Discussion

What Causes Your Downfall on the Golf Course?

/ The Grateful Golfer / 14 Comments
DSCF4739

Hitting from the cabbage!

As amateur golfers it does not take much to change our golf game. I guess the same is for the professionals, but I would suggest they are better equipped to avoid those defining moments. It does not take much in some cases to change our attitude, confidence or comfort from good too bad. Likely the opposite is true, but I find fall into the abyss is easier than climbing out.

Understanding our swing mechanics is helps redefine out focus if things are heading south, yet I believe it is not the real challenge. Generally, our swing mechanics remain constant throughout a round of golf. Of course, the better the golfer, the more consistent. But overall, focusing on swing mechanics is a rabbit hole that does not prevent the slide in the wrong direction. Continue reading →

Buying a New Putter

/ The Grateful Golfer / 7 Comments
Putt Centre

My 20-year-old putter.

Buying a new putter is something I have thought about for some time. My current putter is about 20 years old and I think the inset face is starting to break down. I was feeling an inconsistency off the face that I will have to look at this spring.

I like this putter because it is a toe-balanced blade with a center shaft mount. It is heavier than most putters and has served me well through the years. Additionally, and more importantly, it fits my eye very well.

I have tried all types of putters at the golf store, but none pop out at me when making contact. I seem to put the same with all types and weights, however this controlled environment is not really a great place to test a new club. I wish I could take a demo putter out on the course, but unfortunately my course does not have such a service. Continue reading →

Fighting to Stay Relevant in Golf

/ The Grateful Golfer / 8 Comments

Watching the AT&T Pebble Beach golf tournament, I can see many players fighting desperately to keep afloat. The elements are at an unplayable point sometimes, yet there they are trudging along. The amateurs have just as much moxie as the wind and rain tear at the many glitches of their golf swing.

jim-in-rain

The challenge for most of these players is to remain relevant enough to make the cut and hopefully take home a payday worth all their toils. During the first two days, the weather at Pebble Beach was the great equalizer because some top golfers faltered and some unknowns rose the top of the leaderboard.

How does one stay relevant in golf? Do they have a secret code or system that allows them to put the poor influences out of their mind? Are they mentally tough or do they adopt a devil-may-care attitude? Inquiring minds want to know! Continue reading →

Golf Question on Course Management

/ The Grateful Golfer / 6 Comments

Course management is a large part of my game. Through good club choices for a specific result, I can navigate around a course fairly well. If all the stars align, I can shoot below par (if all the stars align). It is during the times when the stars do not complete do their magic that I rely more on my course management skills.

Pondering a round I played last year, it dawned on me that I might be missing something. The specific shot I had in mind has my ball come to rest about 140 – 150 yards from the pin. Mostly, I am thrilled if I am in the fairway, but recently I was thinking that I am setting my expectations too low. Maybe I need to focus more on the left, right or centre of the fairway to better set up my shot into the green. Continue reading →

What Tour Do You Watch to Improve Your Golf Game?

/ The Grateful Golfer / 7 Comments

Watching golf is a great past time. Many viewers enjoy wait with anticipation for that one special shot that steals the day. Whether it is a hole in one, a booming drive, or a lucky bounce, it is those moments that captures the attention of many golf addicts.

For some, however, the watch golf on television to learn. They analyse the set up, club selection and swing plane of professionals in the hope of gleaning that one nugget of information that will improve their game. Personally, I am both of these viewers. The questions for me is which Tour to watch that will help improve my game. Continue reading →