Buying New Golf Clubs

March 10, 2015March 10, 2015 / The Grateful Golfer / 21 Comments

Time for some new clubs!

It is the season for new equipment. Each year at this time, I look at my equipment to determine if something needs to be replaced. This year, I am looking at a driver and possible putter. I have not made any definite decisions, but this is the process I use:

Step 1: Figure out what you want/need.
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.
Step 6: Probably the most important step – be happy with your purchase. This is very important!

Using the process, I usually find the best deals available. I am not ready to anything yet, but it will happen soon. As I move forward, maybe you can give me some suggestions. Tell me what driver and putter you use and why you like it? I am all ears!

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

Golf Season is on its Way!

March 6, 2015 / The Grateful Golfer / 18 Comments

I figure there is 30 days left before I hit the golf course. We still have 3 feet of snow on the ground, but the warm weather is on its way. Normally, I expect golf season to start on 15 April, but this year I am predicting I will be swing my clubs a week earlier.

In the meantime, I have some things to do. I have mentioned before about my yearly traditions and I plan to do those over the next 30 days. The most important tradition is to read the rule book. I think this is critical for my goal to compete more this year. Additionally, I will see if there are any new rule interpretations that are coming in play this year.

I will get my equipment out and give it a very good cleaning. I think it is important to focus on my grips. A good cleaning early in the season will help them last the season.

Lastly, I will check to see what needs to be replaced. I know many of you have done this already, but with 30 days left, it is time to prepare.

I am excited that golf season is around the corner, all I have to do is continue to be patient, train, and focus on the positive aspects of my 2015 golf season!

What are you doing to get ready for 2015?

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

Slow Play and Golf

February 12, 2015 / The Grateful Golfer / 15 Comments

Slow play is one of my pet peeves in golf! I find that waiting on every hole is frustrating and fuels my negative talk about golf and life in general! Playing with or behind players who are more focused on talking, having a libation, or watching every play from every position should not be allowed on my course! Slow play…grrrr….where is that marshal!

Can I play through?

I have talked about slow play before and many people have chimed in with their frustrations. (See May I Play Through and Can I Play Through for more details) I realize that this topic can push the buttons of most golfers, however it is an important topic that many amateurs seem to overlook.

There are some players who are naturally slow players. Others like a very quick pace. The natural flow of a round of golf, for these diverse players, is completely different. It is this natural flow that I want to discuss.

The natural flow of any player is not limited to their golf swing. The tempo of their swing is extremely important and generally correlates with how long it takes a player to loop around the course. The natural flow of a player encompasses their swing, their routines, how fast they walk between shots, their decision-making, etc. Every action during their round of golf is part of their natural flow of their round.

Natural flow is critical to low scores in tournaments. How many times have you played with people who stated they are a single digit handicap, yet shoot in the 90s! I realize it can happen once in a while, but not two or three days in a row. If asked about their challenges, they would suggest that they are just having a bad day. However, under closer scrutiny, they have changed their natural flow and it was completely messed up.

Novice amateurs try to ape a better golfer. This is a great practice (learning from others), but not during a tournament. I have played many rounds with players who completely change their natural flow under the pressure of competition; interestingly, the times I score the best is when I keep to may natural flow and ignore theirs. Sometimes this is challenging when playing with extremely slow competitors, but if it is their natural flow, there is nothing one can do. To compensate for slow play in tournaments, I have developed some techniques that work to keep my natural flow.

I will let you know what they are, but before I do I would like to know what you think. Am I crazy to think there is a natural flow to a persons golf game? Inquiring minds want to know!

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

Your Favorite Shot In Golf

February 11, 2015 / The Grateful Golfer / 14 Comments

What is your favorite shot in golf? If you take a moment to think about it, there is that one shot that you love more than any other. Maybe you like it because it keeps you out of trouble. Maybe because the ball flight is something to marvel. Or even it is because the of the sound the ball makes off your club. The reason can be just about anything, but I bet you have a favorite shot in golf.

As I think about this perplexing question, I can visualize every shot in my bag. I can see me standing on the tee as I prepare to smash the cover off the ball. With no difficulty I can see my set up for a wedge shot into the green. And I can imagine making that long left to right putt for birdie! I can visualize every shot, so narrowing down the options in my game is a bit difficult.

Well, I have narrowed down my select too three possibilities. Here are my options for my favorite shot in golf:

I am on the edge of the green. The ball is sitting on top of the grass and I have to a perfect lie. I have several club selection options, but I reach for my trusty 7-iron. Following my pre-shot routine, I envision the ball going into the hole. I step up over the ball and make my swing. Right at impact, I know when I have hit the ball pure. The crisp click I hear as the ball cleanly bounces off the club face is music to my ears! I love that sound!
It is 6 am on a Saturday morning. I grab my clubs out of the car and quietly walk towards the first tee. I am the only person at the course. The sun is just starting to rise, revealing the beauty of the course hidden by the night. I hear the birds announcing the morning and letting the world know that a new day of adventure has finally arrived. I stand on the tee box, survey my surrounds and breath deeply. Every time I am grateful as I take my first swing of the day!
I am standing on the tee box of any par three. I check the wind, pin location, and possible hazards I must conquer to hit the green. I think of the possibilities of my next swing as I approach my ball. The risk reward of every par three weighs on my mind. Finally, I clear my head and make that full swing. The anticipation as my ball heads towards the green offers hope beyond imagination. This is a golf shot.

Walking Towards The First Tee at Laurentide Golf Course

So what do you think? Well golfing fans, I will take what is behind door number 2! The serenity I feel early in the morning is really tough to beat. That first swing early in the morning is my favorite shot in golf.

What is your favorite shot in golf?

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

PGA Tour: These Guys are Good

January 14, 2015 / The Grateful Golfer / 3 Comments

I stumbled across this video: The top 10 shots of the 2013 FedEx Cup Playoffs. As I watch all the great shots, all I could do is smile. It is amazing how good professional golfers really are!

My favorite was Number 8. Scott Brown’s bounce off the cart path on a drivable par 4 hole. It brings back many memories of hitting something on the course which resulted in something special.

Which shot did you like the best? I would like to know!