I came across this interesting golf info-graphic. Of note, this graphic was created by Penina Hotel & Golf Resort and I have no affiliation with them. I just like the graphic and wanted to share it.
Discussion
Painting and Golf
As many of you already know, I like to take everyday, run of the mill, chores and relate them to golf. It helps show how almost anything we try is connected in one form or another. Also, it helps show how being good at one thing is transferable to such a point that it is possible to be good at many things. It is all a matter of how you look at things.
Think of a person right now who you consider to be good at many things. It does not really matter what they are good at, however it is interesting that they appear to be top performers, artists, writers, mothers, fathers, carpenters, or whatever, all at the same time. Is this person special? Do they have super powers? Or are they genetically superior? The short answer to these questions is a resounding NO!
I enjoy painting a wall with a roller. Call me crazy, but I think a newly painted wall looks clean and fresh and I gain a certain level of satisfaction when the wall is finished. During the past weekend, my darling wife and I decided it was time to paint the whole basement. Importantly, four days off work was enough time to complete the job and still get a couple of rounds of golf in!
As I cut, edged, rolled, wiped, fixed, re-rolled and applied a second coat of paint, I was surprised how painting and golf were so much alike. And here is how:
The grip – as I gripped the broom handle attached to the paint roller, I quickly realized that to produce smooth even stokes of paint I needed to hold the handle gently. Too tight and the roller moved in short choppy movements; too loose and I was dripping paint everywhere. Gripping a golf club produces the same results. Too tight – choppy swing; too loose – no control!
Edging – As I cut delicately around the ceiling and baseboards, patience and a steady stroke produced the best results. Being patient enable me to see potential mistakes, anticipate areas of concern and fix minor blemishes before I compounded them into a painting gaff. In golf, focusing on course management produces the same results. It helps us plan our next shot, avoid the hazards and make small corrections in our game as the round unfolds! Thereby, lowering our score.
Length of my painting stroke – when painting, keeping the roller at a steady, yet constant speed helped to evenly spread the paint. If I needed to cover an area just a little bit further than normal, I would keep the same speed but extend my stroke. In golf, my putting stroke is the same way. The speed of my putter head does not change, but the length of the stroke does depending on the distance from the hole!
I think you get my point! Many everyday skills are transferable. It is a matter of how you look at the task at hand and how to apply the skills we already know. Personally, I use this technique with great success on many new things. No matter what you are trying to accomplish, if you can relate it to golf (or whatever you are good at) positive results are likely to occur.
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
Golf Tempo – Important or Not?
My recent roller-coaster ride on the course was a bit of a quandary until this morning. Over the past two weeks my scores have been all over the place. Shooting as low as 76 and as high as….well really high! It always feels like I have the same swing until I was discussing my challenges with Rick Williams from mindbodygolf and he was questioning the erratic nature of my game. After taking time to actually think about what is going on I believe I have found the solution to my woes.
Golf Tempo! Immediately everyone starts to visualize their drawback for the club head, the slight pause at the top, and the downward swing to a high follow through. (I posted my swing on my YouTube channel) As I reviewed my swing, I realized my tempo was a bit quick. Not sure if that was because of the video; ultimately it makes no difference it was a bit quick.
Zepp labs state that “tempo is the ratio of the measured time in seconds it takes to make a back swing, versus the measured rate of time in seconds it takes to make your – until impact. This ideal ratio is 3:1.” Their definition makes complete sense to me. Although I have never measured my swing, I notice the difference in the good shots as they are comfortable, balanced, and in control throughout the entire swing process.
The 3:1 ratio of a golf swing seems to be the accepted norm. Deb Vangellow, LPGA Master Professional, explains that the best way to attain this magical tempo is by use of a cadence counter/metronome. I recommend using it on the range because of the potential difficulty that changing your tempo might cause. This is something I have never tried, but it seems time to do so with my Regional Golf tournament coming up in 2 weeks.
One other point about tempo that is often overlooked is how fast a player plays. This topic covers walking to their ball, pre-shot routine, how they play on the greens and how quickly a player moves from green to tee.
- I find that if I walk slightly quicker than my normal saunter it works well for my game. This pace keeps me mentally attuned to what is happening around me, it allows for the proper amount of pre-shot preparation, and ensures I have enough gas in the tank going done the 18th fairway.
- My pre-shot routine must stay the same. Sometimes, I actually change my routine for no reason. I know, that is crazy, but it happens.
- On the greens, it is important to look at the break, the grain, the wind, and your line. All of these are important and should not take very long. Usually, the green is not an issue. However, it is important that I putt out everything! Sometimes I get lazy.
- It is important for good tempo to move from the green to the tee with intent. I am not suggesting that players sprint, but getting ready to play the next hole without taking too much time helps keep the tempo (flow) of the game.
Tempo on the course and during your swing is very important. At this time, tempo appears to be a challenge of mine. Playing well on most holes demonstrates all the pieces are there, I just need to put it all together as a package.
I am off to put my new theory to work!
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links.
Why Is Tiger Woods Back?
The World of Golf is funny! Each week we patiently wait for the PGA Tour or LPGA tournaments so we can cheer, discuss, lament, and ponder about who will rise to the top. Last weekend, the US Women’s Open champion, Michelle Wie, walked away finally playing to her potential! Kevin Streelman shot seven birdies in a row to close out as champion of the Traveller’s Championship. I would suggest that Wie was not a surprise, however Streelman came out of left field considering his late charge. As much as these amazing feats were the talk of the town on Sunday, shortly after the media dropped these young up-starts and focused on the return of Tiger Woods.
The media clamored over each other to cover what they thought was the biggest news story of the week! The discussion about his return to prepare for The Open in 21 days is touted as the primary reason, but somehow the hair on the back of my neck suggests that this may not be the whole truth! There is little doubt that ticket sales and TV viewing is down significantly since Woods’ injury and it is very likely that the Quicken Loans National was also feeling the economic pinch.
The Tiger Woods Foundation is the primary charity of the Quicken Loans National tournament. Without the main draw in golf playing, it is likely the charity was suffering. There is little question that Tiger Woods is still the biggest name in golf and his return is welcomed by most pundits and golfing enthusiasts!
Many of the pundits are quickly throwing their hat into Woods’ ring as a potential winner of this weeks professional tournament, but those expectations are just too high. It is important that he play is way back to being at the top of the golfing heap, but he needs to do it slowly. Preparing for The Open is vital to his personal goals and starting with the Quicken Loans National tournament seems logical and well thought out.
For all the conspiracy enthusiasts out there, it really does not matter why Tiger Woods is back. If the only reason he came back at this time is to raise funds for his foundation, then I give him my full support! At least he is using his powers for good!
Tiger Woods is back. If he stays healthy, and I hope he does, then it is good for golf. He has three weeks of a tough road ahead and as he hones his skills the chance to raise the Claret Jug get better and better.
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
Glen Abbey Golf Club
Yesterday, I had an awesome trip to the Glen Abbey Golf Club! This course is ranked in the top 50 in Canada and has been a jewel in Canadian golf for years. There are mixed reviews about the historic course, but I for one loved this Jack Nicklaus creation!
I enjoyed the mounding, the green locations, the approach-ability of the greens and the tee box / fairway accessibility! This course was not overly tough, but if you did not pay attention, it would show its teeth! The fairways were flat and extremely well manicured and maintained.
That is all I have time for today. My next article will talk about playing at the Glen Abbey Golf Club.
If you want to see pictures, I loaded them at: https://www.facebook.com/thegratefulgolfer in an album title Glen Abbey Golf Club.
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links.
