Author: The Grateful Golfer

Keep Your Head Down

/ The Grateful Golfer / 4 Comments

While playing a round of golf this morning with a buddy of mine, we started to discuss our swings and how to break 100. As we walked and talked about what was important, my friend said something that has stuck with me, “watch the ball where it was, not where it goes!”

Basically, keep your head down and watch the club make contact with the ball.  Additionally, count to one before you see how fantastic your shot turned out.  Stay focussed on the point of contact.  This will help create a duplicatable swing.  Regardless of what it looks like, it is something the amateur golfer can start to build a solid game upon.

While watching the Web.com tournament today, I noticed that Phil, Tiger and Adam have different swings, chipping strokes and putting styles.  They all hit the ball where they intend and seem not to worry about what it looks like!  They do, however, keep their head down for a pause of one after contact.  A coincidence, I think not!

Next time you are on the course/practice round try keeping your head down and see the positive results.  I am a grateful golfer!  See you on the links!

Canadian Forces National Golf Competition

/ The Grateful Golfer / 4 Comments

The Canadian Forces National Golf Competition finished yesterday.  This three-day event pitted the top golfers from five regions in Canada in an individual and team competition.  To participate in this tournament, each region submits five male and two female golfers who have qualified by finishing at the regional and base level qualifying events.  Additionally, due to operational commitments, some players can apply to participate in nationals, but only in the individual event.  I, due to operational reasons, was selected by the Ontario region as an independent player.

CF National Golf Competition at Circle Pine Golf Course, CFB Borden, Ontario

18th Green at the CF National Golf Competition at Circle Pine Golf Course

We arrived two days before the event at Canadian Forces Base Borden, Ontario, in preparation for the upcoming tournament.  After two practice rounds at Circled Pine Golf Course, (Slope: 127  Rating: 71.2) we felt ready for the next challenge.  Gary Corriveau and his team had the course in fantastic shape.  The greens were running true, the fairways lush and the rough challenging.  Circle Pine Golf Course was definitely the venue for this elite golf tournament.

Tournaments such as this do not happen without an organizing committee.  The National Sports Committee are a dedicated group of professionals who enhance this already exciting experience.  Upon our arrival, there was a banquet and meet and greet; three days of golf, meals, lodging, fun games, a closing banquet, sports therapists, rules officials and a whole lot more.  Their behind the scenes work was nothing short of spectacular and all the golfers are grateful for their efforts and sacrifices.

The results of the competition are found at the CF National Sports Competition Facebook page.  Needless to say, that the male and female champions put on a show! They were smooth, consistent and accurate.  Given how difficult the course was playing, their scores were outstanding.  Congratulations to all the winners!

The CF National Golf Competition is an outstanding event.  After 99 holes of golf; which included two practice rounds, three competition rounds, and one nine-hole fun scramble; I learned a few things that need to be shared.

FITNESS

Some think that golf is an easy sport that anyone can play anytime anywhere. However, after five days straight of walking this 6500 yard course; fitness is extremely important. Walking in 28 degree weather (humidex in the mid 30s) for five days definitely challenges ones fitness.  We were fortunate that most rounds were completed in 4.5 hours, however some rounds in the past have taken as long as 6 hours to play.  One definite take away is that a stretching and aerobic program is required to play golf at the elite level.

NUTRITION

Eating well-balanced meals and staying hydrated will go a long way to finishing strong at the end of a round.  A proper balance of fruits, vegetables and protein is very important. While playing, I focused on eating apples and bananas and proper meals for breakfast and supper.  Sometimes it is difficult to eat properly while travelling, but it is definitely possible.

PRACTICE

Practicing and preparing properly is important.  Hitting the range to groove your swing so when you are tired, you can still perform is important.  Less thinking and more mechanics will ensure that your swing remains pure during all aspects of the competition.  Practice chipping and putting regularly.  The greens at Circled Pine Golf Course were running at 10 – 11 on the stimpmeter.  For those who don’t know, that is like putting on your kitchen table…or almost.  When chipping and putting, ensure you practice your shots in all kinds of lies; you will never know where your ball will end up on the course.

MENTAL PREPARATION

Golf is a mentally challenging game.  Mental preparation starts the moment you wake up until you are finished playing for the day.  Additionally, mentally preparing for a national competition starts weeks before you arrive.  Mental imagery and focus visualization will help focus your mind to play well.  Playing in local tournaments before elite events will also be helpful.  It will help you perform under pressure on those side hill three-foot putts that end up 12 feet past the hole if you miss!

This year’s golf event was fantastic.  Although my play was underwhelming, the tournament itself was fantastic.  Each year it is one of my goals to play well enough in the two qualifying competitions to return to nationals.  It is a definite highlight of my golfing season.

Again, thank you to all those behind the scenes, tireless workers.  Your efforts made the 2013 Canadian Sports National Golf Competition a memorable event.  I am a grateful golfer!  See you on the links!

Breaking 100 Through Chipping

/ The Grateful Golfer / 4 Comments

Breaking 100 is the first major challenge for any golfer.  As discussed in my previous article, building a consistent putting stroke using the 3-6-9 putting drill will greatly reduce strokes and help develop confidence on the green.  For those whose who have a tendency to hit their approach shots just off the green, then chipping to break 100 is very important.

As a rule, keeping all drills as simple as possible is the key to success in golf.  Building on the 3-6-9 concept, will help tie a previously learned skill in to your growing arsenal.  To set up this drill, grab 12 tees and six balls from your bag.  No, you do not require clubs yet!  Set up the tees in the same pattern as the 3-6-9 putting drill.  For those who have not read the previous post; at 3,6,9 and 12 o’clock, place a tee at 3-6-9 feet from the hole.

Next, grab the six balls and walk anywhere off the green.  Ideally, you should start at least 15 paces from the hole.  You still do not require any clubs.  Now toss the ball towards the target hole.  Pay attention to how far you tossed the ball in the air and how far the ball rolls after it hits the ground.  Do this with all six balls.  The intent is to toss the ball within the 3 foot circle…inside nine feet will be ok since you already have confidence putting from that range.

Retrieve your balls and return to the same spot where you tossed the 6 balls. Now, roll the balls along the green without tossing the ball in the air.  Pay attention to how fast the ball is travelling to get within your 3 target.

Practice tossing and rolling the balls until you can consistently place the 6 balls within your 3-6-9 foot target.  Now, grab your 8 iron and a wedge (which wedge is up to you depending on your stroke – this is the time to experiment with which club is good for you).  Use the wedge to replicate the tossed ball and use the 8 iron to replicate the rolled ball.

Obviously, the goal is to chip the 6 balls in your 3-6-9 target.  Now once you feel confident and have achieved success move to a different location.  Eventually, you will not have to hand toss or roll the balls.

The most important and final step of this drill is to pace the distance from your chipping spot to the hole.  This step will help develop your distance gauge around the green.  Additionally, you will develop confidence with your chipping irons so you will automatically be able to assess your chipping and have confidence you will be able improve your up and down stats.

Using the 3-6-9 chipping and putting drill help,lower you scores and break 100.  I am a grateful golfer!  See you on the links!

Practice Putting to Break 100

/ The Grateful Golfer / 15 Comments

Practicing to break 100 is something that causes most weekend golfers tremendous anxiety.  Many believe that they have to practice for hours on the range perfecting a near impossible swing, when really all they want to do is play golf and have fun.  The goal of breaking 100 is the first major milestone in most golfing careers.  To accomplish this amazing feat, one will have to practice and focused practicing will save the most strokes. And the focused practicing area that will result in the best results is within 9 feet of the hole.

The Grateful Golfer believes that putts under 9 feet is where most high handicap players will save the most strokes and take their first step towards breaking 100.  If you have never practiced putts within a 9 foot circle of the hole, you don’t know what your are missing!

An inexpensive way to practice this sure fire way of lower your score is to take 12 tees; stand beside the hole and take one step; place a tee.  Take another step; place a tee. Finally, take a third step; place a tee.  Now repeat this process three times at 90 degrees from the previous line. This will use up all 12 of the tees.

Image from: http://therangeatleonsprings.com/archives/1052

Star Putting Drill above places tees at 3,4,and 5 feet. The Grateful Golfer recommends same formation but with tees place at 3,6,and 9 feet.

Next take three balls.  Putt all thee balls from the 12 o’clock position, from 3 feet, until you sink three.  Then move to the 3 o’clock position and sink three; repeat at the 6 and 9 o’clock position.  Now, move back to the 6 foot position.  Instead of 3 balls sunk before moving, sink only two.  Repeat for all four cardinal positions.  Finally, move back to the 9 foot position.  Sink one and move on until you have sunk a ball from all four positions.  This process will likely take about 10-15 minutes max and that includes set up.

As your putting skill improves, increase the number of balls sunk from the 6 and 9 foot positions.  Next, sink the balls consecutively before moving; thus increasing the difficulty of the drill.  If a player can practice this easy drill once or twice a week they will be amazed on how many strokes they will save.  Additionally, this skill will greatly improve their confidence, gain the awe of their friends and eliminate the dreaded 3-putt!

There are many variations of this drill.  However, I have found this one to be the fastest and easiest drill to set up and perform.  I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!

Course Management?

/ The Grateful Golfer / 7 Comments

Recently, I have moved to a new course.  It is what I would call a shooters course.  You do not have to be long, but your tee shots must be in the right area or else you invite a challenging second shot.  My recent success on the links can be directly attributed to course management…..or can it?

Most people will say that because I am a single digit handicapper that shooting low on any course is a given.  Well golfers who have been around for a year or two know this is just not so.  Many skills are required to shoot low scores; the most important thing to remember when playing a new course is when and what club to hit to produce the best results.

Does this not sound like course management?  The following are three aspects of course management I believe are the most important to shooting low scores on a new course:

First, know your game.  Each player should know how far they can hit each club.  It is very difficult to play to a yardage if you do not know the distances of each swing.

Second, play to yardages.  If your best club is your 8 iron and you hit it 145 yards, they when reasonably possible, play to that yardage.  For example, ir you are on the tee which is 350 yards from the green, hit the club that travels 205 yards.  If that is a 3 iron or a 4 iron or a driver, hit it to your desired distance of 145 yards.  Chances are you will hit better second shots into green and as a result have lower scores.

Lastly, aim for the center of the green.  Pin hunting on a course you do not know is a recipe for disaster.  Most of the time you will end up on the wrong side of the green.  Center is safe and it will put the short stick in your hands.

Well those are my secrets to course management of a new course.  As you play the course more, modify your approached to course management and play to your strengths.

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