golf

Recovery Shots in Golf

/ The Grateful Golfer / 4 Comments

It is easy to be a great golfer when hitting the ball down the middle of the fairway. Generally, the short grass provides a great lie for an equally great shot into the green. Unfortunately, most of us are not as consistent as we hope and errant shots occur from time to time.

After watching this video, it is obvious that being able to perform a recovery shot is important to your golf game. I helps lower scores and build confidence; however, the I have to suggest that most amateurs should beware of the consequences of attempting a shot that has great risk. (as a side note, number 6 was my favorite)

When faced with an impossible lie, immovable objects or a crazy shot that requires a special touch, your ability to recover and reduce the damage to your score is paramount to a great round of golf. Through the years, I have heeded the saying “take your medicine” after a poor shot, but sometimes a something special is required keep a great round going. This is when knowing when to make that recovery shot (course management) plays an important role in your game.

For me, recovery shots have three important parts that every golfer must understand. They are the tenants I use when deciding if a risk/reward recovery shot is needed. If you are wondering, this is how I look at these special shots:

Do I need to make that recovery shot – as silly not as this sounds, it has to be the first question. If I do not gain any real advantage from making a special shot, through a small gap as an example, then there is no point in compounding my original error by making another one. This is when I default to a safe shot or punch out. In essence, I take my medicine.

Can I visualize the recovery shot – all the great scramblers can visualize their shot before they make it. The can see exactly what they need to do and know they have a shot in their bag to do it. There is no sense in attempting a recovery shot if I have no idea how to actually perform it! If I proceed without visualizing the shot, then it is just plain ego clouding my judgement. Again, it is time to take my medicine!

Perform the recovery shot with confidence – this may sound simple, but difficult shots weigh heavily on my confidence. If I attempt a shot with doubt in my mind, then it is likely this is wrong shot to be making. Confidence is critical during a recovery shot. It is that special something that allows me to do special things on the course.

Recovery shots are critical to golf. As a single digit handicapper, I have learned the lesson of ego on risk/reward shots many times. My greatest lesson is to ensure I can answer yes to my three criteria for a recovery shot before proceeding. I recommend you do as well.

These are my thoughts on recovery shots. What are yours?

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

 

 

Golf Simulators: Pro or Con?

/ The Grateful Golfer / 11 Comments
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Golf Simulator at Rhino Sports in Belleville, Ontario.

With the long off-season in Canada (with this year being the exception so far), golfing fanatics will try just about anything to keep our game in tune. We hit balls in the snow, use a dome, and where possible, use a golf simulator. I have only used a golf simulator twice before and never really gave it much thought about their value to my golf game. This year, at the prompting of my wife, I joined the indoor golf league with some friends and we have a standing game on Wednesday nights for 8 weeks starting in January.

The indoor golf league is hosted by Rhino Sports in Belleville, Ontario.  It is a new business and Martin, the owner operator, decided to start the league to try to fill a void for us golfing fanatics. For $226 (tax included), can play 10 rounds of golf on world-class courses between now and 01 April. I met Martin for the first time last Wednesday and he is very up beat and his staff focus on customer service. So far, my experience at Rhino Sports has been very positive.

The simulator is basically a big video game. However, it offers different dimensions that are of value for most golfers looking to improve their game. Check it out:

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Practicing before round

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Spraying all over the place during warm up!

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Some Stats that can help identify areas to work on.

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Interesting stats for research area. Back Spin….Ouch!

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I would take a drive like this all the time.

At this time, using the golf simulator is going to be fun and educational. As the season unfolds, I will drop in my stats and areas where I think I need to focus on in the 2016 season. If you notice anything, don’t be shy!

Have you ever used a golf simulator? Are you in the Pro or Con category?

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

Golf’s Greatest Secret

/ The Grateful Golfer / Leave a comment

Gratitude

Have you ever pondered the answer to golf’s greatest secret? Knowing that answer will elevate your standing in the golfing community to guru or at the very least being a really smart player. Knowing the answer can help shape your game, lower your scores, and exponentially increase your fun on the links!

Could the answers be found in the following links?

Well, I think you see my point developing. As I start my research for creating my 2016 golf plan, I have to separate the wheat from the chaff. It takes time to separate the fly by night solutions aimed at selling me something, or the professed expert who knows how to sell.

This part of the process is fun for me. I am always open to new ideas, thoughts, musings and sometimes crazy off the wall suggestions. I think it is important to prepare for the unknown and the only way to do that on a golf course is to be open to new ideas and be willing to openly discuss them without any emotional baggage dragging me down.

What is Golf’s Greatest Secret? That is a great question. I believe the answer lies in all of us. I believe that each of us knows the answer, but we may or may not have let it come to the surface. There are many conventional aspects of golf like flexibility, training, practicing, swing plane, and mental preparation that will improve your game, but what is that one ‘je ne sais quoi’ that brings it all together? What is your greatest golf secret?

I will be searching for my greatest golf secret over the next month or two. I am not sure where I will find it, but if you have any suggestions, advice or just plain crazy ideas, I am listening!

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

Motivated to Write About Golf

/ The Grateful Golfer / 6 Comments
Being Grateful

I am a Grateful Golfer!

This will be my 675 article since starting The Grateful Golfer in May of 2012. I have at least doubled my viewership every year. I never thought I would have 5 followers, let alone almost 1600. Things have evolved over the years and I can truly say that I feel that I am a better writer now, than 3 years ago. So why am I telling you this?

  • It is not to brag!
  • It is not to boost my ego!
  • It is not to plea for more regular followers!
  • Nor is it to suggest that for some reason I am an expert about anything golf!

I bring this up to say THANK YOU! Thank you to all the people who took the time to comment, like, dislike, correct, advise or just show support! There are many things we cannot control in the world, but how we treat and interact with people is something we definitely can control. I honestly can say that the people I have had the honour to meet via The Grateful Golfer have been awesome.

Through this entire journey, which has only just began, I have interacted with some awesome golfing fanatics who share my passion for this crazy, frustrating, challenging, and awesome game. If I started to list those who actively comment on my musings, I am sure I would miss someone and that would just not be fair. You know who you are because we talk – sometimes often, sometimes not – but we talk.

There is one person who I need to mention. He my closest friend and has been there through all the tough and good times. We share a passion for golf and he knows how to bring out the best in my game! Thanks, Kirk! By the way, how is the duck?

Over the past few years, I believe The Grateful Golfer blog has helped me overcome many challenges in my life. It has provided and outlet express my feelings and views about the world through a sport that has provided many awesome memories. If you are reading this article, then you are part of those memories and for that I am grateful!

So, as the Christmas season unfolds and the New Year approaches, I am motivated to write about golf. I am not sure where this journey is going to take me, but I am sure it will include many awesome people, fantastic locations, and an opportunity to enrich my life and those around me!

Thank you to everyone for your support and kindness.

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

You Can Make a Difference

/ The Grateful Golfer / 2 Comments

Making a difference in someone’s life as easy as smiling or saying hello! Sometimes, it only takes a second change someone’s world.  Just listening or offering a helping hand might be enough to make a difference in someone’s life.  Any small positive token of acceptance can occur anywhere; even on the golf course.  Golfers have a long history of helping others.  There are many golf charities that raise money for the military, the homeless, cancer research, under privileged kids, and many more.  It is the selfless people who give up their time that have a lasting impact on their 3-foot space.

Golf is a great way to give back. Led by the PGA Tour, a great example is set for the average person who wants to be involved….wait, the regular folk already help by giving up their time. “Unlike other professional sports organizations, the PGA TOUR relies on more than 100,000 volunteers annually to run its tournaments, and the vast majority of its tournaments are structured as non-profit organizations designed to donate 100 percent of net proceeds to charity. Community beneficiaries include a wide variety of organizations including hospitals, youth development organizations, growth-of-the-game programs and food banks.” (PGA Tour Charities) To all those faithful, behind-the-scene volunteers, I want to say thank you for making a difference.

On an unrelated note, but in the spirit of Christmas and giving, I wanted to bring your attention to a young  Winnipeg artist whose video went viral back in 2011. Sean Quigley isn’t just a musician but is very involved in charity and social justice movements. When “little Drummer Boy” and its music video where released, CD’s were sold under one condition, “All the money has to go to charity” said Quigley. In collaboration with a local radio station, CD’s where pressed and sold out in a matter of hours. Their agreement was honoured and every penny made from CD sales went to an organization whose goal is to end homelessness and poverty in Quigley’s hometown of Winnipeg.  Enjoy the video!