2015 Golf Season is in the Books

October 16, 2015October 16, 2015 / The Grateful Golfer / 4 Comments

Every year I try to finish my golf season with something special. This year, I was fortunate to be invited to play Trillium Wood Golf Club in Corbyville, Ontario. This course is a definite must play if you are in the area. It offers extremely reasonable rates – $30 to $55 for 18 holes – and a picturesque course that does not quit.

Mike Claire, the GM at my home course of Roundel Glen Golf Course, offered to treat Mike and Jean and myself to a round of golf at Trillium. Never ones to turn down a chance to golf an awesome course, we readily accepted. I have played Trillium Woods before and this golf trip was the perfect way to end a great golfing season.

Par 3 – Important to stay short and left of the pin. Trillium Wood Golf Course

Upon arrival, we were met by the Trillium Wood GM, Greg Seemungal, and immediately felt like royalty. I have dealt with Greg before during my club fitting earlier in the year and I can say that he makes my every experience at Trillium Wood a memorable one.

The day was sunny, but cool. The course was in fantastic shape for the first of August, let alone the middle of October. It was a perfect combination of short holes, medium challenges, and down right ‘hit the right shot or else’ holes! I would recommend Trillium Woods to anyone looking for a great round of golf.

Always grateful to play golf at an awesome course!

Playing at Trillium Woods Golf Course was actually the low point of the trip….if you can imagine! The real highlight of the round was the company. Mike C, Mike S, and Jean were an awesome group to golf with for my final round of the season. We played a 6-6-6 game and Mike C schooled us, but it was all in fun. Actually, Jean, Mike S and I decided to let him win because his ego could not handle losing to the old guys! We laughed, joked and poked fun at each other all day! It was a fantastic way to end my ear. Thanks Fellas!

If you want to see more pictures of the Trillium Golf Course – check them out at my FB Page!

Although my golf season is over, my gratitude for golf has not diminished. Bring on 2016!

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

Playing Golf With New Friends

September 26, 2015September 25, 2015 / The Grateful Golfer / 8 Comments

Norm and Dave from Mr. Print meeting for the first time in a charity event with The Grateful Golfer last year!

On Thursday I was fortunate to play golf with my new friends Dan and Michael. I caught them on the third tee and they offered me to go through or to join them. The course was pretty busy, so I quickly agree and a group of three grateful golfers formed. These two gentlemen, whom I had never met before, were doing a recce of the course because they are playing in a scramble on Friday. Both seemed very excited and had not played Roundel Glen in a very long time.

Was we played the front nine, we all became acquainted and it was quite nice to hear the stories of their friendship. Interesting, they were both veterans and we talked about our military tours overseas and some of the same operations in which we served. It was very interesting to hear how things were different and yet, still the same. Overall, it was a great round of golf and I was very glad that I joined them.

A couple of years ago, I talked about golf being a contact sport. I still believe that golf offers a great opportunity to meet new people and expand our understanding of world around us! I love reading stories about chance encounters (or planned) of golfers and how they golf was the mechanism that facilitated their new experience.

If you are looking for similar stories of encounters with new and old golfing friends, check out Wayne at Golfing at Kauai; you will understand what I mean!

Golf is a great contact sport! Meeting golfers and making new friends is only one of the many aspects of golf that keeps me coming back again and again! How about you? Do you like playing with strangers?

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

Golf Strategy: A Two Man Scramble

August 7, 2015August 7, 2015 / The Grateful Golfer / 5 Comments

Last year’s 2-Man Scramble on the first tee. Jean is happy to playing in the rain!

Tomorrow is the second time (last year was the first) my friend Jean and I will play in a two-man scramble. It is a low-key event with 20+ teams and handicaps will be applied. Our second place finish last year is something Jean and I will build on to see if we can win it all. The big prize in this event is the bragging rights as most of the players are regulars at my home course of Roundel Glen.

Similar to last year, the rules for this tournament are pretty simple. The handicap of the two players are added together, divided by two and multiplied by 25% (was .75% last year). The multiplying factor is a slight change from last year.

What this means is: my handicap is 3.8, Jean’s handicap is 10.8, combined 14.6, divided by 2 is 7.30, multiplied by 25% is 1.8; everything is rounded down to the nearest whole number. Therefore, our handicap for this tournament is 1. For those non golfers, this means we are awarded one stroke on the toughest hole on the course. So if we shoot a 4 on the toughest hole, we would record a 3 on our scorecard. All things being equal and everyone is honest, this method of using our handicap is golf’s way of leveling the playing field.

Our strategy was straight forward last year. This is how it unfolded:

Jean tees off first on all par 5s and short par 3s.
Jim tees off first on all par 4s and long par 3s.
Jean is first to hit our second shot inside 175 yards.
Jim is first to hit our second shot outside of 175 yards.
Jean chips first by all green.
Jean putts first on all greens.

This year, things will be a bit different. We will play to our strengths. Jean hits the ball farther off the tee than I do, however my short game is a bit stronger. So, I will hit first on all par 5s. Jean will hit first off the tee all other times except for two short par 4s that Jean can reach, so I will put us in play on those holes. Jean will hit first for all second shots, chips and putts. This strategy will be modified as the day goes on to ensure we make the most out of every opportunity to score low.

We are looking forward to improving our score from last year. With a change in the handicap system, the scores might be a bit higher this year, so our goal will be shot a 66 again and see what happens.

Regardless of the outcome, this event is a great time to hang out with my fellow grateful golfers doing what we like to do most – play golf.

Our strategy is set, what do you think? What would you do?

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

What to Focus on First at the Start of Golf Season

April 19, 2015April 16, 2015 / The Grateful Golfer / 6 Comments

Golf is officially here. The crew at Roundel Glen Golf Course spent many long days cleaning up the winter mess and their efforts are greatly appreciated by all the anxious golfers! With the hope of an awesome season ahead, it is time to focus on the fundamentals and execute my plan of being a scratch golfer.

This year, I am going about things a bit differently. I am not actually developing my plan until mid-May. I know many of you are shaking your heads thinking that I will be wasting a precious month, but rest assured there is a method to my madness.

My plan is to work on my fundamentals first, then see where I need to focus my practice time to generate the most ‘bang for my buck’. So after much introspection, this is my initial approach to the 2015 golf season:

Chipping. This year I believe that chipping will be the key to a lower handicap. My GIR stat is not bad (I hope to improve this), however on the days that I am not striking the ball well, chipping is what is going to keep my scores low. On the days that I am doing well, the odd missed green will not have as great an impact on my score. So, chipping is first.

Mid-Irons. Most experts would suggest that putting should be next. Personally, my GIR stat is more important. If I do not give myself the opportunity for birdie more times than not, then being a great putter does not really matter. The distance I will focus on is from 175 – 125 yards.

Putting. Once on the green, putting will help me close the deal. Being a strong putter is critical to low scores. My self-assessment is that I am a strong putter already and that focusing on chipping and mid-irons is a better use of my time so early in the season.

3-wood. I hit my 3-wood on most par 5s and several times off the tee. It is an important club for my game because it helps with my course management. In the past, it was my go-to club, but recently I have relied on it less. Regardless, my 3-wood will be next in line as I practice this spring.

Long-Irons. I do not hit many long irons. My course management is such that hitting long irons is generally avoided. I will hit a short iron and stay 75 yards back, then hit a long iron to 30 yards from the green. Not always mind you, but hitting into the an area of my game that I use 2 or 3 times a round does not make sense, but I do have to practice hitting long-irons just in case I need to during a round.

Driver. Many of you are gasping right about now! Not to worry. I have left my driver until last because I plan to be fitted for a new driver in early June. Mike at my home course is a Master Club Fitter and we are going work together more this year. My focus for the fitting will be the shaft, thus extensive practice with my old driver does not make any sense early in the season.

There you have it. My initial practice plan is in place. My area of focus and overall plan for 2015 will not be formed until around mid-May. This is a new approach for me, but I think focusing on the fundamentals in each area without the pressure of having to score well will be very beneficial. What do you think?

What is your initial plan to prepare for the 2015 golf season?

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

Dreaming of Hitting the Links

March 28, 2015 / The Grateful Golfer / 4 Comments

One day closer to teeing it up at my home course: Roundel Glen Golf Course. It was sunny all day and it sounds like the greens have weathered the winter well! All that is left warmer temperatures to melt the rest of the snow and dry up the minor ponds that seem to appear in the spring.

The Duck is ready for my upcoming match – loser keeps “The Duck”