This is an important question that every golfer will struggle with during almost every round of golf. I am not sure what your game is like, but I am certain that during every round I will hit a shot that will result in less than ideal results. It is the nature of being an amateur and I have learned over the years that how I respond to these trying times will have a direct correlation to my golf score. I have discusses this in the past and concluded that my response to adversity is purely mental. With my golf season just around the corner, I thought it was time to focus on mentally preparing for the ups and downs of each round. To that end, I have to reacquaint my thought process where I can play my best golf when I make a poor shot.
Continue readingmental focus in golf
Coming From Behind for the Win in Golf
It is a challenge to hunt down the leader of a golf tournament. Chances are, they have played well and earned the top spot on the leader board. However, as a fellow competitor, I always devise a strategy to close the gap and hopefully my ball striking will support this plan. Regardless, I never enter into a tournament without devising away to win. Do you?
Continue readingIf You Could Change One Thing….
What would you change in your swing?
If you could change one thing about your golf swing, what would it be? Would you adjust your shoulder turn? Would you increase your hip rotation? Would you delay your wrist release? What would your one change be?
Through the years I have attempted to change every aspect of my swing. It was all a very slow process and I am far from finished. My changes have had mixed reviews, but each adventure increases my knowledge and understanding of golf.
My journey to scratch golf experienced many peaks and valleys, but the process has been very rewarding. I will have to say that some of my success were the result of changing something different as long as I was paying attention.
In earlier posts, I discussed Opening Pandora’s Box, The Domino Effect, and Pareto’s Theory, and everyone one of these posts have a direct effect on the rest of this article.
So back to my original question; If you could change one thing about your golf swing, what would it be? Before I suggest what I would change and what you think you should change, consider the following:
- What are the follow-on effects will occur by making the change?
- What change will have the greatest long-term impact?
- What change will force a change in other areas of your swing?
- Will a quick change improve your golf scores?
- What is the final goal or expectations from the change?
- Are you mentally prepared for a drastic improvement in your golf game?
These and likely many other questions should be addressed before making any change – quick or deliberate. Even simple changes to your golf swing change several secondary aspects of your swing mechanics! So beware of what you ask!
As I have stated before, I like to tinker with all aspects of my game. So, if the magical golf fairy gave me one wish, I would change my the amount of torque generated between my initial hip turn and then movement of my shoulders! My choice is founded on much introspection and I decided that to go to the next level a need to develop more power through all my woods, hybrid and irons!
I believe that this change will affect my club choice, alignment, and course management. I am sure there are others that do not immediately come to mind, but I would be ready! So the secondary effects are just as exciting as the initial change.
The question remains: if you could change one thing about your golf swing, what would it be?
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
First Round of the 2015 Golf Season Complete
My first round of golf for 2015 is in the books! Before everyone asks how the conditions are at my home course of Rondel Glen, let me stop you right there. This year my first round of golf was played at the Northwood Golf Course at Middlesex, London, UK.
I am on vacation with my darling wife and we are visiting our awesome friends in the UK. As always, Kirk and I take the opportunity to play a few rounds when we are visiting each other and this time things are no different.
Overall, my round was very satisfying and I am very happy with the overall results. I am using borrowed clubs and shoes, but the intent of my round was more about playing golf, than actually scoring. To my surprise, I was able to do both. My score of 78 with 2 doubles and 1 birdie was pretty solid for the first time out.
Northwood was in excellent shape. The greens were freshly cut and rolled. The fairways were in good shape for this time of the year and the sand traps, many were recently reworked, were in awesome shape. I have talked about this course before and it is worth the 28 pounds it cost to play.
For the first round of the year, with no practice yet, I wanted to manage my expectations and make the round as fun as possible. The little bit of rain during the first 6 holes did not dampen our spirits. So as I approached the first tee, I had two thoughts in mind: keep your head down and widen my stance when driving the ball. As it turned out, these were perfect things to think about.
I had 9 chances for birdie. Four of those were within 10 feet. I only made one. This is not surprising because I have not putted on grass since last year. My chipping was on and off, but my driving was very good. I was able to keep it in play the entire round!
I did have one poor hole. It was a par 5, 480 yard dog leg left, reachable par five, if you are in the fairway off the tee. As it turned out, I hit the ball into the fairway bunker on the left side. Confidently, I walked into the sand, pulled out my 5 iron and hit the front lip of the trap. Classic rookie mistake. To make things worse, the ball came to rest beside the front lip. So, grabbing my shovel…. I mean my sand wedge, I hit the ball again and to my surprise, it landed 6 feet behind me IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRAP. I cannot remember the last time, if ever, I was still in the trap after 2 shots! Taking no chances, I hit my third shot about 25 yards up the rough.
Now here is a lesson for us all, on my third shot out of the trap, I lost my mental focus and did not consider my upcoming shot. I just hit the ball and did not care where it went. So now I am lying 4 behind the trees with no shot to the green. Next time (well actually I hope there is never a next time) I will remain focused and remember that course management is always in play!
So, on to my fifth shot. After three poor shots in the bunker, I executed the best shot of the round. I hit a 3 hybrid in Bubba Watson like fashion around the trees with a big hook and landed 10 feet from the green in the fairway. It was spectacular! A quick up and down, I walked off smiling with a smooth 7!
With those exciting times over, I responded with a par on the next hole. My first round of golf was nothing but fun. I started with a bogey, ended with a birdie, and now have been bitten by the golfing bug. I finished the 2014 golf season and started the 2015 golf season in the UK with one of my best friends! How grateful am I!
I hope to play a couple more rounds while on our vacation, but in case that falls through, my 2015 golf season has started on a high note!
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
The Grateful Golfer 