Fantasy Golf League

February 23, 2016February 24, 2016 / The Grateful Golfer / 4 Comments

Duck Sighting!

For the past two years I have belonged to two fantasy golf leagues. Each has a different format, yet both require me to weekly select 4 or 6 players depending on the league. I enjoy trying to figure out who is hot and who is not, but for the most part, I suck at selecting the hot player on any given week.

The Golf Channel Fantasy Golf League and PGA Tour Fantasy League driven by AVIS offer different criteria for player selection. Neither is better, but both are extremely tough. Both the leagues offer an opportunity to compete against other golfing fans and maybe some bragging rights! Continue reading →

Reverse Engineering In Golf

June 8, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / Leave a comment

Yesterday, my friend and I left the first tee with a high GAF (Golf Attitude Factor) and strong feeling of wellness. How could we not; after the fourth hole the beauty of our home course was only overshadowed by quiet serenity of playing golf with no one else around. No kidding, we owned the course and calmly played the rest of the round bathed in the beautiful sun, the musical harmony of nature and the refreshing aroma of life rekindled. It really was a great round of golf and more importantly, I learned something new!

Course management is as important to lower scores in golf as mustard is on a hot dog at the ballpark. They really are inseparable and if used together a positive outcome is almost assured. During our many conversations, my friend reminded me of a very important and often overlooked aspect of good golf; that course management always occurred from the green backwards. The Golf Channel has a great article for review of before mentioned points about course management. There are many ways to effectively use course management techniques, but no matter what, the process is still the same.

It is critical to work from the green backwards. For a par 4 let me explain:

Looking backward – to approach from the right side of the fairway is best.

Every green has its challenges. Most of the time, aiming for the center of the green is the safest and most effective shot, especially for those trying to break 100. For players who want more of a challenge, it is important to consider the location of the pin. Sometimes the pin will be tucked behind a bunker or near the dreaded knoll that makes putting extremely difficult. Pin location will determine whether your previous shot should be on the left or right side of the fairway. Knowing what side of the fairway your second shot needs to be will help set up your tee shot.

Tee up on the left to ensure the best approach to the green.

Now that you know what side of the fairway you need to be on for your next shot, setting up for your tee shot is easier. A general rule I use is that – left side fairway, right side tee box; right side fairway, left side tee box. By setting up on the opposite side of the tee box to where you want your ball to finish helps reduce errors and ensures that even on miss hits the probability of success is higher.

If you are playing a par 5, add one more step using the same logic and process. It may seem like I am suggesting a crisscross pattern down the fairway, but I am suggesting that you choose the path that best suits your game and achieves the result of playing the ball to improve your chances to score low.

On a par 3, I would recommend that the general rule of alignment still works. Obviously, hazards and pin location are very critical for shorter holes, but I think you get the point.

Reverse engineering in golf applies to course management. Working from the hole backwards is the logical way to lower your scores. Course Management from the green to tee will cut mental errors, lower your score, and improve your overall mastery of golf.

As the late great Bobby Jones said, “The secret of golf is to turn three shots into two.” That is course management in a nutshell!

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

Learning to Play a Guitar

January 11, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / 14 Comments

About a year ago, I decided I wanted to learn how to play a guitar. I thought it would be fun and challenging at the same time. As it turned out, I was correct. However, the learning process is slow and I still only plunk a few cords, but I am enjoying learning anyway. While looking at my guitar, I realized that learning to play a guitar is much like learning to golf.

First is equipment. Like any beginner starting something, I decided that I did not want to invest too much money because I was unsure if I would really like playing a guitar. My first step was to research which guitar would be good for a beginner. I found one and went ahead with the purchase. The same logic applies to picking your first set of clubs. I would recommend that hit a store like Golf Town where you can try various types and makes before making your selection. Clubs range from a couple hundred to a few thousand dollars. Only you can decide your price range – so choose wisely.

Next, practice! Practice, practice, practice. You can buy books/cds, search websites, and/or watch the Golf Channel. While starting with the guitar, I downloaded a couple of simple lessons and started to plunk away. When starting golf, I recommend starting with the basics. Grips, stance, and general idea of how the swing works. Additionally, how to chip and putt are must basics to learn. It might be a good idea to get a lesson from your local pro, this will speed up the learning curve.

Last, I developed an enjoyment for playing the guitar. I actually like learning new cords and songs. I find it very rewarding when the music actually sounds like music! Golf is the same way. When first learning to play golf, it is very important to develop a love of the game. The old saying that “a great shot makes you want to come back” is very true. that one great shot among the plethora of not so great shots provides hope and kindles a desire to continue on playing. It takes time to be a good golfer – by the way the term ‘good’ is relative. Any player is good, it just depends on what they are comparing.

Learning any new skill, hobby, or sport is fun. It takes time and effort to improve at anything. It really depends on what your expectations and whether the time you devote is worth the getting better.

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