The Grand Slam of Golf

/ The Grateful Golfer / 7 Comments
Rory and Jordan

(Charlie Riedel / Associated Press)

Does Jordan Spieth have the game to win a grand slam of golf? He is well on his way and as predicted after day three of the US Open, the golfing pundits are starting to pose the question. Given he is half way there, it might be a fair question.

A grand slam in golf consists of one person winning all four Majors (The Masters, US Open, The Open, and PGA Championship) in the same year. To date, only Bobby Jones has completed a Grand Slam of Golf. In the modern era, no man has ever achieved a Grand Slam. Although it is important to note that Tiger Woods won all four Majors consecutively, but over two calendar years.

The other milestone in golf is the Career Grand Slam. This consists of winning all four Majors at different times in a career. In the modern era only five golfers have a Career Grand Slam: Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods. A special acknowledgment goes to Woods and Nicklaus because they have won each of the four majors at least three times in their career. We are still waiting for Phil Mickelson to join this élite group, but as each year passes, it becomes tougher and tougher.

Back to the original question: Does Jordan Spieth have the game to win a grand slam of golf?

I consider Spieth as the best golfer in the world at this moment. His three wins, three 2nd place finishes and one 3rd place finish out of 18 events, is very typical of Tiger Woods in his prime. The fact that he is first in the FED Ex Cup standings and is 1.75 points behind Rory McIlroy in the world rankings, only adds fuel to speculation of a grand slam in 2015.

Jordan Spieth is a great golfer, and at 21 years of age appears to have the golfing world in his hand. However, let us not forget Rory McIlroy. At 26 years of age, he is not to be taken lightly. He easily has the game to match Spieth and at any given time will rise to snatch victory from this young upstart! McIlroy has plenty of game and while he respectfully gives Spieth his due, is not quite ready to hand Spieth the keys to the mansion.

The rest of the top 10 in the world are no slouches either. At any time, players like Dustin Johnson, Bubba Watson, Henrik Stenson, Justin Rose or Jason Day could knock off either Spieth or McIlroy. The current field in golf is the strongest ever and on any given day, anyone can win. Additionally, let’s not forget players like Louis Oosthuizen, who shot the best final three rounds in US Open history! There are many players who have the game to compete against Spieth and McIlroy; professional golf is extremely competitive at this moment.

Is it possible for Jordan Spieth to win the grand slam of golf? The short answer is yes; however, it is not very probable. With The Open just three weeks away, Spieth will have to finish his US Open congratulatory media events, play golf, and then mentally prepare to compete at The Old Course in St Andrews. That seems a bit to ask from a professional golfer, but I am sure Spieth will give it his best shot.

Regardless of which side of the fence you are on, watching Jordan Spieth try for the grand slam of golf will be very entertaining. The road ahead is challenging, but given he is playing better golf than anyone in the world, anything is possible. It would be exciting to see his name in the history books beside the immortal Bobby Jones, but to achieve such greatness; he must first go through Rory McIlroy and the rest of the golfing world.

 

 

Fixing My Golf Swing Through Video

/ The Grateful Golfer / 7 Comments

While practicing at the range I decided to video some shots with my pitching wedge. The reason was to see if I notice anything out of the ordinary because lately I was not hitting my PW crisp or solid. If I miss hit my PW, it was usually a thin shot. It was a bit frustrating because my PW is one of the best clubs in my bag.

As I watched this video (I realize I was hitting a bit quick) I noticed that when I was hitting the ball thin, my right knee was locked straight. I watched this video over and over to make sure and I was right.

So, I made an adjustment on the range and now hit my PW like the old me. This is an important club for me because my lay up distance is 115 yards – a full and controlled PW!

I find that using video to periodically check my swing really helps identify potential problems. How about you?

Do you use video to help with your golf swing? If so, what did you find out?

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

It is All About Respect – Raking a Sand Trap

/ The Grateful Golfer / 10 Comments

Raking a sand trap is an important aspect of respect for your fellow players and the golf course. How many times have you mistakenly hit your ball into the sand trap only to find it in a poorly raked area. Or, even worse, in an area not raked at all! This is a very frustrating aspect of golf that can easily be fixed.

Sand Trap

Raking a sand trap is really easy, it takes next to no time, and demonstrates a fair bit of character. A poorly raked sand trap is a pet peeve for many players and I guess I would be one. I do find it difficult enough to play out of the sand, without having a poor lie caused by someone taking the time to properly rake the trap. Care for the course is part of golf and helps everyone maximize their fun on the links.

The video below is perfect for those who do not know the proper way to rake a trap. As we expand our knowledge about golf, it empowers us all to fully enjoy the game.

A properly raked sand trap is one of the many things I am grateful for on the golf course. How about you?

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

Happy Father’s Day

/ The Grateful Golfer / 4 Comments
JimDad

30 years ago. How time flies!

I have the best Dad in the world! I am sure this statement is being lauded around the world again and again. Of course, we think our father was the greatest because of the positive impact he had on our lives, but really, my Dad was the best. Unfortunately, our time together was far too short and over the past 25 years, I sure could have used some of his sage wisdom to get me through some tough times. Fortunately, my father-in-law was there to help fill some of the void and I am grateful for his advice, wisdom, and love along the way.

My Dad taught me so much that it is difficult to list it all. He demonstrated how to be a father through kindness and love that he showed towards my Mom everyday, how to stand up and be accountable for my actions, when to sacrifice for the good of the family, and how to have fun on life’s journey. He taught me that friendship is more important than money and to treat everyone as if they were your friend. His life lessons are the core of my being and for that I am ever grateful to my Dad

He taught me how to fish, the importance of tipping your barber, how to build a cottage, how to play horseshoes, how to hang a picture straight (well I am still learning that lesson), how to ride a bike, and why it is important to spend time with the ones you love. I could go on and on, but I think you get the point.

My Dad was always around for us. His greatest gift to my siblings and I was time. He played games with us, took us places, and understood when to give us our space. He always made the time for everyone and never demonstrated frustration or disappointment when asked for help. My Dad showed me the value of personal discipline in all areas of my life. Looking back, he always seemed to know what to do at the right time.

Also, my Dad taught me how to play golf! He taught me how to swing and how to use of the different clubs. He taught me the importance of etiquette, fixing your ball marks, and where to stand on the green when someone was putting. He showed me all the fundamentals that are essential to being a good golfer. These lessons and more, I have used repeatedly for 40 years. I have taken my Dad’s knowledge and passed them on to many people as his lessons were valuable both on and off the course.

I have the greatest Dad in the world. Although he is gone, he is in my heart and I talk to him everyday! Today is a special day for all Dads. It is a day to express how grateful we are for everything they did to make our lives better.

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

4-Man Scramble Tournament

/ The Grateful Golfer / 5 Comments

camptrillium_logo_011Today was the 21st annual 8 AMS Camp Trillium Charity Golf Tournament. This special event raises money for Camp Trillium in our local area. “Camp Trillium (officially The Trillium Childhood Cancer Support Centre) offers year-round recreational experiences to bring children with cancer and their families together. We work to provide an environment that normalizes relationships and experiences, helping them in the healing process and enhancing their quality of life.” As a cancer survivor myself, I feel a special connection to this event and was thrilled to be able to support such a worthy cause.

The format was pretty simple: 4-person scramble. That is it. No other rules or local guidelines to enforce, just go out and play. A tremendous amount of work was put into this event and the organizers deserve kudos for all their efforts. There were plenty of prizes, a  steak dinner, and a special treat to have Glass Tiger playing in the back ground! It truly was an amazing day!

To make this event even more special, our team won. We shot an 8 under 64 and easily left 4 strokes on the course. We all contributed and not one person was a stand out. Our best hole was an eagle on par 5 which, I cannot normally reach in two. Our overall game was fairly solid with no real stand out areas. We did walk away with some cool prizes (golf stuff), but actually that was secondary to supporting the charity.

Golf can be the catalyst for an amazing day! It is awesome to see a variety of players all come together for a worthy cause. Today, the highest score was an 89, but from the looks of the group, they were having a blast. Tournaments such as the Trillium Camp Charity allow a diverse group of individuals to gather together and have a fantastic day on the golf course, and still support a worthy cause. There are very few sports that have the same appeal to such a variety of people.

I enjoy charity events. I try to play three a year. Today was my first for 2015 and I am already looking forward to the next worthy cause. Do you like playing in charity events?

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