Grateful Golfer

You Can Make a Difference

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Making a difference in someone’s life as easy as smiling or saying hello! Sometimes, it only takes a second change someone’s world.  Just listening or offering a helping hand might be enough to make a difference in someone’s life.  Any small positive token of acceptance can occur anywhere; even on the golf course.  Golfers have a long history of helping others.  There are many golf charities that raise money for the military, the homeless, cancer research, under privileged kids, and many more.  It is the selfless people who give up their time that have a lasting impact on their 3-foot space.

Golf is a great way to give back. Led by the PGA Tour, a great example is set for the average person who wants to be involved….wait, the regular folk already help by giving up their time. “Unlike other professional sports organizations, the PGA TOUR relies on more than 100,000 volunteers annually to run its tournaments, and the vast majority of its tournaments are structured as non-profit organizations designed to donate 100 percent of net proceeds to charity. Community beneficiaries include a wide variety of organizations including hospitals, youth development organizations, growth-of-the-game programs and food banks.” (PGA Tour Charities) To all those faithful, behind-the-scene volunteers, I want to say thank you for making a difference.

On an unrelated note, but in the spirit of Christmas and giving, I wanted to bring your attention to a young  Winnipeg artist whose video went viral back in 2011. Sean Quigley isn’t just a musician but is very involved in charity and social justice movements. When “little Drummer Boy” and its music video where released, CD’s were sold under one condition, “All the money has to go to charity” said Quigley. In collaboration with a local radio station, CD’s where pressed and sold out in a matter of hours. Their agreement was honoured and every penny made from CD sales went to an organization whose goal is to end homelessness and poverty in Quigley’s hometown of Winnipeg.  Enjoy the video!

#GolfChat

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Mike from 36aday sums up #GolfChat on Twitter perfectly. If you are looking for a great hour of talking golf, see you next Tuesday at 8 pm EST!

I am a grateful golfer! See you at #Golf Chat!

Not Just Another Major Golf Tournament

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There are four Major Golf Tournaments in professional golf! For various reasons, each event is unique and offers untold excitement. Regardless of your level of play, the Majors are highlights of the golf season that catches our attention.

Recently, I asked the golfing world which was there favorite Major. I was a bit surprised at the results, but given the events of last year I guess I really should not have been all that amazed.

Spieth Record Masters

2015 Masters Golf Tournament Champion – Jordan Spieth (Masters.com)

I have to admit that I am big Masters fan. Last years performance by Jordan Spieth was what legends are made of. Spieth added to the mystique about that The Masters and is considered the most popular Major in professional golf. I have to admit that Spieth’s play was akin to the greats like Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Sam Snead, and Arnold Palmer. However, it will take more that one victory to knock Nicklaus off as the greatest Masters Champion of all time; but, another performance like the one in 2015, he might well be on his way.

I am also a fan of The Open which is the oldest Major and probably the most prestigious. There is something about watching players fight the wind, conquer bunkers as deep as caverns, and greens as subtle as a sledge-hammer that brings out my competitive spirit. There is never a shortage of awesome shots and great recoveries! The Open is special and extremely popular to golfing fans.

Regardless of which Major is your favorite. Most golfing fanatics gather around their TV, watch on-line, or are fortunate enough to be there in person to watch the best players in the world slug it out for the top prizes in golf.

If you had an all expense paid trip any Major, which would you choose?

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

Canada Wins Gold at the 2015 Special Olympics

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Although somewhat dated, I recently heard the awesome news of Canadian golfers at the 2015 Special Olympics held at Los Angeles in the United States. As I started to dig into the details, I was amazed to find out that 1209 golfers are registered in Special Olympics programs across Canada. Special Olympics Canada is an amazing organization that provides awesome opportunities for many athletes.

The Team Canada golf coaches (Head Coach: Nicola McGovern, Male Coach: Ben Postmus, Support Staff: Mike McCarther) are dedicated people whose leadership lead the Canadian athletes to great success. A big shout out to these and all the dedicated volunteers who made the dreams of the Canadian golf team come true!

Special Olympics Golf 2015

Golf Team 2015 Special Olympics – Canada

Meet the team! Click here.

For the Special Olympics golf rules click here.

Here is how the the Canadian Golf team did overall:

On the second-last day of competition at the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games, Team Canada earned its first-ever World Games medals in golf and took the overall medal total to 126 (63 gold, 41 silver, 22 bronze).

These World Games mark the first time Special Olympics Team Canada has included golf, basketball, and bocce athletes, and the Canadian golfers served notice on the Harding Course that our country has game.

Danny Peaslee of Manitoba and Tess Trojan of Ontario both won gold in Level 4 nine-hole golf, while Ontario’s Lorrine Russell finished second to Trojan and Kyle Grummett of B.C. captured bronze as the team’s Level 5 golfer playing 18 holes.

Peaslee golfed neck and neck the whole four rounds with Andrew White of Special Olympics South Africa. In the last round, Peaslee shot a 36 to beat out his South African competition by just one stroke to win the 2015 Special Olympics World Games gold medal.

Ontario’s Kyle Koopman finished fourth by one stroke in Level 4 play – he had been eight strokes out of bronze going into the fourth and final round, and he made up seven strokes today, but ultimately could not make that last step onto the podium. His coaches were blown away by his comeback.

All five players had their best round of the Games in today’s final day of competition. (Special Olympics Canada)

The Special Olympics is an amazing organization! I previously mentioned my nephew-in-law’s involvement in the Special Olympics ball hockey team in Sudbury, Ontario; it is he and the other 19,645 volunteers who make a real difference in the lives of 41,301 athletes!

Thank you to everyone involved in the Canadian Special Olympics; your dedication is an inspiration to us all!

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

 

 

Journey to Scratch Golf: A New Hope

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Being GratefulA long time ago in a galaxy far far away…..

Of course we all know this epic line to the original Star Wars movie! I bet the song is going off in your head right now! Before the rest of the opening scenes explain the challenges faced by the rebels against the empire, our minds soar to new possibilities in almost every area of our lives.

That is where I sit right now. Golf season is over, I have 5 months before the links open, and I need to prepare for next season if I ever expect to be a scratch golfer. As with previous years, I like to take time to think about where I can most effectively make changes to lower my scores.

For me, it is a creative time. It is a time to be grateful for great 2015 golf season! It is a time to be introspective. It is a time envision the how to take my game to the next level. It is a time to embrace a new hope in my golf game.

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