Golf Season is Just Around the Corner

As many of my fellow Canadians will attest, the 2016 golf season is just around the corner. The snow is gone, April showers have started, and a crazy cardinal is banging its head against my patio door (I am not kidding about the cardinal)! All of these, and many more, are signs that spring is near and golf season will soon be upon us!

After 4 months, I am ready to hit the links! This off-season seemed exceptionally long and for some reason, time seemed to pass slower than molasses moving downhill in January! As golf season is just weeks away, it is time to prepare. As a creature of habit, I will start my preseason tradition of mentally, physically, and emotionally preparing to golf.
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Being Chased From The Golf Course

 

being chasedfrom the golf course (1)

Have you ever been chased from the golf course!  Through the years, I have left the course for only a couple of reasons and in all cases I have to point my finger at mother nature. To clarify, I have left the course after nine, but I do not really consider this being chased of the course. That was a matter of time or just not wanting to play the back nine. Being chased from the course, for me, occurs before or after the turn.

Recently, I asked the question to The Grateful Golfer community and I was not really surprised by their responses. Most were the same, however a couple of the answers were not part of the poll, but they did make me smile.
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Recognizing a Problem or a Slump

The big talk around the golfing world is the recent play of Jordan Spieth. Many seem panicked that The Masters is just 3 weeks away and the world’s number one player is struggling to make the cut. He has sparks of greatest, but his over all game is not meeting the expectations of himself or the media.

Jordan Spieth’s recent woes are an example for all golfers; professional or amateur. His challenge is not uncommon to most of us, but is he in a slump or is there a problem with his game. The real difficulty is not to fear the sudden changes in our game before we have a chance to figure out what is happening!
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The Benefits of a Golf Club Fitting

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Numbers from my club fitting.

Last fall I was fitted for my new Titleist AP2 irons and 915D, 915F, 915H. It was an awesome experience and the quality of my ball striking improved significantly once I received the right equipment. I can hardly wait for spring and to start-up where I left of last fall. The whole experience was very rewarding and I recommended it to the readers of this golf blog.

Understanding the entire fitting process is important to meet your expectations. There are many other ways to improve your game, however having the proper equipment is the most fundamental. Many amateurs, myself included before last fall, purchase equipment ‘off the rack’. It provides a 70% solution for most amateurs, but for the more avid player, buying ‘off the rack’ may not be the best solution to finding the proper equipment for their game. Continue reading

Practice Golf The Way You Play

3-6-9 Chipping Drill

3-6-9 Chipping Drill

Focused practice is nothing new at The Grateful Golfer blog. This extremely important topic has cropped up and never seems to lose its importance or relevancy to playing great golf. As I think of the many tips on this topic, I started to wonder if these perils of wisdom actually help the average player.

I am strong believer in the 3-6-9 drill for putting and chipping. I believe they offer the biggest return on your most precious investment: time. This and other drills will make us a better player and lower your golf scores, if we practice. However, after some thought, there is one aspect of focused putting that seems to be overlooked by most amateurs and teachers. Continue reading