Golf’s Greatest Secret

December 19, 2015December 19, 2015 / The Grateful Golfer / Leave a comment

Gratitude

Have you ever pondered the answer to golf’s greatest secret? Knowing that answer will elevate your standing in the golfing community to guru or at the very least being a really smart player. Knowing the answer can help shape your game, lower your scores, and exponentially increase your fun on the links!

Could the answers be found in the following links?

Hitting the ball on the center of the club face.
Feel your swing and practice.
The book “Duel in the Sun” at Turnberry in 1977.
Moe Norman had the answer.
Knowing the 10 greatest golf tips of all time.

Well, I think you see my point developing. As I start my research for creating my 2016 golf plan, I have to separate the wheat from the chaff. It takes time to separate the fly by night solutions aimed at selling me something, or the professed expert who knows how to sell.

This part of the process is fun for me. I am always open to new ideas, thoughts, musings and sometimes crazy off the wall suggestions. I think it is important to prepare for the unknown and the only way to do that on a golf course is to be open to new ideas and be willing to openly discuss them without any emotional baggage dragging me down.

What is Golf’s Greatest Secret? That is a great question. I believe the answer lies in all of us. I believe that each of us knows the answer, but we may or may not have let it come to the surface. There are many conventional aspects of golf like flexibility, training, practicing, swing plane, and mental preparation that will improve your game, but what is that one ‘je ne sais quoi’ that brings it all together? What is your greatest golf secret?

I will be searching for my greatest golf secret over the next month or two. I am not sure where I will find it, but if you have any suggestions, advice or just plain crazy ideas, I am listening!

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

Motivated to Write About Golf

December 17, 2015December 17, 2015 / The Grateful Golfer / 6 Comments

I am a Grateful Golfer!

This will be my 675 article since starting The Grateful Golfer in May of 2012. I have at least doubled my viewership every year. I never thought I would have 5 followers, let alone almost 1600. Things have evolved over the years and I can truly say that I feel that I am a better writer now, than 3 years ago. So why am I telling you this?

It is not to brag!
It is not to boost my ego!
It is not to plea for more regular followers!
Nor is it to suggest that for some reason I am an expert about anything golf!

I bring this up to say THANK YOU! Thank you to all the people who took the time to comment, like, dislike, correct, advise or just show support! There are many things we cannot control in the world, but how we treat and interact with people is something we definitely can control. I honestly can say that the people I have had the honour to meet via The Grateful Golfer have been awesome.

Through this entire journey, which has only just began, I have interacted with some awesome golfing fanatics who share my passion for this crazy, frustrating, challenging, and awesome game. If I started to list those who actively comment on my musings, I am sure I would miss someone and that would just not be fair. You know who you are because we talk – sometimes often, sometimes not – but we talk.

There is one person who I need to mention. He my closest friend and has been there through all the tough and good times. We share a passion for golf and he knows how to bring out the best in my game! Thanks, Kirk! By the way, how is the duck?

Over the past few years, I believe The Grateful Golfer blog has helped me overcome many challenges in my life. It has provided and outlet express my feelings and views about the world through a sport that has provided many awesome memories. If you are reading this article, then you are part of those memories and for that I am grateful!

So, as the Christmas season unfolds and the New Year approaches, I am motivated to write about golf. I am not sure where this journey is going to take me, but I am sure it will include many awesome people, fantastic locations, and an opportunity to enrich my life and those around me!

Thank you to everyone for your support and kindness.

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

You Can Make a Difference

December 15, 2015December 15, 2015 / The Grateful Golfer / 2 Comments

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!

Decide – The Only Off Season Golf Strategy You Need

December 13, 2015December 13, 2015 / The Grateful Golfer / 8 Comments

Decide!

This is the ultimate off-season golf strategy for any golfer. You have heard me mention it before, but now it is time to get the details!

This one little word changes in-action into action!

It empowers all players to get active and do something; anything to help improve their golf game.

Recently, I asked players what they did in the off-season to prepare for the time they hit the links. 50% of the players said that they putt. That was about it. Well, I applaud the fact they do something, I would suggest that it may not be enough to help lower their scores early in the 2016 golf season.

Decide!

This is the most difficult step in using your off-season to your advantage is to make the decision to do something! Deciding to get of the couch and work on your game will be the best decision you ever make to lower your golf scores. Here is what I think:

Decide build A Growth Mindset About Golf
Decide to become a student of the game
Decide to get fit
Decide to practice
Decide to read about more than mainstream golfing news
Decide to decide to improve your game

Well this is it, my fool-proof off-season plan for anyone to improve their golf game! Anyone can do it, anyone, if they decide, can change what they are currently doing to lower their golf scores in 2016!

I have made the decision to do something and I am currently formulating a plan. I hope to share it with you over the next few weeks, but in the meantime, it is your turn to:

Decide!

Off-Season Golf Strategies

December 13, 2015 / The Grateful Golfer / Leave a comment

There is only one way to prepare for the 2016 golf season! I have a fool-proof way method that will ensure you be ready for that faithful day when golf returns to your neck of the woods. It will not cost you anything for this secret (as this goes against the goal of The Grateful Golfer blog), but if you decide to partake on this journey to lower scores, you must share it with your friends! Are you ready?