Golfing

Stretching Your Success Mindset in Golf

/ The Grateful Golfer / 6 Comments

I am always amazed by the mental aspects of golf. There are many different approaches to improving our success mindset in golf, however all these choices just complicate the issue for me. I constantly try to make positive steps towards my ultimate golf goal and sometimes I forget the simple things that make all the difference between moving forward or stagnating.

Not seeing the forest for the trees is debilitating for a golfer. We have so many thoughts racing through our minds when playing and practicing, that I a surprised any positive golf thoughts can make it through the white noise! I have talked about creating a winning mindset before and as I grow as a player, I realize it is important to simplify my mental game to really be successful.  Continue reading →

Salt Creek Golf Links Course Review

/ The Grateful Golfer / 4 Comments

I hit Salt Creek Golf Links yesterday with mixed results. We did not know what to expect and arrived with an open mind and a positive outlook. The sun was shining, the company was great and we were not working. How can things be bad, right!

We arrived early and were ready to play. My friend went into the Pro Shop as he booked Salt Creek on-line. Upon his arrival, he was dutifully informed that the front nine was closed because they were punching the greens. It was not a planned maintenance project, but it is what it is. The person working the desk said that front nine might be open at noon or we could play the back nine twice.  As a token for our inconvenience, she gave my friend a pass for nine holes some other time. So we decided to play the back nine twice.
Continue reading →

Tips for Beating the Heat in Golf

/ The Grateful Golfer / 9 Comments

Golf is a great outdoor sport. It affords us the opportunity to enjoy beautiful scenery, fresh air and other wonderful things that nature provides. We all love to golf in the bright sun with a slight breeze to keep things cool. However, when the temperature starts to push into the 30s Celsius, things start to heat up on the course!

Yesterday, I was playing a mid-afternoon round at Roundel Glen Golf Course. It was 31 degrees Celsius for the entire round with little or no breeze for most of the round. I was walking and pushing my cart. As the round progressed, I found that many aspects of my game started to strain. We talk about golfing in colder weather often, however it is no less challenging hitting the links in the heat!
Continue reading →

Golfing for Fun

/ The Grateful Golfer / 6 Comments

Golf is supposed to be fun! It is a sport where the concept is to hit a little white ball with odd-shaped sticks into a very small hole! How can golf not be fun! Everyday, whether I am practicing or playing, I remind myself that no matter what happens golf is always meant to be fun and enjoyable; if your golf game is not fun, then what is the point of playing?

I am not going to rant about the things that are not fun, but instead, I made a list of things I enjoy about golf. Things that make me happy that I am on the links. For some this list will not even spark a hint of recognition, but for others, they will embrace what I am thinking and can easily add to the list. So you if you are not into having fun with golf, I suggest you stop reading. If your interest is peaked, then please read on! Continue reading →

Golfing In Formation

/ The Grateful Golfer / 8 Comments

image

 

This is a typical sight on a golf course. Everyone moves along at a steady place and as happenstance has it, we are all aligned in a golfing formation the would rival the RCAF Snowbirds or the USAF Thunderbirds!

When playing in a foursome, where people stand during someone’s shot is very important. It is critical to great golf etiquette and has a direct impact to the shooter. When waiting for someone to play it is important to understand field of view, proximity, and respecting their personal space.

Field of view is pretty self explanatory. It is important that the waiting player not stand in a sport where the player can see them during their shot. So, those players who stand directing behind the player during a swing should move off the side to stay out of the field of view of the player. Everyone golfer is different and it is important to know where to stand. Personally, I am not usually fussed where people stand, but I would prefer if they stood at a 45 degree angle,   about 10 feet away. However, that is not always possible, so I have learned to be flexible.

Proximity is important for noise. If you are close enough for a player to hear you doing anything, you are too close. I have played with many players who fidget with things while waiting, they end up breaking the ambient noise of the golf course. All I can suggest is that the person waiting stop fidgeting or move further away from the person making the shot.

Last is personal space. I enjoy talking to my fiends on the golf course. That usually means that we stand nearer to each other when playing. Unfortunately, some strangers like to stand to close and quietly chat when someone is talking. I do not like this, actually I suggest most golfers feel the same way. I recommend that a 5 foot ring when talking to someone you do not know well is a good distance. If you have to get closer because you a have to whisper something during someone’s shot, maybe it can wait.

Golfing in formation is important. Proper etiquette is important so everyone can enjoy their precious time on the links. What do you think? Do you have other formation tips?

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