Yesterday I hit the links with the intent of playing different formats through different holes. It was not to work on anything new, but to shake up my game and have some fun. So, I played best ball (with two balls) for the first four holes and a scramble for the last five. It was all about having fun until I started playing well, then my competitive nature kicked in. It all started on the first hole!
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A Telling Golf Stat That Everyone Should Know
Golf is a game that has gone statistics crazy. There is a stat for just about everything. In the past, I have tried to capture a bunch on my own and realized after a couple of years that the data I was collecting was helpful to a small degree. I have discussed stats in the past and have concluded that how close the ball is to the pin on approach shots is really the top stat. I have focused on greens in regulation (GIR), but I think it is time to expand that concept a bit in order to fully understand the most telling stat in golf.
Continue readingI Just Want To Play Golf
Golf is a game that demands each player dedicated time to becoming a better player. Rarely have I noticed anyone play golf as a ‘natural’. The swing movement is so complex, that picking up a club and shooting a low score seems impossible. Therefore, it is easy to conclude that dedicating time to practice is important for any golfer to improve their game. Through the years, I put in that time, but now it seems that I just want to play golf!
As a senior player, I think that my game has peaked and I will be riding a plateau for quite some time. There is always a fork in the road where every athlete must decided they have reached the point of diminishing returns. It seems that I am at the point. I still try to practice, but hitting the links and playing an extra ball or two seems to be the norm right now. Of course I can approach my game this way because I have already put in the hundreds of hours needed to be a low handicap player.
I like playing golf more than practicing; actually, I always have. Most athletes, in my opinion, think that way. We experience the joy of competition more than the satisfaction of honing a skill. I do not think it is a far stretch to conclude my statement above because the thrill of playing is what most of us look forward too.
Keeping in mind what motivates us to play golf, I do recommend that practice be a part of your plan to shoot lower golf scores. It is important to hone skills that will set you up for success. Practicing from the pin outward is always a great place to start. There is no wrong answers here because your desire to a certain level of golf will drive your need to practice. The joy of playing will never go away, the desire to practice will dim as we approach our point of diminishing returns.
Ultimately, I am a grateful golfer. I am grateful to be able to practice and play. However, right now I am leaning towards the ‘I just want to play golf’ path. How about you? Where is your game right now?
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
Playing Slower Golf Improved My Score
On Sunday I hit the links for what I thought would be a quick round. I normally play nine holes on my new course in about 1.5 hours (give or take 15 minutes; okay give 15 minutes 😉 ) with two balls. During my last round, I was stuck behind a three 4somes. So, I was going nowhere fast. I spent a good deal of time putting and chipping as I waited to go to the next hole. I found that I needed something to occupy my mind as I slowly played the round and I easily found it.
Continue readingLosing Focus On The Golf Course
Two days ago, I happily made my way to the first tee. I was looking forward to playing and hoping that I could improve on my previous rounds. My round started with losing a tee shot (for awhile) in the long grass. After a 3 minute look, I hit found the little darling playing hid and seek under some mown grass. I hit my second shots (I was playing two balls) to short of the green and that is when things started to go off the rails.
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The Grateful Golfer 