Day Two – ONTARIO REGIONAL GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

July 16, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / 8 Comments

Another exciting day on the links is over. Today was not as successful as yesterday, but I had a fantastic time. Gone are the days of commiserating about the would a, should a, could a, about a round of golf. My score was a smooth 84. You are probably asking how I shot an 84? Well I missed a 1 footer for an 83 on the 18th hole! The score is very interesting because my play was not as poor as it indicates. However, there were some marked differences between my first round and second round.

I thought it would be interesting to outline these differences and possibly suggest areas of improvement for tomorrow. So, here it goes:

Putting. During the first round I never missed a putt inside of 8 feet. I was on fire. During the second round I only made one putt inside of 4 feet. That four-foot difference was major today. If I was putting with the same accuracy today as the first day, I would have shot 78. The difference between the first round and second was confidence. Early in my second round I missed a couple putts that I felt I should have made. After that it was a grind.

Getting off the Tee. First round I was striping the ball down the fairway, always. Second round….nope. The problem was my head. No literally, my head – it was like a bobble-head and I could not keep it still! Tomorrow, I will fix that problem.

Approach shots. First round, I chipped everything close and without fear. Today, I second guessed every shot. I could not get comfortable! I knew my distances and today, suddenly, I decided not to believe that I hit the ball to the right distance. Lastly, I gave the wind too much respect!

Okay, I think you get the point. I did not play well and that is life on the golf course. My expectations were high and I was not able to meet them today. Does that mean I should start the dangerous spiral of forgetting how well I can play….the answer is NO!

To all the Grateful Golfers out there – the real lesson from today’s challenges – the mental approach to golf! The real problem today was my mental weakness. I let False Evidence Appearing Real or FEAR affect my game. I started to count the score and convince my brain that all was good. Instead, what I should have done is focus on each shot, pay attention to what the course was offering and trust in my swing! Tomorrow will be a different day and I will be mentally stronger and better prepared for an awesome time on the links!

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

Day One – Ontario Regional Golf Championship

July 15, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / Leave a comment

Garrison Golf and Curling Club

Well, today was awesome! The first round of the Military Ontario Regional Golf Championship is in the books. After a 2-hour rain delay, the sun shone bright and warmed up the players and the competition. With fears of 36 holes tomorrow due to the rain delay, all competitors were very happy to get the first 18 holes under their belts. The maintenance staff at the Garrison Golf and Curling Club are doing a fantastic job keeping the course open considering the conditions!

Currently, I am tied for 4th. After shooting a hard-fought 75. As a result of my score, I will be in the second group of men heading out at 0830 hours tomorrow morning. At this time, the leading scores are 71, 72, 73. There is another score at 75 and two guys at 76. This is the tightest regional competition I have been to in years. 8 Wing Trenton is second in the team competition, trailing by 2 strokes, behind to CFB Petawawa.

Torrential Rain at Garrison Golf and Curling Club

This yearly competition is three-tiered. During each leg, the competition is tougher and the players more experienced. A bonus of this competition is the chance to re-acquaint with old friends. I have competed against many of these players for years. It is always a great time as stories are swapped and tales are spun. Interestingly, the stories are getting more dramatic and the tales a bit longer each year. But, that is the fun of getting together with old friends.

Tomorrow will be a different game. Because of the crazy amount of rain today, the tournament officials modified the rules of play. We played Lift-Clean-Place through the green. This means that each player could mark their ball, clean it, and place it back in the same spot – but with a better lie. Also, the bunkers (or should I say swimming pools) were out of play because they were filled with water. Tomorrow, it will be play-the-ball where it lies. This will change the dynamics of the game and I expect some scores to be higher. Regardless, it is going to be fun and exciting all at the same time.

I want to thank the staff at the Garrison Golf and Curling Club and the PSP organizers for hosting this years competition. They are doing an outstanding job and their efforts are greatly appreciated!

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

Last Appearance of the Duck! Going Back the UK this weekend!

Canadian Military Golfing Competition

June 10, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / 13 Comments

As in previous years, tomorrow I am entering a stroke-play tournament to represent my military Wing at the Ontario Regional Golf Championship in July. This tournament is a three-day combined stroke event where the top five male and top two female players will move on to the next level. The Wing golf tournament will be played at the Roundel Glen Golf Course in Astra, Ontario.

This is my first attempt at my new Wing. The format is a bit different, but it works. After three days of competition, the top four male players are guaranteed a spot on the Wing team heading to the Ontario Golf Regionals. The fifth place player has to play one more time in an all or nothing 18 hole playoff with all the players who could not make the original tournament due to work commitments. The winner of this one day event is the fifth member of the Wing team. The results should be very interesting and I will keep you posted!

The Ontario Golf Regionals, played at the Garrison Golf and Curling Club in Kingston, Ontario, is a three-day stroke-play event with several competitions in one. First, there is the overall team competition. Each day, the lowest four scores of the seven players are used to determine the total score for the Wing on that day. (For those who think that the female scores do not count, think again; they are usually used a couple of times during the tournament) After three days of competition, your total team score will be use and lowest team score wins the event. That Wing is crown Ontario Regional Team Champions. They receive a pennant which is proudly displayed at their home Unit.

Another event inside of the team competition is the singles competition. The person with the lowest score after three days is crowned the Ontario Region individual champion (men and women). Additionally, the lowest five male and two female scores make up the Ontario Regional team that represents their region at the Canadian Forces National Golf Competition.

The National Competition, played at the same course as the Ontario Regional Competition, is the same format as the Regional Competition except the players are significantly better. It is an exciting time of military golfers and believe me, bragging rights are as important as the hardware.

I am excited to start the tournament tomorrow and my GAF (Golf Attitude Factor) is extremely high!

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