golf

How High Do You Tee Your Ball?

/ The Grateful Golfer / 3 Comments
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Image from Sports Illustrated Golf.com

I have played with the concept to how high to tee my ball for years.  I have a tendency to tee the ball low with fairly good results.  This year, however, I struggled to get any real distance off the tee.  It appears that I have lost 20 yards with my driver and it has caused me some challenges on the long courses.  Of course, this is not something that any of us can afford.  So I decided to do a little research and this is what I found.

Sports Illustrated Golf.com conducted an outstanding experiment on how high to tee your ball.  It is a quick read and everyone should take a look. It gives advice on using an iron or hybrid. Quoted from SI Golf.com:  “Within each of the three handicap levels, carry distance for mid- and high-tee heights was significantly longer than the low-tee height, largely an effect of the higher tees promoting higher launch angles and less spin. The high tee height provided the most distance, giving the players an average of 12 yards more carry per drive than the low tee height.”  Overall, I would rate this article a 10.

Videojug has a video Golf: How High To Tee Up With Different Clubs that gives an excellent visual overview of where to tee the ball and why.  It supports the Sports Illustrated article.

Brent Kelly at About.com Golf says the same as the others, but at a different location.  Most agree that teeing the ball high will increase your distance.

Well, I am off to the range.  I have never teed the ball up that high.  I have always placed my tee low to medium.  I guess it is never too late to teach and old dog new tricks!  I will practice this new revelation and get back with the results!

How high do you tee the ball?

Hitting Ahead of the Tee Blocks

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Hitting Ahead of the Tee Markers

2 Stroke Penalty – Stroke Play
Rehit – Match Play

On Friday I was playing match play against some friends.  We had a discussion about teeing the ball up ahead of the tee blocks.  Going around the foursome, I quickly realized that there was not going to be a consensus on the rule.  One said re-tee the ball, it was a two stroke penalty, it was a one stoke penalty, and the last said who cares.

Of course, I was quite curious about the actual rule.  I went to the RCGA website and the 2012 rules are posted in a PDF format.  I quickly read the rules and found out that rule 11-4. Playing from Outside Teeing Ground – applied to our conversation.

The rule states:
a. Match Play
If a player, when starting a hole, plays a ball from outside the teeing ground,
there is no penalty, but the opponent may immediately require the player to
cancel the stroke and play a ball from within the teeing ground.
b. Stroke Play
If a competitor, when starting a hole, plays a ball from outside the teeing
ground, he incurs a penalty of two strokes and must then play a ball from
within the teeing ground.
If the competitor makes a stroke from the next teeing ground without first correcting
his mistake or, in the case of the last hole of the round, leaves the putting green
without first declaring his intention to correct his mistake, he is disqualified.
The stroke from outside the teeing ground and any subsequent strokes by the
competitor on the hole prior to his correction of the mistake do not count in
his score.

I always thought the match play rule applied to all situations….I was shocked to read that in stroke play a 2 stroke penalty is applied and the person must rehit.  And a player can be disqualified from the tournament.  Now that I know, I am better prepared when playing in tournaments.  My day has not been wasted:  I learned something new.  I am a grateful golfer.

Playing Golf for Fun!

/ The Grateful Golfer / 3 Comments
Hole In One from 208 Yards

Hole In One from 208 Yards
Man I Love This Game!

Fundamentally, golf is a game!  I know this is a profound statement, but it really is just a game.  I realize that this blasphemous statement does not sit well with many of you, however it is important to take stock of why we play.

Take me for instance, I have played golf for 35+ years.  I have had many ups and downs throughout my golfing days.  My game has  continued to evolve and I can honestly say that I still have plenty to things to learn.  So what drives me to continue, to push the edge, to challenge myself….the love of the game.  I love the competition (both in tournaments and against myself on regular days), the social aspect of playing, learning from my fellow competitors and hoping for that one perfect shot….the elusive hole in one.

Many golfers may not look at golf this way.  They look at the game of what they cannot do…not what they can do.  They see the negative aspects of a bogey instead of the positive view that it could have been worse.  A positive attitude will drive every golfer to great successes and real appreciation for the game.

An article in the New York Times outlines some very good aspects of why we play golf.  The following is from that article:  “Does being a golfer mean enduring clumsy embarrassment? Well, yes, it does sometimes, but that wasn’t the point. Being a golfer is to join a tribe with an elaborate set of tenets and canons, one with its own mores and protocols and no definable mission other than to chase a little ball into a hole.

It is a silly game, somewhat childish, a good walk spoiled, as Mark Twain said. It is all those things. So why do we love this game?

The allure of golf is its simplicity, which leads to a thousand complexities. It is sophisticated because it is subtle. It is perfect because it is wholly and forever imperfect.

I once asked David Duval, a British Open champion, what made golf so difficult and yet so appealing. He said, “It’s all the time to think between shots.”

I asked the great Phil Mickelson the same question and he said, “It’s all the choices you have.”

I asked Jack Nicklaus and he replied, “Because you must master so many elements, including yourself.”

I asked the golf commentator and author David Feherty and he said, “Because it’s a ridiculous game and it’s our fault for playing it.”

There you have it.  Golf means something different to everyone.  I can say that the reasons for playing golf over the years has morphed.  Now, I play to enjoy the walk, talk to my friends (old and new), and challenge myself hitting a little white ball into a hole.  I am a grateful golfer!

What to you love about Golf?

Keeping Your Composure!

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Young DeerKeeping your composure when the wheels fall off is the most difficult skill in golf.  All of us have played the front nine as if we were pros.  We start to count things up, figure that we are going to set a personal recorded…..the poof, our game comes crashing to earth.

I am sure many of you are thinking….yeah too many times.  So how does an amateur keep their composure when things are falling apart.  This does not mean showing zero emotion like Jason Dufner;  it means keeping calm like Rory Mcilroy during the 2011 Masters.  Staying focused when the whole world is falling down around you.  So what to do?

The great Bobby Jones referred to composure when he said that “Competitive golf is played mainly on a five-and-a-half-inch course, the space between your ears.”  I have read many different methods to keep your composure and I have my several techniques.

One technique is to laugh and smile at my silly shot.  I do not hop around like a fool, but smile to myself and give a little chuckle.  I find that I remain calm and I can easily refocus and prepare for my next shot.

Another technique is to say my name to myself like I am correcting something.  It is sharp, quick and allows me to move on without carrying pent up emotions.

Lastly, I walk to my ball, look around at the beautiful surroundings, the sun shining, the birds singing, the gratitude of being able to play golf in an awesome country….I feel calm already.  I guess you get my point.

The one thing in common with all three techniques is they quickly eliminate the negative focus of making a bad shot and focuses on the positive aspect of playing the game.  Golf is meant to challenge your inner sportsman and remaining calm and enjoying your time on the links will only enhance your inner pro.  I am a grateful golfer;  see you on the links!

Too Much Respect!

/ The Grateful Golfer / 2 Comments

True Patriot Love FoundationToday I had the tremendous opportunity to play at the North Bay Country Club (NBCC).  They opened 4 tee times for military members in support of True Patriot Love Foundation.  The NBCC, like other courses in the North Bay, Ontario, region such as Pinewood Park Resort and Osprey Links Golf Course, presents an excellent challenge to any golfer.  The course was in fantastic shape, the greens were fast and the fairways plush.  The sun was shining…..I guess you get the picture.  I am a grateful golfer.

Too Much Respect!  The greens at the NBCC constantly presented a challenge.  They are extremely tough to read, fast if you are not below the hole and most are elevated.  As I played the course today, I found myself extremely tentative and unsure of my approach shots.  I was intimidated and afraid to play my game.

Well after 5 holes, I decided that I was giving the greens too much respect!  So I decided to play my game, hunt for pins and focus on my strengths.  What a difference.  I started to take advantage of my opportunities and as a result I scored the same over par for the last 13 holes as I did for the first 5 holes.  So the lesson for me, and I suggest for many golfers, is to always play my game, stay focused on my strengths and enjoy the time on the links.

I want to thank the local courses for opening their doors for the serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces.  Your generosity is heart warming and appreciated!