Deja Vu!

September 25, 2013 / The Grateful Golfer / 14 Comments

Yesterday was the final of our inter unit golf league at Roundel Glen Golf Course. Our team won and we now have the bragging rights on our military base for one year. The bragging rights are more important than the hardware and it also creates friendly rivalry between units.

The format is very straight forward. Each team provides two sets of twosome. Each twosome played a scrabble match-play format. The final was for 18 holes for each team. Therefore, there was a possible 36 points up for grabs. The final tally resulted in our team being up 15 points overall. My twosome was up 5 and our other twosome was up 10. In all fairness, he had a pretty strong team and lady luck was on our side.

So, where does the Deja Vu occur?

Last week, we played the same format (except it was 9 holes). The second hole is a par 5. We hit the ball well off the tee box and laid up on our second shot to about 75 yards (see the creek up by the green – it is about a 240 carry after a good drive). We chipped a bit long and landed just on the back right off the green. I pulled my 52 degree Vokey wedge, chipped and drained it for birdie and one up.

Roundel Glen Hole 2

This week, on the same hole, we hit poorly off the tee box. Hit our second shot to 165 yards from the green. A smooth 6-iron placed us just a bit long left, behind the trap, off the green in the long grass. So, I calmly pulled my 60 degree Vokey wedge and flopped the ball on to the green and watched it roll into the cup for birdie and one up.

It is hard to believe that it could happen two weeks in a row! I believe that this shot mentally demoralize our competitors because we won the next three holes to go four up. Both weeks we seemed to cruise to victory after the chip-in. Additionally, it gave my playing partner and I confidence that lady luck was on our side!

The best aspect of both weeks was that I met new nice people and enjoyed their company. The weather as perfect for golf and a great time was had by all. I am a grateful golfer. See you on the links!

Just One Shot!

September 19, 2013September 19, 2013 / The Grateful Golfer / 3 Comments

If you are going to play golf; play golf!

Just one great shot can change a round of golf. The magical chip-in, 30 foot-putt, exceptional approach or a booming drive can turn a mediocre round into a fantastic round. On Sunday past, I was playing around of golf with the usual crowd. As I hacked my way around the course, I felt as if this was the worst round of the year….and it had the makings to be!

After a smooth 47 front nine (47 front nine….I still have a hard time saying 47; anyway I digress) I decided to change the way I thought. I focused on each shot and attempted to follow my new mantra of ‘less is more’. Swing smooth and watch the ball go. Well it worked quite well. After three bogies, I walked up to the 15th tee and hit a flat shot. Not to worry because it was a par 5. My second shot was very good and I was 100 yards from the green. This is one of my favorite distances so I was confident I could get it close. After a ‘less is more’ swing I watched the ball land softly on the green and roll in the cup for an eagle! Yup, I could not believe it either.

The next three holes I was smooth and back in form. I finished with 3 pars for a total score of 84. Normally, I would not be very happy with an 84, but a 37 back was something I was quite happy with. So, overall, I walked away happy.

The interesting aspect of that game was the last three holes. After the excitement of an eagle, it was if I was back in the right frame of mind to play golf. I was focused, read the greens well and displayed strong course management. Thinking back on the round, I realized that during the first 14 holes I was thinking of everything but golf.

So my lesson of the week is live for the moment! If I am going to play golf, play golf. If I am going to concentrate on other things, go do the other things. Golf is an amazing game, it continues to teach me important life lessons. I am a grateful golfer. See you on the links.

The World Cup Rules

September 16, 2013 / The Grateful Golfer / 3 Comments

The World Cup 2014 is a long anticipated event. It is the world’s largest sporting event followed by millions of fanatic soccer (football) fans! Qualifying starts years prior to the event with hopeful nations vying for sports supremacy. On 12 June 14, Brazil will host this exciting event that will surely capture the world’s attention!

Golf does not have anything nearly exciting as the World Cup, however for golfing enthusiasts, the FedExCup would be considered that event. “The PGA TOUR season is divided into two segments – the FedExCup Season and the FedExCup Playoffs. The FedExCup Season generally includes events between the beginning of each calendar year and the middle of August, while the FedExCup Playoffs include four events from the middle of August until the middle of September.” This format matches the qualifying process for the World Cup, but this is where the similarities stop.

The FedExCup Playoffs opened on Aug. 22-25 with The Barclays at Liberty National Golf Course in New Jersey City, NJ, then shift to the Deutsche Bank Championship at TPC Boston and BMW Championship at Conway Farms Golf Club outside of Chicago, before concluding on 23 September 2013 at the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta. These playoff events whittled the field from 125 players to 30. But, where is the excitement; hype; the must watch matches?

The hype around the World Cup eclipses almost every event. Despite that soccer is the worlds most played sport, it brings a level of excitement to each match that is unmatched anywhere. The format of ‘one and done’ is the only way to conduct playoffs. After all the training, commitment, and dedication, the playoffs add extra spice to the mix. If a team loses in the playoffs they go home! Past performances do not matter; world rankings do not matter; all that matters is playing for the moment. Consider the greatest upset of all time, Uruguay over Brazil, 1950, demonstrated that at any given time, anyone can win! Talk about Sport is Everything!

The FedExCup….not so much. The limiting of the field through the final four tournaments is definitely a must! It does provide a level of excitement that peaks the interest of most sports enthusiasts. However, this is where real excitement for sports fans fades. The current FedExCup format does produce a strong field, but unfortunately format only ensures the big names in golf make it to the finals. There is no real “David and Goliath” excitement; the underdog remains under; and there is no last-minute heroic sand shot remembered for 60 years! The FedExCup playoffs is like watching the same group of players week in and week out win large purses without any real excitement. 8 of the top 10 ranked players in the FedExCup are also in the top 10 in the world! It is somewhat exciting for true golfing fans, but the current format does not generate the enthusiasm of a World Cup event.

The FedExCup should take a page from the World Cup. Have all the qualifying tournaments to set up the 125-man field to start the playoffs. Then, let the chips fall where they may. Lose and go home!

Adopt the World Cup way. Once the playoffs start, everything should be performance based. If a pro plays well, they make it to the next stage. If not, better luck next year. Regardless of their world ranking, it allows that 125th ranked player the opportunity to reach out and rip the title out of the hands of the giant.

This format will make for great golf! It will elevate the FedExCup to the ranks of a must see sporting events! All sport nuts remember the huge upset, but rarely remember the team that should have won. Creating excitement on any playing field is really what fans want!

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

Finding Weaknesses In Your Game

September 14, 2013 / The Grateful Golfer / Leave a comment

Golf is a simply complicated sport. Everytime a player hits the links, they have the opportunity to score really low or really high relative to their skill level. Most think that is the best time to pinpoint what is going right or wrong. Or is it?

Keep head Down; Left Arm Straight; Slow Tempo; What did the Grateful Golfer Say…..Oh never mind, just Grip It and Rip It!

If a player consistently shoots in the low 100, 90, 80 or 70, identifying positive and challenging aspects of their game is important. This process, if the player really wants to improve, is continuous and unrelenting. However, identifying areas to improvement is specific to each player and it is impossible to use generalities to guarantee a better golf swing. Therefore, which is the best method? Who can help? Are there methods?

The short answer is yes, there are methods. Which is the best…..depends on the player. Who can help….basically it is up to the person to seek and conquer the challenges of improving their golf game. Having said that, the following are my suggestions on how to improve your game:

BroNet. Sometimes referred to as the buddy system. While out on the course your friend will notice something in your swing that they believe you should correct. Generally, it varies on a shot by shot basis. It has a tendency to cause more confusion that success, but sometimes it is helpful. The quality of the advice depends on the skill level of the player giving it.

Self-Taught. This is where a player will research various skills, look for tips, watch others and try to duplicate. This method can be very good, especially if you use websites like Hit It Solid, Slice of Golf, Gorilla Golf, All About Golf or Mind Body Golf. And of course The Grateful Golfer site! (Sorry for the shameless plug….just could not help myself) They offer tips on golf, the challenging aspects of the mental game of golf, course reviews and will allow for interaction via comments/questions to help improve your game. This method is generally how most players start.

PGA. Having your local professional, like Dan Garagan at Pinewood Park Golf Course, North Bay, Ontario, Canada, analyse your swing and provide helpful tips on how to improve is definitely a winner. They have the skill and expertise to help. The only draw back on this method is that you must be willing to learn from their sage advice. It is difficult and sometimes causes a player to initially score higher, but in the long run it is probably the best way to learn golf.

Wing It! The last method is the most fun! Basically, you have no plan nor want one. Each day is an adventure and you real goal is enjoy the experience. The million dollar shot you can brag about is what you seek. There is nothing wrong with this method, however your game will develop slowly if at all. This is not a problem because you play for the fun of the game.

Finding weaknesses in your game is relatively easy. Fixing them is usually the problem. For me, the best method to use in order of effectiveness is local professional, self-taught, Bronet, and finally, Wing It! Ultimately, chose the method that best fits your goals and desires. I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!

Distraction, What Distraction?

September 10, 2013April 3, 2020 / The Grateful Golfer / 7 Comments

Golf is a particularly interesting game. One of the greatest attributes to a great golfer is concentration! In the modern era, Jack Nicklaus demonstrated the greatest ability to concentrate while playing golf. Through 18 PGA Tour Majors, 8 Senior PGA Tour Majors, 2 Amateur Titles he showed that to stay focused for 4 hours was very difficult, especially during the stop and start tempo of a round on the links. While zeroing in on a shot for 15 seconds, many distractions could occur that would have an impact on the intended results.

“I was blessed with the ability to focus intensely on whatever I’m doing right now, free of distractions and to the exclusion of whatever else might pre-occupy me.” –Jack Nicklaus

If you have never played in front of a gallery of onlookers, it is difficult to describe the feeling of all those eyes intently watching your every move. The pros make it look easy. Each click of a camera, a cough, people shouting or the eerie quiet of a hushed crowd are all factors that could create distractions and interrupt your concentration. Having played with a small gallery of about 40 people watching, it is a bit unnerving. However, it was possible to stay focused and calm the nerves; it just takes practice. “Concentration is a fine antidote to anxiety.” (Jack Nicklaus)

There are many ways to keep your concentration while playing. It does take effort and practice, but ultimately the pay off is reduced scores and more consistent play. The following are concentration tips will help any player start to develop their own concentration techniques:

Develop a solid pre-shot routine. Annika Sörenstam states that “a pre-shot routine is a consistent and systematic procedure that is executed prior to hitting a golf shot and is very instrumental in the focus and relaxation process.”

Don’t over concentrate. The Telegraph published an article regarding a study that being too focused may be detrimental to your overall game. “One trick that people can certainly try is to try to distract your external focus. Make sure that your focus is on the hole or on a spot on the green and do not think about your technique or how your limbs are moving.” Basically, clear your mind when playing; to much activity between the ears does not really help.

Switching your concentration on and off. Golf Today suggests that “the absolute ideal in a round of golf is that you switch ‘ON’ for your shots and then switch ‘OFF’ in between shots.” Being able to be prepared to hit the ball when it is time to perform is an extremely valuable skill. It is impossible to stay focused for 4.5 hours (as well all know); some Golf Today suggests are:

A particular mark on your glove like the RED DOT. Make it personal to you and then look at this before you start your routine.
Have a particular word you say to yourself like ‘FOCUS’
Open and close the Velcro fastener on your glove paying attention to the sound.

Regardless what you do to turn your concentration on and off, it has to be yours and something that will enable you to focus when required.

Visualization. Visualizing your shot is another way to hone your concentration skills. See yourself hitting the ball successfully. When playing, take 5 seconds behind the ball see your shot, then step up, and perform. Visualizing a shot will allow you to stay focused when needed most!

There are countless ways to stay focused on the course. To achieve the greatest success while playing golf does take concentration. How a players develops this skill is really an individual process. Everyone is different, however having a pre-shot routine, not over concentrating, being able to turn your focus on and off or visualization are but four ways to lower your score and play consistently.

What are some techniques you use to stay focused on the course?

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