What Christmas reminded me about golf.

Moaning about how swamped and sleepless I had been, getting ready for Christmas day, my niece told me something she had heard about procrastination. Funny how she seamlessly connected my exhaustion and this problem with poor planning.  She said that someone told her that the good thing about leaving your tasks until the last minute, was that they only take a minute. : ) Although my upper body was angled like the Tower of Pisa, against a very poofy couch pillow, a chuckle popped out of me, like a cork out of a bottle. I love when humor is used to lubricate the known malfunctions of ones lifestyle. 

Anyway, after all of the preparation and "minute to finish it" tasks, I was able to sit down...or recline slightly sideways, and take in the people with whom I would celebrate Christmas.  Sometimes, I don't appreciate how things are, because I am busy thinking about how they aren't like the perfect picture in my head. I miss loved ones that aren't with me, I long for favorite dishes that I used to eat as a kid, I lament not believing in Santa anymore, and I don't want to worry about gaining weight!

We do this with golf.  We picture playing golf with pleasant partners, (that we always beat), decent weather, well hit shots, putts that fall in with ease, a score about which we can be proud. We forget the simple blessing that we are able to play...that we can swing a club and walk down the fairway and interact with some friends or even strangers. We forget that our identity and worth is not in our golf scores...or swings...or nicely appointed golf attire. :)  We forget to appreciate what we have.

This Christmas, I was able to appreciate each of the people with whom I shared the day. I embraced the menu, (which I happened to prepare on Christmas morning), felt the magic, and ate freely. The next time I go out on the golf course, I hope to I take this experience with me.  Maybe you can too.

Enjoy your playing partners, anticipate new experiences, have unusual optimism, and don't worry about outcomes!  Here's to a year of appreciating what you have, while pursuing what you want.

Fore you,  Sue    
  

Lost in the Transition!

What kind of progress, or "di-gress" have you made this year?  Maybe you have "transitioned" into the B flight, from the A flight...or even from the championship flight (for those of you unfamiliar, when amateur tournaments are played, golfers are often grouped into categories of like abilities.  It's no fun to be excited about shooting 95, and be beaten by twenty shots by the guy or girl who shot a 75.  The championship flight is the group for the lowest scoring players, and then flights A,B,C, and sometimes even D follow.  These categories are used to allow the competition to be more fair and enjoyable. In theory, everyone has a chance to win a trophy).

Nobody likes to move down in "flights."  We all want to move toward the championship flight.  The golf season is now over in the midwest, and you have a chance to evaluate your year.  If it was lousy, you probably don't ever want to relive it, even in your memory.  But this is a necessary step for you to improve. Take a deep breath and really think about why your score increased.  Was it because of errant tee shots?  Terrible bunker and chip shots?  Is your putter slightly bent, from slamming it on the ground after all of those missed putts?  Where is your problem?  And what can you do about it?

It can be discouraging to look back on pain, but hope can be apprehended, when you use the pain to improve...whatever the circumstance. Determine from where your added shots came.  Then work on that part of your game in the off season.  I'm a fan of getting good direction.  Find a golf professional that you can trust and understand, and devote some time to changing what is driving you CRAZY!

Speaking of transitions....I was hoping to make it easier for you to interact with me, by transitioning to a wordpress blog. I don't think it matters and I ended up not writing any posts!  I don't want the blog to get LOST in this transition.  So let's just do it this way...if you want to respond to my blog, and are having difficulty here, email me a question or comment at sue@getacquaintedwithgolf.com.  I will respond here, to your Q & C there.  Okay?  No more "loss" in the transition.  Transition over.


Fore you,  Sue  

Transition Time!

Hi All!  I will also be posting on Word Press now.  Blogspot allows me more color...I'm hoping that Word Press will make it easier for readers to comment.  This is experimental.  Will probably post in both places for a while. 

Fore you, Sue

Countable Score

It's been a month now, since tryouts for the the high school golf team were held. My daughter made the team!  (Most made the team - though you did have to show that you could intermittantly get the ball off the ground and keep it on the golf course).

There's quite a jump between whacking balls on a driving range, and actually "playing" golf on a course. There is so much to learn about where to stand, when to hit, what to do when you find your ball in water hazards, bushes and in neighboring yards. There are a LOT of rules!

But when you first start to play, you need a LOT of grace. You can't know, let alone execute, all of the directions in the rules of golf. (Just between you and me, even golfers that have played the game for many many years aren't able to follow the rules as they are written).

So it will take a while for you to have a truly "countable score" in golf. When you first start, you should do what they do on the high school team with the newer players.  After 6 shots without being on the putting green, you pick your ball up and place it on the green and start putting!  If you have made 10 efforts to get the ball in any given hole, your 11th effort should be picking the ball up and putting it in your pocket. The number that is placed on the scorecard would be a "circle 10," as my daughter puts it.

But stick with it. It is so gratifying to have a "legitimate" score on a hole...and then a "legitimate," countable score for an entire round of golf...either 9 or 18 holes.

Golf is very hard, but like I said in one of my first posts, quoting Tom Hanks' character in the movie, "A League of Their Own," "It's the hard that makes it great!"

Keep swinging and enjoy each new experience with a "Countable Score." Even if it's just one hole.

Fore You,  Sue

BASICS 2 : Dogs, Ducks, and Divots

Time for another post written with the assumption that you know nothing about golf. I love these!  Last time, we looked at the general layout of a golf course and the main purpose of golf. In this post, we will look at a few golf terms.

Dogleg -  The term used for a golf hole that starts straight and then angles to the left or right up to the green.

Duck Hook - The term used for a golf shot, that gets in the air, but takes an immediate, violent turn to the left (if you're a right handed player - right if you're a left handed player). It's best to stay quiet, or look away after your playing partner hits this shot. Quacking would be especially bad.

Divot - The term used for the little chunk (sometimes large chunk) of turf that dislodges itself from the ground as a result of your club attempting to hit the ball. Accomplished players hit the ball first, and then the earth as they accelerate through their shots. Divots taken on poor shots are those that are a result of hitting the earth before the ball...like a drop-kicked football. :)  If your drop kicking playing partner is good natured, you might exclaim compassionately, "Oh, you hit the big ball first, eh?"

Fore you, Sue

Stuck In A Bunker!

You may have heard this alleged quote from Mark Twain: "GOLF IS A GOOD WALK SPOILED."  And what "spoils" the walk?  It is the difficulty in getting the ball to go where you want it to go...which is in the hole in as few shots as possible.

The first day of golf team tryouts for my daughter was yesterday. We managed to get a swing together in 2 weeks, and she did pretty well keeping the ball on the golf course and out of the yards that laced the perimeter. There was one little nuance that we hadn't addressed. The bunker - sand trap is what it used to be called. I'm not sure if the name was changed to make it feel less daunting to the player, or to spare the feelings of the poor little area of sand. :) With or without the name change, my daughter was trapped there for quite a few shots.

Have you ever felt like you keep trying and trying but can't get a different result?  I sure have. In golf and in life. When this happens, it's good to find someone to help you change your approach and enable you to accomplish the result that you desire. Last night, at dusk, my daughter and I stepped in a sand bunker at a local course, and she worked on a few key movements, that had her popping the ball out of the sand with apparent ease.

Hopefully, when she returns today, she will have a good report. If she doesn't come home, I'll assume that she's still STUCK IN A BUNKER! :)

Here are a few key thoughts if you find yourself stuck in a bunker :

1. Rotate the face of your sand wedge so that it points a little to the right of your target
2. Keep your hands angled a little forward
3. Focus your eyes on a spot 2 inches behind the ball and hit that spot as you swing through
4. Spank the sand and keep accelerating - the sand will lift the ball out of the bunker
5. A short prayer before you make your mighty swipe doesn't hurt either!

Fore you, Sue   

Two Weeks Til Tryouts

A few weeks ago, my daughter surprised me with the declaration that she wanted to try out for the golf team...in two weeks mind you, having hit about 12 balls in her life. This was a fun thought to me, as I have waited quietly for golf to be my kids' idea, should they want to play. So now with only two weeks to work with, how should I help her? What are the most important things to tell her? I have taught many people over 25 years, none of which have been my offspring...until now. I do remember her hitting a few balls when she was 5, at which time she said, "Mom, I'll listen to you when I'm 6." Little did I know that she wouldn't turn her ears on until age 15 and need help in a hurry!

This is how I have found this experience : I have all of the swing "ingredients" before me. I can add them to her "empty mixing bowl" and stir. Each ingredient has been tested in other kitchens, and proved reliable and consistent. With the right combination of ingredients, the desired outcome will be achieved. The ten year gap between age 5 and 15, has actually given her a unique lack of attachment to any particular movements. So now that she's ready to listen, her body is ready to cooperate, without any warring factions.

Most people that I teach, have had many different swing ingredients thrown in their golf "mixing bowls." My job is to remove the extra "flour," and add the forgotten "sugar." Sometimes I need to empty the bowl and start over. It's sobering for students to realize that if they want to truly improve, with lasting effects, it's not just a matter of throwing in an ingredient or two. In any case, the desired outcome can be achieved, with time and effort. I feel that anybody can hit a golf ball - well and with consistency - anybody who really wants to, that is. I also believe that anybody can have good fundamentals, if he or she is willing to commit to them.

So in a few days, my daughter will tee it up. Her fundamentals are new. And there is so much to learn about how one moves around the golf course. But I love that she is jumping in and giving it a try. Learning any skill with sound direction from the very beginning, makes a big difference. If you are new to the game, consider it a kind of advantage. You have a chance to build a strong foundation, starting with the first "brick." For those of you who have played the game for a while, and are not liking the "taste" of your outcomes, consider committing to some fundamental changes. You will be rewarded with sweet outcomes! 

Fore you, Sue  

 P.S. It is important that you understand and believe in the changes that you are making. Make your teacher earn your trust. Ask every question that comes to your mind. Express your challenges and frustrations. You are taking the journey with this "teammate," and you need to be open and honest during the process.

Hot Golf?

Today's heat reminds me of a most horrible experience, when a friend took me to a "hot yoga" class. I must tell you that this was my first yoga class of ANY kind. : / For some reason, some people like to do yoga in a sauna like condition. I guess it makes you sweat and keeps your muscles loose, but for me, it felt like a never ending hot flash, while trying to make my body do things that I couldn't even get my childhood rubbery gumby to do! Honestly, I sat there watching most of the time. I knew my limits! So one might ask oneself, "Why would anyone want to play "hot golf?" My answer as a 20 year golf professional = I have no idea! I understand that your muscles are loose, but what are the other reasons???? Maybe because you have the course to yourself???  Okay, since I want to be instructive, I will offer you some suggestions, should you choose to go or be dragged out to the golf course on a 100 degree day :

1. Take a cart - with a top if possible
2. Drink water consistently, starting the day before you play
3. Wear light colors (no navy blue or black, even though it makes you look skinnier)
4. Obviously have water to drink while you are playing
5. Bring a small cooler, with cold cloths in ice water, to put across the back of your neck
6. Pour cool water, or place a cold cloth on the underside of your wrists between shots
7. Wear sunglasses
8. Walk slowly - no running to your ball!
9. Look for shade to stand in, when you are waiting for your turn to play
10. If you are feeling faint, QUIT!

I know that some people love the heat. Does anybody REALLY love 100 humid degrees? If so, knock yourself out! Enjoy, but please be as precautionary about your body as you can. We are not typically acclimated for these temperatures!

Fore you, Sue

Are You A Slowpoke?

If you answer yes to any of the questions below, you may be a slowpoke!

 1. Do you get to the first tee without a ball, tees and a ball marker in your pocket?
 2. Do you stay on the putting green of the hole you just finished, to right down the score(s)?
 3. Do people repeatedly say, "You're away!" or "Your turn!" to you?
 4. Do any of your playing partners lie down and fall asleep waiting for you to hit the ball?
 5. Do you "waggle" several times before you hit your shot? (waggle: the way you move around to get settled before you hit the ball).
 6. Do you take your time and finish your stories even when it's your turn to hit?
 7. Do you wait for the grass to grow under your ball so that you'll have a "fluffier" lie?
 8. Do you stop at ponds to fish out balls that aren't yours?
 9. Do you park your cart in front of the green and leave it there while you putt?
10.Do you wait until it's your turn to hit, before thinking about which club you should hit?

Ponder these questions.  With most of these situations, a simple habit change will get you moving along at a more comfortable pace for you and your playing partners. 

Fore you, Sue

Fundamental Pedal

POSTURE = How you stand over the ball when you are ready to "take a swipe" at it. Most people tend to bend their knees too much and bow from the hips too little.  When this is done, the club ends up being a straight lined extention of the arms.  NOT GOOD.  So these are the key factors in having good  golf posture :

1. An outfit that makes you look 10 pounds lighter.  :)
2. Feet shoulder width apart
3. Slight knee bend
4. Upper body bowing from the hips
5. Arms hanging straight down, on a perpendicular plane to the earth (they are where they would be if only gravity affected how your arms hung)

REASONS that these are key factors :

1. Looking good and feeling sassy!
2. Feet too far apart won't let you turn well and feet too close together, won't give you room to move your weight well.
3.  Neither knees bent too much, (sit you back on your heels) nor knees locked straight, will allow good weight movement.
4. Hunching ones shoulders is bad for swinging the club back well. Keeping your upper body in a vertical line with your lower body, encourages you to miss the ball completely, which is not that fun...unless it's a hot day and you need to create a little wind chill. :)
5. Your arms need to hang down, because it makes them more like hands on a clock, swinging from 3 o'clock to 9 o'clock.  The ball sits at 6 o'clock, waiting to be hit.  If you swing them at any other "plane," it will be harder to hit that 6 o'clock ball!

These are common sense things that set you on the best course (pun intended), for a good swing.

Fore you,  Sue 

Are Both Feet On The Pedals?

Imagine a bicycle rider, riding with his right foot on the pedal and his left foot tucked under him on the seat. He's learned to ride this way, and can get himself from point A to point B. A well meaning friend told him that it would be easier if he only pedaled with one leg.  So he did it.  But before long, he notices people riding past him, more smoothly and at a faster pace.  He feels like he should be able to ride better too.  So he goes to an experienced rider and asks for help.  He is told that he needs to put both feet on the pedals to take advantage of the structure of the bike and the strength of his body.  So he untucks his left foot and places it on the unused pedal.  He pushes off with great anticipation and tips over immediately.  Because his body has been compensating for the fact that he has pedaled with only one leg, it is used to leaning way to one side to keep the bike upright.  This lean will not work with both feet on the pedals.  At this point, he can either go back to leaning and riding with one foot, which allows him to stay up on the bike, or he can fall a few times, allowing his body to readjust and balance with both feet on the pedals.

This is often how it is with golf.  A player either learns on his own or is given advice that limits his movements, even though it allows him a little initial success.  When he wants to get better, he is faced with a challenge.  He will have to endure "tipping over" for a time, until his error is corrected and his compensation movements fade away (error = sitting on one foot, compensation = leaning to one side).

There are fundamental "pedals" on which all golfers need to place their feet.  I will talk about some of these in the next post!

Fore you, Sue   

Do Your Best. Accept the Outcome.

I just worked really hard on a document.  I said exactly what I wanted to say.  The tone and feel was just right.  I was excited to send it.  But somehow, it disappeared from my screen.  I wrote with good effort, solid fundamentals, and hearty zeal.  But I didn't get the result I wanted or anticipated.  This happens in golf a LOT!  You work hard.  You pay attention to detail.  You execute the fundamentals the best you can. You care and put your full effort into it.  And the ball does not go where you want it to go. 

What do you do?

A. Break your club in half over your knee and walk off the golf course
B. Laugh because you think it's funny
C. Cry because you are so disappointed
D. Acknowledge your good effort and remain hopeful for the next shot

I have to admit that over the course of my life with golf, my reaction has often been a hybrid of A and C.  If B has occurred, it was with great sarcasm and if D resulted, it was because I had some idea of why the shot went bad. My challenge to you, is to be patient with yourself.  If you're a "hot head," throw your fit and get over it fast.  Try not to break clubs or offend your playing partners. If you tend to mock yourself and golf when things aren't going well, mutter a few good ones and move on.  If you're a weepy sort, get it out with a good cough - and make sure you have a little pack of kleenex in your bag.  All in all, I'd shoot for D.  Hang in there and keep working hard.  Enjoy your surroundings and the fact that you get to be out in the fresh air, and that most likely, you don't have to make a living playing golf.  :)

Fore you, Sue      





 

Playing in The Rain (with or without singing)

Here's what you need if you find yourself playing golf in the rain :

1. A hat, preferably a bucket hat that is rain resistant
2. An umbrella - it's a pain to carry, but will give you needed protection
3. A towel - hang this over a few of the spines under your umbrella
4. Capris or shorts - long pants will work like the "quicker picker upper" absorbing the water from the grass
5. The cover for your golf bag - should have an opening to sneak the clubs out from under it
6. To lose your glove, or keep it in a pocket and hang it under the umbrella with the towel when not in use.
7. To relish the mental challenge - concentrate on every shot, even though you are in taxing conditions
8. To enjoy the heightened hue of green that rain accentuates around the golf course.
9. To know you are going to get wet (and bring a change of clothes if you did this on purpose!) 
10. To enjoy your adventure!

Fore you, Sue

What Not To Wear

Today I will provide a simple list, from experience, of what NOT to wear when you play golf :

1. New shoes that give you blisters. (ouch!)
2. New underwear that gives you wedgies. (the only wedgie you want, is the one in your baggie :))
3. Shorts or skirts with no pockets. (can I borrow a tee?)
4. A visor that's too tight on your head (anybody have advil?)
5. A glove with a hole in it. (is that a gardening glove you're wearing?)
6. Your purse (hit the ball, pick up the purse, hit the ball, pick up the purse)
7. Jeans at a private club (excuse me ma'am, you'll have to leave)
8. Bifocals (which ball should I hit?)
9. Strong perfume (why are all of these bees following me?)
10. Knee socks (just because)

Note: I did not personally experience #6, but did play with someone who felt this was a vital accessory. 

These tips are Fore you, Sue :) 

BASICS 1 : Greens, Holes and Cups

In my BASICS posts, I will assume that golf has never been explained to you.  And just like the fundamentals of a golf swing are built layer by layer, brick by brick, so it will be with your understanding of the game of golf.  I will begin with the description of the basic physical structure of the grounds on which golf is played - a golf course.  A golf course is basically a field with varying lengths of grass, some kidney shaped areas of sand, often a few ponds or lakes and 9 or 18 little holes in the ground. The goal of the game is to hit a golf ball into each of these holes. The "field" can be flat, hilly, tree filled, or open. Each hole is found where the grass is cut the shortest, so much so, that a ball can roll on it like on a carpet.  This is called the GREEN.  Now most of the field is green, so I don't know why this area gets this special description! Each hole in the ground is a little over 4 inches in diameter and is at least 4 inches deep.  Now 4 feet in diameter would make the game a lot easier!  There is a little white plastic lining in the hole, called the "cup," and it is placed one inch below the surface of the ground. The cup is one of my favorite things because the ball makes a great sound when it drops in and rattles against the lining. In the bottom of the cup, there is a smaller hole in which a tall flagstick rests. The players are able to find the "holes," because the flagsticks are easy to see from a distance. Next time you drive past a golf course, see how many flagsticks you can see!

In our next BASICS post, we'll look at how you get from hole to hole on the course.

Fore you, Sue         

Bandaid or Surgery?

Which is quicker?  Placing a band-aid on a wound or having surgery?  Which one is more costly? How about putting up a tent versus building a house?  If you just had a heart attack, would you want a little strip of rubber with a square of gauze applied to your chest?  Or if a storm was coming, would you want to be hunkered down in a tent?  I love asking questions! How does this apply to golf? It applies because a reliable golf swing takes time to build. It costs you something, but it is SO worth it.  Golf is hard.  Remember? "The hard is what makes it great?," a la Tom Hanks in "A League of Their Own." Take time to build your swing well. Be patient with yourself and with the process. You are not building something that can "go up" in a day, and last a lifetime.  You are building for a lifetime of enjoyment and challenge playing this addictive game.  Find someone who will teach you patiently, clearly, and with genuine care.

Fore you, Sue   

Why Do People Play Golf?

This question has been asked by those who have graced driving ranges and fairways, as well as by those who have never touched a club.  For some, golf is best enjoyed as a sleep aid on Sunday afternoons, with whispering commentators, ushering them into peaceful slumber.  I can enjoy it in that form myself.  :) But one secret to golf's appeal, is the joy of hitting a shot well.  I liken it to moments in life when everything feels right. These are far and few between in life and sometimes even "farther and fewer" between in golf!  Strangely, this distance between favorable occurrences, makes each one that much more enjoyable. One of my favorite movie quotes is from "A League of Their Own." Actress Gina Davis is a star baseball player, who is choosing to retire early from the game.  Tom Hanks plays her coach, who is puzzled by her choice, knowing how much she loves to play. She tells him, "It just got too hard."  He responds through clenched teeth, "It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard, is what makes it great." Not everything that is hard, is great.  But this "hard" game, is worth a try. Many give up too soon, or think it too hard for them.  I believe that anyone can "get acquainted with golf," and learn to play the game. Hang around for a while.  I hope to encourage you to enter into your own unique relationship with this great game! 

Fore you, Sue        

What Do You Want To Know About Golf?

There is so much that I want to tell you about "GOLF."  Maybe you have observed golf, like seeing someone "across the room," and have wondered a thing or two.  Maybe you have been introduced, but have some mixed first impressions. Maybe it was "love at first swing," and you can't wait to get a club back in your hand. Please ask me your questions!  I would like you to help shape this verbal golf adventure, so that when you take your game "on the grassy road," you'll be increasingly equipped for what awaits you!

Fore you, Sue :)   

Let's Get Acquainted!

Good Morning!  Let me acquaint you with me, before I begin acquainting you with GOLF!  My name is Sue Anderson and I have been a golf professional for 27 years.  Wow!  I must be old.  :)  I played on the Futures Golf Tour in the mid 1980s and have taught golf professionally since 1988.  Since then, I have entered marriage, motherhood and menopause.  This is the killer 3M!  However, each "M" has had its affect on me, and hopefully, I have something to offer those who are interested in learning about, growing in, or improving their golf.  I have been a beginner (as an adult-started when I was 22 years old), a fearful club event player, a growing amateur player, a tour player, and a passionate teacher/coach of the game. I've been in the postition of most people who play golf.  I know what fear is, what pressure is, what joy is and what fun a well struck golf shot brings.  I have loved and hated this game.  But I will never leave it.  Come with me, and enter into this relationship with a game that will never cease to provide you with challenge and reward.