Golf and Darts

November 25, 2013 / The Grateful Golfer / 2 Comments

Golf is a game of precision, patience and skill. It takes hours of practice, practice and more practice to be considered an outstanding player. A golfer trying to break any number of milestones will attest that golf is not easy.

Darts, the unwitting spectator will suggest is just the opposite. It is a game that requires little skill and can be played almost anywhere.

Interestingly, I suggest that golf and darts have many common challenges and to be skilled at both is more difficult that one may think.

Both sports require players to follow certain rules or etiquette. In darts, no Player or Member shall act in a manner which may reasonably be considered to be prejudicial to the interests or standing of the DRA or which could reasonably be considered to injure or discredit the DRA or bring the game of darts into disrepute. In golf, the same basic rule applies.

Golf uses cool terms like bogey, birdie, lag putt, big dog, chili dip, and shank.

Darts uses terms like Bed & Breakfast, Diddle for the Middle, Mugs Away, Robin Hood, Ton, and Sunset Strip.

Score of 180

Golf is played with friends – so is darts.

Drinking while playing darts is fun for some (actually encouraged) – the same for golf.

Finally, the elusive shot in golf happens rarely (hole in one) – same for darts (score of 180 with three darts)! Well they are extremely rare for us amateurs.

Regardless what you may think, golf and darts are just fun to play. Both offer unique opportunities to excel and enjoy the company of other players. My suggestion would be that if you have never played either, then give it a try! You never know how much fun you are missing.

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

Lydia Ko Turns Pro

November 23, 2013 / The Grateful Golfer / 7 Comments

A sixteen year old LPGA phenom turned pro on 23 October. After four wins at the professional level, Lydia Ko decided it was time to make her mark. At 16, see will face tremendous pressure to succeed as she chases her dream as a professional golfer. As the top ranked amateur golfer in the world for 130 weeks, there is not much more she can accomplish at that level. So why not turn pro?

After finishing runner-up to Suzann Pettersen in The Evian Championship in France, Ko announced that she would turn pro in 2014. However on 23 October 2013, Ko stated in a YouTube video featuring New Zealand rugby player Israel Dagg, that she was turning professional immediately and would play her first professional tournament in Florida in mid-November (all details taken from Wikipedia). The video is definitely worth watching!

On October 2013, the LPGA Tour granted Ko’s request to join the LPGA, waiving the Tour’s requirement of members being at least 18 years old. It is not surprising that the LPGA granted her request because she is quickly becoming a world-wide sensation; why not capitalize on this rising star. It is not clear what sparked here decision, however if she made the request to turn pro at the beginning of the current golfing season, she would have earned more than $1 million….tough decision.

This young Kiwi will have some challenges along the way, but with proper coaching and mentoring from the senior players will definitely help to handle the pressures of a professional athlete. Phil Mickelson mentioned last week that Ko needs to pay attention to where she lives and the income tax implications. Great advice to someone whose potential Although is almost limitless.

Many pundits will compare Ko’s decision to that of Michelle Wie who turned pro at 16. Although the endorsement deals for Wie have been beneficial; she has not yet reached the same success on the golf course. Wie’s potential was also through the roof, but the pressure to win was tremendous. Hopefully, Ko will not experience the same challenges! Current after two rounds, Wie and Ko are tied for 23rd at the CME Group Titleholder’s Event in Naples Flordia.

Golf is an interesting sport. At 16, Lydia Ko has accomplished more than most players could only dream. Her future is bright and hopefully she will achieve all her goals and more! Besides the journey while pursuing your dreams is really the best part.

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

Steel Vs Graphite

November 6, 2013 / The Grateful Golfer / 8 Comments

As I put my clubs away for the winter, yes this is a sad day, I notice that half of my clubs have steel shafts and half are graphite. I know from earlier research that there are benefits to both but, I could not quite remember which was which. Therefore, after a bit of searching, this is what I came up:

Steel shafts are:

heavier, therefore produce less vibration during contact;
generally more accurate because they have less flexibility;
cheaper to replace; and
generally have better feel when making contact.

Graphite shafts are:

lighter, therefore generate more club head speed – thus more distance;
going to last as long as steel clubs if maintained properly; and
transmit few vibrations to hands on miss hits.

There really is no right answer. For those who would like a verbal explanation, the following video sums the steel vs graphite issue up quite well.

Regardless on which shaft you decide to use, it is important that you are confident with your choice. I use graphite for my long irons (hybrids) and woods and steel for my short irons and wedges. I find this combination provides me with maximum distance and feel to score low and have fun.

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

Reading The Signs

November 4, 2013 / The Grateful Golfer / 4 Comments

Reading obvious signs in life are very important! Sometimes, it can mean the difference between life and death. Not trying to be dramatic, in golf if can mean the difference between a good score and a great score.

Yesterday, I returned from my vacation. It was a long drive home and we decided to leave in the middle of the night to make sure we made it back home at a reasonable time. After about three hours into the trip, we were the first to come across a single vehicle accident. The vehicle was on its roof and the driver was thrown from the car and was lying in the middle of the road. He was banged up pretty bad, but fortunately he was alive. (Our prayers go out to him for a quick and healthy recovery.) Unfortunately, he was lying in the middle of the road. It took some time, but my wife and I managed to call 911, secure the scene and get the injured person off the middle of the road. Fortunately, everything worked out alright, but it was quite scary for a while.

Read the Sign!

During the time when the ambulance, transport safety personnel and the police arrived is the focus of this blog. Being so dark, I had my hazard flashers on and was pulled off to the side of the road. As the first car arrived, I stood in front of my headlights and waved like a frantic mad man. I did not want to leave the injured guy, but he was still in the middle of the road and I was afraid the drive would not stop in time. Fortunately, the drive saw me and slowed down enough to realize the serious and dangerous situation. I asked him to back up and stop traffic until the ambulance arrived. He willing helped. After ten cars were stopped, some became impatient, regardless of the potential dangers, drove around the accident scene and left. Thanks for the help!

First on the scene, the ambulance arrived and took the guy to the hospital. Then, more impatient people drove over broken glass, around debris, and basically ignored all the signs of danger. Next on the scene was a highway safety guy. He turned all his hazard lights on (this is the guys you see with the big yellow lights at highway construction sites telling us to slow down or move to a particular lane) and he put out large danger signs about 100 yards up the road. This is when I felt the most in danger. People were speeding up to the site and applied the brakes in the last 10 yards! Some did not even slow down until they say the overturned vehicle, then realized it was dangerous! A couple did slow down, and I thank them for following the hazard signs. The high safety guy said that most people did not follow the signs and potentially increase the risk of even more injuries. WOW, I would not have believed it, until I saw it!

A big thanks to all the emergency response people who put their lives at risk everyday! We can do our part by reading and following the signs!

So how does this scary situation apply to golf? Great question! There are many times golfers have great rounds going and lose focus about what is happening around them. They become so engrossed in their own shot, they forget to read the signs of possible hazards that can really affect their score. It has happened to everyone, but the top players try to reduce impact of the hazards by remaining focused and reading the signs.

Here are a few signs that most golfers should pay attention too if they want to score well:

Sign: The ball flight his moving left to right or is short more than anticipated. Tip: Look at the tops of the trees before making a shot. Most golfers, when playing well, have a tendency not to look up. The movement of the leaves will show how strong the wind is blowing and in what direction.
Sign: A player cannot reach the green or the risk/reward is too high. Tip: Selecting a club to set up your next shot is very important. Most amateurs have a “grip it and rip it” attitude. They hit the ball as far as possible all the time; not thinking about what distance will be left or stance they will have for the next shot. Sometimes, it is easier to hit a bit shorter to have a better shot into the green.
Sign: The pin is in a real tough position, tucked behind a bunker or very close to the edge of the green. Tip: The shot before your approach shot is the important stroke. This shot will allow you to set up the most advantageous angle into the green. The proper approach angle will reduce strokes and instill confidence when hunting for pins.
Sign: The greens are not rolling the same throughout your round. Tip: Be aware that the greens change given the time of day. As your game progress, the speed and break of the green will change. Early morning changes are caused by the greens drying out; late day changes are caused by the grass following the sun, thereby changing the grain of the green.

Reading the signs in life and golf will have a direct impact on the outcome. It is important to be aware of what is happening around you and read the signs to make sure you stay ahead of any changes that could affect your golf game. Golf is a dynamic game that always provides the signs that can result in great scores. You just have to read and follow them.

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

What Would You Be Thinking?

November 2, 2013 / The Grateful Golfer / 9 Comments

Dustin Johnson is leading after 54 holes at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions at Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai, China. He took the lead from Rory McIlroy after the first round and continues to shoot very well. Reviewing the stats and results, it is interesting to put yourself in Rory McIlory’s shoes. The trend of playing well for a round or two seems to continue and he is slowing starting to fall back from the top of the leader board.

What Would You Be Thinking? Am I “The Shark”, Greg Norman? He won many tournaments but slowly fell from the top of the world rankings by the combination of: players making miracle shots and your mental game slowly fading. (The Shark is one of my favorites)

What Would You Be Thinking? Am I John Daly? The two-time Major winner was a flash in the pan who had the ability to play extremely well for but could not sustain anything substantial to remain on top. Although a fan favorite, winning was sparse, but exciting!

What Would You Be Thinking? Am I Michelle Wie? Someone with unlimited potential to be another top-ranked player but could not sustain the spotlight. Someone who was mismanaged and made many tough financial decisions that in the end will be more detrimental than expected.

What Would You Be Thinking? Oh no, here we go again. This cannot be happening! The negative thoughts start affecting his game and he just cannot seem to get past the recent trends of not playing well for four rounds in a row.

Regardless of what Rory is thinking, he is too good a player not shake off this current funk. He has the skills and drive to play back to the top of the golfing world. He is a young player and with the proper guidance, his mental game will match his skill. When that happens, look out! He will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come!

What Do You Think?

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