golf

Decide – The Only Off Season Golf Strategy You Need

/ The Grateful Golfer / 8 Comments

Decide!

This is the ultimate off-season golf strategy for any golfer. You have heard me mention it before, but now it is time to get the details!

This one little word changes in-action into action!

It empowers all players to get active and do something; anything to help improve their golf game.

Recently, I asked players what they did in the off-season to prepare for the time they hit the links. 50% of the players said that they putt. That was about it. Well, I applaud the fact they do something, I would suggest that it may not be enough to help lower their scores early in the 2016 golf season.

Decide!

This is the most difficult step in using your off-season to your advantage is to make the decision to do something! Deciding to get of the couch and work on your game will be the best decision you ever make to lower your golf scores. Here is what I think:

  • Decide build A Growth Mindset About Golf
  • Decide to become a student of the game
  • Decide to get fit
  • Decide to practice
  • Decide to read about more than mainstream golfing news
  • Decide to decide to improve your game

Well this is it, my fool-proof off-season plan for anyone to improve their golf game! Anyone can do it, anyone, if they decide, can change what they are currently doing to lower their golf scores in 2016!

I have made the decision to do something and I am currently formulating a plan. I hope to share it with you over the next few weeks, but in the meantime, it is your turn to:

Decide!

Golf Strategy: Playing a Par 3

/ The Grateful Golfer / 11 Comments

Playing par 3 golf holes usually provides the most exciting time on the golf course. Every player takes the time to plan and consider all the factors that might affect their shot! They line up and focus with hope that the perfect shot is in their bag at that time. Their thoughts shift to the elusive hole-in-one waiting for them at the end of the rainbow!

It is strategy time again! This picture of a player Patrick McLaughlin playing at the Slieve Russell Golf and Country Club, Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan, Ireland. I received this picture last year, but I thought it would be a great hole to see “How you would play this challenging par 3!”

Patrick Mc Laughlin2

The 11th Hole – Heron Haunt. Advice is not to under club!

From the looks of the picture, the hole is about 170 yards (center of the green), downhill to a pin located in the back left. The wind is blowing from left to right. You are playing well and need a birdie to keep your awesome round going! What do you do?

Let us know where you aim, if you play safe, what type of ball shape you would want, and what club you would use! We all want to know!

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

 

 

 

All I Want for Christmas….

/ The Grateful Golfer / 7 Comments

It is that time of year again, it is time for all the grateful golfers to relish in the joy of receiving golf-themed Christmas gifts! Each year, stockings are filled with gadgets and golfing paraphernalia that brings joy and happiness to the receiver!

Through the years, I have received many golf gadgets. Some very useful, others…..

Here is what some of my readers have to say about golf gadgets:

Sometimes, I think golfers forget the real reason for receiving golf-themed Christmas gifts. It is an attempt by our loved ones to share in our joy and love for the game! They worry and fret over the giving the perfect gift to the fanatical golfer. If you think about it, their efforts to share in the joy of our passion is touching! I am always grateful for their the thought of the gift and the intent it was given.

To help the those wishing to buy something special for that special golfer, Josh at Golf is Mental offers 9 great suggestions. I personally like number 8!

The Christmas season is around the corner, I want to offer thanks on behalf of all golfers to our loved ones for their efforts to share in our passion!

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

Not Just Another Major Golf Tournament

/ The Grateful Golfer / 13 Comments

There are four Major Golf Tournaments in professional golf! For various reasons, each event is unique and offers untold excitement. Regardless of your level of play, the Majors are highlights of the golf season that catches our attention.

Recently, I asked the golfing world which was there favorite Major. I was a bit surprised at the results, but given the events of last year I guess I really should not have been all that amazed.

Spieth Record Masters

2015 Masters Golf Tournament Champion – Jordan Spieth (Masters.com)

I have to admit that I am big Masters fan. Last years performance by Jordan Spieth was what legends are made of. Spieth added to the mystique about that The Masters and is considered the most popular Major in professional golf. I have to admit that Spieth’s play was akin to the greats like Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Sam Snead, and Arnold Palmer. However, it will take more that one victory to knock Nicklaus off as the greatest Masters Champion of all time; but, another performance like the one in 2015, he might well be on his way.

I am also a fan of The Open which is the oldest Major and probably the most prestigious. There is something about watching players fight the wind, conquer bunkers as deep as caverns, and greens as subtle as a sledge-hammer that brings out my competitive spirit. There is never a shortage of awesome shots and great recoveries! The Open is special and extremely popular to golfing fans.

Regardless of which Major is your favorite. Most golfing fanatics gather around their TV, watch on-line, or are fortunate enough to be there in person to watch the best players in the world slug it out for the top prizes in golf.

If you had an all expense paid trip any Major, which would you choose?

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

Canada Wins Gold at the 2015 Special Olympics

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Although somewhat dated, I recently heard the awesome news of Canadian golfers at the 2015 Special Olympics held at Los Angeles in the United States. As I started to dig into the details, I was amazed to find out that 1209 golfers are registered in Special Olympics programs across Canada. Special Olympics Canada is an amazing organization that provides awesome opportunities for many athletes.

The Team Canada golf coaches (Head Coach: Nicola McGovern, Male Coach: Ben Postmus, Support Staff: Mike McCarther) are dedicated people whose leadership lead the Canadian athletes to great success. A big shout out to these and all the dedicated volunteers who made the dreams of the Canadian golf team come true!

Special Olympics Golf 2015

Golf Team 2015 Special Olympics – Canada

Meet the team! Click here.

For the Special Olympics golf rules click here.

Here is how the the Canadian Golf team did overall:

On the second-last day of competition at the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games, Team Canada earned its first-ever World Games medals in golf and took the overall medal total to 126 (63 gold, 41 silver, 22 bronze).

These World Games mark the first time Special Olympics Team Canada has included golf, basketball, and bocce athletes, and the Canadian golfers served notice on the Harding Course that our country has game.

Danny Peaslee of Manitoba and Tess Trojan of Ontario both won gold in Level 4 nine-hole golf, while Ontario’s Lorrine Russell finished second to Trojan and Kyle Grummett of B.C. captured bronze as the team’s Level 5 golfer playing 18 holes.

Peaslee golfed neck and neck the whole four rounds with Andrew White of Special Olympics South Africa. In the last round, Peaslee shot a 36 to beat out his South African competition by just one stroke to win the 2015 Special Olympics World Games gold medal.

Ontario’s Kyle Koopman finished fourth by one stroke in Level 4 play – he had been eight strokes out of bronze going into the fourth and final round, and he made up seven strokes today, but ultimately could not make that last step onto the podium. His coaches were blown away by his comeback.

All five players had their best round of the Games in today’s final day of competition. (Special Olympics Canada)

The Special Olympics is an amazing organization! I previously mentioned my nephew-in-law’s involvement in the Special Olympics ball hockey team in Sudbury, Ontario; it is he and the other 19,645 volunteers who make a real difference in the lives of 41,301 athletes!

Thank you to everyone involved in the Canadian Special Olympics; your dedication is an inspiration to us all!

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