The yips can happen at any time. It is dreaded by all golfers and like a winter cold, it can linger for weeks. Through my many years of playing, I have experienced my fair share of putting yips for no rhyme or reason. Needless to say, I hope that they do not come back this year. Continue reading
pre-shot routine
Rely on What You Know
I hit thousands of golf shots every year. I wish I could say that every one of these shots was perfectly executed. Unfortunately, as everyone reading can attest, a percentage….in my case a very small percentage 😉 of these shots left me in less than desirable locations.
As a result, I had to invent or envision a shot I never practiced. This attempt at making a shot for the first time was challenging and sometimes very nerve-wracking. But, it is part of the game and something every golfer should embrace. So how do we make these first-time shots? What is the thought process behind being successful? Continue reading
Which Golf Shot Is the Most Important?
Walking around the course is a wonderful experience. I enjoy listening to nature and absorbing all the beauty it offers. As I hit shot after shot, it appears to me that I am playing a great round! It is not my lowest round ever, but it is a solid outing.
After about 7 holes of happiness, I start to think. This is never a good thing sometimes, however that is what I did. I hit the ball off the tee down the middle and my approach shot was spot on. It seemed that no matter what shot I was making, it worked to perfection. Not every round is like this, but there are many that are. Suddenly, my thoughts turned to what should I do next! Continue reading
I am Back at Osprey Links Golf Course
Yesterday, I played Osprey Links Golf Course for the second time in 3 years! It was my home course for 4 years from 2009 – 2013 until I moved for work. Now that I am back in the area, it is an easy decision to return to my old stomping grounds.
Before you think that this was a no brainer, it is important to understand that I did not make the decision to become a member because it is comfortable or easy. I actually, gave it a great deal of thought and decided that Osprey Links was the course for me. However, that is a discussion for another day! Continue reading
Golf is All About Time
Time is precious for a golfer!
Time is a valuable commodity for a golfer. Whether we have time to practice, get in a quick 18 or 9, time to research or time just to enjoy our favorite Major on TV. Time, Time, Time – it is so precious!
Golfers talk about time in the form of pace of play, swing tempo, lining up shots, time on the green, or the time it takes a player to make a decision about their next shot! No matter, time plays an important part of every players game.
Even the great players have discussed time on the course, towards growing the game, giving back to their community, or just having the time to make the need changes to score well on Tour. Time effects all aspects of their lives. The great Ben Hogan summed up time the best when he quipped:
Worrying about time can have some detrimental effects to our game! It can cause us to speed up our swing, make poor decisions, disregard course management and just plain give up on a shot. Time has the power to destroy your round and conversely make your round the best ever!
Now, lets stop and think about this for a minute. Does time really have the power over us or doe we let power control our lives to some extent? I believe that we have to power to control time! Time can be an irrelevant factor with respect to our golf game; only if we allow ourselves to make it so!
It is difficult to put into words, but one of my views of golf is that time is not a factor in my game. My pace of play is always good, so the rest of the effects of time is controlled by one thing…..me. I like routine and consistency in my approach to golf; every shot takes a certain amount of time and I use it all, every time. It is important to develop the proper habits that work for you so time does not have a negative affect on your game. Over the coming months, I will use time as the basis for discussion. I hope you have the time to read them!
During the off-season, I make the time to learn, train, and imagine about my upcoming success in my 2016 golf season. I leverage time to do all the fun things in my life – golf is just one – and ensure my time is spent in the best way possible! As your off-season unfolds (and golf season for some) keep in mind that time is only as relevant as you make it!
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links.
The Grateful Golfer 