Lest We Forget!

November 10, 2014November 10, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / Leave a comment

LEST WE FORGET!

11 November is a special day. It offers an opportunity to honor the fallen, wounded and serving military men, women and their families. Their sacrifices have allowed for the freedoms we enjoy today.

As a serving member of the Canadian Armed Forces for over 30 years, each Remembrance Day, I am proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with my brothers-in-arms to honor our fallen heroes.

A Pittance of Time by Terry Kelly is something that is worth watching!

In Flanders Fields is read at every Remembrance Day Ceremony I have attended.

This and the “Last Post” always move me.

Some videos and photos of serving members around the world from the Canadian Armed Forces are worth a look.

We generally talk about golf, however, today it is important to acknowledge the sacrifice of the brave men and women in uniform.

I am a grateful.

Moor Park Golf Club

November 8, 2014November 8, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / 4 Comments

On my recent trip to the United Kingdom, I took the opportunity to quickly visit a historic site called Moor Park Golf Club. Although I did not play due to time constraints, I drove by this famous golf course and snapped a few pictures. A fellow golfing enthusiast, Pete Robbins, inventor of the White Dragon Putter, mentioned I should visit his old stomping grounds; thanks Pete for the awesome suggestion! I did venture over to the course and wish I would have had more time to play a round.

Moor Park Mansion

Moor Park Golf Club has a Grade I listed Palladian mansion set within several hundred acres of parkland to the south-east of Rickmansworth in Hertfordshire, England. It is called Moor Park Mansion because it is in the old park of the Manor of More. (Wikipedia)

It is an amazing sight when you first drive under the arch at the gate. As the private road meanders through lush grass and ancient trees, the sense of a strong history envelopes you!

A warm welcome awaits the visiting golfer at Moor Park Golf Club – a club famous not only for its two challenging golf courses, but also for the imposing 17th century Mansion House which acts as the clubhouse and hospitality centre.

Set amidst 300 acres of mature woodland and finest Hertfordshire parkland, Moor Park features not one but two championship golf courses. Designed by Harry Colt in 1923 to blend into the grounds of the estate, the courses combine challenging golf holes – ideal for competition, practise or tuition. The High Course plays host annually to the Hertfordshire Stag, as well as regularly welcoming such events as the Carris Trophy, County Championship and English Seniors Open. (Moor Park Golf Course Website)

The Moor Park Mansion was not always the focal point this golf course. Specifically, during WWII, this grand edifice was the of Headquarters of the 1st Airborne Corps who planned Operation Market Garden. This daring mission, planned by Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery, took place between September 17 and 25, 1944. Immortalized in the movie “A Bridge Too Far“, the origins of Operation Market Garden can be traced back to the Moor Park Mansion.

As I surveyed the grounds, the picturesque landscape is the first thing that caught my eye. The rolling hills, stately trees, and meticulously manicured landscape was impressive. Absorbing my surroundings, I was left to wonder and envision the history of this majestic site. If only the trees could talk….but I digress.

Visiting Moor Park Golf Club is a must for golfing enthusiasts! Next time, I hope to play the course and try to tame the High or West Course. From the outside looking in, Moor Park offers so much. Hopefully one day I will make the adventurous trek back and take in the entire golfing experience.

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

The Duck is Coming Back To Canada

November 2, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / 9 Comments

The duck will be staying in my hands for the near future! My friend and I had a fantastic four days of golf that culminated in a wet round played in two stages.

Today, we started playing in a light drizzle, but the weather quickly worsened. After 11 holes of playing in a down pour, we decided to stop, eat breakfast, and wait out the rain. Two hours later, we hit the links for the final 7 holes. Things were looking good for me, however the last two holes did not go well. My friend dug deep and played like a champion.

So, I will be carrying the prized duck for the time being! I plan to write a more detailed account of this adventure, but thought everyone would be curious as to the results of our match!

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

The Joys of Golf

October 29, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / 6 Comments

Well tomorrow I am heading to visit my friends in the UK. I anticipate that we will laugh, joke, tell stories and of course hit the links! Despite the obvious, my trip offers many things for which I am grateful. My gratitude is not limited to being able to play golf in 18 degree weather in November, but is much larger than that!

Introspection allows me to look deep inside and realize that many of my joys in life have been a result of playing golf! Golf has afforded me the opportunity to travel, meet extremely interesting people, strike up conversations with complete strangers and provide me a light when I had to crawl out of dark places in my life!

I would be foolish to think that golf is the most important thing in my life because that is just not true. My wife, daughter, son in law and health are by far most important to me, however golf provides an opportunity to experience other joys for which I am grateful.

As I prepare for my trip to see my friends, I am grateful for the opportunity share great times on and off the golf course. I am grateful for the opportunity to play golf in the UK. I am grateful for the experience of playing golf on my friends home course and meet many of the people he talks about. And I am grateful for the 2 strokes aside he will give me!

The joys of golf are unique to each person. Only you can decide what drives your passion to play! Regardless, being grateful and mindful of what is being offered to you everyday will open many doors to happiness on and off the course!

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

Passion, Pleasure, Pain, Pity… Why I PAY to play Golf!!

October 27, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / Leave a comment

Well this sums up how most of think about golf! Thanks Golf On The Links for putting our thoughts on paper!

lifeonthelinks

Let’s start off by stating the obvious, the essential point for this article. Golf is my passion! Golf; that silly game that has an endless pursuit to burn through money, exhaust time, fuel fantasy like dreams and desires only to eventually and ironically crush them. Why are we so in love with this game? At first glance, the sport seems like a destiny for disaster, a guaranteed outlet for pain, frustration and self-loathing pity. Many golfers should have accepted these simple facts years ago in their own quests at understanding the true nature behind their voluntary intentions to try and play the game. So the question turns to; why do we play? Or better yet, why do we PAY to play a sport that can be as irritating or frustrating as this one? Like many things in life, there rarely is one clear answer to any subjected question. So why…

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