Golf Strategy: How to Play a Tight Lie

/ The Grateful Golfer / 14 Comments

How to play a tight lie is one of the most challenging shots in golf. Proper execution is undoubtedly important, but selecting the proper shot is really the key to success! Do you putt the ball, chip it or flop it are just some of the things that go through your head as you look over the situation. I came across the picture below and thought I would get your advice on how you would play it.

Chipping for Success

How would you play this golf shot?

This shot happened a few years ago at a scramble golf tournament. My three playing partners and I were lying 2 on a par 5. As we surveyed the shot, each of us played it differently. Here is what happened:

  • The first player tried putt the ball and you can see the results in the picture.
  • The second player hit a bump and run. He tried to hit the ball short and hoped it would bounce up to the pin. His shot was short and the player picked up.
  • The third player flopped the ball, it landed on the fringe and the ball rolled up about 8 inches from the pin. It was an easy tap in for birdie.
  • I tried to flop the ball to the pin with the hopes of the ball landing just short and slowly rolling into the hole. I was unable to put a spin on the ball, so my ball released 4 feet past the hole.

As you can see, we tried a different shots to make the up and down. The success of the third player made my shot easier and thus I was more aggressive than normal. How I would play the shot is really not important; what is important is how you would play the shot!

How would you approach this shot?

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

Canada Wins Gold at the 2015 Special Olympics

/ The Grateful Golfer / Leave a comment

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!

 

 

Golfing In Formation

/ The Grateful Golfer / 8 Comments

image

 

This is a typical sight on a golf course. Everyone moves along at a steady place and as happenstance has it, we are all aligned in a golfing formation the would rival the RCAF Snowbirds or the USAF Thunderbirds!

When playing in a foursome, where people stand during someone’s shot is very important. It is critical to great golf etiquette and has a direct impact to the shooter. When waiting for someone to play it is important to understand field of view, proximity, and respecting their personal space.

Field of view is pretty self explanatory. It is important that the waiting player not stand in a sport where the player can see them during their shot. So, those players who stand directing behind the player during a swing should move off the side to stay out of the field of view of the player. Everyone golfer is different and it is important to know where to stand. Personally, I am not usually fussed where people stand, but I would prefer if they stood at a 45 degree angle,   about 10 feet away. However, that is not always possible, so I have learned to be flexible.

Proximity is important for noise. If you are close enough for a player to hear you doing anything, you are too close. I have played with many players who fidget with things while waiting, they end up breaking the ambient noise of the golf course. All I can suggest is that the person waiting stop fidgeting or move further away from the person making the shot.

Last is personal space. I enjoy talking to my fiends on the golf course. That usually means that we stand nearer to each other when playing. Unfortunately, some strangers like to stand to close and quietly chat when someone is talking. I do not like this, actually I suggest most golfers feel the same way. I recommend that a 5 foot ring when talking to someone you do not know well is a good distance. If you have to get closer because you a have to whisper something during someone’s shot, maybe it can wait.

Golfing in formation is important. Proper etiquette is important so everyone can enjoy their precious time on the links. What do you think? Do you have other formation tips?

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

Journey to Scratch Golf: A New Hope

/ The Grateful Golfer / Leave a comment

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!

 

Hole-In-One or Albatross?

/ The Grateful Golfer / 8 Comments

It is the best round of your life! You are playing 4 strokes under your best score ever! The only thing at would top off this fantastic round is ……. a hole-in-one or albatross?

I have played about 1500 rounds of golf in my life. That equates to approximately 27,000 holes and 123,000 strokes on the links. This does not include any partial rounds or fun tournaments I have played in over the years. Through all this time, I have only had 3 holes-in-one. I have never had an albatross! I have been close a couple of times, but I have never felt the exuberance of conquering a 500+ yard hole in two.

If you think about it, an albatross would be better for your round; going 3 under in one shot is what dreams are made of! But for some reason, everyone thinks a hole-in-one is the only metric worth using when talking about a great golf.

I actually believe I have a better chance at shooting a hole-in-one than an albatross. During each round, I have four opportunities for a hole-in-one and maybe one or two chances for an albatross. Do not get me wrong, I would take a hole-in-one every round, but I think I would like to shoot an albatross at least once!

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