at the top because golf is not a sport dominated by youth.

In 2013, there were approximately 160 world events.  In 2014, this number is expected to expand as new markets in Asia, specifically China, develop.  Of the 2013 events, 19% were won by those in their 20s; 80% were won by those in their 30s; 31% in their 40s and 1% in their 50s.  Therefore, professional golfers in their 30s and 40s won 71% of tournaments.

In the PGA last year, the numbers were even higher.  Of the top 25 on the money list, 28% were in their 20s, 60% were in their 30s, and 22% were in their 40s.  Thus 82% of the top PGA 25 money list were in their 30s and 40s.  The percentage of top ten money winners goes even higher!

Lastly, the world rankings demonstrate that the young guns may be stronger than the 2013 numbers demonstrate, but that is largely because players like Rory McIlroy had a great season two years ago and it was carried forward to 2013.

Regardless, the numbers are very consistent.  In professional golf, the bulk of the world-class players are in their 30s.  The next strongest group are in their 40s. How do you promote golf when the players are mature, focused and generally avoid the spot light off the course?  Where players are friends and animosity is rare? Despite recent events, golfers are generally considered gentlemen and conduct themselves accordingly.

Interestingly and to the chagrin of some, the age of the élite players is getting older, not younger.  Players like Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Steve Stricker have dominated the top of the golfing world for the past 10 years.  They move up and down the world rankings, but at the end of each year they are at or near the top! How is this possible?  The thought of older players dominating the top of a sport is virtually impossible or is it?

Golf has changed over the past 20 years, but not as the media would suggest.  Older players continue to dominate for many reasons and three seem to top the list:

  1. Technology has improved exponentially, thus allowing older players to hit the ball farther without any extra effort;
  2. Players have a greater understanding of a regimented training program.  They embrace proper training methods and therefore extend their playing career; and
  3. Their ability to travel the world in hours versus days has improved their quality of life. The ability to move from event to event is grueling, but now they have the ability to travel home faster for that much-needed rest during their golfing season.

The media, promoters and financial investors would like the world to believe that an epic battle is being waged for golfing supremacy and partly they are correct. However, not in the manner that fits the traditional sporting world.

A shift is occurring in golf.  More, older players in their 40s are still very competitive, some younger players in their 20s are breaking through, but the bulk of the élite golfers are still in their 30s.  The unmentioned shift is the dominance of older players. Golfers between 35-40 years old are more competitive than ever.  As the élite players get older and they see not reason to relinquishing their title without a fight.  As the world prepares for the upcoming golf season, they should be ready to see the same names at the top of the leader board and not be duped by the media hype hailing for a changing of the guard!

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

Golf Books and DVDs

/ The Grateful Golfer / 13 Comments

Any Recommendations?

There are thousands of books, DVDs, videos, apps, and on-line lessons.  The difficulty is selecting the right media and material.  Selecting any type of golf instruction can pose a challenge, however it is not overwhelming or impossible.  Yesterday, I was asked:  “Would there be some advice of some other books for beginners?”  This is a great question and the answer depends on so many variables that it really is hard to recommend just one type of medium. Having said that, here is what I have in my library and a list of links that would recommend to continue your search.

A Good Walk Spoiled by John Feinstein.  It is the first book I ever received.  It is not a how to book, but a great read.  It touches on many aspects of professional golf and is a must read for golf nuts.

Tiger Woods Made Me Look Like a Genius by Don Crosby.  Don Crosby was an early coach of Tiger Woods.  The topics in the book are generic and cover the main aspects of golfing.  I look at it periodically, but do not follow it extensively.

Recommended for BeginnersGolfing for Dummies by Gary McCord.  An excellent book for any beginner.  It covers all the basics and some intermediate skills.  It is highly recommended and is on most to 10 golf book lists.

The Best Golf Tips Ever by Nick Wright.  This is a great book.  I use it often to look up challenges encountered on the course.  I would recommend it for the intermediate golfer.

365 Golf Tips and Tricks from the Pros by Jay Morelli.  I am currently reading it.  It is a very good book on how to play some challenging and not so challenging shots.  I plan to use it this year, especially early in the season.

The More Series by Golf Magazine.  This three part DVD series is excellent.  I watch it a couple of times during the winter and just before I start playing.  It is a recommended golfing resource.

Secrets of the Short Game by Phil Mickelson.  It is by far my best resource.  I watch this DVD three or four times over the winter.  I also grab a club and try to copy what he is teaching….and no I do not chip balls in my basement…..or should I?

I read golf magazines all the time.  I do not have a specific preference.  I look at the cover and decide if the tips or articles are of interest.  I also keep my golf magazines and review them as specific topics arise.

The following are links I found and thought were worth sharing.  On a side note, most of the links above are to Chapters.ca.  This is a Canadian company; Amazon has all the same books.

Lastly, there are countless golf blogs that offer tips on the golf swing, fitness, mental preparation and course management.  If you are looking for something specific, the internet provides the answer.  You just have to sift through the white noise!

I enjoy talking, reading and especially playing golf.  The amount of information and data available could easily overwhelm even the most avid golfing enthusiasts.  Through the years, I have found that word of mouth recommendations have been the best!  So I ask this very important question:

Any Recommendations?

 

White Noise

/ The Grateful Golfer / 22 Comments

I received an excellent golfing book as a present at Christmas; 365 Golf Tips and Tricks from the Pros by Jay Morelli.  This book talks about the basics, rules, sand play, equipment and much more.  It is a very quick read and the tips are concise and to the point.  I recommend it.

This very thoughtful gift started me thinking.  How do I know the difference between a good tip and well…..white noise.

White Noise - Make it Stop!Yes, we all know: white noise  does not add to the situation and drowns out the important information.  This noise can be anything from your 20 handicap playing partner advising you how he they would play the shot while you are thinking; 50 things you are trying to remember during your golf shot or the reams of information (4,930,000 hits to be exact) that that overwhelms you when searching on “how to improve my golf swing”. White noise is all around us all the time. It is a distraction that does slow anyone’s ability to improve their golf game and for $19.95 I can guarantee to improve your mental skills while playing golf….okay, just kidding. But, this is the exact type of white noise that many amateurs will here day in and day out that causes confusion.  Can it really be avoided?  Well, that depends….

Golf is a unique sport.  It is difficult and easy, played as teams and individuals at the same time, or creates inclusiveness or solidarity.  It really is the one sport where a person can play their entire life, compete against no one and yet compete every day.  Golf is a sport where a player can challenge themselves everyday and feel a sense of accomplishment after each round.  No other sport provides this type of dynamic.

Everyone has their own process to cut white noise.  Everyday, we are bombarded with information that is filter, processed, acted upon, or discarded.  The difficulty is to figure out what is important and which process works best; then apply it to golf.  For me, the process is simple:

  1. Identify the problem;
  2. Collect information on the problem;
  3. Analyse the information;
  4. Determine possible solutions or courses of action; and
  5. Decide on way ahead. (repeat as necessary and as often as needed)

Everyone does this process everyday for practically every situation.  However, some golfers looking for a quick fix seem to skip steps 2 and 3.  As an example, Player A always slice the ball off the tee.  They jump to the solution to change their grip because their 20 handicap partner noticed something.  It worked….once.  They decide to change their grip and ultimately, no success!

Instead, the process could look like this:

  1. Player A slices off the tee;
  2. Talk to local Pro or low handicap player, read about why this happens, watch golf training videos;
  3. Compare information gathered to current swing (whole swing not just a specific point);
  4. Try possible solutions on the practice range.  Try different things.  Select several possible solutions (ask local pro for help); and
  5. Decide on the best fix for Player A.

To adjust something in your golf game does take time.  This process does work (at least for me) and is very been very effective in improving my game.  The question always boils down to how much time are willing to commit to making improvements. This is the balancing act that all players must do to achieve their golfing goals.

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

The Domino Effect

/ The Grateful Golfer / 13 Comments

Everyone wants to hit the ball far like Bubba Watson;  Hit your wedge shots like Phil Mickelson;  Putt like Steve Stricker; Have the mental concentration like Jack Nicklaus.  All golfers know they can do better regardless of their success on the links.  The key is to first identify adjustments required to lower scores and improve your mental toughness. Regardless, there is one critical point that all players must remember when making any change – the Domino Effect!

Similar to the Domino Theory of the 1950s, the domino effect is a chain reaction that occurs when a small change causes a similar change nearby, which then causes another similar change, and so on in linear sequence.  Any changes to a golf swing will directly or indirectly cause changes to other areas you are happy with.  The above video shows that it is critical to keep the sight of the big picture and that minor adjustments to all areas of your swing might be required.

As an example, hitting the ball further off the tee or fairway will have a tremendous impact on your overall game.  However, stepping up to the tee and bashing the cover off the ball is really not the answer.  Chances are it might go further, but who wants to keep hitting their second shot out of the woods!  It will take some major and minor adjustments to make sure the maximum effort produces the maximum results.

It is very important to understand that any change to your golf swing will produce a domino effect in your game.  Knowing and understanding this fact will help shape your golf swing into a birdie machine.  Do not forget that changing your swing and improving different areas of your game will also change how you manage your rounds.  Regardless of what you change, be prepared to adjust the unexpected!

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

2014 – A New Beginning

/ The Grateful Golfer / 2 Comments

2014 is upon us.  My imagination is abound with the endless possibilities!

Have you ever noticed that if you look backward in time it seems to disappeared in a blink of an eye.  As you look forward, time is appears slow.  Don’t get me wrong, I like to remember the great times in the past, but looking to the future and creating each day anew is quite exciting.

As 2014 approaches it provides: an opportunity to make positive changes, an opportunity to embrace hope, and an opportunity for new beginnings.  I do not make New Year’s resolutions because I believe each day is an opportunity to make the changes we want….however, I have found that the best way to make any change lies in the decision to want to change.

As the golfing year unfolds, I have made my first step to change.  In an attempt to expand my golfing message, I have moved The Grateful Golfer Facebook Page.  If you search the same name under Facebook I am sure you you will find it   I want to use Facebook to its full capacity and under a page I was quite limited.  I am hoping this will be seamless, but as I have discovered that nothing works exactly as we hope when trying new things.

The techno challenges apply to golf as well.  As we embrace the new year, it is time to try new things; work on areas of our game that really needs fixing…..in my case a little change will go a long way.  This year, my biggest goal is to add more distance off the tee and in the fairway with my woods.  2014 is going to be a great year….it is time to start!  My first step is to expand my knowledge.  As the year unfolds, I am sure other goals will arise, for now, one major change is enough.

Thank you to everyone who continues to follow The Grateful Golfer.  I hope to continue to offer tips, advice and maybe make you laugh in the new year.

I am a grateful golfer!  2014 is a new beginning.  Happy New Year!