Does Golf Need Saving?

August 14, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / 9 Comments

There is much talk about how golf is slowly dying as fewer people take up the sport. Golf is a game that is time-consuming, requires practice, is difficult to master and can be expensive to play. It is difficult to dispute these facts, however, is the golf industry really dying or is it going through an economic adjustment?

CTV News reported that, “a new survey finds the overall number of rounds played has dropped by nearly 15 per cent since 2008 — a tough hit for a multi-billion-dollar industry.” One of the current difficulties is keeping “under 30” players playing! If we match the rising costs of everything from fuel, fertilizer, wages, and equipment to the economic downturn from 2008-2012, there is no wonder that people with very little disposable income are finding something else to do.

Rick Harrow of Fox Sports is suggesting a different story. The golf industry and the PGA are doing fine. The influx of money from the Fox TV deal and the growth of club professionals are macro indicators that things are not as doom and gloom as some might suggest. Have a look below.

Does golf really need to adapt to survive? As a traditionalist, I suggest that some modifications to the game might be required, but not as to change the game dramatically. The “TEE IT FORWARD” initiative is a great example of modifying a round of golf without changing its integrity. However, even the Golden Bear, Jack Nicklaus, thinks it is time to make changes to mainstream golf. See below.

Personally, I am not a fan of bigger golf holes, playing football on the golf course, or changing the basic premise of the game. However, I am already an avid golfer so my opinion is definitely biased!

Earlier I wrote an article for Punditarena.com called “Is Golf Imploding?” The landscape of golf is changing. New faces of golf are emerging everyday. I would suggest that golf is evolving instead of imploding. This multi-billion-dollar industry will make the economic adjustment required to survive and grow….it always does!

Do you think that golf needs saving?

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

Golf Etiquette on the Green

August 12, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / 17 Comments

Golf etiquette is one of my core reasons for playing. I like the gentlemanly aspect of interacting with other players at a mature level. It brings civility to the game of kings, unmatched in the sporting world. Name another sport where the playing relationship is rooted in the core values of honesty, integrity and fair play. We monitor our own actions, call our own penalties, and conduct ourselves in such a way as to ensure everyone enjoys their round of golf. Etiquette, especially on the green, is a guiding principle.

Understanding etiquette is not as simple as it sounds. The PGA has outlined some etiquette guidelines that everyone should read. However, for most beginners, etiquette generally falls into the category of “You don’t know what you don’t know”! Etiquette has never been explained to them and as such, they do not understand that they are doing anything wrong. Below are a few pictures to help address this knowledge gap!

When placing the pin down, be aware of the ball location and do not place the pin in the sight line of a player.

The pin was placed away from the player, but is still in the sight line.

Avoid placing your clubs in the sight line of a player.

Avoid standing in the sight line of a player. If you want to watch as their ball rolls to the pin, stand-off to the side and move to a better viewing location after contact.

Avoid having your shadow in the player’s sight line. This is a potential problem early in the morning or late in the evening.

This is a good example of the proper placement of the pin. Behind the player, out of their sight line to the hole.

These are just a few examples of golf etiquette on the green. As the weeks unfold, I will bring you more examples from the cheap seats of the do’s and don’ts that make each round of golf enjoyable!

If you have any etiquette examples or stories to share, please do not hold back!

Thanks to my friend Jean for helping with the photo shoot. I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!

Painting and Golf

July 3, 2014July 3, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / 9 Comments

As many of you already know, I like to take everyday, run of the mill, chores and relate them to golf. It helps show how almost anything we try is connected in one form or another. Also, it helps show how being good at one thing is transferable to such a point that it is possible to be good at many things. It is all a matter of how you look at things.

Think of a person right now who you consider to be good at many things. It does not really matter what they are good at, however it is interesting that they appear to be top performers, artists, writers, mothers, fathers, carpenters, or whatever, all at the same time. Is this person special? Do they have super powers? Or are they genetically superior? The short answer to these questions is a resounding NO!

I enjoy painting a wall with a roller. Call me crazy, but I think a newly painted wall looks clean and fresh and I gain a certain level of satisfaction when the wall is finished. During the past weekend, my darling wife and I decided it was time to paint the whole basement. Importantly, four days off work was enough time to complete the job and still get a couple of rounds of golf in!

As I cut, edged, rolled, wiped, fixed, re-rolled and applied a second coat of paint, I was surprised how painting and golf were so much alike. And here is how:

The grip – as I gripped the broom handle attached to the paint roller, I quickly realized that to produce smooth even stokes of paint I needed to hold the handle gently. Too tight and the roller moved in short choppy movements; too loose and I was dripping paint everywhere. Gripping a golf club produces the same results. Too tight – choppy swing; too loose – no control!

Edging – As I cut delicately around the ceiling and baseboards, patience and a steady stroke produced the best results. Being patient enable me to see potential mistakes, anticipate areas of concern and fix minor blemishes before I compounded them into a painting gaff. In golf, focusing on course management produces the same results. It helps us plan our next shot, avoid the hazards and make small corrections in our game as the round unfolds! Thereby, lowering our score.

Length of my painting stroke – when painting, keeping the roller at a steady, yet constant speed helped to evenly spread the paint. If I needed to cover an area just a little bit further than normal, I would keep the same speed but extend my stroke. In golf, my putting stroke is the same way. The speed of my putter head does not change, but the length of the stroke does depending on the distance from the hole!

I think you get my point! Many everyday skills are transferable. It is a matter of how you look at the task at hand and how to apply the skills we already know. Personally, I use this technique with great success on many new things. No matter what you are trying to accomplish, if you can relate it to golf (or whatever you are good at) positive results are likely to occur.

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

Opportunities to Golf

June 20, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / 9 Comments

This week was a mix bag for golf. It is one of those weeks where the peaks and valleys of life seem to resonate uncontrollably! I played two rounds of disappointing golf this week, but was fortunate enough to make the military Wing team. Just before the third round of the tournament, I received a text from an old friend inviting me to play golf at Glen Abbey Golf Course in Oakville, Ontario. The ups and downs all happened in the space of a 24 hour period! Golf is crazy.

It is important not to lament about my golf game, because it was a minor blip. It is important to remember the following things:

I was given the opportunity to play in a tournament to represent my Wing at the next level of competition;
I played two rounds with outstanding golfers who made the rounds pleasurable;
I learned that keeping my head still is the key to my success on the course;
The mental aspect of golf is critical during competitions;
I am grateful for the overwhelming support I received over the 24 hour period from all my friends; and
I was playing golf during the week!

I am grateful for the opportunity to enjoy the game of golf during times normally spent working or doing other things. To complain would be disingenuous. How can I be unhappy when the stars aligned as I asked and the result is what I envisioned. Too many times we forget the things that are really important. So, I am off to Golf Regionals on 14-17 July in Kingston, Ontario! If I play to my potential, making it through to the next level of Golf Nationals is a possibility!

This was only the first part of the awesome news! I was invited by an old friend to play the Glen Abbey Golf Club on Sunday! This is the usual home of the RBC Canadian Open! Playing this championship course is going to challenge my skills, accentuate my weaknesses, and push my #GAF through the roof! This is an opportunity I have thought about for years; I can hardly wait!

Overall, my 24 hours of golf was amazing. It provided the emotional peaks and valleys normally associated with something more profound. It just goes to show you that we may be staring at the things that make us the happiest and just don’t realize it!

I am a grateful golfer! See you at Glen Abbey!

500 Followers!

June 15, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / 2 Comments

Today is a major milestone for The Grateful Golfer; we officially have 500 members on the grateful golfer team. I am so excited to continue sharing positive thoughts, helpful tips, and humorous stories about the awesome game of golf.

Everyone contributes in their own way to the success of our message and I want to thank you all for your support, positive feedback, and outstanding insight. Every day I am grateful to hear from everyone and look forward to reading what you have to say.

Today 500; tomorrow the moon! I am a grateful golfer! Thanks for participating.