Baby, Its Cold Outside

     I have got a busy day today.  In fact, this is the only five minutes today I have been able to sit down and write so I thought that I would share with you a post from earlier this year.  Yesterday, I was able to play golf and so I have to take care of some home chores and errands assigned to me by the Chief of Home Affairs--my wife.  Once again it is going to be HOT out there with temperatures hovering around the 110 degree level and I know it is hot around the country and world. Just to get you away from thinking about the heat of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, here is a post that I wrote in January.  I hope you enjoy it and please stay cool if you can.

  I just checked the thermometer outside. The reading is thirty-two degrees and the normally brown dormant lawn outside is covered by a thin layer of white. No, its not snow. If it were I would have my camera in my hand and would be taking pictures.  It doesn't snow here.  However, we do get some heavy frost during the winter and it has returned for the winter. It looks like our tee time for today will be delayed, probably for a couple of hours. Its cold out there.
     I realize that to some of you in other parts of the US and the world thirty two in the winter is a summer vacation.  Here, it is cold. We still play golf, but play is delayed until the course warms up and the frost melts. When you are expecting to tee off at eight in the morning and expect to be home by one, that frost delay really cuts into your day. At least it isn't snowing.  I hate snow.
     Living in a warmer climate I do feel rather fortunate. During the winter months we do have to put up with some inconveniences, but in most cases we still are able to play. We bundle up when it is cold or we drive a couple of hours to a
part of the state where it is not nearly as cold. We go south to Southern California or go west to the ocean.  Isn't it amazing that the climate can change so dramatically in about 100 miles. Here it does. I do still brave the cold when I can't get away, and it is still a good day of golf albeit a cold one.
     So I'm off to the golf course for my tee time. It's a bit brisk outside but I am dressed for it. I have to put my shorts in the drawer and put on long pants, a long sleeved shirt and a  sweater, but I'm still going to play golf. I hate long pants, long sleeve shirts and sweaters but I guess that's the price you have to pay.  

We get fog in the winter too.  The cold goes right through you.  

The Power Of Golf: Written By Mark Croft

The Power of Golf
Written by Mark Croft
It is continually amazing to me how the game of golf is such a strong healer of the mind, body, spirit and soul of millions of people.

I have just returned home after three wonderful days of weather and golf in Sedona Arizona. I was officiating at the Antigua Junior Prep Tour State Championship which included some of finest junior golfers from around the state of Arizona. The event this year was hosted by the Oak Creek Golf Club in Sedona. Surrounded by spires of red rock formations, blue sky so pure you want to drink it, air so fresh you want to bottle it, gentle breezes that refresh your spirit and calm your soul and a golf course in immaculate condition ready for the state’s 120 best to begin their performance. (Put this course on your bucket list). The players range from 9 to 18 years of age, boys and girls and play in 4 age divisions. Over the three days I met some very fine young boys and girls, some wonderful parents and enjoyed watching a talent pool of very high quality youth golf.

On the first day of the event I was privileged enough to meet a fine young man by the name of Jarrett Fultz. Jarrett is a 15 year-old teenager with the same dreams and aspirations of any youth golfer you would meet today. He boasts a big broad smile and there is a gentle kindness about him that is warm and welcoming. He is in Sedona to chase his dream and to build on his life learning experiences as a junior golfer. His dreams and his goals are the same as all of his fellow competitors and he will play in the Championship Flight. Jarrett is just another of the fine junior players here at the state championship, except for one overwhelming difference, Jarrett has Cerebral Palsy.
CP is a cerebral disorder that effects muscle coordination and usually is associated with tremors, muscle dysfunction and lack of proper body motor skills. All the things you would think needed to play golf.

As I watched this young man meet his fellow competitors on the first tee, properly introduce himself and shake each hand, waiting for the starter to introduce him and then tee it up and rip it right down the middle of the fairway… I am left with the thought, how did he do that?

Jarrett began playing golf four years ago after he could no longer compete at baseball. For the first two years someone had to tee the ball up for him because his tremors were so bad he could not do it for himself. He taught himself through hours of practice and persistence to tee the ball on his own as he did on this beautiful Tuesday morning at the beginning of the tournament. Can you imagine? Two years to learn how to tee the golf ball on your own? His hands are challenged as well, but I am amazed at his proper grip placement and how he is even able to hold the club baffles me.
I watched Jarrett walk 18 holes carrying his own bag unassisted for two days as he competed against some the best juniors in his age division from around the state. I saw smiles, high fives and frustration, all the things you would expect to see in a 18 hole round of golf. He was just a normal teenager hanging out with other normal teenagers on a golf course.

Over the two day event the only assistance Jarrett needed was that another competitor in the group needed to keep his scoring responsibilities. His tremors are so challenging that he cannot write the score per hole in the space allowed on the scorecard. The biggest single challenge he faced was the three foot putt. The tremors worsen the more small exact motion is required
All in all it was a great event and winners were crowned in each division. In my heart I saw a player win the biggest prize of all…completion and a job well done, still wearing that big broad smile!
I named this article The Power of Golf for a reason. I have witnessed again as I have thousands of times, the power of golf to heal and grow the mind, the body, the soul and the spirit. This story embodies our message and our mission at Golf is for Everyone.

You may contact Mark at mark@markcroftgolf.com.  

Golf is truly for everyone.

Feelin' Hot, Hot Hot!

     So yes, it is hot outside.  In fact, it is very hot. Temperatures here in Merced are reaching in the neighborhood of 106 degrees and just sixty miles south of Merced it has been 109 in Fresno.  I just got off the phone with Mark Croft my co-founder and he was telling me it was 117 and humid in Yuma, Arizona where he lives. It is a great time to play golf, and I mean that.  That is not a sarcastic statement so why would you ever want to venture out in such heat.
      If you ever experience playing golf in this kind of heat, you must take certain precautions of course.  First of all, drink plenty of water. You have to hydrate, and that means staying away from that nice cold brew--uh, beer--when you are playing in such heat.  Alcohol is a diaretic and actually drains you of the water in your system.  It is very important to drink a lot of water or hydrating drink.  I have suffered from heat related symptoms and it isn't pleasant.
     Find shade wherever you can and keep cool.  That may be more difficult to do than it sounds, especially if you are on a desert course with few trees.  What I do is to bring a couple of towels and wet them in cold water or any water that is available. I wipe myself down with the wet towel and the heat doesn't seem as extreme.  I have also brought along a spray bottle and kept spraying myself down.  Believe me, both the towels and the spray bottle that cool you off.  I can't tell you just how refreshing that cold towel can be when you wpe yourself down and wrap it around your neck between shots. Oh, and take a cart when you can.  Some say this is not golf, but it helps you to stay alive on a hot day.
     Why would you ever want to play in 108 degree heat?  Personally, I don't mind it but there are those--especially my wife--who question my sanity on this subject.  There are advantages though.  First off, who is crazy enough to play golf in this kind of heat.  I am I guess but let's make lemonade out of lemons.  The golf course is almost empty.  In most cases the round goes very quickly and there is not much waiting around for the group in front of you.  Round times of less than four hours are not uncommon. In most cases, its hit your shot and then go.  There is no waiting around for the hole to clear.
      Another advantage is that the ball goes farther in the hotter and less dense air.  I am a short hitter so the added distance is very much welcomed.  In most cases it can be up to one iron longer and the drive flies about twenty yards further. The object of the game is to get the ball into the hole in as few strokes as possible and as far as score is concerned playing in the heat doesn't effect my score that much, but it sure does stroke my male ego.
     I like playing in the heat. I prefer playing early in the morning when it is hot but I will play in the afternoons when it is hot. I just make sure I take certain precautions to keep cool. That air conditioning of the clubhouse and the nineteenth hole sure feel great after the round is over.  I love playing golf and will make the sacrifice of being hot.  

It was HOT that day.  Teed off at 2:00 with the temperature of 108 degrees.  I kept my cool though.

PS: I think I will take a trip to Monterey or somewhere on the coast to play where it is cooler. I'm HOT!  

What Makes A Great Golf Course? (My Opinion)

     What makes a great golf course? In my travels and career of playing golf, there have been many different courses that have been put on my "favorites" list. I am not talking about just the design of the course, but the operation and total experience of the course for the golfer. Here are some of my thoughts on the subject and if you have some other ideas or comments, please feel free to share them.

1.  Condition of the course is very important. The course can be in the best location--more about that later--and yet be a goat track. Believe me, I have run across many courses that seemed to be a beautiful course fit for my "Best Of" list and I wind up playing them only to discover that the place is totally trashed.  I get very upset about this one and will not name names.

2.  Customer service has to be the highest value to the management. I mentioned this in my Paso Robles post.  The course was in the tank and nobody wanted to play the course before the new management took over. The ideas was to make some key renovations to he course and totally stress customer service. Play is way up. People want to feel welcomed and appreciated.  If they don't get that sense of welcome, they will spend their money on some other course where they will feel welcomed.

3.  This one I say a bit tongue in cheek, but they are important. The course must have a great hamburger and a good price on a hot dog.  The beverages must be cold. Being a bit more serious on this, the course must have a good food and beverage facility. Good food and beverages need to be offered in the restaurant/coffee shop with a good variety of selections. They don't necessarily have to be gourmet, but there should be a good selection.  The beverage cart is also important. It should be well stocked and come around often with somebody who knows what they are doing including golf wise is working it.

4.  Most expensive is not always the best.  I have gone to a couple of courses and played because of the reputation of the course as far as beauty and location with the outing ending up being a total disappointment. In other words, I paid for a reputation and the place did not deliver. The course was overpriced and the staff was very rude and it was as if I was doing them a favor by playing the course.

5.  The location and setting of the course should be considered as to its greatness as well.  Where is the course located and what is the scenery around it. This is important and I prefer to play courses that are on or near the Pacific Ocean, but that is not a primary criteria for a course being great.  I think factor number six is much more important.

6.  The course needs to be fair and playable for the average golfer, with no gimicks thrown at the player.  I operate with my three ball principle.  If I lose three ball at a course, the course is not a great course.  There should be no forced carries over canyons or water that the average golfer can't get over safely. Landing areas should be reachable and not favor the longer hitter. The course should be enjoyable, not a short visit into the bowels of purgetory.  It doesn't have to be tough, just fair and a challenge.  It can be flat as well.

     I may think of a couple more things that contribute to a course being great, but I think this is enoug for today's post.  If you have a criteria that you like to use, please share it I would like to hear from you. There are a lot of great courses out there and I would like to get out there and play as many as I can.  I'll get back to you on my progress.    

Pacific Grove Golf Course is a prime good of a great course. It is always in great shape for the amount of play it gets and is a challenge with a fantastic location. Located in the Monterey Bay area it is far less expensive to play than Pebble Beach but is located across the street from the ocean.

Golf On A Budget: Justin Blair

     I am proud to introduce to you a new guest writer, Justin Blair.  He is the promoter of GLG or Green Lantern Golf which promotes the game and shares
ways to make golf more affordable.  Thank you for the post Justin, and we all look forward to more of your ideas.

Golfing On A Budget

I've been fortunate to be asked to write a guest post for Golf Is For Everyone. It's

fitting, I think, because I truly believe that golf really is for everyone. If you're golfing

on a budget, there are options available to allow you to enjoy this game.

The thing I do on Green Lantern Golf is to educate golfers in how to buy their clubs.

What I mean is, we're shown advertisement after advertisement for all this new gear that

will help you hit more greens, hit more fairways, and, especially, hit the ball farther. The

last part is the big seller. But does it matter? That's what I aim to help people with.

I've even been told by a major magazine equipment editor that if you're not buying the

newest gear at least every other year, you're “not really golfing”.

Excuse me?

Sorry, but I don't buy it. Golf has a specific definition in any dictionary. I've yet to

find one that says anything about ensuring you're buying the latest and (supposedly)

greatest to play the game as it's defined. Which brings me to the first point:

The Severely Limited Budget

This may scream “BUT YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO GOLF!!!”, but don't let it fool you.

You can find clubs anywhere:

• a “play it again” sports store

• a Goodwill or Salvation Army store

Deals on Ebay are another resource. No, you don't need the “latest and greatest” to hit

the ball well. You don't need the “latest and greatest” to get a good workout while

I have a friend that found a set of irons for $40 (3-PW) at a garage sale. They looked to

be from the late '70's to early '80's; they're not even a brand name I recognize! He didn't

care, though. Still uses them, in fact.

You might be wondering: but what am I leaving on the table by using an older driver?

Good question! Take a look at this:

This is a screen shot of the Trajectoware program, developed by Dave Tutelman. It's

what I use to give golfers an idea of how they'll do with a driver and/or swing at certain

parameters. We can also use it to model hypothetical situations!

In this graph, the golfer has a 90mph swing, which is slightly above average. The

golfer's using a 10.5* driver, which they swing level to the ground at impact (the 0*

angle of attack). Everything about the golf club is the same (shaft, grip, length, etc.)

except for one thing: the COR.

COR, or, Coefficient of Restitution, is the “springlike effect” of a club's face when it's

smashed into the ball. The USGA set the max at 0.83 back in 1998, and every OEM has

been making them to that (give or take, considering manufacturing tolerances) ever

In this example, however, it's 0.79. You can see it in the lower left-hand corner. This

COR is roughly that of persimmon or steel-faced models.

This golfer is going to get a max carry distance of 183.2 yards with this particular club.

Not great, but not bad, either- especially if they're playing the correct tees. Let's see

what happens if we bump the COR up to the legal limit:

The golfer's now maxing their carry out at 190.5 yards. That's 7.3 yards difference.

Are you leaving something on the table? Technically, yes... but it's not even a full

club's difference. Definitely nothing to worry yourself over!

Some fitters want to “optimize” their customers. That is, they want to find the exact

perfect launch angle and backspin rate to maximize their customer's carry distance. At

this point, save your money.

Remember, we're human beings- not robots. We don't swing the exact same way every

single time. If you're golfing on a budget, what's spending 3 hours on a “launch

monster” (as former USGA Tech Director Frank Thomas calls them) at $100-$150 an

Forget all that. Buy what you can afford, and go out and enjoy yourself!



     Thanks Justin for your thoughts and views.  We look forward to reading more from you.

Wow, I hit that new driver a long way.  I love how it feels and it didn't cost me an arm and a leg.

Golf and Baseball

     This is going to be a shot post today, I think or maybe not. To some of you outside the United States who don't enjoy the game of baseball, it may not even interest you. I totally understand that but I hope you will read this anyway.  I want to talk briefly about the golf swing as compared to the baseball swing.  I hope that this post will also bring about a discussion on the subject as well because I am not a professional and these are my opinions based on observations not hard science or kinetics.
     I was watching a baseball game on TV yesterday thinking about my golf blog and the game of golf, bringing me to think about the two game's similarities and differences. Baseball and golf are very similar in a lot of ways. Both require swinging a stick and hitting a ball.  Both the the ball and the sticks are of different sizes and the player in golf hits a stationary ball verses a moving ball with baseball.  The baseball of course is bigger than the golf ball. However, the basic premise on which the games are played are very much different in that in baseball you are trying to hit the ball as far as you can so as a person in the "field" misses the ball for a "hit".  In golf, you hit the ball with the  outcome being that you put that ball into a hole. Both are very simple descriptions of each game, but for my purpose here they will due. I am not going to explain a balk in baseball or a stymie in golf.
      I am fascinated by the baseball swing and the golf swing.  Taken on face value, they are very much the same. However they are very different in a lot of ways. One of the first things that I noticed as a difference is that with a pitched ball the angle of the bat swing in baseball has to change depending on the placement of the moving ball as it crosses home plate. A pitcher can vary the location of the pitches to a batter, so the ball in very rarely in the same place as it crosses the plate. The hitter has to make the adjustment of where he is going to swing at the ball. The swing plane changes depending on the location of the pitch.
     As we all know, golf is played with a ball that is smaller, but that ball is stationary. It doesn't move. To start a hole, you of course place the ball on a tee and the ball never moves until it is hit by the club. After that, the only variable from tee to green in the club that the ball is hit with depending on the distance to the hole and the kind of shot that is to be played.  The swing plane stays consistent.
     Let's talk a bit about the actual mechanics of the swing. Both swings show the player moving toward the target. The shoulders in golf stay on a level plane with a strong shoulder turn staying on that level plane. I understand this because the ball is not moving. Weight is moving toward the target as well in both swings but ultimately end up in different places.  In golf, the weight shifts forward to the front foot.  Baseball seems to be different in that the weight seems to wind up o+n the back foot.  This would be a reverse shift in golf.
     There are a couple of other things that caught my attention as well.  First of all, in baseball i have observed the hands are more active depending on pitch location. Hitting requires in a lot of instances a flipping motion with the hands depending on pitch location and type of pitch.  In golf, since you are hitting a ball that is not moving, hand action is pretty much the same and consistent only varying slightly by the type of shot you want to hit--draw or fade.
     Let's look at the action of the feet.  In baseball the batter's fee sometimes move and in a lot of cases come off the grown with a stride into the pitch. The weight exchange is in the whole lower body including the movement of the feet striding into the pitch.  The golfer's feet on the other had do move, but not that much.  The weight exchange is more in the thighs and hips, not striding into the ball. The feet are pretty much stationary except in some cases the raising of the heel.
     Let me make this clear.  These are only my observations.  I am a true lover of both sports. I didn't play much baseball when I was younger, being that chubby kid that was ether stuck playing catcher or right field--I did both by the way and hit pretty well. Golf was my sport and I have played a lot of it over the years. If you have an observation or a different opinion of what I have said, please respond as I would love to hear what you have to say.  How about other sports--Cricket anyone?

OK, so this post may have been a turkey, but at least I tried.  I love baseball and golf.

    

What's Old Has Become New Again: Paso Robles Golf Club Follow Up

     Yesterday's post was about the rebirth of a fin old golf course in Paso Robles, California. As I finished the piece, I was wondering how that rebirth was progressing and if the course was still moving forward.  I also wanted to dive a little deeper into what the course management was doing to successfully turn the poor reputation of the past into the memorable experience that you want to tell your friends about of today and in the future. It takes hard work to change people's minds about a golf facility, and the management team at Paso Robles Golf Course has done just that and have not let up.
     I was curious as to how things were going so I called and talked to Mike Bremmer who is the overall manager of the facility.  Mike showed us around the facility and joined us for a round of golf when we first wrote about the course. He is a prime example of what course management was trying to accomplish and that was to prided a very special experience to the golfer--and non-gofler--that comes to Paso Robles Golf Course.  The course is doing quite well by the way, with both play and revenue way up since the management team took the course over.
    What did the new owner and management team do to resurrect the course?  The course is located in what is a residential development and even the homeowners had given up the course for dead.  The first thing was that a whole new attitude had to be fostered toward the course.  The course was no longer a course just for members, but it was a course for the community and City of Paso Robles. The course was now public, and the community needed to be welcomed and know that it was open for play. Management wanted the course to be a central part of the Paso Robles Community, not just a private golf course.
     There were changes that had to be made physically, which required a huge financial investment. Those changes had to be made and the new management was willing to make the investment and changes. The course was remodeled and upgraded.  A new clubhouse was built which included a large, well stocked pro shop.  A restaurant and bar was added which served an extensive menu so that the facility could be used by golfers and non-golfers alike. Paso Robles is in the heart of the wine producing region of Central California and the decision was made to center the restaurant with the wine. The restaurant opens out onto a huge veranda which overlooks the golf course.  It is a scenic place to enjoy a drink or meal after a round or just to have dinner. The renovation to the course and the addition of the new clubhouse and restaurant were the outward beginnings to the success of the course.
     There was more to it that the cosmetic changes of the course renovation and the new clubhouse.  Mike credits the turnaround to a dedication towards a total change of attitude. The old course set the whole facility up for failure from the beginning. There was a complete negative vibe running though the whole business.  That changed with the new owners. The attitude changed from a "We're finished and we can't turn this place around" to "This is a great place, and we can do this" point of view. There was no excuse for failure.
     As I talked to Mike over the phone, he credited one very important focus that turned things around.  The operation is totally focused on customer service. The goal is that every customer feels appreciated and welcomed. It is very important that each customer feels like after they have come away from the facility they have had a great time.  This attitude is made to be the cornerstone of all departments, from the pro shop staff to food and beverage and all the way down to maintenance. To them, the customer is what is most important.
    Paso Robles Golf Course also offers some interesting programs as well. Sunday and Wednesday sees the course holding clinics and events for ladies. They are very much in tune to how important it is to fill the golf needs of women golfers.  Every Wednesday, live music is played on the huge veranda overlooking the course providing a wonderful setting for an evening out.
     Well done, Paso Robles Golf Course. You are what we need in golf, a positive attitude and the resurrection of a fine old course.  All it takes is some effort and hard work, but it can be done. The key is to get people coming out to the course, whether to play golf or to have a meal and to feel welcomed. Maybe other facilities should take a hard look at your success.

The scenic view from the Veranda.  Hurry, your table is waiting.  Enjoy your dining experience.  The food and wine are exceptional.

     

What's Old Has Become New Again: Paso Robles Golf Club

  How many times have I traveled from Fresno in California's Central Valley to the Central Pacific Coast of California and passed through Paso Robles.  The answer to that question almost scares me and I really don't think I can count that high. Each time I make the turn from California Highway 46 onto U.S. Highway 101, I think about Paso Robles Golf Club, and that I should play it some day when I come to the coast but I am always on my way somewhere to do something else. It is one of those courses that you put on your "I Gotta Play This Course" list, but never seem to stop to play. A couple of weeks ago, I got to cross it off that list and played it wondering why I had waited so long.
     The course was designed by noted golf architect Bert Stamps and opened as a private country club, Paso Robles Country Club. In 1996, the course changed hands with the new owners not exactly taking the best care of the facility. This kind of acted as a double whammy as far as the number of rounds played at the course. Even though the course was opened to public play in 1996, it was still thought to be private and so the public never quite showed up as the old owners who took it public didn't get the word out. Most people thought you just couldn't get on the course because it was still private. Those who did play the course saw that the condition of the course just wasn't up to snuff.  With the misconception that the course was still private and the fact that the new owners were not taking care of what could be a wonderful place to play golf, play all but dried up. I have to say that I was one of these people that really didn't have a burning desire to play Paso Robles.
     Enter Mike Rawitser who also operates Santa Teresa and San Jose Municipal, both located in San Jose, California.  He saw that this course and facility was truly a "diamond in the rough" and he purchased the course in 2011. Many would shy away from investing in a golf course given the condition of the golf industry, but Mike saw what the course could be and had the courage to invest in reviving this wonderful "workingman's" course.  He saw the course not for what it was at the time, but what it could be.
     Changes were made almost immediately, bringing in a dynamic leadership team to run the course. The clubhouse was remodeled  in 2012 to improve the restaurant and bar.  The pro shop was brought from a dilapidated mobile home set on pillars above the first tee into a corner of the remodeled clubhouse. The old pro shop was torn down giving a better view of the course from the new pro shop and a wider selection of merchandise was made available. Another new building was built that would serve as a cart barn, club fitting facility and learning center. A lot of money was spent on improving fairways and greens, as well as relocating the number fourteen green. All of this done to bring an exceptional level of quality play to the golfing public. I have to say that it is working.
     Paso Robles Golf Course is an "old style" golf course. Bert Stamps who was the architect took basically a flat piece of land and built the golf course using the terrain that he had to work with. The land had one big asset going for it though, and that was the number of huge oak trees that were on the property. He built the course around those huge trees and used them in a very strategic manner. Fairways are not lined by trees, but the big oaks come into play as do several lakes. The greens are small, well bunkered and putt true. I would describe the course as being "sneaky tough". First glaces and opinions can be deceiving as the course is a good test of your golf skills and is a lot of fun to play.
    Two holes stood out in my mind. The fourth is an uphill par three at 150 yards from the white tees. The hole is built in an area off by itself and has a creek running through it at the bottom of the gully. The green is protected by a bunker in the left front and an oak.  You want to stay right on this hole, but not too far right otherwise you will have more huge oaks to bother you that are to the right, especially that big one just off the green. This is a great par three and is very pleasing to the eye as well.
     The fifth hole is a short par four of 317 yards off the white tees. The fairway doglegs to the right and is tucked away into a bit of a forest on the right side. You want to put your tee shot out to the left, because if you are on the right side you put the forest that is on the right in play and you have a couple of oaks to contend with to get to the green.  I know, I was there and it wasn't any fun. Even though I didn't play it well it was a fun hole and a pretty one at that.  Although these were the two most noteworthy holes, each hole had its own character and beauty.
     I felt right at home at Paso Robles Golf Club from the minute I drove up to the course.  The staff was very friendly and helpful. Should you be in the Paso Robles area and looking for a game of golf on a great course, stop by and play the course. It is time that you took Paso Robles Golf Club off your "I Gotta Play That Course Someday" list.  Like me, you will be glad that you took the time to play it.

The par three fourth hole. 

 
 




 
 

Dawn Patrol

      I am a morning person. I am proud of that.  As a golfer, the best time of the day to tee off is the early morning and there is something special about teeing off first on the course that day.  We are called "The Dawn Patrol".
     There is something about playing early in the morning.  The sunrise over the Sierras can be breathtaking, even though it makes following your tee shot to see where it lands almost impossible because of the glare of the rising sun.  Much of the wildlife is active this time of the day, and it is not unusual to see deer.  A couple of days ago we saw a mountain lion strutting merrily down the fairway.  In the ponds the fish are jumping to catch the insects that light on the surface of the lakes-oh sorry, that was the golf ball of the group behind us.
     Those of you who play know that the later the day gets the more players have played the course.  This means wear and tear on the golf course.  When you go out first, the course is in the best shape of the day because maintenance has worked on the course to set it up for the day.  By the end of the day, greens can become like the surface of the moon with the ball marks that players have not fixed.  The greens in the later part of the day tend to become bumpy because of the players walking on them. In most cases, greens have been rolled and just mowed first thing in the morning before you tee.  As a "Dawn Patroller"  the greens play truer and run faster and straighter.
     I like the fact that I can play early and be home for lunch and my afternoon nap.  As you get older, that nap in the afternoon gets to be important.  At any rate, you have finished your round early and have the rest of the day to do what you want, whatever it is.
     I am not playing today, but I am looking forward to once again teeing off tomorrow first thing in the morning.  I am proud to be a "Dawn Patroller".

The best time of day to play.

I Never Thought Of It That Way

     I don't know if you have noticed this or not.  They are very different. I am talking about men and women.  Women just think differently than we men do.  Come on ladies, you can admit it. The way you process the world around you is completely different than those of us males of the species. I'm also not saying that is a bad thing and I'm glad God made us different.
     I have many interesting perspectives as far as the game of golf is concerned see the importance of women in growing the game of golf. I also am in tune to how the golf experience can be made much better for women as well as changing attitudes toward the female golf experience. There is just one problem. I am a male and can only write about women in golf from a man's perspective. My views and comments come from the male point of view.  That's not a bad thing either, except most women have a different way of looking at things.
     When I go to the course to play golf, I am only thinking of one thing.  Get a club in my hand and let me hit the crap out of the ball. I am focused on the game I am about to play.  My brain is looking forward to the task at hand, that of playing eighteen holes of golf. I may be playing with three other good friends in my foursome, but in most cases conversations focus on the round and what is happening.
     Conversations about things that are happening in our lives outside of golf are rare. If one hits a great shot, say a shot from off the green to within two inches for a birdie, you will get the "Great shot, Dave"  and that's about it. Then, you make the birdie putt and move on to the next tee. I feel fantastic about the birdie and won't tell anybody that my feet aren't touching the ground I'm so stoked. All I probably say is "Wow, that felt great". Those in my foursome will say, "Great birdie, Dave" and we will move on. The subject won't be talked about until the nineteenth hole over a beverage.
      Men have a task at hand, to play the round of golf, and we go about completing the task as best we can. We look at at the steps and completion of the task.  The focus is on the physical process and outcome of that task.  Women on the other hand look at the process and the whole picture.  In most cases the focus is not on the completion of the task, playing the round of golf, but the experience of playing the round and being with friends. A round of golf is a social event and ladies see the game as more of a social interaction than just playing a game. There is more to the experience of a round of golf for women. It is also a lot different when women and men play together in the same foursome
. I respect that, and we men have to begin to understand that.
      Today's post is probably going to get me into trouble with a lot of people, men and women. That's ok because I have broad shoulders and can take the heat. Men and women process the world differently, including the game of golf. But differences are what makes the world more interesting.
     If you would like to write a rebuttal post or add to what I have written, please send it to me at golfisforeveryonemd@gmail.com.  I would love to read it and perhaps post it. Please keep the post to under 600 words and include a picture if you can.

What's it like out there today?

  
     

High Tech/Low Tech: What Is This Game About Anyway

   Speaking of high tech/low tech, I am diligently working on updating the Golf Is For Everyone website today. That means that I am up to my eyeballs in alligators and am in more of a website development mode instead of a writing mode. Have you visited the website recently?  Take a look at it by going to http://golfisforeveryonemd.com and see what you think. At some point soon, I think I am going to actually go out and play a round of golf. Enjoy this blog that I wrote a couple of months ago.  I should be back tomorrow with another exciting (?) new post.  In the meantime, here's this wonderful blast from the past.

    A couple of days ago I noticed a post on FaceBook that was talking about the way the game is taught these days. The discussion focused on the high tech methods as compared to some of the low tech approaches to teaching the game. I am not against high tech in any aspect of the game, but there is something to be said about the low tech as well.
     When things get too complicated the human brain can shut down. I know, it happens to me all the time especially when my wife gives me too many tasks to do at once. We are trying to get too technical with a game that is oh so simple. Plus, the human experience factor is very much a part of our game. Machines can't play golf but humans can.
      I think many times we get so wrapped up in the machines we have created not only to teach the game but in all aspects of the game that we have forgotten what the game is all about.  This is a simple game with a simple outcome and that is to hit a ball with a stick and get in into a hole a distance away in as few hits as you can. That's it. We have become so dependent on technology that we don't talk about the game, but the technology involved with the game and that gets in the way of the enjoyment of the game.
     Golf is a strategic game. If I am stuck behind a tree, I have to use my knowledge and experience to try to hit the shot that I can recover from behind the tree and save as many strokes as I can.  I don't go to my computer and ask how I should play the shot.  I know how and it is only a matter of execution. My laptop doesn't tell me what to do, my brain does and most of the time it woks out just fine.
     On the course, before I hit a shot I am thinking about what kind of shot I am going to hit and how far. A driver I try to hit as far as I can to a spot that makes the hole play better. I don't use a Sky Caddie but trust my instincts.  If I haven't played a course before I will check the scorecard map to see what lies ahead.  I try to put an iron or whatever club it takes and hit it on the green. I check the fairway markers and adjust my distances accordingly in order to select the club I am going to use on my second shot.
      My short game and putting also depend not on technology, but on my experience.  I can see the slope of the green and where to hit the ball. I estimate the distances to the hole and the speed of the greens and then hit the shot. I read the green and putt. It is that simple.
     We have tried to bring technology to the game. I don't know how good this is. We have brought launch angle, ball hardness or softness, shaft flex, wedge loft, swing speed and a lot of other math to the game. I don't know how good this is. I am not against it and it makes for great conversation. For me though, I prefer the Keep It Simple Saint method. By the way, can I still get some hickory shafted clubs, some true woods and a featherie ball?

High Tech lesson for a low tech guy. What are you showing me.  Don't you know the screen is blank?

Of Windmills and Water Hazards

     That's a catchy title, isn't it.  You are probably wondering what how windmills and water hazards link as far as the game of golf is concerned. Perhaps I am going to talk about golf courses on the Dutch Coast.  No, that's not what this is about. What I want to do is to explore some of the ways that bring new players into the game of golf. Here goes, and I will make the "Windmills and Water Hazards" connection right off the bat, or driver since we are talking about golf. I want to assure you I haven't lost my mind, although my wife questions my sanity on many occasions.,
     We have talked many times on this blog about how we can grow the game of golf.  In fact, isn't that the purpose of all this? We have talked about the ways we can bring new people into the game. One thing I haven't talked much about is the role that miniature golf, or mini golf or putt-putt golf enters into the "get them playing" discussion.  Most experts will tell you that it is not a factor. The same has been said about what is now known as foot golf, and also the sport of frisbee golf or disc golf.  These experts say there are no facts that support the notion that these "quasi-golf" sports support the game of golf itself.  They are not entry portals into the game of golf. That may be true, but I am going to take issue with that position.
     Let's talk about miniature golf. The first thing you do when you check in to play miniature golf is to get a golf ball, painted a color most of the time, and put a club in your hand--most of the time a putter. The object of the game is to hit the ball with the club and get the ball into a hole, hitting and rolling the ball over a specific course that has obstacles.  Does this sound familiar to any of you?  It should. One of the biggest ways to get people into the game of golf is to put a club and a ball into a persons hand and let them hit the ball into a hole.
     A lot of people find this miniature golf experience a lot of fun. It is a great family activity where the whole family can enjoy the experience and have a ton of fun together. There just is something about hitting a ball around some pretty funny obstacles and trying to get that ball into a small hole that is a challenge and strikes deep into the human psyche. If it weren't a lot of fun many of the miniature golf courses would close.  Yes, you could say that many regular golf courses are closing right now but that is from a variety of reasons. Regular golf is still a lot of fun too.
    Do you think that it is my belief that a person that has never played the game of golf will go out one fine evening, play miniature golf and after their round of miniature golf a bolt of lightning will hit that person and they will suddenly come up with the revelation that they should buy an expensive set of TaylorMades, a dozen ProV1's and if they live in Yuma, Arizona sign up for lessons from Mark Croft? I honestly don't think so.  If that person likes miniature golf, they will come back and play again.  Something may stir in their soul that they really enjoy this hitting this ball into the hole and they may be influenced by other things such as watching golf on TV or having a friend that plays golf. We don't know. The bottom line is, with miniature golf they are still getting a club in their hand to hit a ball and put that ball into a hole.  That's a start, isn't it?
    What I am talking about here is exposure to the game of golf. I don't think that after a round of miniature golf a golf pro is going to run out from behind the windmill after the player sinks their final putt and say, "You have finished your round of miniature golf, now you must proceed to the regular course to begin you regular golf lessons.  It is mandated by the golf gods." No, that's just not going to happen. The same is true about foot golf and disc golf. That same pro is not going to jump out from behind that big oak and demand that players take up the game of golf. That's not going to happen. However, these players are still being exposed to the basic elements of golf.  Who knows.
    Is miniature golf going to directly impact the number of people that take up the game of golf.  I don't think so.  Let's take a look at this from a different perspective. How many people play miniature golf?  How many people play foo golf?  How many play disc or frisbee golf?  I would venture to say a lot of people, probably in the millions. What happens if we get a small percentage of these players into the game of golf?  Many of these players will take up the game of golf, or already have.  I leave you with this one last thought. A huge lake contains a lot of water molecules and these water molecules come from many sources.  That's true with golf.  New golfers can come to golf from a lot of sources, including miniature golf.

Put a club in your hand and hit a ball toward a hole, even on board a ship. Golf is a lot of fun in all its forms. You are still hitting the ball into the hole in as fewest strokes. 

 
   














    
       

I Was The Parent Of A Junior Competitive Golfer--Part 2

     In part one I talked about how being a parent of a junior golfer is a great way to create memories and to grow closer to you children. I wrote about having many memories of having many memories of taking my daughter to tournaments and such, but I didn't share any of them.  I wanted to keep the post short and readable so I didn't specifically write about them, even though my eyes were tearing over with emotion as the many memories came to mind. Well, I have a box of Kleenex here by my desk and hope to share some of those memories with you.
     My daughter Rebekah was very involved in junior golf. As I said in my last post, she was playing softball but was not getting to play much because of the fact that most of the teams she was chosen to play on were more like social clubs instead of playing the best players. She worked very hard to learn the catcher's position, had a great arm and was a powerful hitter. She didn't get to play.  I coached a golf team and she would tag along to practices.  At one point she asked to have a club put into her hand and she was hooked for life. We told her that she could play both softball and golf if she wanted but she chose golf as it was a sport that she didn't have to depend on a coach to put her in the game. She could play, and her success depended on her.That is one of the beauties of the game of golf. You don't get chosen for the team or get to play because of a personality contest.  You get to play by entering or just playing.
     Rebekah played many tournaments hosted by The Northern California Junior Golf Association.  I remember the rainy April she played in the Len Ross Junior held in Fresno, Ca.  It hadn't rained all year, but God had a different plan for thess couple of days,  The sky opened up and it was cold.  She did well in the tournament and we devotedly followed her throughout the rainy ordeal. Everyone was miserable, cold and wet.  I asked her if she had fun and her answer was, "Dad, I felt like a drowned rat, but it was a blast."
     Each year in July I think, The City of San Leandro, California would host a junior tournament. The course venue was Monarch Bay, which sits directly on The Sam Francisco Bay just south of Oakland, California.  This was a yearly road trip for Rebekah and I.  We would get there the day before the tournmant and spend the night, with the tradition being we would play Monarch Bay the day before the tournament.
    We would always play Monarch Bay in the afternoon. Since the course is situated directly on San Francisco Bay the course gets windy in the afternoon--very windy.  You want to play the course early in the morning before the wind kicks up. We talk about our wind blown rounds at Monarch Bay still to this day.
     One year we decided to play in a tournament we hadn't play in.  The tournament was held at Crystal Springs on the San Francisco Peninsula and was scheduled for late July.  If you know anything about the weather in the San Francisco area during the summer, it can be quite chilly.  Mark Twain said it beat when he said, "The coldest winter I ever spent was the summer I spent in San Francisco." Temperatures rarely go over the eighties.
     We left our home thoroughly prepared for the chilly climate of what is The San Francisco Bay Area. Yes, we did dress in layers as you are supposed to do because the San Francisco climate can be totally changeable. It's always cold and just gets colder--normally.  OK, so we guessed wrong.  The temperature soared to near 100 degrees.  It was hot, and we were even hotter the way we were dressed. It is fun and we can laugh at this now, but I can tell you that we were miserable and nearly suffered from heat stroke. She played very well, even with all those clothes on.  Guess who carried those clothes as she layered down.  I felt like an Andean llama carrying all her clothes and my sweater as well.
     In her high school freshman year her school team went to the California State High School Golf Finals in Murrieta, California. The tournament was held at the SCGA member's course and we went down two days before so that we could play the course in order for her to become familiar with the course.  We got there and was told that she couldn't play the course and would be disqualified in the touranment if she did. The pro at the desk explained this to us and suggested another course in the area to play that we would enjoy.  He got us a time, and off we went to a course nearby called Temeku Hills that has been renamed.  We had a lot of fun together.  She won $5 from me that day.
     All through her junior golf career and her junior college career we played a lot of golf together and she played in a lot of tournaments. The most important part of this time was the quality time we spent together not only on the course but off the course as well.  We have fond memories of the time spent in the car and talking, the restaurants we ate in and the funny things that happen along the way. It was a magical time spent together.  We still talk about the memories that we made together.

She would always get this look on her face as she would smash her drive forty yards past mine.  Hey, but I could putt better.

   
   

I Was The Parent Of A Junior Competitive Golfer

     Don't be alarmed, I have good news.  She is still alive and living in Las Vegas. We survived! My daughter learned to play golf when she was thirteen and is still playing golf. Watching her develop in the game was very rewarding to me as a parent. Unlike many juniors who played in tournaments growing up, she has kept at it. She is not playing competitively because other priorities have gotten in the way. Life and growing up have a tendency to do that. She and I survived together, and we have a strong bond as fellow golfers because of the experience.
     Rebekah always has been athletic and competitive.  She is the youngest of five children and her older siblings played softball and soccer.  After playing soccer and softball discovered that she liked softball.  In fact, she was a pretty good catcher and could hit.  There was one big problem in this. The teams she played on never stayed together and each year she had to go into the draft which was more like a personality contest.  She had the skills and the bat, but always wound up on a weak team. The leagues around where we lived were run more like popularity contests instead of competitive leagues. She wanted to play, but was losing interest quickly because the coach's daughter also played catcher. "Riding the pine" was not her idea of fun and did not soothe her competitive juices.
     I was an assistant coach of a high school golf team and then became a head coach of a local middle school team.  Beks would always want to tag along with me to matches and practices, sometimes picking up a club and trying to hit balls for the fun of it. On one match day she volunteered to keep score for one of the groups.  Following that group was the coach of another team who just happened to be a golf professional who let Beks hit a ball. He put an eight iron in her hand and she cranked it. Beks liked how she hit the ball and at this point was hooked. Both the pro and I saw that she had potential. Not only did she like the idea that she was not dependent on a coach to put her into the game and she could play in tournaments but that she was in control.  She could play every day if she wished. Needless to say, she was hooked.
     My daughter and I have many fond memories of her golfing career and the many hours we spent together.  In my next post, I will share some of those memories which even today we talk about. These are memories not only of the tournaments that she played in, but what happened as we traveled to the tournament. Our memories are sweet even when we just played a social round together, not associated with a tournament.  Golf is a wonderful sport.

She has my putter, too. I let her borrow it and never got it back. Oh well, what we don't do for our kids.

One Of My Top Five Golf Trips: By Phil Green

Here is an article written by a very good friend of mine, Phil Green.  He lives in the Auburn, California area and is the owner of Home On The Range in Newcastle, California. Phil is very involved in growing the game of golf and I am proud to call him a friend.  Enjoy his article and we hope to have more wonderful articles from Phil.



TOP FIVE GOLF TRIPS

#5 Turning Stone Resort in Verona, New York:

I have been on hundreds of golf trips maybe even thousands. One loses count after twenty-five years

in the golf business. This trip however was a little bit different from all the rest. Can you imagine going

on a nine day golf trip to the opposite coast and never hitting a golf shot? Well I did roll a few putts,

maybe ten, and hit six or seven sand wedges around the greens to get a good feel for the rough.

See, I have this good friend Brian Glosser and he is a teaching professional in Northern, California.

Brian is an exceptional player along with along with an understanding of the importance of growing the

game of golf. He spends time being a “club pro” by teaching junior golf camps and even going out into

the local schools to introduce the game to elementary school students. Brian and I met during his first

stent at Auburn Valley CC. We both share a passion for the game of golf and snowboarding so we hit it

off immediately. Brian and I also attended level three of the PGA PGM together and where fortunate

enough to play 5 rounds in Florida while there but as they say that is another story for another time.

Brian, through his great play, qualified at the PGA Section Level to play in the PGA Club Professional

Championship which took place in New York June, 26 th -29 th of 2016. This tournament is the pinnacle of

the season for the top 300 PGA Club Professionals in the United States. Ten months prior to the event

he asked me to caddy for him and make sure his swing stayed in check during the event I of course said

yes. Brian has been that younger brother to me and I do what I can when I can for he and his wonderful

wife and child who also attended this trip (they do a ton for me too). They along with Brian’s mom and

his wife’s parents rented us a large beach house in Sylvan Beach which is about 20 minutes away from

the golf courses at Turning Stone Resort.

This was not my first time caddying in a PGA event as my daughter Josie had me on her bag at 10

years of age when she won the NCPGA Junior Tour Championships and I have caddied for BG at local

section events. This was however my and Brian’s biggest event to date and I was prepared by using the

past ten months to get in physical shape by playing speed golf and mental shape by studying the layout

of the two golf courses we would face, Kalyuhyat, pronounced Galuya and Atunyote which is

pronounced, well I still don’t have that one quite figured out.

Brian also prepared himself by getting his game in top shape with countless hours of practice on and

around the putting green. Brian has always been blessed with power off the tee and solid ball striking

with his irons but still he worked on that too. It showed when we arrived as Brian showcased his talents

during our three practice rounds in perfect Up State New York Summer Weather. Temperature was mid

80’s and the humidity was low. Walking the 9 mile course was a breeze since Brian was “nice” and

brought a small carry bag rather than a tour staff bag. I say 9 miles because that is what a caddy walks as

he/she runs back and forth to replace divots and such duties during the round as well as gather and

return balls on and around the practice greens.

The pairings were picked up and our first round tee times started at 1:35pm and the second round

was at 8:05am. We woke up to a glorious morning with the sun shining over the lake and the ducks

swimming in the glassy waters. We had a few hours to kill so Brian and his wife taught me how to

Kayak. I have to tell you Kayaking for the first time is a whole lot easier than moving a little white ball

around a golf course the first time; I still managed to tip it once. After a quick sandwich for lunch it was

time to hit the links.

On the way over to Turning Stone we noticed that the winds were picking up. As we pulled into the

parking lot there was a steady one club wind which is not tough to judge as long as it stays steady. We

spent an hour warming up between the range and the practice greens and as that time passed the winds

began to gust and switch directions almost constantly. As Brian’s tee time approached we headed over

to the first tee and as BG introduced himself to everyone I got my caddy bib on and loaded the range

finder, tees, and a few waters in the pockets. Brian was second to hit in his threesome and just like in

the practice round he cracked that driver down the middle of the 397 yard, par 4 and we were off.

We started with a par and as the day went on the winds continued to grow and swirl and make the

most difficult game on earth even more difficult. Brian did great to keep his frustrations low as we had

shot after shot in which the wind either stopped, changed directions or gusted straight at us as BG

reached the beginning of his downswing. He did well to hold it to 2 over on the front as we now

ventured to the back in a wind that made the golf bag heavy. We did not fare so well on the back at

Atunyote as we turned in a 40 and it was hard earned at that as I saw countless players lose balls in both

water and tall grass.

The scorer said, “Well done” and pointed out that the majority of low scores had been shot in the

morning and that the difference between morning and afternoon rounds was 4 strokes. I feel that Brian

played great and remember this is his first time playing in such an event and my first time caddying in

which I had to say, “See that television tower?, Aim right at the “O” in golf”.

Day two was that 8:05 tee time on the Kaluhyat and we teed off of hole #9 do to the layout of the

golf course and the flight we were in. The skies were darker today but the wind was just the same as

yesterday afternoon’s round. We made sure to put our raingear in and pack a couple extra towels. It

turned out that was a great idea because the skies opened with showers as soon as the first tee shot

was hit. Umbrella up and raingear out we all suited up. Brian parred the 432 yard par 4 and off we went.

The rains continued on and off the entire round and the winds did the same. Brian squeezed out a great

74 after receiving a tough double bogey with one of his two three putts during this round.

As soon as we got in the shuttle van to ride from hole #8 green back to the clubhouse the sun peaked

it’s head through and the winds calmed. Once again we had been at the wrong end of the tee times as

the weather continued to improve over the rest of the day. Despite Brian’s valiant effort we missed the

cut line and now had a few days of nothing but vacation left in this pristine area of the Empire State.

Between fireworks on the beach, kayaking, mini golf, countless Lego building competitions with BG’s

7 year old son, and a ton of laughs with his father in law, the days flew by and it was time to say

goodbye to Sylvan Beach. This will go down as one of my top 5 golf trips and I never even played, other

than two rounds of mini golf.

There are many ways to enjoy the game of golf and if I may make a suggestion to you, I would tell you

to try them all.

I Got To Play "Inside The Ropes"

     Congratulations to Meghan--uh, excuse me--Brittany Lange for winning the Women's U.S. Open at Corde Valle.  I know there was a bit of controversy here and the President of the USGA got her name wrong during the awards ceremony, but she is the winner. That's quite an accomplishment to be proud of. My point here today is not to comment on The Open or any of the controversy but to give you some of my insights and observations about playing in a professional tournament. I had that once in a lifetime experience a few years ago and got to play in a ProAm. For me, it was an experience I won't soon forget.
     I think I need to give you some background info here. I belonged at the time to a semi-private golf course in Madera, California called River Bend. Each year the course hosted a two day Pro-Am tournament and invited both celebrities, PGA and LPGA professionals. It was well run by Peter Jacobsen Enterprises and was a well attended event. Each year there was a different headlining professional with such famous golfers as Lee Trevino and Chi Chi Rodriguez as well as Anika Sorenstam serving as headlining golfers.
      It was quite an event and had all the trappings of a regular PGA event such as a hospitality tent, fairways that were roped off for players and grandstands around pivotal holes for spectators. The first day was a charity ProAm with the big names coming on the final day Monday to play.  The big names didn't play on Sunday in the charity ProAm, although heavy charitable donors got to play with the name pros on Monday. I played on Sunday and got into the tournament by winning a raffle at one of Riverbend's club tournaments.
     I remember a good friend of mine teasing me after I won the entry into the tournament.  He said to me that he wanted to go to the tournament just to see me miss my tee shot on the first hole of the tournament because of nerves.  I have to admit that I was nervous and I did not hit a good tee shot.  The format was a shamble where everyone hits a drive and go to the best drive. The team plays from there, but each golfer plays their own ball and holes out.  The two best scores for the hole are what is carded. However, after the drive I settled down, made a great chip shot from off the green and made a ten footer for par net birdie on the hole.  There was a crowd of about a hundred people around the green and they applauded loudly after I holed out. That is all I needed.  At that point, I don't think my feet were touching the ground. From that time on, I was focused.  In fact, there was so much in the "zone" that I don't remember much of what went on around me.
     I remember hitting a tee shot on a par 3.  The shot was about 150 yards over a lake with very little green to work with. I hit a seven iron which I thought was heading for the lake, but wound up ten feet from the pin.  The crowd around the green went wild, especially when I made the putt for birdie.  Of course, I acknowledged the crowd's reaction and moved on to the next hole.
     After the tournament I saw another friend that was there on that seventh green and saw the shot.  He told me that he saw the shot and patted me on the back as well as shook my hand from outside the ropes as I was coming off the green.  Frankly, I was so much in the "zone" I don't remember him shaking my hand.
     We teed off at the ninth hole.  This hole was the hole that had the huge spectator grandstand that was constructed around the green. The team had a wedge into the green.  I sculled my wedge to the back or the green and it rolled off.  My return shot was almost twenty yards from the back of the green, but the ball came to rest about five feet in front of a full grandstand of people. They were all applauding, so I had to tip my hat because they were applauding.  I had to say something witty so I said,"Thank you for your reception and applause.  I know that you are all out here just to see me." The crowd thundered with laughter.  OK, so maybe the crowd just chuckled, but I could hear it.
     As I prepared to hit my shot, I heard from the crowd, "I bet you are going to mess up the shot."
     I couldn't let a comment go by like that.  I had to come up with something. I shouted back, "I didn't know my wife was here."  Again, the crowd laughed.  That laughter was a salve to my soul, and I put the shot to within two feet of the hole making the putt for par. Of course the crowd reacted to the putt with applause which lasted until I left the green.
     I will never forget the experience of playing inside the ropes.  I just can't describe the feeling of hitting into fairways that are lined with people or to have a large gallery along with you to cheer you on. The applause from the stands is also very addictive as well.  So is getting a $400 tee gift from Nike. It is exciting to say the least and kind of gets you going. The food in the hospitality tent was
pretty good too.

Yep, this was our gang.  I think we came in third.

From Young Gun To Ninety-one Year Old Senior Lady: We Are Golfers And We Have A Lot In Common

     I posted last week about a couple of exceptional people in the golf world.  No they were not professionals and didn't play on the stage of worldwide TV or anywhere in the media.  They are two exceptional people who present what golf is.  Kodi Phizer and Patty Bondie are the heart of what golf is.  Although one is an up and coming young gun and the other is a ninety-one year old distinguished lady who still plays golf, they have much in common.
      As I mentioned before in earlier posts, Kodi and Patty were guests on Mark Croft's Desert Southwest Golf Show.  We talked to both Kodi and Patty about their love of golf and what the game meant to them.  If you took all their answers and distilled them down, you could say that the game is very important to them and for many of the same reasons.
      Golf is a game of honesty, integrity and respect.  It is unlike any other game that is played because there are no referees.  The game is dependent on the player to make sure that the rules of the game are followed. It is the only game where you call a penalty on yourself.  In today's society, this is very rare.  Players are expected to follow the rules to the best of their knowledge and should a violation of the rules occur, a penalty must be assessed. Integrity and honesty call for that penalty to be assessed and the golfer gains respect for that decision to call a penalty on themselves.  Let's face it, there is cheating in golf but most cheaters know who they are and so do the players they play with. These cheaters show a lack of integrity and honesty, losing the respect of other golfers. Both Patty and Kodi were very quick to point this out.
      Both Patty and Kodi talked a lot about how golf has allowed them to meet many new people who in most cases become close friends. These are friends that will stay with you in most cases for the rest of your life. Golf is a wonderful activity that brings people from all backgrounds together for not only the game itself, but for the social aspect of the game.  You are meeting new people or playing with friends and just as important as the interaction and fellowship during the round is what happens at the nineteenth hole after the round over lunch or a soda pop or iced tea.  It is important that you enjoy just being out there.  For many of us like Patty and Kodi, golf day is a day we all look forward too.
      I got a very strong sense that both Patty and Kodi were strong optimists. Patty made the comment that golf is a game and you don't want to take too seriously in that winning is not what is most important.  Playing the game is. You don't get down on yourself for hitting a bad shot as it is not the end of the world. Golf is played one shot at a time. As Kodi put it, there is always the next shot and you have to think that it will be better. Normally, it is.
     Both talked about the issue of improving their game. Patty said that in her opinion just because you swing a club doesn't mean you are a golfer. The goal should be to improve your game, even if it is a small improvement.  Kodi pretty much echoed this in that he told us that he keeps the question in his mind, what am I going to do to improve my game. Both Patty and Kodi were committed to keeping their game going forward. Both agreed that the best way to do this was to find a good golf teacher and take lessons.
       Probably the most important thing to keep in perspective that both Kodi and Patty talked about is to keep the game fun.  Reasons for the game being fun may be different, but the idea is the same.  To Kodi, the fun was that he could hit a ball a mile and do it again and again. The keen competition of The Arizona Antigua Junior Golf Tour and playing in tournaments is a lot of fun for Kodi.  So is playing in the club tournaments at the course Patty plays at just as important.  To Patty, going to the social events based around her playing is important to her.  It doesn't matter.  Golf is a lot of fun.  Isn't it time for you to take up the game?
      One last thing that I must say.  Yesterday, our Golf Is For Everyone blog smashed the 25,000 hits barrier.  This is an important milestone for us. Mark and I want to thank you, our readers for staying with us and reading.  We have more planned for Golf Is For Everyone as far as our blog, our website, our Facebook Page and other things so stay tuned. Once again, Thank you for joining us for this journey and being a part of The Golf Is For Everyone family.

Golf knows no age barriers. Time and age is not a problem as far as those who play the game.

Memories. Tucked Between The Pages Of My Mind

 I was asked the other day about golf and my fondest memories of playing the sport for almost 50 years. There are so many of them and it will take many posts to share them all. Is that booing I hear in the background. Just wait a minute, I have some great stories, most of which are true and you should enjoy reading about them.
     My first introduction to golf was a very reluctant one. My father managed a local grocery store where many salesmen came in to sell him products. One of these salesmen was a former professional golfer who still gave lessons on the side. I was in the store with my Dad and the salesman just happened to come in. He saw me with my Dad and decided to come over and talk.
     "Hey Bill (that was my Dad's name) is that your son? He is a great looking kid. What's his name?
     " Dave," my Dad answered.
      "That's a great name. He looks pretty strong.  I'll bet he could hit a golf ball a mile. Does he play golf?" Of course I didn't play golf.  I was only twelve years old at the time and never had seen a golf course or clubs or balls for that matter.
     "Tell you what I'll do Bill. If you buy this truckload of Tuna, I will give him golf lessons. You would like to learn to play golf, wouldn't you Dave. You would be very good at it."
     My Dad said yes to the deal. Mind you, I had no say in the matter, a decision that would effect me for the rest of my life. Just like in a desert camel transaction--is that politically correct enough for you--I was the final chip that sealed the deal for a truckload of tuna.  That sounds pretty fishy, and to this day I wonder what would have happened if my Dad had turned the salesman down.
THANKS DAD

Yep, that's me taking a lesson.  I'm the one watching and I wasn't twelve.

 

 

Golf From A Senior Lady's Perspective

     What are you going to be doing at ninety-one years young? I certainly haven't given it that much thought. I don't know what I am going to be doing tomorrow at sixty-two years old. Actually, I take that back.  I am picking my wife up at the airport tomorrow morning after a very short trip to Dallas Texas. That is totally a different story and I won't go into it. What I do want to share with you today is a conversation with a wonderful lady that I had along with Mark on his radio show.  What do you do at ninety-one years young?  You play golf.
     Yesterday, I posted on this blog a story about an exceptional young man that we chatted with on Mark's show. Kodi was not the only guest we chatted with. Together on the show with Kodi was a delightful lady, Patty Bondie.  Patty is ninety-one and still plays golf and on a very regular basis.  In fact, she still plays golf competitively in a weekly nine-hole women's group. She tells a very interesting story about how she came to be a golfer and her views on the game and its benefits.
     Patty came to the game in 1991 at the age of sixty-seven when she and her late husband moved to a golf course in Arizona.  Their house was on the course and she could see play on the course from her house. At the time, her husband played golf, but she didn't. Her husband would come home with stories of his round and how much fun he had, not only playing the game but the stories of how much fun it was being with friends and socializing before, during and after the round.  She began to think that there was something to this game and that she should perhaps take a good look at taking up the game.  In her words, she sain on the show, "I had to be out there," She took a lesson, and after that was hooked.  She has been playing ever since and plays at least twice a week even though she is limiting her play to nine holes.  
      For Patty, golf is an activity that she can look forward to. It gets her out of the house and keeps her active.  The exercise and fresh air are a crucial part of her health regimine. Not only that, it gives her a great opportunity to meet new people and friends that she doesn't see often and can develope new firndships.
      In my opinion, the most important point that Patty made was when she shared that you don't have to be an expert in order to enjoy the game. There is more to the game than just playing it, and you can enjoy the game at many levels.  It all depends on the individual and their reasons for playing.  The great thing about the game is you decide at what level you want to achieve in the game, whether you just want to go out there to be with friends or if you want to play in high level competition.  It is totally up to the individual. The bottom line is is you don't have to be an expert to enjoy the game and have fun.
      I hope that at ninty-one years on this planet, I hope that I am still able to play golf. Patty does, and she is a great ambassador for the game. Patty, keep on truckin.  How did you do in your weekly lady's nine hole tournament. You probably smoked them.

You are never too old  to play with friends or meet new ones

Golf: A Junior's Perspective

     Every now and then, Mark Croft goes out on a limb and allows me to co-host or be on his  radio show The Desert Southwest Golf Show broadcast on KBLU Radio out of Yuma Arizona.  I enjoy coming on the show and talking golf with Mark and his listeners. A couple of weeks ago he had me co-host the show and he had two outstanding guests.  One guest, Kodi Phizer, is a championship junior golfer from the Yuma area.  The second guest was Patty Bondi, who is ninety-one years young and still plays golf and competes in her club tournaments. Mark and I were both excited about chatting with these two exceptional golfers and were not disappointed.
     Today I would like to focus in on Kodi. For the purpose of this article I won't go into his golf achievements around the State of Arizona but I will say that they are many.  These come from not only the accomplishments on his high school golf team, but in junior tournament play around Arizona. He is a champion and I was impressed with his answers and how he conducted himself during the interview on the show.  I wish I could meet this fine young man in person.
     We touched on many important topics during the interview.  He told us important his parents and grandparents were in bringing him to the game of golf.  This was very important to him. His parents play a very important role in his career and act as cheerleaders, not as critics. That is very important in that they would ask him what he would do to do better next time and more importantly stress what he did right during the tournament. Seeing where improvements need to be made is important to any golfer that plays competitively, but celebrating what was positive and what was done right during a round is even more important I think, especially to a junior golfer.
      The first question I asked Kodi was, "What has golf given you?"
      There were a couple of things that Kodi briefly talked about. He mentioned how much he travels to go to tournaments. Meeting new friends in and around the game was very important to him and he thought that this was something that he looked forward to as his game grows and he goes further with the game into adulthood. I had to chuckle when he mentioned smashing a little white golf ball a long way.  Waves of envy came over me, because my days of hitting a golf ball into the next county have long passed for me. Isn't it sad that they waste enthusiasm on the young?
      What really impressed me the most was when he talked about how the most important thing to him that golf has given him, and I'm sure that his parents did have a thing or two to do with it, is a strong conscience.  With this strong conscience he has seen how important integrity and honest are, not only in golf but in life itself.  When you show integrity and honesty, you gain a sense of respect for others and yourself. Those are important traits that are missing in many of our youth today.  Golf is a great teacher of those qualities. It is the only game where you call a penalty on yourself, and most golfers do.
      Kodi mentioned what he called "his fighting spirit" and said that the game has really honed that spirit. But, he didn't mean it in the way you would think as far as just beating up on opponents. To him, it goes deeper than that. What he meant was not only to keep improving and be your best, but more importantly when adversity comes to use that adversity as a positive and see ways to make your game better.
      I guess you could call much of this lesson learning perseverance and patience. He told me that getting upset hitting a bad shot can only ruin your game. if you hit a bad shot, let it go and go on from there. It is very important to keep in mind that there is always the next shot and that the game is played one shot at a time. This is a lesson we could all learn.  How old is this young man?
      I would love to meet this young man some day.  He is a shining example of what junior golf is today. Our game is in good hands. I am proud to have met you Kodi Phizer.

The path only goes up from here.