Taking Your Medicine At The US Open!

June 16, 2013 / The Grateful Golfer / 3 Comments

Wow what a finish! The US Open was a race of endurance and skill. Congratulations to Justin Rose. I was rooting for Phil Mickelson, but he was destined to finished second for the sixth time!

The US Open did not disappoint any viewers this year. It was excellent to watch the best in the world play on of the toughest courses laid out for the US Open Championship. The rough was extremely long and greens crazy fast.

It was amazing how often players had to just get their ball in play after hitting it into the rough. The USGA stated that the penalty should add about one half stroke to someone’s score if someone had to play out of the rough. This year, according to the TV announcers, the penalty was a full stroke. Talk about taking your medicine. This is a strong and important message to all amateurs who find themselves in trouble on the links. The pros understanding of course management is a tribute to the pursuit of excellence.

The following are my highlights of the US Open this year.

Image from: http://caddieworld.me/about/

John Dempster, Caddy

Thanks to John Dempster, from Caddyworld, for providing thegratefulgolfer.com with an update on Peter Hedblom after a partial finish of the second round. It must have been difficult to play split rounds and then wait to make the cut. Congratulations to Peter Hedblom for making the cut; this is an accomplishment that is rewarding in itself.

An additional thanks to Rick Williams at mindbodygolf for discussing the pre-tournament aspects of the US Open. His insights were helpful and I am grateful for him sharing what he saw!

Mike Weir. He finished tied for 28th. This is a great finish for Weir. He has struggled over the past years and as one of the last entries, he demonstrated that he belonged with the best players in the world. Also, being Canadian, he is an automatic favorite of mine!

Phil Mickelson‘s shot on the tenth hole from the rough in the fairway was exceptional. It was one of those once in a lifetime shots that could have been a total game changer. Unfortunately, Merion was too much of a lion and he could not fully recover from two double bogey’s on the front nine.

Shawn Stefani‘s hole-in-one. It was awesome! This shot will be all over, but watch it at the National Post. Kissing the ground where his ball hit the bank and shot to the right and rolled in to the hole was very humorous. It was the first hole-in-one at the US Open when hosted at Merion Golf Club.

Lastly, amateur Micheal Kim. He played like a seasoned professional. Finishing tied for 17th, it was great to see a non-professional play with poise. Accomplishments like his offer hope for us hackers!

The US Open is a great tournament! This year, all golfers were not disappointed! For this and many other reasons, I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!

It is a New Record!

June 9, 2013December 27, 2017 / The Grateful Golfer / 7 Comments

Today I set a new record on the golf course. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, I saw a cool turtle and I golfed with some great friends. As the day unfolded, we teed off at 6 am and cruised around the course. The mosquito population seemed to dwindle over night and the wind was cool and refreshing! Does this not sound like an awesome day on the course! I am so grateful to have decided to hit the links this morning!.

I guess you are wondering about my new record? Yup, you guessed it, I fixed 45 ball marks today and 15 divots. I realize that many players have bad backs and cannot bend over to fix or replace damage to the course, so I decided to help them out today….ok I will stop.

But seriously, golf is a fantastic game. We all love to see a ball land and hold on a green from 125 yards. Usually, such a shot makes a divot and a ball mark. It is important that all golfers take pride in themselves and the course they are playing by repairing their own blemishes. I generally try to fix mine and another ball mark on the green. It keeps the course in great shape all summer and helps the maintenance crew keep the course lush and enjoyable for everyone.

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

A Plastic Wolf?

June 5, 2013 / The Grateful Golfer / 2 Comments

Lately, a new trend on the local golf courses has arisen. It is the form of plastic wolves and dog cut outs. The intent is to keep the Canadian Geese and other pesky critters off the course.

The thought is that these fierce-looking objects will strike fear in the hearts of animals who really do not care. They only think about eating grass, laying eggs and leaving smelly presents everywhere. Additionally, Canadian Geese are fearless, especially if you come close to them…they will hiss at, honk towards and chase any intruder who feels they brave enough to enter their protected area. Needless to say, Canada Geese are a nuisance and cause untold damage to any golf course. The plastic wolves are interesting to look at, but not necessarily that effective.

On one of our local courses, there are about 6 of these plastic creatures located strategically around the links style front nine. It has prevented some of the chaotic waterfowl from visiting the lust green grass, but probably does not have the effect expected by the grounds crew. We still see many Canada Geese on the course each and every day.

I am grateful for their efforts. Part results are better than none I guess. Additionally, I am partial to seeing the young goslings walking around, swimming in the ponds and learning new things…they are fun to watch!

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

Modified Scramble

May 30, 2013 / The Grateful Golfer / 1 Comment

Out of the Sand Like A Pro

I played Men’s Night at Osprey Links golf course and had a blast. As most players know, men’s night is a great time to meet new people and play fun golf games. Yesterday, I played a modified 4-man scramble that I have never heard of before. Here is how it went:

It was a 9-hole 4- man scramble. Each player teed off at every hole. After the drive, the team decided which player would play their own ball alone while the other three played a scramble format.

Side note: for those who do not know, scramble format is where everyone hits off the tee, you pick the best shot, everyone else picks up their ball and goes the the best shot location and hits again. Continue until holed out.

After the singleton and scramble team holed out, we added both scores together for our total score. Each player had to play by themselves for two holes. The ninth hole could be played by anyone. For a par 36, we scored 35 for the scramble and 42 for the singleton. I tell you it was loads of fun! It was interesting because of the strategy we were trying to use to outsmart the game, but it all came down to playing your own ball under pressure.

The weather was great, the course was great and the company was fantastic. I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!

The World Of Golf

May 26, 2013 / The Grateful Golfer / 2 Comments

On the Way to the First Tee

Golf is truly a universal sport. Created on the coast of Scotland in the 15th century, this sport has stood the test of time. Through the last 600 years, there have been many innovations to the sport that ensures new players continue to flock to this frustrating and yet exhilarating game. Kings, heads of state, Bob who lives down the block, and Fred who you just met yesterday on the course, have played it. Golf appears to be everywhere, but is golf really a sport played around the world or is it a game for the rich that is losing touch with the masses?

Recently, The Economist printed an article that the Cuban government has authorized the development of an 18-hole golf course. This is the first time golf has been authorized in Cuba since the 1959 revolution! The article suggests that this political move is purely economical to draw rich tourists, however if they are trying to increase tourism; why golf?

Iran has a 12-hole course! Yes, a 12-hole course. This country is extremely mountainous, very desert like and considers the game of golf very bourgeoisie. Yet according to thetop100golfcourses.co.uk golf is rather popular with the young women of Tehran. Iran has a rich history that does not include golf, but perhaps times are changing.

Kabul, Afghanistan, has a golf course. It has been de-mined and you require close protection to play there, but golf is still being played. One of the hazards is the road that goes through the center of a fairway. Ultimately, it is not a golf course in the true convention; however, the BBC has a video that will open your eyes.

How about golfing in the land of the midnight sun? Each summer the Billy Joss Open Celebrity Golf Tournament is held in the third week of July on a 9-hole course. This 4-day Arctic golf tournament is the ultimate golf holiday. Golf all day and all night. This winter wonderland of golf is at the Ulukhaktok Golf Course. Ulukhaktok is a small hamlet on the west coast of Victoria Island, in the Inuvik Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. Golfing for 24 hours straight in daylight would be something that everyone should experience.

Not to be out done, The World Ice Golf Championships in Uummannaq, Greenland, was last played in 2009. “Playing golf on a frozen seascape is not the only task at hand. Coping with extreme temperatures, which can fall to minus 50º C with the wind-chill factor, challenges players both physically and mentally. Special kit is absolute essential. Other factors to consider are that the ‘green’ is white, the ball is fluorescent orange and there is the unlikely risk of losing a ball to a polar bear.” The rugged conditions would definitely challenge the most avid golfer.

There are many examples of how golf has touched the most remote and politically challenging places in the world. Golf is a challenging game that truly transcends age, ethnicity, and economic status. It is a universal sport that continues to grow and continues to bring people and perhaps nations together. If you have never golfed, it may be time to try; the opportunities are boundless. Golf is a sport played around the world and enjoyed by many!

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