Golf Dreams Still Happening, Continuing the Dream

I am back from a long break.  I know some of my readers have been looking forward to my tips and story of my dream.

I have had other things going on in my life and have had to stop blogging for a while.  For those of you that have been my avid readers I apologize for not giving you any thing new for a while, but hope you have enjoyed the re-reading of the blogs that I have already written



Through the course of the 2013 attempts of disappointment of my dream of qualifying in a PGA event I am not totally displeased with my year. 

I have had a marvelous time practicing, traveling and playing in events even though I didn't qualify for any of the tournaments.  My biggest disappointment was the qualifier that I broke my finger/hand while going into the last four holes with a chance only falling to unexpected disappointment leading to my withdrawing due to injury.

I am very hopeful that the 2014 year will be more eventful and injury free.

I have learned a lot through the course of the year on my game and philosophy of the mindset in course management and working with the pressure of disheartening rounds.

Through the next several blogs we will cover more on how to deal with adversity, course management, dealing with the pressure of performance and fighting through the bad shots.  We will also discuss what you can do through the winter months to keep your game sharp for the spring.

Before we start on that my next blog will be the final blog on my bunker series, Long Bunker Shots.

Until then, swing smooth and enjoy the game.

Would You Like to Stop the Blow-Up Holes on the Golf Course - Keeping your Score Lower

Would you Like to stop those blow up holes during a 18 hole round of golf?

How often do you think you hit your 3 wood for your second shot during the course of the round?  Most of the golfers would answer about 4.  That is normally done on the par 5's.

Why is it that you use the 3 wood on par fives for your second shot.  Is it because you want to go for the gusto and get on the green in 2 and try for that infamous eagle? 

The percentages of everyday golfers that probably use the 3 wood for second shots on part 5's is about 80%.  The Tour Players are not even close to that percentage. 

So if the Tour Players are not using the 3 wood for second shots why do you think you should be.  I know, you think because the Tour Players hit the ball farther on their drives they have shorter distances into the green.  Well, they are actually playing par 5's from a lot farther back than you - usually 575 yards or so - so things average out.

I think this is an important question to ask since we're always looking for ways to help you get rid of the blow-up hole.  I think and probably know that the one thing holding the average golfer from having a good round is the occasional blow-up hole.

So, how many of you start your rounds off hitting the ball well and you have a good score up to the 7th or 8th hole then you have that blow-up hole. How did that happen?  Your playing well and then you have the infamous 8 or 9 on the par 5 and you end up having the same score you normally post after 9 holes.  Then you do it again on the back nine.  You end up instead of having the good score of 85 you end up with the 95.  Or you are working on getting that 99 to break 100 and end up with a 108.

After the round you are all sitting in the club house having a drink and you talk about if only I didn't have those blow-up holes, I would of had a good round.

Let me ask you a few questions.  How many blow up holes were caused by you hitting a 5 iron or 7 iron.  How many blow-up holes have been caused by your 3 wood?  Has your 3 wood caused more or less Blow Up Holes than your 5 or 7 iron?

I am not saying it is always caused by the 3 wood.  There are some players that would say they had more caused by 5 iron than 3 wood.  That is possible, but I would like to be there and see it to believe it.

Now what causes most blow-up holes?  Is it a bad drive into the trees automatically causing you to get an 8 on a par 5?  No, not at all.

This last weekend, I was playing a round with one of my friends and he hit a nice fade off the tee box down the right side of the fairway only to get a big hop and ran him right into the trees.  He was about 260 yards from center of the green with no shot.  He punched out leaving him 240 yards from the green lying 2.

What would you do from here. 

I think that if you would've gone on to make an 8 or 9 on the hole the bad drive would've had very little to do with the reason you made that score.  I think that pulling out the 3 wood trying to get as close to the green as possible for your 3rd shot - topping the shot because you swung to hard leaving your self still 200 yard out, hitting your 4th shot with a 3 iron only to chunk it leaving your 5th shot 150 yards out hitting your 7 iron into the green side bunker would of been more of the cause for the Blow-Up hole than your drive did.

How many of you have been there and done that!

So what we are truly looking at when we talk about Blow-Up Holes is mismanagement of the course. And, a little bit of ego.

Let's look at this hole again.  Hit your drive into the woods on the right, punch out leaving you 240 yards to the hole for your third shot.  Hit a 5 iron about 180 yards leaving you 80 yard to the pin for your 4th shot.  Hitting your wedge on to the green within 20 feet and making the putt for a par. 

You know what, that makes it look simple.  Even if you didn't make the putt - the potential for a blow-up hole was taken away - you still wind up with a bogey which still won't hurt your score to much.

Blow-up holes don't happen because of bad tee shots.  They happen because you are not playing to your strengths.  They happen because you are playing to your weaknesses and not thinking of course management. 

Players play to their strengths so they don't have to play to their weaknesses.

When was the last time you were a Player.

Until next time, plan out your 18 hole game before you start, keep your cool, and play to your strengths.....

Tournament Practice - Taking a Break Playing a Golf Scramble Best Ball Tournament

I took a break yesterday from my regular practice to play in a scramble best ball tournament.

Every now and then you need to do something fun and enjoyable instead of steady focus on the work.

During the scramble I was paired up with a 3 gentlemen from a minor league baseball team franchise.  The neat thing is they were the General Manager, Director of Marketing and Directory of Graphics.   They played great golf and we enjoyed the communication of what goes on in their lives as professionals in the baseball field. 

During the tournament I still practiced though I didn't have to focus as much as I do when I practice and play in regular tournaments.

The warm up for the tournament I still used my same warm up drills as I would for a regular tournament.  Some things I don't change.

• Stretch
• 52 degree wedge half shots (warming up my body)
• 52 degree wedge
• full shots
• draw
• fade
• trajectory (different flight paths)
• 8 Iron
• full shots
• draw
• fade
• half swings
• 3/4 swings
• trajectory (different flight paths)
• 5 Iron
• full shots
• draw
• fade
• half swings
• 3/4 swings
• trajectory (different flight paths)
• hybrid
• full shots
• draw
• fade
• stingers
• 3 wood
• full shots
• draw
• fade
• stingers
• Driver
• draw
• fade
• 60 degree wedge
• full shot
• half shot
• flop shot
• low trajectory
• high trajectory
• fade
• draw
• Chipping around green
• pitch run
• chip
• flop
• Putting
• 25 foot range lag putting
• 6 foot range
• 3 foot range

This is my normal warm up for tournaments.  Some things I just don't like changing routine on.

One thing I have learned is that to have a good game and swing you have to learn to have the same routine for every practice and swing.  All swings should look and feel the same with no changes if possible.   

The more it becomes part of you the more it becomes intuitive.

Now for the Scramble Best Ball Tournament.  We had a wonderful time.  Everyone played fairly within their own strengths.  I enjoy these kind of tournaments for I can experiment  in different situations attempting shots that I have been practicing on and not worry if they go array.

As a group we ended up 7 under par and in third place.

Like I stated at the beginning, sometimes you just got to have fun and relax and take away from the focus and grind.

Until next time, take it easy and don't worry about the small stuff.......

Tournament Preparation and Vacation Wyndham Fairfield Glade, Tennesse - chip, putt, range

Today was another beautiful day at Wyndham Fairfield Glade Resort in Crossville, Tennessee.  My wife and I went out for a walk today and enjoyed the nature.  After the morning walk I went to the course for some practice.

With the courses still packed and looking at a good six hour round, I again opted for working on the range, chipping area, and practicing on putting.

The practice areas are in really good condition since they just held the Tennessee Senior Open here recently.

I worked on the pretty much the same drills I did yesterday at the chipping area and range.

I was happy with all my work out.  I claim it as a success.  My finger didn't feel sensitive at all.

The putting drills were also excellent.  There was no one on the practice putting area and the stimpmeter was probably at an 11 for speed.  I prefer fast greens to practice on since it will allow you to have a truer stroke and role.  By stating Truer stroke, you don't have to force your stroke to make the ball get to the hole. 

I worked on the following putting drills:

• 8 balls 6 feet from hole
• holed 75% putts
• 5, 10, 15 feet drill
• 20 minutes making 3 balls at each location in a row
• 3 foot drill 8 balls
• 50 balls in a row
• lag drill
• 30 foot putts
• goal finishing putts either in hole or near hole within 1 foot
• 75% of putts left inside 1 foot. 

I am very happy with my putting drills and what I accomplished.  I am feeling good about my practice and getting ready for the Qualifier that is coming up.

As you continue to read and follow my blogging I am providing a lot of knowledge in practice drills.  If you work on these drills I can guarantee that your game will improve and bring any level of golfer to a different level. 

Tomorrow I am heading back home so I won't have time to practice or write another blog.  My next blog should be in a couple of days so keep reading. 

My next blog I will write about the resort we stayed at and provide some pictures.

Until next time, If you are having any issues with your game and you need advise see your local PGA Professional.....

Following the Golf Dream - Another Day of Practice - 3 hole drill Course Management

Well it has been a couple of days since my last post.

Between the rain, power outage and practice it has been an interesting couple of days.

As I mentioned in my past post, I am recovering from a broken finger so I am easing into my game.

I spent a lot of time on the short game the last two days.   I have worked on the routine presented in the last post.  As I have stated before, the most important part of the game is 150 yards in.

Today, I decided to walk 3 holes after a little warm up on the range to see what else I need to practice on.  I also wanted to see how my finger would do in game conditions.

Even though I warmed up, I still was a little skittish on whether my finger would hurt or not.  I pushed my drives leaving me in deep rough on all three holes.  Being in the deep rough I would have a good test of how my finger would do.  It didn't feel bad, but could feel it.  I also learned that my distance was a little shortened because I was favoring my right hand.

With the first two holes being par 5's I left my self short of the green on my second shot.  The first hole from 10 yards just off the green and the second hole 75 yards short of the green.  Utilizing my chipping drills I have been practicing, I was able to get up and down giving myself 2 birdies.

On the third hole, a par 4, again pushing the drive right and hitting from the rough I left my second shot short of the green again.  I was able to chip to 5 feet and one put to get my par.

What the 3 hole practice and course management has told me, I am still mentally hesitant and concerned my finger will hurt or I will re-injure it again.  I also saw that the work on my short game has definitely paid off.   Because of the work I have done on my short game, I am not concerned over temporary loss of distance with my full shots and missing the green on my approach shots.

Well time to close and spend some time with my wife before we go to sleep.

Until next time, remember perfection is not achievable in golf, but progression is.......

Getting Ready for Tournament - Short Game

It was a beautifully hot day today for practice.

Today was a good day to work on my short game from 100 yards in.

The golf course I practice at just modified the range to be able to work on this part of your game easier.

They placed yardage markers at the hitting area giving you distance to each flag.  They adjust it daily as they move the tees.  The markers are set to color coded flags that they also just put in.

So today I was able to start my drills for the short game shots 100 yards in.

They have three flags situated at 100, 75 and 50 yards:

Below is my workout:

• Warm up
• stretch
• Hit half shots with 52 degree wedge
• Hit full shots
• 10 balls with my 60 degree
• 10 balls with my 52 degree
• 10 balls with my 9 Iron
• 10 balls with my 6 Iron
• 10 balls with my 3 Iron
• 10 balls with my Hybrid 3
• 10 balls with my 3 metal wood
• 10 balls with my driver

After my warm up and going through the full shot routine I am loose and have my swing feel.  At that time I start to work on my short game.

• 50 yard flag
• Work on shots with slight draw
• 60 degree
• 56 degree
• 52 degree
• pitching wedge
• Work on shots with slight fade
• 60 degree
• 56 degree
• 52 degree
• pitching wedge
• 75 yard flag
• Work on shots with slight draw
• 60 degree
• 56 degree
• 52 degree
• pitching wedge
• Work on shots with slight fade
• 60 degree
• 56 degree
• 52 degree
• pitching wedge
• 100 yard flag
• Work on shots with slight draw
• 56 degree
• 52 degree
• pitching wedge
• 9 iron
• Work on shots with slight fade
• 56 degree
• 52 degree
• pitching wedge
• 9 iron

By working on the 100 yard in shots with these variety of clubs helps me work my swing tempo for 1/4 swing to full swing.  This also, aids in learning distance control with a variety of clubs.

The main reason you want to learn to hit different shots to different distances with different clubs is that the rules only allow you to carry 14 clubs (one of which is a putter).  By practicing the shots above you have now increased your club count from 14 to 23 without adding any more clubs to your bag. 

You never know what the conditions of the course are or the weather.  Therefore by having the ability to use 14 clubs in your bag in a variety of ways increases your chances of scoring lower on the course.   It will also assist you in getting out of trouble when your ball goes off line.

The practice today went very well.  Along with completing the drills above, I also worked on my putting and chipping around the green.

Until next time, remember that the game of golf is 10 percent skill and 90 percent mental, so always be thinking of different ways to help your self out......

Following the Dream - Getting Ready for Tournament - Daily Practice

It is another day for practice to get my self in shape for the next tournament. 

Today my main practice was on putting.

Below is the routine I followed:

• Started with 3 foot drill
• Place 8 balls 3 feet from hole
• putt until miss
• keep putting until make 50 in row

• Then worked on 5, 10, 15 drill
• place tee markers 5, 10, and 15 feet from hole in straight line
• place another tee marker 2 feet from opposite line of the 5,10, 15
• place three balls at 5 foot tee marker
• stroke each ball either in the hole or stopping before the 2 foot tee marker behind the hole
• If you hit any putts short of the hole or past the tee marker start over.
• continue to 10 and 15 foot marker
• again, if you miss any you must start back at the 5 foot marker and begin again
• continue until you have completed 3 balls at each marker

The first drill I worked on helps with confidence and consistency.  You will be amazed how much your confidence will build by making 50 putts in a row.

The second 5,10,15 drill will help build your distance and speed control.

By continually practicing these drills you will be able to not only impress your playing partners on the weekend, but take their money.

Until next time, keep your tempo smooth and your eye on the ball.......

Childhood Golf Course in Backyard

Well, time to tell how I learned at an early age to have course management and use all clubs in the bag.

As a child of a golfer  and lover of the game  it was a passion to play golf at an early age.  My Dad was a really talented golfer and played with some of the greats, Chi Chi, Gary Player and others while he was in the Military.  This helped me develop my love of the game.  As a young child I caddied at the same private course he did.  Well enough of that information.

It all started with deciding to ruin my Dad's yard.  We lived in a subdivision and had a 1/4 acre of lawn around the house.  We loved the game a lot and caddied and watched Dad play as we caddied for him and wanted to play it more but couldn't get on the course as often as we wanted.  So we designed an 18 hold golf course around the house with dog legs, hazards and tin can cups.  We had 4 par fives, 4 par threes and the rest par 4's.  We had it scaled (didn't know that term at the young age) to fit our yard so we could use full set of clubs using a whiffle ball.   You had to use Driver, fairway woods, long irons, short irons and final a putter to putt into a tin cup.  I had two brothers and many neighborhood friends that liked playing we held mini tournaments.  While playing on the miniature course I developed a course management that aloud me to determine which clubs I should use on different shot makings to help get me around the doglegs (corners of the house) to have the best shots into the green (tin cup area).  We learned to play in windy, rainy, hot, and moderate conditions.  The whiffle ball gave a true flight of the ball as it was hit from the club just as if we were hitting real balls on real golf courses.  The management of this course that we manufactured allowed me to take the course management on this course and take it to the real courses.  This knowledge helped me understand the makeup of the bigger courses and allowed me to shoot better golf.

That was a lot of fun and I continually go back to those great memories.  My brothers and I still talk about it often.

Well, if I have no comments or interest in going through specific drills or help in swing techniques before my next blog I will start with some of the rules of golf.  If you have any particular rules you want clarified or interpreted just comment and I will provide replies to those comments..

Until next time, may your swing be smooth and true.......

Golf Etiquette, Taking Care of the Course

Continuing the Golf Etiquette we are going to talk about Taking Care of the Course.

• Observe the signs on the course and adhere to course rules.
• Observe cart rules, Some courses will post "cart path only" signs; others will ask you to observe the "90-degree rule." Do as you are told. 

• Keep carts away from greens and hazards.  the wheels on carts can damage these sensitive areas.

• Repair your divots in the fairway and tee boxes.  Some courses have sand and seed bottles on carts and on tee boxes.  Use to fill divots or replace your divot you have taken.

Repair your ball marks on the green.

• Always rake sand bunkers after hitting to erase your footprints and damage to the area where your ball was.  This will make it more enjoyable for the next person if they land in the bunker.

• Avoid taking a divot on a practice swing.

If you adhere to these suggestions on taking care of the golf course then you will help yourself and others enjoy the game of golf and help keep the courses in a playing condition. Also, this will help keep costs down and help the grounds keepers in their jobs.

Next blog we will continue and give tips on Golf Etiquette Hints.

Until then, please take care of the course and the course will allow you to have more fun.....