This sums up what great course management is all about!
I am a grateful golfer!
Ben Hogan
Match Play In Golf
Each year, my home course sponsors a Match Play event that lasts all season. This year, 32 men signed up to play head to head to determine who is the best. Because of work and, well life, each match is played over a week or two period until someone wins. Our event should be finished in about 10 weeks.
Today, was my first match and it did not go so well. It was a match against last years winner Apollo. He is a 15 handicap and I am 6. So I gave him a stroke on the nine toughest holes. This was a tall order, but I felt confident I could come through in the end.
Well after 9 holes, I was down 5! Apollo shot a 40 front nine and I shot a 42. He was playing below his handicap and I was playing above mine. So, it is not surprising that he had such a commanding lead. After pushing holes 10 and 11, I knew things were not looking good for The Grateful Golfer! Apollo closed my out on the 13th hole.
However, today was not lost. I ended up shooting a 39 on the back nine. I played better starting on the 8th hole, but I could not build up enough momentum to close Apollo’s 5-up lead Apollo.
It is not unusual for me to have different nines. And today was another day of some inconsistencies. I seem to be a slow starter lately, but I am playing pretty well. A couple of things that changed to make me play better today included:
- a better putting stroke. It appeared smoother and softer;
- closer chip shots from 40 yards out; and
- most importantly, I was in play off the tee!
The difference between the first 7 holes and last 11 was amazing. I guess I could come up with many excuses, but that would just cheapen Apollo’s win and make me look like a sore loser. So congratulations to Apollo for coming through in the clutch.
The highlight of my game was my playing partners. Ted and Serge, the other two players in our foursome, were fun to be around. Our loop around the links was light, full of laughter, and focused on fun. I really enjoyed it and hope we get a chance to play together in the future.
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
There is Never Enough Time For Golf
There are times when I feel that here is never enough time to golf. Other days, and they are very few, I am ready for a break and try something new. Wait, scratch that last statement!!!
In the immortal words of Ben Hogan:
Do you have enough time for golf?
Your Next Shot In Golf
10th Hole – Glen Abbey Golf Club
Ben Hogan is a genius.
Imagine, after three putting the last hole then talking to yourself to the tee box, you face a tee shot like the 10th hole at Glen Abbey Golf Club. As you approach the hitting area, look out over the hole, you start to think….oh my, now what.
Novice golfers worry about their last shot and forget to focus on what is in front of them. Experienced golfers are able to focus on the job at hand. Competitive golfers are able to execute shots under pressure. Professional golfers think about their next shot and how to take advantage of the hole layout. There are many other variations to focused golf, but I think you get the point.
By following Hogan’s advice to only worry about the next shot, many of us amateurs would cut down on the multiple stokes gained from making a mistake. I know that through the years I earned many ‘extra strokes’ because I focused on the past instead of the present. It happens less now, but still happens.
This year, it is time to stay focused mentally on my next shot and reduce those unwanted errors. Not sure I fully understand how I am going to do this……any suggestions?
I am a grateful golfer. See you on the links!
The Best Golf Swing Ever!
Do you have the Best Swing In Golf?
Who has the best golf swing ever? If you listen to any golf announcer, it seems that the player on the TV screen has the perfect swing. The announcers highlight the perfect form, the smooth back swing, the flawless swing plane, and strong follow through. Could it be as easy as picking any of the top 10 players in the world and emulating their swing to be successful in golf? OK, maybe not every player because Jim Furyk’s swing is well…..ugly; effective, but ugly.
Through the years many great players emerged as having the best swing ever! Names like Peter Thompson, Sam Snead, and Ben Hogan always seem to make the list because of their classic, lower body movements. Here is a quick video to show you five possibilities for the greatest swings ever:
Are these players really the best! Their record definitely supports this claim. Interestingly, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson were not mentioned. But, was this an oversight or are their swings not worth copying?
What about Rory McIlroy, Henrik Stenson or Martin Kaymer? They are the players of today who analysts rave about for their smooth consistent motion throughout the entire swing.
Let us not forget Moe Norman. Considered one of the greatest ball strikers of all time. His unorthodox swing gained him world recognition because of his unmatched control of the golf ball. As great a ball striker that he was, he could not handle the rigors of the professional golfing circuit and never really won at the professional ranks.
The list of greatest golf swings could not be complete without Ben Hogan. There is so much written about this icon that it is difficult capture the impact he made on professional golf. With 64 wins on the PGA Tour, his swing cannot be overlooked. Here is how Hogan describes his swing:
It is difficult to decide who has the best swing ever. Here are some interesting comments by well-known professional golfers:
Tiger Woods told golf writer Jaime Diaz in 2004, “Only two players have ever truly owned their swings: Moe Norman and Ben Hogan. ”
His legend preceded him, Nick Price told me. “When I got to watch him, you could see that he had a technique that obviously worked for him, and he had perfected it.”
Reverse every natural instinct and do the opposite of what you are inclined to do, and you will probably come very close to having a perfect golf swing. Ben Hogan.“Everybody can see that my swing is homegrown. That means everybody has a chance to do it.” Bubba Watson.
All of these professionals are saying the same thing. The best golf swing ever is the one inside of every golfer. No matter who you are, there is a golf swing in you. Will it look like Tiger Woods or Jack Nicklaus, the short answer is NO! If it did you would probably on a professional golf tour right now.
As you approach the 2015 golf season, remember that your golf swing is yours to develop and nurture. It is all yours. Is it possible to change your swing, yes you can. But ultimately, we cannot match Ben Hogan or Jack Nicklaus’ golf swing because we are not Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus. So my advice to you is accept what you have right now and perfect it just like Moe Norman.
In case you are wondering, I believe the best golf swing of all time belonged to my dad! He loved golf and worked to perfect his swing. He rarely broke 80, but when I watched him play, it was pure poetry!
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
The Grateful Golfer 