Focused Golf – A Whole Approach

October 4, 2014October 4, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / 9 Comments

Staying focused for 18 holes of golf is challenging. Remaining in the now, experiencing every moment and concentrating for long periods of time tests the mental fortitude of any athlete. Golf is doubly challenging because of the short periods of focused concentration mixed with long periods of walking. Losing focus during a round is extremely easy because of the multitude of distractions on a golf course. Whether it is birds chirping, a deer walking in the fairway, a train going by, an aircraft flying over head or that annoying playing partner, the demands on any players attention seems endless.

Staying focused while golfing!

Staying focused for 18 holes of golf is possible. A quick search reveals that many experts have suggestions and methods to hone your focus. They are all good resources and are a great place to start if a player is trying to understand how focus affects their golf game. After years of trying various methods to improve my focus, I developed a 3 steps process that incorporates a whole approach to focused golf.

Staying focused for 18 holes of golf is achievable. To stay in ‘the zone’ for 4 hours is a skill that all golfers have to develop to lower their golf score. This, like many other aspects of golf, is a process. It is a methodology that requires attention, tuning, and execution. The primary tenant for my method is based on positive intent. During each step, it is important to actively decided to focus on all aspects of playing golf better. To play your best and stay focused for 18 holes, I recommend using my proven 3 step approach which will provide the results all golfers want – lower golf scores!

Adopting my 3 step approach will improve your focus and concentration while on the links. This approach is simple, easy to learn, and adjustable. Do not be surprised when you realize that not all my techniques are focused just on swinging a golf club. It is a whole approach to focused golf. If you are feeling adventurous, give it a try; the results might be surprising!

Step 1: Preparation before playing

Start hydrating at least 2 hours before playing. Drink small sips of water every 10 – 15 minutes. Hydrating prior to a match will make sure every player has the energy to complete the round without feeling fatigued in the home stretch.

Visualizing your round. It takes about 10-15 minutes of focused visualization of swinging the club properly. Visualizing the ball going into the hole. And visualizing writing par on your scorecard. Visualizing is an important step to staying focused for 18 holes of golf.

Hit the range and putting green for at least 20 minutes before teeing off on the first hole. Warming up your body before you ‘grip it and rip it’ is a great idea because it allows you to focus on non-swing related aspects of playing golf.

Step 2: Playing 18 holes of Golf

Stay hydrated during the entire round. Continue taking sips of water at every tee. The hotter the weather, the more water you will need to drink.

Eat snacks every 3 holes. Having a piece of fruit, some nuts, or a half of a sandwich will suffice. Eating will keep your physical energy strong and as a direct result, keep you mentally strong for 4 hours.

Have a pre-shot routine. A pre-shot routine will signal your mind that it is time to focus on the shot at hand. A solid pre-shot routine will eliminate all distractions, supports the logic of selecting the right shot, and reduces the pressure of thinking of your shot mechanics.

Enjoy the time between shots. Staying positive throughout your game is critical. Not all shots will be as expected and how we react to these tough times will help shape the rest of the round. Personally, I like to chat a bit with my playing partners, hum a song that lifts my spirits and relishing my beautiful surroundings helps keep me focused on the moment.

Step 3: After your round

When the last ball is holed out on the 18th green, shake hands with your playing partners. Remove your hat (if you have one on) and look them in the eyes. By focusing on them one last time will help prepare you for playing against strangers.

Visualize the round you just played. Go over your round and focus on the positive aspects of your game. If you made an awesome sand save, try to focus on how you swung the club, the sound of the club hitting the sand, where the club contacted the sand and where the ball finished.

Start to focus on your next round. Focusing on the next round will slowly build up the positive energy and mentally strengthen your golf game. This is a mild form of visualization.

Staying focused on 18 holes of golf is more than just playing golf! A whole approach to playing a round will improve your focus during the 4 hours of pressure golf. Being physically prepared is as important as being mentally prepared if you want to lower your golf score. I used the above method extensively this year and I found my focus during my rounds significantly improved. As well, it helped me reach one of my goals of playing to my lowest handicap ever – 2.8.

I am a grateful golfer! Stay focused and I will see you on the links.

2014 Ryder Cup – Wrap Up

September 28, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / 4 Comments

Congratulations to the European Ryder Cup team for winning this year’s premier golfing event 16.5 to 11.5. As predicted, the underdog US Team could not overcome the consistent play of the Europeans. The last day of the Ryder Cup is by far the most exciting. The singles matches are as much a chess game as it is a golfing match. The slightest error can have cascading effects on the outcome. However, heading into the final day down 4 points, the US team could not rise to the challenge of defeating a stronger team.

Earlier, I predicted that the European team would win. My choices were made through analysis and research. I generally vote for any team Phil Mickelson is on, but this time the cards were stacked against that choice. As it turned out, my prediction was correct. This morning, just for fun, I made predictions on the singles matches. Here is how I made out:

Jordan Spieth 2 and 1 – Graeme McDowell won.
Henrick Stenson 1 up – Patrick Reed won.
Rickie Fowler 3 and 2 – Rory McIlroy won.
Justin Rose 2 and 1 – Havled
Phil Mickelson 1 up – Phil Mickelson won.
Martin Kaymer 3 and 2 – Martin Kaymer won.
Matt Kuchar 2 and 1 – Matt Kuchar won.
Sergio Garcia 1 up – Sergio Garcia won.
Ian Poulter 1 up – Halved
Keegan Bradley 1 up – Jamie Donaldson won.
Jimmy Walker 2 and 1 – Jimmy Walker won.
Victor Dubuisson 4 and 3 – Halved.

So my total was 5 matches correct, 4 wrong and 3 a push. Well just over 50 percent is not a bad track record considering the variables for selecting a winner are….well….astronomical. Picking winners in golf does pose great challenges for most golfing pundits and regardless of the results, it is fun to do.

Many people are talking about the strategy employed by the US Team. Additionally, reports about Phil Mickelson and Tom Watson having a disagreement,is making headlines.The only thing I can say is that you win and lose as a team. Finger pointing, or at least the perception of finger pointing, is not productive and as such I have no further comment on that matter.

Through my readings, I have found some great articles I would like to share. They talk about gifs, wrap-ups, and in-depth articles about the Ryder Cup. They are quite interesting and are worth the read.

The Ryder Cup. European Glory at Gleneagles. By Pete Robbins

2014 Ryder Cup GIFs – Part Five. By Adam Sarson

Ryder Cup Day 3 Recap: Europe wins 16.5-11.5 at Gleneagles. theScore.com

Wei Under Par -The Ryder Cup. By Stephanie Wei

The 2014 Ryder Cup is in the books. The media hype, the golfing frenzy, and the tale of David and Goliath is over. The best player from each team was Justin Rose (Europe) and Patrick Reed (US). They approached the game differently, but in their own way showed that competing at this pinnacle event is challenging, rewarding and most of all fun. Because if it isn’t fun, what is the point!

I am a grateful golfer! See you all at Hazeltine in 2016!

Congratulations to the 2014 Ryder Cup Champions – Europe!

2014 Ryder Cup – Day 1

September 26, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / 2 Comments

There should be no surprise that the European Ryder Cup team is leading the US Ryder Cup Team by 2 points. After a shaky start, the Europeans rallied and scored 3.5 points in the afternoon session of Day 1. With 8 matches complete, it is time for the pundits to start second guessing the Captains and offer unsolicited advice on how to improve the team’s standing during play on Day 2. I however, do not see the value in second guessing the team Captains, but see the value in being grateful for the great golf on Day 1.

My approach might be a little altruistic, but I would not be ‘The Grateful Golfer’ if I used the US Team Captain, Tom Watson, as a punching bag. I would suggest that his game plan was solid and if not for a couple bounces here and there the score would be tied. Continuing on my positive approach to the play on Day 1, here is what I would like to share:

Rickie Fowler’s approach on the 16th hole in the afternoon was the shot of the day!
Sergio Garcia’s chip in from the sand in the morning and his stellar play in the afternoon!
Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed walked the walk!
Henrik Stenson and Justin Rose are looking like the team to beat!
The Scottish crowd was awesome! They truly understand the game of golf!

Here are some other fantastic highlights of today’s matches!

The Ryder Cup is a fantastic event. Each team understands the value of never quitting, never giving up, and grinding out a half point that could be the difference between winning and losing. The only prediction I have is that tomorrow’s play will be more of the same! Great moments, more highlights, and fantastic sportsmanship! Each of these professionals is a true gentleman whose desire to win their match is only eclipsed by their desire to win as a team!

I am a grateful golfer! I can hardly wait until tomorrow!

The 2014 Ryder Cup Frenzy

September 24, 2014September 24, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / 11 Comments

Its here! Its here! The 2014 Ryder Cup is scheduled to start tomorrow! The pundits have made their predictions, the experts inched out onto a limb and the fanatics have all chosen sides. The PGA® Centenary Course, at the Gleneagles Hotel, Perthshire, Scotland, is ready for the horde of sporting enthusiasts to descend on their peaceful community like a plague of locust! The only problem with this whole scenario is that many of us will have to experience the highs and lows of every play from afar! Going to a Ryder Cup is on my bucket list and someday I will be one of those amazed fans rooting for my favorite team.

Let the Games Begin at the 2014 Ryder Cup!

Each team has been dissected, probed and over-analyzed. The captains have been second-guessed to the nth degree, but they have stood fast by their decisions. Everyone is ready for the matches to begin and history to be made at the 2014 Ryder Cup!

theScore, written by Adam Sarson, has profiled the US Ryder Cup Team. Sarson says:

Team USA will be looking to win their first Ryder Cup since 2008 and their first on European soil since the last time Watson was the captain back in 1993. Key players like Tiger Woods and Dustin Johnson won’t be playing this week, but Watson still has a solid group of established PGA Tour players on his side.

BBC Sports, has highlighted the European Ryder Cup Team. They have not provided the same detail as theScore, but shows how each player qualified.

In all, nine nationalities and three debutantes are included in the team which will bid for Europe’s third successive Ryder Cup victory.

Each team has its strengths and weaknesses. Ultimately, which ever team is hot at the beginning of the event will likely ride the wave of adrenaline to victory. When the teams were first selected on 2 September, everyone was leaning towards the European team as hands down favorites. However, over the past couple of weeks, the attitudes of many experts seem to have shifted. The four sites selected (and there are thousands more) provide some very persuasive reasons for their picks. They are worth checking out if you are still on the fence.

The Ryder Cup is an exciting event. There are many head-to-head battles that capture the golfing world. It is very likely that all golfing enthusiasts will tune in to hear the shot by shot account of the action. In anticipation for the matches, here are a couple of things to watch for:

Tom Watson’s strategy of matching players. For the US team to win this will have to be perfect!
Phil Mickelson playing like the Phil of old. Again a must if the US is to have any chance.
Rickie Fowler playing head to head against Rory McIlroy and playing to a draw.
Rory McIlroy not losing a match.
Ian Poulter’s fiery eyes will be matched by Keegan Bradley’s.
Sergio Garcia sinking the winning putt on Sunday!

To make it clear, the European team will win. This selection is made with my head and not my heart. I am a huge Phil Mickelson fan and rarely cheer for the other team, but the European Team is just too strong. They are peaking at the right time and have demonstrated resilience all year. Playing in Scotland will only fuel their desire to win the 2014 Ryder Cup!

What do you think? Who are you cheering for? Why?

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

The Endless Possibilities of a Golfing Imagination

September 22, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / 7 Comments

Early Morning Fog!

When I look at this picture, the endless possibilities of a golfing imagination brings a torrent of thoughts into my mind! Walking to the green one foggy morning, I notice these two golfers preparing to do battle against the elements. The bright sun, dew riddled ground, and the meandering fog captured my imagination. Here is what came to mind:

Friendship – as two old friends play golf for the 1000th time together
Joyfulness – of being able to play golf in such beautiful conditions
Gratefulness – of having a true friend to share in the experience

When I look at pictures such as these, I cannot help but imagine the endless possibilities. In this case, golf provided the opportunity for me to expand my horizons and be grateful for just being.

What do you see?

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