mental

A Glorious Day on The Golf Course

/ The Grateful Golfer / 4 Comments

Grateful GolferWhat a fantastic day on the golf course! After 5 months, the day finally arrived where I could stop talking about golf and actually, well, you know…..GOLF! My first round of golf was at the Roundel Glen  Golf Course at Astra, Ontario. The course is in awesome shape and experienced very little damage from the winter.

Before anyone asks, I will be posting my promised blog about building a support team for your golf play tomorrow. Today was so much fun, I just had to talk about it. Now on with today’s round. Continue reading →

Golf Season is Just Around the Corner

/ The Grateful Golfer / 5 Comments

As many of my fellow Canadians will attest, the 2016 golf season is just around the corner. The snow is gone, April showers have started, and a crazy cardinal is banging its head against my patio door (I am not kidding about the cardinal)! All of these, and many more, are signs that spring is near and golf season will soon be upon us!

After 4 months, I am ready to hit the links! This off-season seemed exceptionally long and for some reason, time seemed to pass slower than molasses moving downhill in January! As golf season is just weeks away, it is time to prepare. As a creature of habit, I will start my preseason tradition of mentally, physically, and emotionally preparing to golf.
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Recognizing a Problem or a Slump

/ The Grateful Golfer / 3 Comments

The big talk around the golfing world is the recent play of Jordan Spieth. Many seem panicked that The Masters is just 3 weeks away and the world’s number one player is struggling to make the cut. He has sparks of greatest, but his over all game is not meeting the expectations of himself or the media.

Jordan Spieth’s recent woes are an example for all golfers; professional or amateur. His challenge is not uncommon to most of us, but is he in a slump or is there a problem with his game. The real difficulty is not to fear the sudden changes in our game before we have a chance to figure out what is happening!
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Just One Shot!

/ The Grateful Golfer / 3 Comments
If you are going to play golf; play golf!

If you are going to play golf; play golf!

Just one great shot can change a round of golf.  The magical chip-in, 30 foot-putt, exceptional approach or a booming drive can turn a mediocre round into a fantastic round. On Sunday past, I was playing around of golf with the usual crowd.  As I hacked my way around the course, I felt as if this was the worst round of the year….and it had the makings to be!

After a smooth 47 front nine (47 front nine….I still have a hard time saying 47; anyway I digress) I decided to change the way I thought.  I focused on each shot and attempted to follow my new mantra of ‘less is more’.  Swing smooth and watch the ball go.  Well it worked quite well.  After three bogies, I walked up to the 15th tee and hit a flat shot.  Not to worry because it was a par 5.  My second shot was very good and I was 100 yards from the green.  This is one of my favorite distances so I was confident I could get it close. After a ‘less is more’ swing I watched the ball land softly on the green and roll in the cup for an eagle!  Yup, I could not believe it either.

The next three holes I was smooth and back in form.  I finished with 3 pars for a total score of 84.  Normally, I would not be very happy with an 84, but a 37 back was something I was quite happy with.  So, overall, I walked away happy.

The interesting aspect of that game was the last three holes.  After the excitement of an eagle, it was if I was back in the right frame of mind to play golf.  I was focused, read the greens well and displayed strong course management.  Thinking back on the round, I realized that during the first 14 holes I was thinking of everything but golf.

So my lesson of the week is live for the moment!  If I am going to play golf, play golf.  If I am going to concentrate on other things, go do the other things.  Golf is an amazing game, it continues to teach me important life lessons.  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!