grateful

LEST WE FORGET!

/ The Grateful Golfer / 4 Comments

Lest We ForgetLEST WE FORGET! On 11 November every year is a special day.  This year it falls on this upcoming Monday and it is the time to honor the fallen, wounded and serving military men, women and their families. Their sacrifices have allowed for the freedoms we enjoy today.  It is important to give thanks and be grateful for our wonderful lives they protect.

A Pittance of Time by Terry Kelly is something that worth watching!

In Flanders Fields is read at every Remembrance Day Ceremony I have attended.  This and the “Last Post” always move me.

If you want more information please go to Veterans Affairs Canada.

Some videos and photos of serving members around the world from the Canadian Armed Forces are worth looking at.

We generally talk about golf, however it is important to be grateful for the men and women in uniform for their sacrifice.  I am a grateful golfer.  See you on the links!

We All Need A Pep Talk!

/ The Grateful Golfer / 6 Comments

In my travels through the netherworld of the internet I occasionally come across sites that peak my interest.  Recently, SoulPancake.com is one of those sites.  It does not talk about golf, but it does talk about gratitude and the various aspects of being happy with ourselves and the world around us.

The following 7-minute video is about an experiment where people were asked who made the greatest impact on their lives and…..well it is worth it to watch the video.

This video made me think about those who have made a tremendous impact on my life.  I have a rather long list because I am blessed with many wonderful people in my life right now and those who came and went through the years.

The person I am most grateful for is my darling wife Teri.  She is my best friend and continues to love me unconditionally.  I love her more and more everyday.  I am truly blessed to have her in my life.

Gratitude is something that needs to be shared!  It has the power to change people’s lives even if it is just for a moment.  As we take stock of our world, it really is important to pass on thanks and gratitude to those who have positively affected our lives.  What goes around definitely comes around when you are grateful!

In golf, the one person I am grateful to is a true gentlemen who took me under his wing early in my playing days and taught me about this wonderful sport.  He taught me course management, when to press your skill, when to hold back and the importance of golf etiquette.  He fixed some of my early swing challenges and showed me how to read greens.  He did all this and expected nothing in return; what a gift!  His name was Bob Fortune. Unfortunately, I have lost contact with him over the years, but he is fondly remembered when I talk about my early years as a golfer. Thanks Bob!

Expressing gratitude is important.  It allows us to feel and experience the positive aspects of life.  Who are you grateful for?

I am grateful golfer!  See you on the links!

Are My Clubs In The Way?

/ The Grateful Golfer / 6 Comments

How many times have we heard “Are My Clubs OK?”

While golfing with our friends, most of us are lax with the rules of etiquette.  Besides, it is more fun poking fun at our friends, telling jokes, and pretending that your friend does miss that four-foot gimmie (gimmie in their eyes, even though they have not made a four-footer all day).  However, during a competition, the way we play should be different and we should be more aware of the etiquette of golf because it is important.

On particular aspect of etiquette is club location while your opponent is playing. Equipment should be out of sight, not in the line of intended ball travel or close enough to cause a shadow over their ball.  Actually, these guidelines should apply to their clubs as well.

Are My Clubs OK?

Whats Wrong With This Picture?

There are many reasons for this particular rule (although rule might be a bit strong).

Safety. Standing forward of someone hitting the ball is not too smart.  But, it happens all the time.  Usually, the other members are across the fairway and move to their ball for speed of play.  Sometimes, however, they get to close and that is when a the safety aspect kicks in.

Penalty Strokes.  Keeping your clubs behind you will prevent penalty strokes (one stroke  for hitting your own equipment, caddie or partner – rule 19).  Ever wonder why the pro caddies move so far from the player when they are hitting…..probably for this exact reason.

Etiquette.  Standing in someones golf space can cause problems.  Some players like opponents to stand-off to their right.  Others left. Some behind….but never in front of their field of view.  My general rule for this is at least 10 – 15 feet away from the player.

So placing your clubs close to someone playing is not a very good idea.  Placing your own clubs in the way is just a bad idea.  One last point, if you have to as “Are My Clubs OK?” They are not!

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

Choices Choices Choices

/ The Grateful Golfer / 8 Comments

Recent adventures on the links makes me wonder if I really have a handle on golf or have I been kidding myself for years.  Course management is definitely a key aspect to success on the links. Knowing when to press or play defensively can determine whether you score a birdie or a bogey.  But is course management really important to having fun and improving your game?

Smart Shot Out of the Sand

Smart Shot Out of the Sand

Well of course it is!  Or at least I thought so!

It is the distinguishing factor between low and high handicap golfers. Determining how to play a hole, which club to use, whether to fire at the pin or to lag putt are all aspects of course management that are developed over time.  Thus, experience and the willingness to improve your course management skills are extremely important aspects of successful golf.

So, why am I going on about course management and its importance.  On the weekend I was playing with my friend and his brother.  As per normal, we were talking golf and how best to improve our game; which shot would be best in certain situations; and which club to use at certain times.  Through our discussion, we were basically talking about course management.

As we plodded along, the conversation turned to a earlier shot where my friend chose a 3 wood instead of an iron out of the long grass.  Additionally, he went on to describe how the ball was in a bit of a hole, but he really wanted to get to the green that was 220 yards away.  When challenged about his selection he responded, “I knew what the smart shot was but chose to not to do it!”  I stopped dead in my tracks and looked at him and said what?  He coolly said, “I know, but I just wanted to put the ball on the green and the knew I would not make it with an iron….it was not the smart shot, but oh well, I am still having fun.”  I chuckled out loud and walked to my ball with a smile on my face.

So my friend chose not to make the right shot!  Never a good idea to throw stones when you live in a glass house, I think we have all been in that situation.  Taking the low percentage shot over the smart play….it still makes me laugh.

The “so what” to this story is that choosing to actively participate in course management is the first and most important step to course management.  Although I never really thought that it was an option, apparently it is. Sometimes playing golf is about making the impossible shot and having fun doing it!  I guess that day was not wasted because I learned something new!

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

Life Transitions and Golf – Part 2

/ The Grateful Golfer / 6 Comments

As most of you have figured, I have moved for my job.  I am looking for the new chapter in my life.  We are still working through the many wonderful aspects of moving, however after so many moves we are more relaxed and grateful for the positive things of our new life transition.  One of the positive changes for me is the opportunity to play new golf courses.

My new home course is Roundel Glen golf course at Trenton, ON.  It is a shooters course where length does not play as an important role as my previous course; Osprey Links Golf Course at Callander, ON. (Sorry no links, I still restricted on my access to IT.

I have played my new course twice.  Yesterday and today.  Yesterday was interesting because everything was new….tight fairways, postage stamp greens and new undulations on the greens.  Not to be fooled by the new surrounds, I went back to the basics by focusing on course management, playing safe, and not being too aggressive.  My tentativeness resulted in an 80 with three doubles!  Not really too bad, but not the start I was hoping for; that is for sure.

Today was a different story.  I played a more aggressive game and focused on my GIR stat.  Well it paid off.  I went thee over for the front, two under for the back, for a smooth 73.  The biggest difference between yesterday and today was: I trusted my swing and had the confidence to play my game.  Thanks to Brian, Pete, Rick, and Vet for reminding me the importance staying focused and to forge ahead with my plan of improving my GIR stat.

So, here I go with renewed gusto for my favorite game.  I have reconnected with some old friends and look forward to more time on the course.  I am a grateful golfer!  See you on the links!