The Mental Side of Golf

March 11, 2016March 10, 2016 / The Grateful Golfer / 5 Comments

glimmer is hope A couple of posts ago, I asked for some help from The Grateful Golfer Community and I am happy to say, that I received some great responses. So much so, I thought they were worth sharing with everyone.

These great response did get my mental juices going and I feel better prepared for spring. As we all know, the mental side of golf is just as important as your physical prowess. Participating in a sport generally means competition, not always, but more likely than not. Golf is especially competitive either against someone or yourself; the intent is always to shoot our lowest score ever. The following are the tips I received and what they mean to me. Continue reading →

What a Return to Golf

September 13, 2015September 12, 2015 / The Grateful Golfer / 10 Comments

After about 1 month off, I finally was able to hit the links. On Thursday past, I was able to get out after a charity tournament and had the course to myself. Arriving early, I hit a large bucket of balls, then chipped and putted for about 30 minutes. I had thought about how I would play this round trying to manage my expectations! You know exactly what I mean, knowing that your game is a bit rusty, you down play the end result as not to be frustrated while enjoying your time on the links!

As I walked to the first tee, a 150 yard par 3, a friend of mine was getting ready to play. Steve asked if I wanted to join them for their last hole. Of course, I said yes and waited my turn. Pulling my 7-iron, all I kept saying to myself was to keep my head down and swing easy. Well, to my surprise the ball ended up in the middle of the green. After an easy two-putt, I started with a par.

On par 5 second hole, I hit my third shot to 1 foot from 100 yards. A quick tap in and I was 1 under! Well, no one was more surprised than me! The par 3, third hole, par, and so on and so on! This was one of my best front nines of the year. If I missed the green, I chipped to within 2 feet. If I hit a tree (which I did twice) the ball bounced into the middle of the fairway. I even hit a bunker once and the ball bounce out onto the green! It seemed that I could do nothing wrong. I finished the front nine with a 1 under 35!

As I walked to the 10th hole, I started to think. Yup, I know, that was a big mistake! The last thing I should have done was to start thinking. I was starting to play out the back nine in my mind and I envisioned shooting under par for the second time this year!

Opening with two bogies, I started to worry about my swing. Instead of swinging slow and controlled like the front nine, I tried to hit the ball a bit farther and to shape the ball. This strategic error was the start of a different outcome.

As the back nine unfolded, I tried several times to regroup and was successful for the most part. The one technique I relied on the most was my pre-shot routine. During the front nine, I relied on my pre-shot routine to keep focused and steady. The first two holes of the back-nine I change what worked and it cost me immediately. So, back to what works and presto – I was back on track.

As the back nine continued, I struggled with my swing more and more. Mostly, I was getting tired and as you know, your swing starts to breakdown when you are tired. Trying to stay focused, I started to really work at my game. The last 6 holes was all about course management. Instead of trying to crush the ball, I started to play to distances. This approached worked well and I played the last 6 holes 1 over (2 bogies and a birdie)!

At the end of the round, I shot a 74 from the tips! It was one of my best rounds of golf of the year. After a month off, my round exceeded all of my expectations! Now I have a dilemma, trying to remember how I played on the front nine and duplicate it the next time I play! The biggest test will be to keep my brain out-of-the-way and let my body naturally play as it knows how!

I have never taken this long of a break during golf season and been so successful upon my return. I am a bit out of my league, grateful golfers, I need some help. How do you propose I keep focused on the positives from my last round of golf and incorporated them in my next round? Any suggestions would be gratefully appreciated!

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

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!

Day 2 of The Qualifying Tournament

June 17, 2014June 17, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / 8 Comments

Wednesday I play in day 2 of the military qualifying tournament. My last round was a grind and I was fortunate enough to shoot an 81, which was good enough for third place. After finishing the first round with a birdie, I have earned a place in the first group of low players.

As part of my preparation, I have played tomorrows round over and over in my mind. Each hole ended in a par or birdie and my final score was a 66. Some would scoff at my attempts to stay positive and to visualize a sub-par round, but I believe it is important to my success in any golfing event.

To stay with my theme of a golf handicap, it will play an important role in tomorrow’s round. Most people have difficulty shooting their handicap in tournaments and I believe that if I stay true to form I will make the team of 5 that will move forward to the next event.

What do you think? Do you normally shoot your handicap in tournaments?

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

Going for Gold

March 18, 2014March 19, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / 2 Comments

Today is the start of my team’s quest for golf in the Ontario Regional Military basketball competition. In a few hours, we hit the court with high hopes and expectations for success. Like every athlete, I wonder if I prepared myself properly to ensure I play my role and contribute to the team’s victories. Time will tell very shortly if I did enough!

Interestingly, I prepared for this basketball competition the same way I prepare for golf events. I trained to improve my cardio and strength, I ate properly, hydrated and most off all focused mentally on success. The mental aspect of the game is most important because a positive attitude and the knowledge that we will win are strong driving forces for success.

To prepare mentally for this basketball competition, I visualized weeks before today on winning. What I had to do as part of the team to make the team better, I visualized my shot going into the hoop, and most importantly, I visualized raising the banner as a champion. This competition is a team sport and to be successful I have to mentally be prepared to do what the coach requires to make the whole team better.

The mental preparation in golf is exactly the same. Before any competition, I start the mental preparation of winning. I focus on proper strokes – where and when to hit what shot. I go over the course in my mind and visualize each hole. I visualize how to play each hole. I focus on playing my game to ensure I keep out of trouble. Finally, I visualize on winning. Holding the trophy and feeling the joy of winning!

Mental preparation is an important key to success! How do you prepare to a golf tournament?

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