Power, Push or Carry

November 17, 2012 / The Grateful Golfer / 1 Comment

How do you enjoy your round of golf? Using a power cart, push cart or carrying your clubs? The great thing about golf is that any player, at anytime, can decide on how they want to enjoy their round. But, are there really any benefits to choosing the right mode of transportation when enjoying this awesome game.

As everyone knows, 18 holes of golf is about 4 miles. A carry back weights about 10 kg or 20 pounds depending on the size of your lunch and the number of golf balls in your bag. A cart back will weight more to the tune of about 20 kg or 40 pounds. This seems quite a bit of weight to be moving around for each round of golf. However, experience tells most golfers that it really is not that big of a deal.

I believe that walking is the best way to go. The Walking Golfer talks about the benefits of walking and has started a database on rating the walkability of courses. About.com has an article on the benefits of golf. The Harvard Medical School says that golfing is very good for your overall health. Livestrong.com (quoting the Washington Post) says that walking 1 mile burns 322 calories; more if you carry or push your clubs. Needless to say, there are many benefits to walking and I believe that is the best way to enjoy a round of golf.

“So What?” many of you are asking. I have not really passed on anything new or unique. Well let’s think about this topic a bit deeper. I want to remove the discussion on the benefits of health and focus on the practicality of using a power cart, push cart or to carry your clubs. As I previously stated, I love to carry my clubs, however I do use all three modes of transport while playing golf.

Carrying clubs is faster and allows a player the opportunity acquire a better feel for the round they are playing. There are no restrictions on where you can walk and your clubs are always with you if you want to change your club selection. I carry my clubs early in the morning, on cool days and non-competitive rounds. This is the majority of the time I spend on the links and thus I carry my clubs more often than not.

Push carts offer some of the same benefits as carrying and allows you to carry more stuff. For example, when it may rain, I like to pull my clubs. I can carry my rain suit and umbrella, extra towel, etc. This is extra weight that I can carry if required, but would prefer not to. In addition, on really hot sunny days (generally in the middle of the afternoon) I like to push my clubs because of the heat and I can carry lots of water! I also use my push cart during tournaments. I have found that most amateur golfers think they are pros during tournaments and normal 4-hour rounds turn into 5 or 6 hour rounds. Additionally, I can carry food and water to get me through the long rounds. Lastly, I conserve my energy for when I need it by using a push cart.

Power carts are best during fun tournaments like 4 person scrambles. We can pick up balls from all over the fairway and return to one location to hit our next shot. It enables us to spend a bit more time together talking, joking and laughing about something. Also, I believe power carts are great for players how cannot physically walk 18 holes, but still want to play this awesome game.

Different modes of transporting your clubs during a round of golf has different benefits to each player. There is no wrong answer; it really depends on what you want to experience while on the links. Power, push, or carry really does not matter, what matters is that you are doing it. I am a grateful golfer.

Which mode of transporting your clubs do you prefer?

Buying New Equipment

November 10, 2012 / The Grateful Golfer / Leave a comment

My New Golf Bag!

Buying new golf equipment is very difficult depending on where you live, what you want, the quality of equipment required, and the amount of money you want to spend. You will notice I said want vice need. Most of the time, we golfers want to change instead of need to change our equipment, but that is a discussion for another day.

Most golfers are very particular on what type of equipment they want to buy. Should you purchase a R11, volkey wedges, ping putter, callaway iron, foot joy shoes….it goes on and on. I understand the desire to have very good equipment and for the most part follow the same practice as most golfers. Overall many of the decisions are made based on what is perceived as a positive step towards improving our game.

Here are a couple of tips that may help….well actually only one tip….never, never, never, pay full price! I know, it sounds difficult, but actually, with very little effort this can be achieved. So here is my strategy.

Step 1: Figure out what you want/need. In this case I have looked for a new carry bay since the beginning of the season.

Step 2: Research, research, and research. I read the hype of manufactures to see what they say, however I actually pay attention to the consumer reviews. This is the most important piece of information you will find. People are more than willing to tell you what they think.

Step 3: Wait for it to come on sale. Check Ebay. Check Kijiji. Check Golftown (or other large franchise stores), check the local pro shop (you would be surprised).

Step 4: If possible haggle over the price. The local pro shop will lower their price if you make them a reasonable deal.

Step 5: Purchase the piece of equipment. In my case, I was very happy with my recent purchase. I went into Golf Town yesterday. They were having a demo sale for clubs. Also, they had 10 carry bags hidden in the back. I pick up my back for 60% off. I was very happy.

Step 6: Probably the most important step – be happy with your purchase. This is very important!

My process of purchasing golf equipment ensures that you end up with what you want. It saves money and reduces impulse buying! I realize it may not be the best way, but it has saved me money over the years and enabled me to purchase move of the things I need! I am a grateful golfer.

Do you have any special tricks to save money buying clubs?

Hunting for the Pin!

October 30, 2012October 30, 2012 / The Grateful Golfer / Leave a comment

Golfing is an interesting sport. On any given day, you can go through a roller coaster of emotions that keeps you coming back for more. I have several ways of minimizing these crazy feelings, but my favorite is hunting for the pin!

Normally, this approach is frustrating and ill-advised. Most people would say that hunting for the pin will add stokes to your game, but I say – NO WAY! It is the only way to go.

On those days when we feel that we need a change from our normal game and want to challenge ourselves, hunting for the pin is the way to go. So, no matter where the pin is located, try firing darts. You will be surprised on how much fun you will have.

Usually I will only hit the ball close one in five, but that one shot usually makes my day. Sometimes a surprising thing happens…my first shot is golden and the rest of my game is like it is from a dream. I just cannot miss!

Hunting for the pins is a way to have fun and challenge ourselves while strolling around the links. Trying different things allows us to step out of the norm and see what you can really accomplish!

So Why Golf?

October 23, 2012June 18, 2017 / The Grateful Golfer / Leave a comment

Perception is reality! – Lee Atwater

Discussing any topic with someone is always interesting! Their point of view or perception of any issue is always correct (for them) and most of the time they can present life examples of why they are correct. I believe that everyone’s point of view provides a window into his or her character and how they think. One’s perception is truly one’s reality!

Let’s take golf for example. I have discussed golf with many people and why in my perception its the best sport in the world. Why it is not always about winning a tournament, but competing with yourself everyday. Most non-golfers really do not see it. Their perception of the game is that it is for older people who are not athletic or fit enough to play baseball, hockey, tennis….etc. Or they see it as a waste of time and they would rather be living vicariously through the TV watching professional sports. (Okay a bit of a rant there…sorry) Ultimately, they do not get the why golf is such a great game! So for those none golfers who happen to stumble across this article – this is why golf is GREAT!

Etiquette and Fair Play

“Golf is a sport that will teach your child things like etiquette and fair play because golf is, and always has been, a game of honour. They can learn how to conduct themselves on the golf course, especially when playing in a group or with other groups playing behind. Having regard for other golfers on the course is an integral part of the game and children will do well to learn this early.” This point is every important to me and InfoBarrel.com deserves the credit for writing it so well. Although the article focuses on kids; this article applies to everyone!

The Top 10 Life Lessons Your Child Can Learn from Playing Golf

This is an excellent reason for people should take up golf! It outlines 10 benefits for kids, however I would suggest that if the kids can do it so can adults, teenagers and basically anyone. My favorite from the ten life lessons is humility and respect. This trait will benefit everyone, now and into the future.

What can you learn from golf?

By Paul Gittings, CNN, November 17, 2011. He provides a very interesting perspective on the game of golf. He suggests that golf is not easy to learn. Additionally, it takes plenty of practice. “Better, perhaps, to adopt the attitude of the great South African golfer Gary Player, who often performed miracles around the greens. “The more I practice, the luckier I get,” the nine-time major champion was once famously quoted as saying.”” Gary player summed up the article very well. His perception is that practice does improve your ability in anything. I agree and that is my reality.

Sun Rising During and Early Morning Round! Laurentide Golf Course, Sturgeon Falls, Ontario, Canada

Golf, like any sport, should be played to have fun! I enjoy chasing a little white ball around the course in the early morning when it is quiet and relaxing, walking on fresh-cut grass, seeing the sun rise over a green, getting a hole in one, watching my friend get a hole in one, watching my mom get a hole in one (that was really cool!) watching my friend break 90, 80, 70, me breaking 70, and competing against myself every round to try to improve something about my game. My perception is that golf is the ultimate sport that transcends all ages and my reality is that no one can convince me otherwise! I am a grateful golfer.

So what does golf mean to you?

Golfing in the Off Season!

October 18, 2012 / The Grateful Golfer / 1 Comment

I bet you are wondering what I mean by golfing in the off-season! Some may think I mean taking a trip down south or some place exotic to play a few rounds of golf in the dead of winter. Well, that is not what I mean at all. Golfing in the off Season is not about playing golf, but preparing for next year.

At info.com, “Golfers can improve their balance and posture while increasing the strength and technicality of their golf swing” by staying active and adopting an exercise program. They offer several exercises and programs that will help any golfer prepare for next year.

Sports Fitness Advisor suggests that “strength, power, flexibility, balance, core stability, body awareness, even endurance… they’re all physical traits that every consistent golfer (even the fair-weather players) must possess. The golf industry is littered with gadgets and gimmicks for increasing accuracy and shot distance. Yet for all their claims and guarantees most remain independently unproven.” I believe that an overall approach to fitness will improve your game better than any piece of equipment.

Greg Norman “The Shark” says that “as you achieve higher levels of fitness, you can generate more power with less effort, thereby producing a smoother swing with greater club head speed. You will develop more force without forcing the action, which is essential for long and consistent drives.” He also provides a program to become physically stronger to effortlessly achieve success in all aspects of your golf game.

Ian Hardie at Golf Habits.com has identified in his article “Are you running out of steam” that most amateurs do not perform as well on the last 6 holes compared to the first 6. I totally agree with him. A round of golf lasts for 4 hours. Those of us that walk and carry our clubs can attest to the fact that we get tired near the end of a round. I suggest that success down the stretch can be attributed to your physical condition.

Golfing in the off-season is about training and preparing for next season. I would suggest that now is the time to start. See you in the gym!