Who Likes Talking About Golf?

August 14, 2015August 14, 2015 / The Grateful Golfer / Leave a comment

It is always a good time to talk golf.

The PGA Championship is in full swing and media hype is continuing to grow. Every sports venue is pontificating on the possibilities of what is to come. It appears that the Tiger watch is over, The Open Champion, Zach Johnson, is done, and John Daly shot a 10 on a par three (and threw his club in the water). All of these, and many more aspects of this Major, top the list of things people like to talk about. It appears that no matter where golfing nuts turn, all eyes are on the last Major of 2015…..or are they?

Since the start of the PGA Championship on Thursday, my regular day consisted of work, talking about golf, playing golf, and following the events of this weekend’s tournament. Surprisingly, while talking about golf with my friends it had nothing to do with the PGA Championship.

I had a discussion on Facebook with a friend about the advice I gave him last week about keeping his left arm straighter during his swing. He was filling me in on how this advice helped and what he was doing to improve his score.
I talked to a friend about how a high follow through (putting your right wrist on the nape of your neck to finish your follow through) was helping him crush the ball with a slight draw. His excitement was contagious.
I discussed the attributes of learning to play slowly while on the links yesterday. We discussed that slowing our pace and taking more time to read putts helps pass the time when waiting for others to play.
And, an old friend dropped me a line and we were able to set up a game at Keystone Links Golf and Country Club on Sunday. Neither of us have played this course, but more importantly, we will get a chance to catch up.

Talking about golf is a daily thing for me. It does not matter what the aspect, with whom, or when, it just happens. It is not that golf is my only interest, but I never shy away from the opportunity to talk about my favorite sport. Of course being from Canada, we talk about hockey and basketball in the winter, but if the topic of golf comes up, I am always game.

So, I ask again, Who Likes Talking About Golf?

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

Just Waiting for the PGA Championship

August 12, 2015 / The Grateful Golfer / 2 Comments

The night before any Major is always difficult for golfing fanatics. We are patiently waiting for the first tee time and the action to begin. We all provided our picks and now it is time to see who is the genius and who is……well, not.

Thought I would share this picture because it was cool. What do you think?

I am a grateful golfer! Bring on the PGA Championship!

Picking a Winner at the PGA Championship

August 11, 2015 / The Grateful Golfer / 11 Comments

Below is an excerpt of the article I wrote for Pundit Arena. Click here to read all the details.

The difficulty in picking a PGA Champion in 2015 is the field. With so many first-time winners in 2015, any streaking player could knock of the heavy favourites while they trade punches up and down the fairway. The variables are astounding and even the slightest hitch could derail any players dream of winning the PGA Championship.

Dark-Horse – Phil Mickelson.
Finishing third – Dustin Johnson.
Finishing Second – Jordan Spieth.
The PGA Championship winner – Rickie Fowler.

I hope you enjoy the rest of the article.

Who is your pick for this weekend?

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

Golf Strategy: A Two Man Scramble

August 7, 2015August 7, 2015 / The Grateful Golfer / 5 Comments

Last year’s 2-Man Scramble on the first tee. Jean is happy to playing in the rain!

Tomorrow is the second time (last year was the first) my friend Jean and I will play in a two-man scramble. It is a low-key event with 20+ teams and handicaps will be applied. Our second place finish last year is something Jean and I will build on to see if we can win it all. The big prize in this event is the bragging rights as most of the players are regulars at my home course of Roundel Glen.

Similar to last year, the rules for this tournament are pretty simple. The handicap of the two players are added together, divided by two and multiplied by 25% (was .75% last year). The multiplying factor is a slight change from last year.

What this means is: my handicap is 3.8, Jean’s handicap is 10.8, combined 14.6, divided by 2 is 7.30, multiplied by 25% is 1.8; everything is rounded down to the nearest whole number. Therefore, our handicap for this tournament is 1. For those non golfers, this means we are awarded one stroke on the toughest hole on the course. So if we shoot a 4 on the toughest hole, we would record a 3 on our scorecard. All things being equal and everyone is honest, this method of using our handicap is golf’s way of leveling the playing field.

Our strategy was straight forward last year. This is how it unfolded:

Jean tees off first on all par 5s and short par 3s.
Jim tees off first on all par 4s and long par 3s.
Jean is first to hit our second shot inside 175 yards.
Jim is first to hit our second shot outside of 175 yards.
Jean chips first by all green.
Jean putts first on all greens.

This year, things will be a bit different. We will play to our strengths. Jean hits the ball farther off the tee than I do, however my short game is a bit stronger. So, I will hit first on all par 5s. Jean will hit first off the tee all other times except for two short par 4s that Jean can reach, so I will put us in play on those holes. Jean will hit first for all second shots, chips and putts. This strategy will be modified as the day goes on to ensure we make the most out of every opportunity to score low.

We are looking forward to improving our score from last year. With a change in the handicap system, the scores might be a bit higher this year, so our goal will be shot a 66 again and see what happens.

Regardless of the outcome, this event is a great time to hang out with my fellow grateful golfers doing what we like to do most – play golf.

Our strategy is set, what do you think? What would you do?

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

Golfing for Fun

August 5, 2015August 5, 2015 / The Grateful Golfer / 7 Comments

You never know what you will find in a golf hole!

The past month or so, I have focused on preparing for a 54-hole golf tournament and lowering my score. All of this preparation was driven by focused intent and my desire to be a scratch golfer. Over the past week, I consciously took my foot off the gas pedal in order to relax and have a bit of fun before making the final push at the end of my golfing season.

The last three rounds demonstrated that having fun (a more relaxed type of fun) on the course is just as important as remaining focused during every shot. The result is two-fold.

First, I really enjoy walking around the course with my playing partners because we light-heartedly poke fun at each other.

During this time, my score raises slightly, but it is of little consequence. Additionally, I try different shots. Ones that I would not normally try, but should have in my bag in case I really need it.

For example, trying to hit over a bush when the smart play is to go under. Or, hitting my 3-hybrid from 220 yards out over a creek. Or, hitting my driver on holes that only require a 3-wood off the tee. Trying these shots go against my normal focus on course management, but the risk/reward makes my rounds a bit more enjoyable.

The second change is my wife’s interest in golfing more. This aspect of my game that excites me the most. We casually play 9 holes or hit the range for a large bucket of balls. My wife knows the fundamentals and is implementing each aspect of her swing at her own speed. If she asks for help, I am there to offer a suggestion. The part I like the most is spending time together in a relaxed and fun environment. This is my idea of fun in golf.

It is important to change things once in a while. There are times to be serious, but just as importantly, there are times to just have fun. Right now, I am doing the latter. This mid-season pause usually lasts about two weeks, however the fun of playing golf with my wife will last a lifetime.

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