Setting Goals for 2014

April 25, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / 2 Comments

As in previous years, I set goals at the beginning of my golf season. I find that by setting goals, it keeps me focused throughout the entire season. Sometimes, I achieved all may goals and more, others….not so much! I am always excited about each new season because of the fantastic opportunities improves my game it offers.

Today, I hit the range and putting green. I had no expectations and no real plan. It felt fantastic to be be playing again. Normally, I have a plan on the range, but being the first time this year I just wanted to hit balls. I was quite surprise at how well I struck the ball, but I am sure it was beginners luck! A quick note to my buddy in the UK, I still want two strokes aside!

2014 golf season is upon us and it is time to make goals. Experience tells me that reaching for the stars is great for my ego, but not necessarily for my game. So as I progress, I need to build a plan and set goals to achieve my dream of being a scratch golfer. Setting goals in golf is important for players serious about lowering their score.

Previously, I came up with following to prepare me for the season:

get fit – focus on exercises designed to improve my golf game;
research – the drills and techniques required to improve my game;
practice – dedicate time to practice to improve my game; and
compete – either formally or informally compete every time I hit the links.

It is fair to say that I have successfully accomplished the first two goals. I have remained fit and completed my research on different drills to help improve my game. So now it is on to phase three – practice.

My practice focus will start from the green out. Putting is critical to lower scores. Grooving my putting stroke early will help save strokes in the long run. Next, will be chipping from the fringe and moving further from the green. I will be using the 3-6-9 drill to simulate playing on the course because it will help hone my short game.

I am not ready to compete. Having swung the club for the firs time today, competing would be stretching even my expectations.

Setting goals is a helpful way to improve anyone’s golf game. This year will be a special year because of my goal to be a scratch golfer. The plan is in place and my desire is strong…I am ready to succeed!

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

Breaking 100 with Consistency

March 16, 2014August 26, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / 8 Comments

“If there is one thing I have learned during my years as a professional, it is that the only thing constant about golf is its inconstancy.” – Jack Nicklaus

The Golden Bear describes many golf games. Watching the tour it is not difficult to see that consistency is the key to success. For example: Phil Mickelson is currently on the bad side of consistency; he has played in 6 events and only has 4 top 25 finishes, missed the cut once and withdrew once. Not one of Mickelson’s memorable starts! However, Harris English is 5th in the FEDEX points; he has played 11 events with 6 top tens and has made the cut in every event – extremely consistent. Looking around the professional and amateur ranks, it is not difficult to see that consistency is one of the major keys to success!

Consistency is defined as reliability or uniformity of successive results or events – pitched with remarkable consistency throughout the season. Basically, accurate repeating of the same stroke at the same distance with similar results. The stroke does not have to be pretty, but the results, when trying to break 100, have to consistent. This is really the key to great golf.

Regardless of a players handicap, consistency drives their score. A single digit handicap player will be extremely consistent in most areas of their game. The closer to the pin, the more consistent the player becomes. Their short game is really something to watch – it is almost magical. If you watch professional golf, their short game is sometimes breath-taking as they consistently make miracle shots when least expected.

To achieve consistency and break 100 there is a magic formula. It is the best kept secret and is repackaged everyday. It is free and anyone can follow the simple process. Here it is – PRACTICE YOUR SHORT GAME!

I know many will say that you cannot even hit the ball well – that might be true, but most beginners will waste 3-5 shots around the green on every hole. They will 3-4 putt, chip the ball 2 and three times or get in the sand and have a hard time getting out! We have all been there and experience shows that consistency around the green is the first step towards lowering your score and achieving milestones.

If you are still skeptical, ask any player who scores consistently low, 98% of them will point to how well they chipped and putted during their round! To confound Jack Nicklaus’ quote, take time to practice your short game it will be the first steps to breaking 100.

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

Slow But Steady

October 23, 2013 / The Grateful Golfer / 7 Comments

Golf is a Game of Patience!

Golf is a game of patience. Those willing to be the tortoise generally enjoy the game far greater than those trying to be the hare. It is sometimes difficult to describe the inner thought process when playing a shot, but watching the pros and elite golfers they all take their time. Sometimes watching them play equates to watching paint dry, but you will never see Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson rush through their pre-shot routine or their actual shot.

Golf is a game of patience. Many golfers have the best equipment, a gadget or two, and change putters routinely. They follow golfing innovations and always seem to have the newest driver in their bag. They are chasing the dream of shooting low, but never seem to play better than they did the year before. I have often heard “I am 20 yards farther with my new clubs!” or “this new putter makes the ball roll truer!” Unfortunately, they never seem to score better.

Golf is a game of patience. It is important to work on your game in little increments. Too many changes at one time has the tendency to cause more harm than good. Many players ask that if they practice, which part of the game will reap the most benefits. My response is usually, which club do they use the most when they play? As they think for a minute, the usually say their putter, followed by their short irons around the green. I respond “well that answers your question, your short game to reap the most benefit, most of the time.

Golf is a game of patience. It takes practice and more practice to become an elite golfer. It takes the willingness to put in the time to hone you golfing skills. This thought is not always popular because playing is way more fun than practicing. However, it improve your score and really enjoy the finer aspects of golf, practice is required.

Golf is a game of patience. I am a grateful golfer. See you on the links!

Breaking 100 Through Chipping

August 20, 2013August 22, 2013 / The Grateful Golfer / 4 Comments

Breaking 100 is the first major challenge for any golfer. As discussed in my previous article, building a consistent putting stroke using the 3-6-9 putting drill will greatly reduce strokes and help develop confidence on the green. For those whose who have a tendency to hit their approach shots just off the green, then chipping to break 100 is very important.

As a rule, keeping all drills as simple as possible is the key to success in golf. Building on the 3-6-9 concept, will help tie a previously learned skill in to your growing arsenal. To set up this drill, grab 12 tees and six balls from your bag. No, you do not require clubs yet! Set up the tees in the same pattern as the 3-6-9 putting drill. For those who have not read the previous post; at 3,6,9 and 12 o’clock, place a tee at 3-6-9 feet from the hole.

Next, grab the six balls and walk anywhere off the green. Ideally, you should start at least 15 paces from the hole. You still do not require any clubs. Now toss the ball towards the target hole. Pay attention to how far you tossed the ball in the air and how far the ball rolls after it hits the ground. Do this with all six balls. The intent is to toss the ball within the 3 foot circle…inside nine feet will be ok since you already have confidence putting from that range.

Retrieve your balls and return to the same spot where you tossed the 6 balls. Now, roll the balls along the green without tossing the ball in the air. Pay attention to how fast the ball is travelling to get within your 3 target.

Practice tossing and rolling the balls until you can consistently place the 6 balls within your 3-6-9 foot target. Now, grab your 8 iron and a wedge (which wedge is up to you depending on your stroke – this is the time to experiment with which club is good for you). Use the wedge to replicate the tossed ball and use the 8 iron to replicate the rolled ball.

Obviously, the goal is to chip the 6 balls in your 3-6-9 target. Now once you feel confident and have achieved success move to a different location. Eventually, you will not have to hand toss or roll the balls.

The most important and final step of this drill is to pace the distance from your chipping spot to the hole. This step will help develop your distance gauge around the green. Additionally, you will develop confidence with your chipping irons so you will automatically be able to assess your chipping and have confidence you will be able improve your up and down stats.

Using the 3-6-9 chipping and putting drill help,lower you scores and break 100. I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!

Happy Mother’s Day

May 12, 2013 / The Grateful Golfer / 5 Comments

Today is a special day! This is the day that everyone should be grateful to their mother for all the wonderful things they have done for us. My mother was awesome! She was an avid golfer and picked the game up at 44 years young. She cared, loved, guided and shaped me into the person I am today. She was always my guiding light. I am truly grateful for all the wonderful things she did for me through the years.

I remember when my Mom was 67 years old. We were talking on the phone and she asked how she could lower her score and increase her distance of the tee. Both are not necessarily connected, but in this case they were. I told her she should practice her short game and putting for 20 minutes every second day. Additionally, I suggested she to go the driving range for a small bucket on opposite days and practice a long controlled swing with her driver. Additionally, I mentioned that she should stretch to be more flexible. About 5-10 minutes a day. She decided to give it a try and to no big surprise it lowered her score. Distance off the tee did not change, but she was more consistent. She passed at age 75 and was still breaking 100!

Happy Mother’s Day to all those wonderful moms. Today is your special day; may it be filled of love, joy, and happiness!