How to Play Golf?

October 18, 2013 / The Grateful Golfer / 8 Comments

The dawn of a new day! What a great time to play golf!

What a great question! If a poll was taken of 100 different teaching pros on what is the most important skill required to play golf, I bet there would be 100 different answers! Golf is a unique sport where the elusive perfect swing comes in a million forms. Yes, a million forms!

The golf swing is a series of different movements broken down, analyzed, and taught at varying skill levels. Each player requires something unique to match their fitness, coordination, and willingness to change. Reading many great articles from White Dragon Golf, Mind Body Golf, Golf Habits, GP Golf Report, or Hitting it Solid, I have concluded that great advice is found for those who are searching. However, to break 100 consistently or to maintain a single digit handicap each player has to find their own way on how to play golf. Golfers must find their swing, develop it, and hone the skills required to find their perfect swing.

If you are just starting golf or wondering how to play better, all I can say is welcome to the endless merry-go-round of trying to improve your swing. It will be challenging, frustrating and exhilarating all at the same time! The first time you hit the shot of your life, you will want to hit a better one! What a vicious circle…..no wonder golf is the greatest sport!

Golf is really meant to be played; the only way to get better is to practice, play, adjust, practice and play; then repeat one million times. It seems like a pretty simple system, well give it a try. Actually, golf is meant to be enjoyed! If you are not having fun, then what is the point.

Finally, 3underthru12 has a fantastic video on how to play golf that will make you laugh. For some of us seasoned golfers, we will remember watching it when it first came out! For others, enjoy it for the first time.

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

Finding Weaknesses In Your Game

September 14, 2013 / The Grateful Golfer / Leave a comment

Golf is a simply complicated sport. Everytime a player hits the links, they have the opportunity to score really low or really high relative to their skill level. Most think that is the best time to pinpoint what is going right or wrong. Or is it?

Keep head Down; Left Arm Straight; Slow Tempo; What did the Grateful Golfer Say…..Oh never mind, just Grip It and Rip It!

If a player consistently shoots in the low 100, 90, 80 or 70, identifying positive and challenging aspects of their game is important. This process, if the player really wants to improve, is continuous and unrelenting. However, identifying areas to improvement is specific to each player and it is impossible to use generalities to guarantee a better golf swing. Therefore, which is the best method? Who can help? Are there methods?

The short answer is yes, there are methods. Which is the best…..depends on the player. Who can help….basically it is up to the person to seek and conquer the challenges of improving their golf game. Having said that, the following are my suggestions on how to improve your game:

BroNet. Sometimes referred to as the buddy system. While out on the course your friend will notice something in your swing that they believe you should correct. Generally, it varies on a shot by shot basis. It has a tendency to cause more confusion that success, but sometimes it is helpful. The quality of the advice depends on the skill level of the player giving it.

Self-Taught. This is where a player will research various skills, look for tips, watch others and try to duplicate. This method can be very good, especially if you use websites like Hit It Solid, Slice of Golf, Gorilla Golf, All About Golf or Mind Body Golf. And of course The Grateful Golfer site! (Sorry for the shameless plug….just could not help myself) They offer tips on golf, the challenging aspects of the mental game of golf, course reviews and will allow for interaction via comments/questions to help improve your game. This method is generally how most players start.

PGA. Having your local professional, like Dan Garagan at Pinewood Park Golf Course, North Bay, Ontario, Canada, analyse your swing and provide helpful tips on how to improve is definitely a winner. They have the skill and expertise to help. The only draw back on this method is that you must be willing to learn from their sage advice. It is difficult and sometimes causes a player to initially score higher, but in the long run it is probably the best way to learn golf.

Wing It! The last method is the most fun! Basically, you have no plan nor want one. Each day is an adventure and you real goal is enjoy the experience. The million dollar shot you can brag about is what you seek. There is nothing wrong with this method, however your game will develop slowly if at all. This is not a problem because you play for the fun of the game.

Finding weaknesses in your game is relatively easy. Fixing them is usually the problem. For me, the best method to use in order of effectiveness is local professional, self-taught, Bronet, and finally, Wing It! Ultimately, chose the method that best fits your goals and desires. I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!

Choices Choices Choices

September 4, 2013February 10, 2017 / The Grateful Golfer / 8 Comments

Recent adventures on the links makes me wonder if I really have a handle on golf or have I been kidding myself for years. Course management is definitely a key aspect to success on the links. Knowing when to press or play defensively can determine whether you score a birdie or a bogey. But is course management really important to having fun and improving your game?

Smart Shot Out of the Sand

Well of course it is! Or at least I thought so!

It is the distinguishing factor between low and high handicap golfers. Determining how to play a hole, which club to use, whether to fire at the pin or to lag putt are all aspects of course management that are developed over time. Thus, experience and the willingness to improve your course management skills are extremely important aspects of successful golf.

So, why am I going on about course management and its importance. On the weekend I was playing with my friend and his brother. As per normal, we were talking golf and how best to improve our game; which shot would be best in certain situations; and which club to use at certain times. Through our discussion, we were basically talking about course management.

As we plodded along, the conversation turned to a earlier shot where my friend chose a 3 wood instead of an iron out of the long grass. Additionally, he went on to describe how the ball was in a bit of a hole, but he really wanted to get to the green that was 220 yards away. When challenged about his selection he responded, “I knew what the smart shot was but chose to not to do it!” I stopped dead in my tracks and looked at him and said what? He coolly said, “I know, but I just wanted to put the ball on the green and the knew I would not make it with an iron….it was not the smart shot, but oh well, I am still having fun.” I chuckled out loud and walked to my ball with a smile on my face.

So my friend chose not to make the right shot! Never a good idea to throw stones when you live in a glass house, I think we have all been in that situation. Taking the low percentage shot over the smart play….it still makes me laugh.

The “so what” to this story is that choosing to actively participate in course management is the first and most important step to course management. Although I never really thought that it was an option, apparently it is. Sometimes playing golf is about making the impossible shot and having fun doing it! I guess that day was not wasted because I learned something new!

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

Keep Your Head Down

August 30, 2013 / The Grateful Golfer / 4 Comments

While playing a round of golf this morning with a buddy of mine, we started to discuss our swings and how to break 100. As we walked and talked about what was important, my friend said something that has stuck with me, “watch the ball where it was, not where it goes!”

Basically, keep your head down and watch the club make contact with the ball. Additionally, count to one before you see how fantastic your shot turned out. Stay focussed on the point of contact. This will help create a duplicatable swing. Regardless of what it looks like, it is something the amateur golfer can start to build a solid game upon.

While watching the Web.com tournament today, I noticed that Phil, Tiger and Adam have different swings, chipping strokes and putting styles. They all hit the ball where they intend and seem not to worry about what it looks like! They do, however, keep their head down for a pause of one after contact. A coincidence, I think not!

Next time you are on the course/practice round try keeping your head down and see the positive results. I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!

Breaking 100 Through Chipping

August 20, 2013August 22, 2013 / The Grateful Golfer / 4 Comments

Breaking 100 is the first major challenge for any golfer. As discussed in my previous article, building a consistent putting stroke using the 3-6-9 putting drill will greatly reduce strokes and help develop confidence on the green. For those whose who have a tendency to hit their approach shots just off the green, then chipping to break 100 is very important.

As a rule, keeping all drills as simple as possible is the key to success in golf. Building on the 3-6-9 concept, will help tie a previously learned skill in to your growing arsenal. To set up this drill, grab 12 tees and six balls from your bag. No, you do not require clubs yet! Set up the tees in the same pattern as the 3-6-9 putting drill. For those who have not read the previous post; at 3,6,9 and 12 o’clock, place a tee at 3-6-9 feet from the hole.

Next, grab the six balls and walk anywhere off the green. Ideally, you should start at least 15 paces from the hole. You still do not require any clubs. Now toss the ball towards the target hole. Pay attention to how far you tossed the ball in the air and how far the ball rolls after it hits the ground. Do this with all six balls. The intent is to toss the ball within the 3 foot circle…inside nine feet will be ok since you already have confidence putting from that range.

Retrieve your balls and return to the same spot where you tossed the 6 balls. Now, roll the balls along the green without tossing the ball in the air. Pay attention to how fast the ball is travelling to get within your 3 target.

Practice tossing and rolling the balls until you can consistently place the 6 balls within your 3-6-9 foot target. Now, grab your 8 iron and a wedge (which wedge is up to you depending on your stroke – this is the time to experiment with which club is good for you). Use the wedge to replicate the tossed ball and use the 8 iron to replicate the rolled ball.

Obviously, the goal is to chip the 6 balls in your 3-6-9 target. Now once you feel confident and have achieved success move to a different location. Eventually, you will not have to hand toss or roll the balls.

The most important and final step of this drill is to pace the distance from your chipping spot to the hole. This step will help develop your distance gauge around the green. Additionally, you will develop confidence with your chipping irons so you will automatically be able to assess your chipping and have confidence you will be able improve your up and down stats.

Using the 3-6-9 chipping and putting drill help,lower you scores and break 100. I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!