Why keep score in golf? This fundamental question is likely garnering many quizzical looks right now, but it is a legitimate question. Short of competition, does the score really matter or is it an arbitrary number that does not really mean that much? If we are only competing against ourselves during most rounds, than the score really should not matter that much. The joy of hitting the ball into the hole is the goal of each hole and if we succeed at this small task, then how many strokes it took really is irrelevant. Right? Yet, most golfers (including myself most rounds) feel it is important to equate our success to the score. This might be the wrong approach for beginners and I dare say some more experienced players!
Continue readingsuccessful golf
The Grateful Golfer Blog Exceeding All Expectations
When 2020 exploded onto the scene, I had high hopes for what this year was going to bring! Who would have thought that the whole world would be affected by a global pandemic. As spring slowly unfolded, my blog traffic continue as per normal. Nothing exciting, but consistent. I was happy with the results and forecasted that I would receive the same numbers as the previous year; approximately 85,000 views with 50,000 visitors. Then something happened, in May (the same month that my home course of Osprey Links opened), The Grateful Golfer received a massive uptake in numbers!
Continue readingChoices Choices Choices
Recent adventures on the links makes me wonder if I really have a handle on golf or have I been kidding myself for years. Course management is definitely a key aspect to success on the links. Knowing when to press or play defensively can determine whether you score a birdie or a bogey. But is course management really important to having fun and improving your game?
Smart Shot Out of the Sand
Well of course it is! Or at least I thought so!
It is the distinguishing factor between low and high handicap golfers. Determining how to play a hole, which club to use, whether to fire at the pin or to lag putt are all aspects of course management that are developed over time. Thus, experience and the willingness to improve your course management skills are extremely important aspects of successful golf.
So, why am I going on about course management and its importance. On the weekend I was playing with my friend and his brother. As per normal, we were talking golf and how best to improve our game; which shot would be best in certain situations; and which club to use at certain times. Through our discussion, we were basically talking about course management.
As we plodded along, the conversation turned to a earlier shot where my friend chose a 3 wood instead of an iron out of the long grass. Additionally, he went on to describe how the ball was in a bit of a hole, but he really wanted to get to the green that was 220 yards away. When challenged about his selection he responded, “I knew what the smart shot was but chose to not to do it!” I stopped dead in my tracks and looked at him and said what? He coolly said, “I know, but I just wanted to put the ball on the green and the knew I would not make it with an iron….it was not the smart shot, but oh well, I am still having fun.” I chuckled out loud and walked to my ball with a smile on my face.
So my friend chose not to make the right shot! Never a good idea to throw stones when you live in a glass house, I think we have all been in that situation. Taking the low percentage shot over the smart play….it still makes me laugh.
The “so what” to this story is that choosing to actively participate in course management is the first and most important step to course management. Although I never really thought that it was an option, apparently it is. Sometimes playing golf is about making the impossible shot and having fun doing it! I guess that day was not wasted because I learned something new!
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
The Grateful Golfer 