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.

Unique Golf Images

May 12, 2014May 12, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / 6 Comments

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

I thought I would try something new. Aaron Bruce from Brewcee’s Golf Blog introduced me to this new technique of displaying images in a blog. Thanks Aaron!

Today I am just grateful! See you on the links!

What is Important in Golf?

March 25, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / 8 Comments

The Boys at Voyageur Days Golf Tournament

What is important in golf? Most players immediately think of the mechanics of a golf swing, mental preparation, scoring low or going for scratch. All of these points are very important, but is that really what is important in golf…..to you?

Golf is bigger than a game. It offers the opportunity to for players to enhance their lives in many ways. But, it is important to note that golf offers something different for everyone. For me, golf offers many ways to be grateful; so today I thought I would share some of those. I am grateful because:

I have golfed with an astronaut – Colonel Robert Springer. He explained what it was like to be in a space shuttle – that was way cool;
I have golfed with a 73 year-old guy who schooled me on the importance of the short game (cost me three drinks for the lesson);
I have learned to control my emotions while working through adversity;
I have learned to be a gentlemen;
I have learned to be gracious whether I win or lose;
I am inspired every time I play in the morning when the sun peeks over the trees;
I have watched, then celebrated with others after they shot a hole-in-one; especially my mother;
I converse daily with like-minded golfers friends around the world through blogging and social media;
I continue to meet so many fantastic people on the golf course that I cannot count them all; and
Mostly, I share my most favorite game with the people I treasure the most!

I could go on and on, but I think you get the point that golf provides some many opportunities to be grateful. I have played golf for most of my life, but it has only been the past five years that I really understand how it has helped shape the person I am today. Some may think that I am crazy for letting a game become so important to my life – they may have a valid point. I would counter to say that golf really is more than a game because it continues to teach me how to set goals, face adversity, support others, cherish friendships and share joyful experiences everyday!

What are you grateful for?

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

Feeling Inspired

February 18, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / 5 Comments

What inspires you to excel? Have you ever been in a situation when watching athletes perform at an élite level sweeps you in to the moment? Has someone ever inspired you to achieve greater success in your life? These and many other similar questions are thinks that I think about from day-to-day.

This exact situation happened to me today while I was working out. As per my previous post about my goal to be a scratch golfer this year, I have embarked on a fitness program. So far I have been very successful and doing well at keeping to my 30 minutes of lifting weights and 30 minutes of cardio four days a week. Additionally, I throw in walks, yoga, squash and snow shoeing on the off days.

Anyway, as I was saying, while working out today I was watching the Olympics. Specifically, the 1000m woman’s speed skating relay race where Canadians were going for gold. As I watched the speed, precision and athleticism during the event, I found myself going faster and faster on the elliptical machine. It was crazy; next thing I knew I went one kilometer further than normal and felt great. As I watched, I unwittingly became inspired and exceeded my expectations for my work out. I thought this was pretty cool.

The more I thought about the situation, the more I realized that I am inspired by many of the people in my life. For example my darling wife who always knows how people are feeling and what to do; my friend who called me every week during some medical challenges I had a few years back; my friends in Hawaii who introduced me to the law of attraction and are LIVING their lives; my daughter who no matter what chooses what is best in any situation; I am truly blessed to be surrounded by inspiring people – I am grateful they are in my life.

So how does the relate to golf you may ask. Well, golf is a mental game. Every time you hit the links your mood, thoughts, attitude and mental awareness affect your game. This is one sport where it is beneficial to have the whole package – the mental and physical. My best scores have always come on the days when I felt inspired. It is difficult to sustain the euphoria of inspiration, but I believe having inspiring people in my life is a great way to start.

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