Seven Days in Utopia

March 11, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / 7 Comments

Recently, I was surprised by a golf movie called Seven Days in Utopia. The movie dealt with how golf is not just a game, but has an impact on our entire life. As I am always on the hunt for a good golf movie, Seven Days in Utopia is one I would watch again next winter.

The overview of the move is: After a disastrous début on the pro circuit, a young golfer finds himself unexpectedly stranded in Utopia, Texas and welcomed by an eccentric rancher.

Robert Duvall is Johnny Crawford and ex PGA player. He says the classic line about Luke Chisholm (Lucas Black): How can a game have such an effect on a man’s soul? The way I see it, how can it not? You don’t chose the game, it choses you. And when it does, life and golf become forever connected. That’s how it was for a young man named Luke Chisholm.

I do not want to give to much of the movie away, but I do think it is worth a watch. The movie can go two ways for the viewer. As a golfer, It offers some great advice that can help anyone’s game. As a feel good movie, it talks about how the world around us affects all aspects of your game. I found the movie enjoyable. I hope you do as well!

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

White Noise

January 3, 2014November 4, 2015 / The Grateful Golfer / 22 Comments

I received an excellent golfing book as a present at Christmas; 365 Golf Tips and Tricks from the Pros by Jay Morelli. This book talks about the basics, rules, sand play, equipment and much more. It is a very quick read and the tips are concise and to the point. I recommend it.

This very thoughtful gift started me thinking. How do I know the difference between a good tip and well…..white noise.

Yes, we all know: white noise does not add to the situation and drowns out the important information. This noise can be anything from your 20 handicap playing partner advising you how he they would play the shot while you are thinking; 50 things you are trying to remember during your golf shot or the reams of information (4,930,000 hits to be exact) that that overwhelms you when searching on “how to improve my golf swing”. White noise is all around us all the time. It is a distraction that does slow anyone’s ability to improve their golf game and for $19.95 I can guarantee to improve your mental skills while playing golf….okay, just kidding. But, this is the exact type of white noise that many amateurs will here day in and day out that causes confusion. Can it really be avoided? Well, that depends….

Golf is a unique sport. It is difficult and easy, played as teams and individuals at the same time, or creates inclusiveness or solidarity. It really is the one sport where a person can play their entire life, compete against no one and yet compete every day. Golf is a sport where a player can challenge themselves everyday and feel a sense of accomplishment after each round. No other sport provides this type of dynamic.

Everyone has their own process to cut white noise. Everyday, we are bombarded with information that is filter, processed, acted upon, or discarded. The difficulty is to figure out what is important and which process works best; then apply it to golf. For me, the process is simple:

Identify the problem;
Collect information on the problem;
Analyse the information;
Determine possible solutions or courses of action; and
Decide on way ahead. (repeat as necessary and as often as needed)

Everyone does this process everyday for practically every situation. However, some golfers looking for a quick fix seem to skip steps 2 and 3. As an example, Player A always slice the ball off the tee. They jump to the solution to change their grip because their 20 handicap partner noticed something. It worked….once. They decide to change their grip and ultimately, no success!

Instead, the process could look like this:

Player A slices off the tee;
Talk to local Pro or low handicap player, read about why this happens, watch golf training videos;
Compare information gathered to current swing (whole swing not just a specific point);
Try possible solutions on the practice range. Try different things. Select several possible solutions (ask local pro for help); and
Decide on the best fix for Player A.

To adjust something in your golf game does take time. This process does work (at least for me) and is very been very effective in improving my game. The question always boils down to how much time are willing to commit to making improvements. This is the balancing act that all players must do to achieve their golfing goals.

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

Generate More Power In Your Golf Swing

November 16, 2013July 28, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / 6 Comments

Generating more power in your golf swing usually equates to greater distance. And who wouldn’t want more distance off the tee and fairway. Would increasing your distance off the tee by 10-20 yards make that much difference in your game. Most golfers would yell a resounding YES! Unfortunately, most amateurs do not have the skill to just change their swing and generate that extra power needed to move to the next level.

After a quick search, answering the question – how to generate more power in your golf swing – may not be as easy as it seems. There are many reasons for not generating power in your golf swing and Professional golfer Micheal Campbell outlines six possible reasons:

Reverse Pivot
Sway or Sliding
Early Turn
Over Turn
Collapsing at the Top
Rolling Arms

If you are novice player, you are saying okay….but…..how do I tell if any of these reasons apply to me? These six points are very important and he provides solutions that make sense. I am sure there are other reasons, but to list everything that can possibly go wrong is not really helpful for the weekend looper.

So, where do we start? What exactly are we doing wrong? How do we know if it is helping? Where do I find the answers? These are all great questions.

The first step is to set a goal. Through the winter, I traditionally set three. The first for this year is to focus on generating more power to consistently gain 20 yards off the tee.

Second step is to do the research. Reading golf blogs like Hitting It Solid by Troy Vayanos or All About Golf by Brian Penn, provides an endless supply advice on a wide variety of topics. Personally, I find this very helpful. I enjoy reading and trying new tips, skills and ideas to improve my swing.

Last step is to use your newly learned skills on the range. In my case that will be next March! Unfortunately, an eight-month golfing season is the price you pay for living in an awesome country like Canada. Regardless, using the skills is a vital step to improving your game.

One last point, if you do not know where to turn, try taking lessons from a pro. It definitely provides a positive environment with a knowledgeable instructor that will improve your game. Going to PGA members like Rick Williams at mindbodygolf.com may be the best investment you make in a while!

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links….in four months!