Peter Laws | Notes from the Links

Q-School

2011-09-21T11:30:00.002-04:00

Down here in Florida working very hard on my game. I've been making some changes, some have to do with my golf swing but more of it is about how I practice. I never used to be one who would videotape my swing much but ever since I've gotten an iphone I've been using the iswing app on it and I think its helping me a lot while I practice. It just gives me great feedback on whether I'm doing what I think I'm doing. The only tournament of the year that really matters to me these days is q-school. This will be my 6th time, seems kinda crazy but I feel good about this year. If I can control and change the things I've been working on I feel like I can get right through and get my PGA tour card. Golf is like the ultimate slap in the face everyday, the ball never lies and when you sign your scorecard at the end of the day all that matters is the number you put up. I love it.

You know they say that q-school is one of the most pressure packed things a person can do. I've been to 2nd stage 4 times and haven't gotten through. Although that is very disappointing and I'd be lying if I didn't feel the pressure, but to be honest I absolutely love the pressure. The more pressure I feel the more I feel alive. That's why I can't wait for q-school this year. Bring it on, I'm ready!

Day in my life

2011-09-08T10:49:00.003-04:00

Hey everyone,

I know I haven't updated my blog in a while but I'll make a conscious effort to update it more often. Today I'm just going to outline a typical day for me. I'm down here in sunny Palm Beach Gardens, Fl. I woke up around 7am this morning, made myself a small protein shake and ate a fairly large breakfast and hour later. I was in the gym by 9 am, doing some stretches and warm-ups...by 930 I was getting my lift on. Today I did partial deadlifts, narrow neutral grip chin-ups, powell raise, sidelying pullovers, bicep curls and wrist extensions. Now I'm back in my apartment, made myself another shake and in about an hour or so I'll make myself some food and I'll be off to the course for the rest of the day. I probably won't be home till 6 or so, really depends on the weather down here as storms normally roll through here in the afternoon.

Being a professional golfer has been a very interesting experience so far. I must say that I thought I would have been further along in my career at this point but it just simply hasn't happened. It is definitely not from a lack of hard work, that is for sure. There are a lot of talented golfers out there just like me. Actually I think we have a lot of very talented Canadians, I'm actually a little surprised not more of us have "made it" yet. Graham Delaet has really been the only guy I've seen really break through so to speak. It is very encouraging to see that and I hope he gets healthy and gets back out there because he's got tons of game and I only think he's shown a glimpse of what he can do.

Well that's all for now. If you have any topics you want me to write about, or questions. Please feel free to let me know. I'll try my best to think of a new topic to write about very soon.

Pete Laws

PGA's Business Model and Values Keep Golf Cooking

2011-06-16T18:13:00.003-04:00

I thought golf might tank with Tiger's woes and the recession. But, it is doing OK. The Economist in a June 9 article says that golf's direct revenues are 25% higher in real terms than in 2001.

I learned from the article (Beyond Tiger) that the business model set up by Deane Beman who headed up the PGA from 1974 to 1994 has been a major reason. He recognized that if a tournament did not help the community, it wouldn't fly with volunteers and corporations. So, he encouraged all PGA Tour events to incorporate as charities. In the past 15 years, the tour has made $1 billion for charity.

Sponsors like the values behind the business model. We have to call penalties on ourselves and be gracious winning or lossing. Thsi is positive news for us younger players.

Checking Out eGolf Pro Tour

2011-04-24T17:59:00.003-04:00

Herb Page, my former coach at Kent State, thinks the eGolf Professioanl Tour is one of the best around. The purses are good. No airline costs for those on the east coast. The courses are PGA level. Overall, the Tour is good preparation for the next two levels.

I've just started this month. A plus is that there are lots of Canadians playing. We're bunking in together and having fun hanging out. As golf is a 'lone" sport otherwise, it's a bonus to have a few friends around for the off-hours.

One incentive is that eGolf will pay for Q-school for the top 20 on the money list. Definitely a nice benefit.

Buddy JC Moving On

2011-03-12T12:08:00.008-05:00

I'm going to miss JC as he moves on to an assistant coach job at UNLV. He's one of my best friends. We roomed together in an apartment in Jupiter, FL. when we started our pro careers in golf. But our history goes way back.

In our amateur days, we trekked far and wide competing as fierce foes in junior tournaments. Our parents took their summer vacations to drive us wherever we needed to go. It helped build experience and a track record for entry to a U.S. college.

During our college years, me at Kent and JC at UNLV, we crossed paths as foes again. But then I'd go visit JC in Las Vegas to have some fun and celebrate birthdays.

We did some more trekking as pros on the Canadian Tour. I always felt at home hanging out with JC and my other Canadian buddies. The best times were after a hard day on the course.

The one experience that stands out most was in Mexico when the "swine flu" (H1N1) broke out and we thought we were stranded. After one round at the second tournament the Can Tour cancelled all tournaments in Mexico. We had to get out fast.

We were really scared about catching the flu. The airlines had no seats available for at least four days as everyone was trying to leave. There was a rumor that Mexico was closing its borders. Picturing that meant both ways, we started to panic. So we burned up the phone lines to our parents who got us out in hours.

I'm happy for JC. It's a great opportunity. He has a lot to offer and he will make a great coach. JC has a positive personality. Plus, he has lots of experience. As golf is not an easy game, young players will be better for knowing JC.

New experience: Tour de las Americas Q-School

2011-02-18T20:27:00.004-05:00

With the Q-school for the Tour de las Americas just down the road in Miami, thought I'd give it a try for the first time. It's good experience to play with a different mix of guys.

Those of us on the developmental tours are always looking for opportunities. Even though the TLA has had a lot of growing pains over many years, it seems to be getting things together. One positive sign is its co-sanctioning with the Canadian Tour and the Challenge Tour. There are alsos some entry chances with the Nationwide Tour. These cross-overs help players get momentum in standings and development.

I had a solid week and have gained some status. I'm looking forward to playing in a few upcoming events.

The Missing Champion for Canadian Professional Golfers

2010-12-27T19:38:00.002-05:00

The talk on Facebook over the holidays has been the lack of support in Canada for its elite professional golfers. The question is: "Why"?

Why do other countries like Sweden and Australia, for example, lend more of a helping hand than Canada? Why in Canada do we keep building the pipeline at the front end without finishing the job after young amateurs turn pro?

I remember Jerry Anderson giving a speech at my fund-raising event when I first started my pro career. He painted a dismal picture of the struggle of talented Canadian professional golfers. Most had to give up their dreams during the 70s, 80s and 90s. It was a sink or swim environment. Still is.

Things are brightening up a bit with five guys on the PGA. But "Owning the Podium" in a big way can't happen without organized effort. Canada's success at the 2010 Winter Olympics sure pointed that out.

Most good ideas take off when there is one person who takes the bull by the horn and ties all the pieces together. Maybe that's what we need in Canada.

Aftershock of Second Stage PGA Q-School: Not Advancing "Sucks"

2010-11-21T17:08:00.001-05:00

It’s a battle and the goal is to win. Didn’t happen this year at PGA Q-School but it was well worth the experience. Each time I learn a bit more about the little things that can keep me in contention.

The Liberation of Knowing

2010-10-10T17:19:00.001-04:00

I know that perseverance is what will count in the long run for success at anything. I have plenty of that. But the how of getting there can be frustrating. “I just don’t get it” I have mumbled to myself a lot when my tee shot takes a hike. It’s hard to see myself. So, a coach’s eye is what I depend on.

I have had plenty of help for which I am really grateful. And help comes at the most surprising times.

Recently I was staying at a friend’s place. He’s a teaching golf pro who took notice of my frustration with “not knowing”. Immediately he thought of a guy in his network who is knows the stack and tilt method.

I feel fortunate that his friend took some time with me. He observed that my swing is fine. The problem is that I did not understand well enough what makes the ball do what it does. He told me why. Gave me some drills. The result: more control over the ball no matter the situation. It was liberating.

In looking back, my coaches and buddies have told me the same thing. The difference is that I was ready to hear it and to take the knowledge in. There is a time and place for everything.

The Best and Worst of the Can Tour

2010-09-02T21:37:00.002-04:00

Hands down the best part of the Can Tour is hanging out with my Canadian buddies. This year after the St. Catherines’ Championship there’s the feeling that we might not be doing this again. Some are heading out for European Tour Q-School for the first time. Others, the PGA Q-School again. Hopefully Graham DeLaet will get some Canadian company on the PGA circuit in 2011!

Splitting up is in the air more than any other year.

The worst part of the Canadian Tour this year was fewer tournaments and thus less opportunity to play and less money to go around overall. When I did the Gateway Tour in Florida my first year as a pro, I played in 27 tournaments from January to September. The Can Tour has nine in total spread out from April to November (seven from April to end of August). So, we can’t count on the Can Tour as a regular place and have to scramble in-between to find other tournaments.

We will all remember this though as the good times when we were free to follow our dreams and our passions. We have helped each other through tough times and good times. Through many sicknesses and injuries. And some scary situations especially in Mexico.

Our families and friends across the country have been generous at billeting us and cooking up great meals.

Special times.

Moments to Remember: The RBC Open Qualifier

2010-07-22T16:50:00.001-04:00

My collection of “Oh, no!” tree stories is getting deep. Take the Monday-qualifier for the RBC Canadian Open qualifier at The Bond Head golf course. With 150 or so players shooting for four places, qualifiers are always a long shot. Well worth it though for the experience and the chance.

At hole 17, I was minus one. Unfortunately, the birdies weren’t coming easily over the whole round. But, I knew I needed a birdie to battle with a few others for fourth place. An eagle would be sweet sealing the deal. Trouble was that some trees were in the way. I had to shoot over them to give myself a chance. My ball just skimmed the top of one of the trees. Dropped straight down and bounced into the rough.

Plan B: lay up and chip it in. Which I did but the ball lipped out.

Oh, so close.

Gear Shift

2010-07-13T20:58:00.002-04:00

A few words with a sports psychologist and then with myself helped me shift gears. In my mind. A little bit more patience for sure.

It was a low scoring tournament for many of us on the Can Tour in Saskatoon. Beats being on the plus side. Good feeling to get out there and do it!

The Drag of an Erratic Tee Shot

2010-07-01T20:09:00.000-04:00

Somewhere along the line my tee shot has gone hairy. Sometimes fantastic. Many times not. It’s messing up my confidence.

I guess this is why golf is one of the toughest sports. The mind can do tricks and it’s hard to unravel them!

It’s a puzzle for sure and I love puzzles. I figure that this is good training for anything in life.

Me and Mexico Don't Mix

2010-04-28T18:25:00.002-04:00

I was awakened suddenly. One of my golf buddies was screaming my name. I ran down the villa steps in a panic. There he was with a bloodied leg and in a state of panic. The cab driver was harassing him because he had no money.

Welcome to Mexico. I have always felt uncomfortable in Mexico. “Sketchy” is a word that comes to my mind a lot. No one trusts anyone else. Kinda like the wild West.

Last year just as we arrived for the first Can Tour event, H1N1 broke out. We spent most of our time figuring out how to get out of the country. All but one tournament was cancelled. The airlines were in overload as so many were fleeing the country.

This year, no H1N1 but me and my Canadian buddies had our radar up.

It took only two days in Mexico before I went down with a bad case of “travellers’ flu”. I haven’t a clue how I got it as I try to be careful. Couldn’t shake it. People were telling me I looked yellow. So, forget golf and off to L.A. for treatment.

My buddy? He fled the country before me. He’d been mugged walking through a hotel as he headed to our villa. Lost his way a bit in the hotel. Next thing he knew, some guys were jumping on him.

I think I’ll pass on Mexico next time.

Wild Week in North Carolina

2010-03-28T16:25:00.002-04:00

Thanks to my sponsors I am getting a chance to travel to pre-qualifiers and qualifiers and do some regular tournaments—Hooters and Tarheel. It’s been a bit of a wild ride. Good experience though.

At the Golf in Morocco Classic, pesky greens drove many of us nuts. Lots of bare, burnt out Burmuda. Very hard to read. I can usually depend on my short game. Took a dive.

Some guys are fine with the greens that way. Others struggle like I did. Guess I got some work to do there.

Good news is I am striping it off the tee, hitting a lot of greens. It’s been a long time in coming.

Still working on managing thoughts, doing calming exercises. Keeps me busy trying to fit it all in.

Managing Thoughts

2010-03-09T16:58:00.000-05:00

I’m getting a lot out of Tal Ben-Shahar’s lectures. His course on positive psychology is backed up by research. Lots of details and concrete examples. I can follow what Tal is talking about and apply to myself.

For example, I’m learning to manage my thinking better when the golf ball doesn’t do what I wanted it to do. Failure is the price of learning. So, lighten up!

It’s all about how we evaluate our thoughts. Thoughts cause emotions and emotions cause motion.

Tal’s tunnel vision example stuck with me. Being careful not to get mad about the 2 bad holes I had while ignoring the 16 good ones. It’s all about being realistic in our evaluation of something that happens.

In Study Mode: Bringing Out the Genius Within. Ha!

2010-02-15T20:17:00.003-05:00

I’m having some fun exploring what academics are teaching about the mind. My favorite right now is Tal Ben-Shahar on positive psychology and the science of happiness. http://forum-network.org/lecture/positive-psychology-science-happiness

I’m working my way through an audio book and his Harvard course online. It’s one of the most popular courses at Harvard these days Must be a sign of the times.

Mental Toughness Messages from "Golden Oldy" Books

2010-01-17T12:17:00.002-05:00

There are some messages that last. My parents, grandparents and mentors read “mental toughness” books long before the Internet and science provided proof.

I am starting out 2010 with some of their suggestions.

The Power of Positive Thinking and Enthusiasm Makes a Difference (Norman Vincent Peale)

The Greatest Miracle in the World (Og Mandino)

Think and Grow Rich (Napoleon Hill)

Mind work is a lifetime job. These “golden oldies” will be a great addition to my personal development library.

Quote from Thomas Carlyle in The Power of Positive Thinking (1952):

“Silence is the element in which great things fashion themselves”.

The Security of Tour Status

2010-01-01T17:27:00.001-05:00

2010 feels different. So many questions: How will Tiger come back? How will the golf world deal with it? How will we players react as we’ve looked up to Tiger all along? It’s going to be a bit weird.

One thing that will help is belonging to a tour, in my case, the Canadian Tour. I can plan my calendar and I know I will have others to talk to. As Tiger “figures things out”, we have to too.

How Tiger cleans up is what counts now

2009-12-15T12:08:00.001-05:00

It’s a big shock to us young guys this Tiger mess. We have learned so much from him.

Guess we are still learning by seeing how he deals with the situation.

The Accenture ad says what we are feeling: “It’s what you do next that counts.”

There could be a silver lining.

Thinking Positive About Canadians on the PGA Tour for 2010

2009-11-26T09:01:00.003-05:00

Yeah. One reader pointed out that one more Canadian player will probably make it to the PGA at the third stage. Agree.

There's some strong talent in the group of 8. Thinking positive that another will get through.

Moving in the Right Direction: More Canadians Heading Toward the PGA

2009-11-22T19:00:00.005-05:00

Looks like we’ve done well this year with eight Canadians making it through to the final stage of PGA Q-School: Graham DeLaet, Kevin-Fortin-Simard, Barrett Jarosch, Ted Brown, Julien Trudeau, David McKenzie, Jon Mills and David Hearn. We should be good to go for at least four or five on the PGA Tour in total.

Maybe more of us can edge up using Chris Baryla’s example. Get in through Nationwide Monday qualifiers.

It would be great to add even more Canadians on the PGA for 2011. There’s a lot of talent. I think we can do it.

The Wild Q-School Journey

2009-10-29T13:21:00.003-04:00

Strange things happen at PGA Q-school. Score cards go wild out of the blue. Mostly stress. The cut at 22 or 23 plus ties can vary widely. Aside from the usual like weather, a lot depends on the mix of players who chose a certain location.

At first stage this year, I missed the cut by one shot at minus 4, T-23. Me and the rest of the guys at that spot sure wished that one player above us had messed up on just one shot. Or, that that one bogey for us had never happened. There’s a lot of “if onlys”. That’s golf.

We were in the first wave which had an average cut level of almost 5. In one of the locations, the cut was minus 11. Unbelieveable!

So far in the second wave the average cut’s looking slightly higher at about minus 1 or 2. Might go lower or higher. Depends on the nerves of the different groups the last day.

I’m hoping that we’ll have some Canadian players make it through this year. It’d be nice to have at least one guy join Chris Baryla and a few more at Nationwide. This might be the year where we do it.

Back on Track

2009-09-13T13:05:00.002-04:00

Whew! Got my exempt status Can Tour card, finally. It’s been a tough couple of years sidelined by an injury last year and under the gun with a time-limited medical exemption status this year. It’s good to get back on track.

The last four days were more stressful than PGA Q-School. Not being able to compete regularly in the Can Tour puts a major hole in opportunities to play at the developmental level.

We were all stressed out. One guy completely missed his early tee time for the second round. He made the mistake of clicking into the tee times from last year—he was in the 2008 Q-school. He had to wait till the end of the day to play. His score went wild.

On the final day, one of our threesome just made it to the first hole after two of us were already walking down the fairway. A ball whizzed by us. OK he made it. But, he tripled and doubled before settling down. Cost him exempt status (made non-exempt).

Handling the mental side sure is tough. While we were having trouble keeping a lid on our emotions, Tiger got in the zone and shot a 62 in the third round of the BMW Championship. He’s a great role model.

Thinking Too Much? Do the Oppostie

2009-08-22T15:02:00.002-04:00

I sometimes look back to my amateur years as a time when I did not think too much. I just hit the ball and got the job done. Kinda an innocent time. Just a part-time “job”. There was a lot I really didn’t know or think about.

Now as a pro, “thinking too much” seems to be creeping in. Too much left-brain analyzing. Not enough right brain. The imaging and “feel” part of the game. My coaches are working with me on building up---maybe re-building--- the imaging side.

Interesting thing I have learned. The brain doesn’t know how to stop something, like thinking too much. But it can start or build more of a habit. That will cause the “bad habit” to shrivel---lack of use.

Simple idea. Hard to put into practice.

The Tiger Effect

2009-08-03T12:40:00.000-04:00

Tiger just keeps raising the bar. With his 68th PGA Tour title at the Buick Open on August 3, 2009, he’s having an effect. For us young pros, we keep learning from him. How he handles himself and how hard he works. But, if you are playing in the same tournament with him and he’s on a streak, it’s tough.

My family told me about some research last year on what it’s like for other pros when Tiger hits the gas. Their scores go higher. But when Tiger’s in a slump, the pros are OK.

It would be interesting to know what the pros have to say.

Memories of Hole-in-One Past

2009-07-27T13:46:00.001-04:00

The record four aces at the RBC Canadian Open reminds me of another July seven years ago. In the same week two days apart at the same golf course at the 3rd par 3 hole I dropped an ace and so did my mother. What are the chances of that?

Good News for Canada's Young Pro Golfers

2009-07-26T21:47:00.001-04:00

It was interesting this week to be part of RCGA’s survey on how to help young pro golfers. RCGA has had the goal in its strategic plan for a few years. I wondered if it would ever get around to doing something about it.

As an amateur I was glad and fortunate to be part of RCGA’s Player Development Programme. Along with NCAA golf experience as I attended university, the RCGA programme during the summers was icing on the cake. That’s where I made a lot of great friends who are still my buddies.

But after turning pro, we’ve pretty much been left to fend for ourselves. We’ve scrambled to figure things out. What coaches to use, what equipment is best, what opportunities to go after, how to find money to support ourselves and so on. We know now how much we would have soaked up some help from RCGA as we made the leap from amateur to pro.

With the top two amateurs in the world being Canadians and many other promising amateurs and young pros “in the pipeline”, RCGA’s timing is good. The number of Canadians on the pro circuit might double and triple fast!

Learning More About Canada

2009-07-03T12:00:00.000-04:00

The Canadian Tour is a great way to learn more about Canada. When I was an amateur I travelled a bit (Calgary and Montreal). Mainly though I got to see more of the U.S. than Canada. I was always curious about Victoria and Banff—both awesome.

The drought out West is a surprise. That’s something new to me. But, not new to people here.

Wanted U.S. Open Spot More Than I Thought

2009-06-15T19:40:00.002-04:00

You’d think I’d be fine not getting one of two spots at a U.S. Open sectional qualifier. The odds are not good. So, what’s the big deal?

The USGA received a record number of entries---9,086---the biggest since 2005. Golfers from 50 states, the District of Columbia and 71 foreign countries competed. It was a feat just making it through the local qualifying with only three spots open.

I had my hopes up going in to the last three holes as I was tracking well at -2. But, I probably got ahead of myself and the rest is history. Because I could see I might make it the way I was playing, missing a spot stung a bit more. You know, the “if onlys”….

Great experience though. Besides getting close, I’ll remember it as the day that Canadians grabbed the two spots---amateur whiz Nick Taylor and my buddy Andrew Parr. A good sign of better things to come for Canada at the PGA level.

Soggy, Windy US Open Golf Local Qualifier, Brookesville, Florida

2009-05-20T14:08:00.002-04:00

It was hard yesterday. Really wet and windy all the time. Thunderstorms threatening. The course was playing long.

With a strong field and a “blizzard” of rain going sideways, it was not looking good. I had no idea how many would make it and figured if I made par I might be lucky to be in a playoff.

Fortunately, I made some birdies in the last few holes to cinch one of the three spots. I was surprised that there weren’t more positions open. Grateful I made it.

Funny about these qualifiers. The food “sucks”. Hardly anything available at the golf club. Part of the territory, I guess.

Decisionmaking in the Eye of the Mexico Storm: Major Can Tour Headaches and Player Anxiety

2009-04-29T15:05:00.004-04:00

When I left for Mexico on April 21, there was no swine flu problem in the news. My plan was to play in three of the four Mexican tournaments. Skip the second one in San Luis Potosi. If only I’d stuck to that plan!

I changed my mind once I got to Mazatlan. Decided to play in the San Luis Potosi tournament, not the last one. Changed my flight and hotel plans. Then, the news of a problem with sickness in Mexico started to come in.

The hardest part has been what decisions to make. Leave now? Stick it out? Maybe it’s gonna be OK? Just a scare that goes away?

It’s been tough on the Can Tour staff and the players. What do you do when this has never happened before? Like those weird surprises you have on the golf course sometimes. Trying to figure things out when you have no idea what to do. Take a stab at it and see what happens.

Well, it’s been a roller coaster ride. Anyway, we’re getting outa here now. Tournament in San Luis Potosi cancelled.

Right away a rumor circulated among the players that they were going to close the border. Our anxiety went through the roof. Scrambling to change our flights was scary….at one point, it looked like there were no seats available for six days. We went wild with thoughts of not being able to get out.

We’re still worried. I don’t think we’ll relax until we’re on the airplane.

Dodging the Swine Flu in Mexico

2009-04-24T19:27:00.002-04:00

“Wash your hands!” “Don’t share the same glass!” “Cover your cough!” So my mother goes on. She can’t help herself because of her public health background. But, now that I’m in Mexico with the Canadian Tour, her pleas for keeping out of harm’s way are getting my attention.

This swine flu scare makes it tougher for travelling in Mexico. But, if we follow some of the basics, we should be alright. Today, my family doc added a few more preventive measures:
-use a saline nasal spray. Viruses and bacteria don’t like that kind of environment;
-avoid food and beverages at airports (bring my own from the resort);
-use a mask on an airplane when travelling around Mexico and when I leave Mexico. The air circulation system spreads the “bugs’ around;
-if you have to cough, do it in your sleeve.

After having a bad case of food poisoning earlier this year, I’m a convert to these simple ideas. But, easier said than done.

Messing Around With My Swing to Get More Feel

2009-04-19T20:04:00.002-04:00

When I was a young amateur, I just did it. Stepped up to the tee and got the job done. As a pro, I have started to think too much.

My first coach since I was thirteen and friend Steve Chapman had some good advice. Start “messing around” when I am practicing. Whack the ball off the tee every which way without worrying about where it is going.

It makes sense. Too much thinking is a left brain thing. “Messing around” is more right brain. If I can balance my practice habits more (both left and right), I might not have to think as much in competition.

Feel is about trust in the now. That comes from practicing letting go. Something like improv in comedy acts. It’s a bit weird to me. Still worth it though to quiet my mind.

Smart Adapting by The Gateway Tour

2009-04-05T17:40:00.002-04:00

Affordable opportunities to play golf are pure gold for developing pro golfers. In response to tougher economic conditions, I’m seeing unusual changes.

When I first started out as a pro in 2006, I enjoyed competing in jam-packed, three-day Gateway Tour events in and around the West Palm Beach area. It was a great way to work on my game without having huge travel expenses.

Now, it’s not the same. Fewer golfers have booked into the seasonal series and the ongoing events due to cost concerns. That has meant smaller purses for the effort and fewer opportunities. To keep moving ahead, many of us have turned to existing one-day and two-day events and the odd Monday qualifier here and there. It’s a bit of a scramble.

Fortunately, the guys at Gateway did some brainstorming and came up with a product to fit the times---its own version of one- and two-day events, Gateway Tour Lite. Suddenly, we’re back in business in West Palm Beach!

Rallying With A Firm Goal

2009-03-08T19:07:00.000-04:00

I needed something to get me back in the game. At the Gateway Winter Series Championship in Phoenix, Arizona my first day was not good. With nowhere to go but up, I set myself a goal: get 12 under for the tournament. It worked.

Funny how things go. I didn’t feel comfortable the first day about anything. My short game wasn’t good—not making putts. I wasn’t getting the shots up and down. Couldn’t get it together.

But I found some momentum after that. Having my eye on a clear goal really helped.

Feeling More Natural

2009-02-25T19:37:00.003-05:00

Until recently, spraying shots off into the bushes on a regular basis has made me long for the “good old days”. When I was an amateur, things seemed more natural, smooth and predictable. Now, I am back to that.

Part of the problem was that I just plain started to think too much. I realize now that it had a lot to do with not being in a coaching environment where I could get a lot of feedback----when I needed it and often.

My amateur days at Kent State and during the summers with RCGA were filled with lots of “tough love”. I lapped it up. But left on my own since---long gaps in seeing my coaches---I have tried to patch things up in my golf game. It’s been me talking to me too much!

Anyway, I am getting more frequent feedback now. It’s exactly what I need. I’m thinking less and feeling things more.

Purses Smaller, No Let Up in Competition

2009-02-19T20:42:00.001-05:00

It’s weird how things are shaping up on the mini-tours. In Florida, about half as many players have signed up. In Arizona, the numbers have gone way up. Go figure.

The downside is purses that are really uneven. In Florida, we fight for a share of $65,000. In Arizona, it’s more like $155,000. Even though we have put in the same amount of money in both places.

The upside is being able to play near home, keep expenses down and still gain some really valuable experience.

With fewer players, we have to stay sharp. The cut line is short!

Food Poisoning Stops My Momentum

2009-02-10T15:27:00.001-05:00

I’ve been working on “owning my swing” with a nearby coach. Five minutes down the road. Getting feedback weekly helps me correct fast. It’s great.

So, I’m all enthusiastic because I’m seeing some results. I really had something going last week. The greens were tough, scores were shooting up, but somehow I found some breaks. Placed well on the leaderboard.

Then, boom! I started throwing up, etc. Constantly for hours. Even when things were bad, my mind was telling me I’d be OK for the next day. I will get over this. It will stop soon.

Anyway, I got so weak and dehydrated I ended up in hospital over night. Need three liters of IV fluids.

Turns out another guy and me from the Gateway Tour had eaten the same food together near the golf course. He ended up in hospital too. You guessed it—we did not play golf the next day!

One week later, I’m still weak. Lost six pounds. Should have sold my spot instead of trying to play.

One silver lining. I learned what to eat and not eat when your gut is in bad shape. Also found out that probiotics (in tablets or yogourt) have friendly bacteria to help the gut heal. Ya learn something all the time!

Working on Improvements to Swinging My Mind

2009-01-29T20:35:00.001-05:00

I know that my mind does weird things when I’m competing. Out of the blue, I make a shot that totally surprises me. I wonder, “How did that happen?” I get distracted and frustrated. Not good for my game.

I am beginning to understand that something from my past experiences triggers an automatic reaction. A little slip in my thoughts like a doubt or a hesitation in decision-making dredges up the same thing from the past.

It reminds me of when I was training in martial arts. Gary Foo, my “master” who used to be a police officer, told me about NLP or Neuro-Linguistic Programming---that how we see, smell, hear, feel and taste affects execution. Anthony Robbins talks about the same thing. In fact NLP turned around his life.

So, I have been putting myself though some thought experiments. Creating videos in my mind of one of my best shots and anchoring it with a gesture so it replays automatically. Using the colour of a situation where I was calm, cool and collected to replace the colour when I was agitated.

It’s too early to tell how well this is working. I’ve got some practicing to do before my brain decides to accept what I want rather than what I don’t want.

Back at the Gateway Tour

2009-01-05T13:24:00.001-05:00

I’m back on the Gateway Tour to get going in 2009. It’s a good tour with really tough competitors. I will have many opportunities to work on the rough edges in my game. Just what I need for the Canadian Tour and any Monday qualifiers I try out for.

Speaking of Canada, I enjoyed the holiday break with friends and family but not the cold and the many snow storms.

It’s great to return to the warm weather in Florida. I was surprised at how quickly I missed golf when in Canada. I did not take my golf clubs on purpose. But, I really did need a break from the game.

I filled my time with reading about fitness and deliberate practice. Geoff Colvin’s book, Talent is Overrated and Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers were both helpful.

Insights into My Fitness

2008-12-07T18:25:00.000-05:00

I met with Craig Davies recently in Orlando Florida. I found his assessment of my physical fitness helpful.

One surprise is that my whole left side is not solid. Maybe it’s due to repetitively hitting balls. Also, I’m more muscular than most golfers. But I have a lot of residual tension which makes my nervous system fire more.

The bottom line: I’m not loose enough and balanced in muscle mass. That can affect the mechanics of my swing.

Regular massages, which I intend to do now, will reduce the tension. I have some exercises to do to strengthen my left side.

It was a worthwhile consultation.

Licking My Wounds. Working on Becoming A Better Player

2008-11-30T11:16:00.001-05:00

I was shocked when I did not make the cut at the second stage of PGA Q-School. It hurt badly. I felt well-prepared. I knew I was a better player than last year. After a good start at the first stage, I expected to keep the momentum going.

But, old habits like hooking the ball off the tee a couple of times, cost me. I must have let down my guard on my routine. Let old thoughts creep in. Maybe got too confident. It’s a bit of a mystery. So, it will take some sorting out to identify what went wrong. It’s clear to me I still have much more work to do to be that great player I feel I am.

Fortunately, I have some tournaments in December to keep me busy and focused. I have joined the Gateway Tour again for the 2009 winter series. It has a new competition in December. The player who comes first receives a fully paid for winter series. That should be fun.

I’m working on logistics to go to the Canadian Tour December event in Costa Rica. If I finish well, my status will be at a higher level for my 2009 Can Tour start.

I’m looking to 2009 to sharpen my game and rack up some achievements. I want to prove to myself that I am really becoming a better player.

Steadier This Time at First Stage of PGA Q-School

2008-11-01T22:22:00.002-04:00

What a difference a year makes. In 2007, the sports psychologist I consulted made it clear I was not ready for Q-School. My long game was erratic. My practice habits were not focused enough. Practicing into a vacuum too much.

I went to Q-School anyway. Didn’t get past second stage.

It was about August of this year that I noticed things coming together. Maybe the two month layoff with my finger injury helped me. Who knows?

I had been working with Sean Foley for about a year on my long game. Plus, Marius Filmater has kept the pressure on me, putting me through all kinds of tests on my short game. The feedback has been just what I needed.

Then there’s the mental side of golf. I picked up Robin Sharma’s The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari in the Winnipeg airport after not making the cut in a Canadian Tour event. My mother got me started on Eckhart Tolle’s and Tony Robbins’ books.

I realized that I had some thinking habits to clean up. Like, every time I have a negative thought (“That was a bad shot.”), I should make up the “opposite” thought (“I will do better next time”, or “The good thing about that shot was…it didn’t go in the water!”).

So, first stage of Q-School felt a bit different. Not easy. The first day, I was shaky. But my game was more steady. Overall, I played solid golf—fewer bogies, no drops, more greens in regulation and some birdies here and there. It’s nice when I am not scrambling all the time.

I'm ready

2008-10-22T22:10:00.001-04:00

The trouble with the fall in pro golf is the lack of tournaments unless you can afford to travel to Europe, Asia or South America. As a pro in the making with limited resources, that’s just not in the cards.

So, I’ve been playing minor league tours to keep myself sharp, visiting my coaches and practicing. A few more really competitive tournaments would really make me happy.

With stage one of PGA Q-School almost here, I guess I am going to get my wish.

I am ready. My game is much better than last year this time. In fact, because I am hitting the ball more consistently, it’s a bit strange. I am so used to scrambling out of the weeds and the trees almost all of the time!

Now my challenge is to convert the opportunities I give myself on the golf course to advantage. I have a big challenge ahead.

Getting Confidence Back

2008-09-13T18:41:00.001-04:00

My layoff of almost two months with a finger injury is like being in a hospital for awhile. Once back in the real world, it takes a bit of time to adjust and get back to normal.

My third place finish at a Gateway event this week bolstered my confidence. I’m now feeling more like myself on the golf course. I’m back to making lots of birdies and striking the ball more consistently.

My work with Sean Foley for the past year on my long game is beginning to pay off. Marius Filmater’s detailed feedback on my short game has also been great. My game is at a much better level than last year.

I’m signed up for the first stage of PGA Q-School in Florida. In the meantime, my job is to practice, see my coaches, play friendly games with my many golf buddies and get into as many Minor League Tournaments as possible.

Feeling Better About Ball Striking

2008-08-10T15:36:00.001-04:00

I’m glad my ball striking is coming round. Narrow fairways with lots of rough like at Oakland Hills this week make it a lot tougher on the players. Those who are straight shooters off the tee definitely have an advantage. I’ve been battling the opposite for awhile.

Maybe the long layoff because of my finger injury helped a bit. I was forced to work on my short game for weeks on end. I could only take partial strokes. I’ve also spent time on a lot of machines. I always find that kind of feedback really worthwhile.

I’ve been keeping myself busy with Minor League events. Soon, I’ll be back in my home town in Mississauga to play in another Canadian Tour event.

Reavie's Canadian Open Win Adds Fuel to Our Fire

2008-07-28T18:32:00.001-04:00

Fifty four years and counting is a long time to wait for a Canadian to win the Canadian Open. Chez Reavie showed us what it takes with his amazing win yesterday. It’s also a positive sign that someone can come out of nowhere and win.

It might be awhile yet before a Canadian makes it. The signs are good though. There’s a lot of us young pros now, chomping at the bit. Thanks to RCGA and others like the CJGA we had many chances to play and develop as amateurs.

Thanks to Tiger, we are making a go of it. Golf is a bigger business with more opportunity. I did an essay in university showing how much the “Tiger effect” added tons of money for everyone in the business.

But, it’s still a long journey. RCGA recently published a guide on player development. It takes at least 5 years if you started golf as a kid or another 5 years or so more if your teen years were the beginning. A 20 year path from entry to PGA.

That’s one reason my family business, Pickard & Laws, set up my website. Maybe help a few amateurs and new pros. We’ve gotten really positive feedback from parents and players.

We have learned that much more is needed. It’s more like every man for himself. No system like we had when we were amateurs at university and during summers. Instead, we scramble for information. We’re constantly trying to figure out travel schedules, what coaches to use and many other things.

So, our business, Pickard & Laws, my apparel sponsor, Pin High, and some others have begun to think about how to help me and my buddies so we don’t drop out for lack of money and support. We are excited that the RCGA and the Canadian Professional Golfers’ Association have identified the need for “systematic coaching development and support at all levels”---that means when you turn pro too. We were planning on putting on an event in October to showcase the problem. But, now, we want to re-think this—it’s important to work with RCGA.

After Reavie’s win, the media quoted Mike Weir, Davis Hearn and Bryan DeCorso all saying the same thing: it’s only a matter of time before a Canadian wins the Canadian Open. Why? We have so many young Canadian pros “in the pipeline”. With more of a system, we just might get there.

Adapting to a Post-Injury World

2008-07-22T20:02:00.000-04:00

I’ve been chomping at the bit to get back in action. But, the reality of having been off for 7 weeks is sinking in. My options are not the same---fewer opportunities to play on the Can Tour, in particular. The other guys who have been playing while I’ve been out have moved up in status while I’ve moved down.

Fortunately, there are other options, especially in Florida---back to the Gateway and other Minor League Tours. The competition is fierce, so it will be a good way to get the rust out.

I am also going to ask for exemptions for some of the remaining Can Tour events in Canada.

Almost Healed

2008-07-05T12:49:00.000-04:00

Next week, I’m hoping the hand specialist gives me the OK to get back to tournament play. It will be six weeks by then. I can’t say it’s been much fun. More like torture.

I have filled my time with putting, chipping, fitness exercises and reading. I’m even thinking about joining yoga classes. With this break, I realize how important it is to relax---take myself down from that revved up competitive feeling. My reading has reminded me that I must take care of my nervous system—not just my mind but the constant stress on my whole body from focusing on goals, practicing and competing. This unwelcome “down time” has helped me relax.

I miss my Canadian Tour buddies. I’m looking forward to hanging out with them soon.

Taking An Unwelcome Break

2008-05-28T22:39:00.000-04:00

I’m out for up to six weeks. Me and my Canadian golf buddies decided to play basketball with some local Mexican players when our first round was cancelled due to high winds last Thursday. Unfortunately I came away with an injured finger when scrambling to grab the ball.

My right ring finger is in a splint---torn ligament.

I thought I had just sprained the finger. Managed to play through the whole tournament. But people were telling me the finger’s a bit crooked.

That was confirmed by a hand specialist in West Palm Beach.

I’m glad it wasn’t any worse. But I’m not happy either. It’s going to be hard not playing golf. I’m hoping I can brush up on my putting even with a bum finger.

I’m going to look for other useful things to do while I’m on the sidelines.

A Dose of a Pros' Lifestyle on Tour

2008-05-19T19:45:00.001-04:00

It’s a big change being on the Canadian Tour. Lots of travel and the frustrations that go with it.

I had it easy on the Gateway Tour on the travel side. All the tournaments were local. After awhile, I got to know the courses and the competitors.

We ran into our first major travel problem yesterday when flying from Cancun, Mexico to San Luis Potosi. For about 50 of us, our golf bags made it but not our luggage. Almost a day later and no luggage.

It’s all part of life on the road. Not lonely though. Depending on the tournament, there’s J. C. Deacon, Richard Scott, Andrew Parr, Mark Leon, Ryan Yip and James Lepp to hang out with. Makes everything much easier.

Back to the Canadian Tour

2008-05-07T17:29:00.000-04:00

I’ve been busy moving, seeing my swing coach and practicing. I joined Bear Lakes Country Club in West Palm Beach for six months where I can practice all I want. Ever since I came to Florida in 2006, I have had nowhere to practice without counting and paying for the balls.

Now back to the Canadian Tour for awhile. We’re playing two events in Mexico the weeks of the 12th and 19th.

Me and my buddies are glad that the Tour has a shuttle to the hotels and back. Also the staff has organized a charter flight between the two Mexican cities.

Coming Down the Stretch Put Me To the Test

2008-04-21T09:35:00.000-04:00

The competition in the Can Tour is tough. At minus 5, I just made the cut. Then, I set out to move up the leaderboard. It was a tense race.

At one point I was tied for second in the 4th round but a disastrous 16th hole did me in. I’ve got some work to do there.

I felt good that I recovered my emotions to birdie the 17th and 18th holes.

I’m taking a week or so off before my next Can Tour event. I want to visit my coaches, polish up some things.

It's Way More Fun on the Canadian Tour

2008-04-14T21:29:00.000-04:00

Besides being a well run tournament, the Can Tour is way more fun than the Gateway. I get to hang out with my buddies from my amateur golf days: Andrew Parr, Richard Scott, Mark Leon, and J. C. Deacon. We do everything together. Stay together to save money. Even watch each other playing if we didn’t make the cut or we’re finished our round.

Yesterday, it was tough to watch Parr lose to Spencer Levin. He had that tourney in the bag. But, he played well. So, that’s what he should remember.

Today, we went over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and saw Alcatraz and a beautiful view of the city. Then, we went to the course to practice. We’ll probably miss these days when we move on to other tours and other things.

Birdies Took a Hike at My Can Tour Debut

2008-04-12T16:20:00.001-04:00

I can usually depend on my short game to pull me through. Not this time for my debut at the Can Tour as a new member.

I was fine with short putts but couldn’t get things going with the 12 to 18 foot ones when I needed them. Only one more solid putt was all I needed to make the cut. Heck, that’s golf!

I played pretty solid though. More steady.

Still working on my shots off the tee. I tend to pull left. But, Sean Foley has me working on some things that seem to be helping.

Hopefully, the birdies and long putts will come back for my second Can Tour Tournament next week.

A New Adventure

2008-04-03T21:52:00.002-04:00

I’m heading out to California to play in my first Canadian Tour event as a member. After playing local tournaments in Florida for a couple of years, this is going to be a big change travel-wise. The upside is the opportunity to play on more PGA-level golf courses. Good preparation for the Nationwide and PGA levels.

I’ll be bunking in with guys from my days playing amateur golf in Canada and at college. We’ll save on some costs and keep each other company. Makes it easier to be away from my home base.

An Important Step Forward

2008-03-23T18:54:00.000-04:00

It feels good to become a member of the Canadian Tour. The guys who welcomed us said all the right things. They told us they are there to support us. That’s a great message, to know that they will help us all to succeed.

Even though I am a non-exempt member---missed exempt by two shots---I will have opportunities to improve my status. That’s really motivating.

One of my goals for the first half of 2008 was to gain some status before PGA Q-School in November. Now, my goal is to move up a few categories in status at the Canadian Tour.

In the Hunt

2008-03-04T11:18:00.000-05:00

I’m seeing good signs with my game. Keeping things steadier.

It was good to be in the hunt at last week’s Gateway event. I could see I had a chance at winning. Came close with a tie for third.

That keeps me motivated.

Getting a Taste of the PGA Tour

2008-02-21T16:13:00.001-05:00

I’m glad I had many opportunities during my amateur days to travel. At one point I went as far as to the UK for the British Amateur. I’m benefiting from that now doing Monday qualifiers for PGA events. It’s a lot of travel.

The upside is just seeing other places. Andrew Parr and I were in Mexico this week at the Mayakoba Golf Classic qualifier. It was a long shot (4 places out of 132). But, we added another great experience to our pro golfer development. In really windy conditions, I managed to hit 16 fairways. My Gateway Tour experiences in Florida I’m sure helped. We battle the winds regularly.

We also saw a little bit of Mexico shuttling to and from the airport and eating out. Cancun is a beautiful place. It would be a fun place for a vacation especially at a resort. Not sure that I will ever get used to the free for all way of doing business though. It took some adjusting before we got the hang of it.

I’m back to the Gateway and other minor tours for a few weeks.

A New Apparel Sponsor: Pin High

2008-02-03T11:42:00.000-05:00

I’m excited about Pin High, my new apparel sponsor. Pin High does Ernie Els’ clothing and the Asian Tour. Pin High has only recently started expanding into Canada. It also has its sights on the U.S. market.

After being spoiled in my amateur days with loads of clothing, the timing couldn’t be better now. Two years into my pro career, my clothes are getting well worn and uncoordinated.

Pin High’s golf clothing is 100% luxurious cotton. It will be a nice lift for me while I battle it out on the course.

Pushing the Edges

2008-01-30T21:59:00.000-05:00

I have decided to spread my wings a bit this year. Get more experience by playing in a few different places other than the Gateway.

I tried out for the FBR Open in Scottsdale, Arizona to start this Thursday. Made the pre-qualifier with a 70. But my 69 for the Monday qualifier didn’t cut it. Three guys with 63s made it.

Great experience. My game is strong. Swinging much better. Still need to work on my course management.

So, I’m back to the Gateway Tour for a tournament or two while I figure out where to try out next.

Coaching Matters A Lot Now

2008-01-13T15:13:00.000-05:00

When I’m practicing or competing, I can’t help noticing some things about my game. Often I’m not sure what to do with those thoughts. Are they really right on? Or, am I “delusional”?

This past week pointed out how important coaching is to me now. During my amateur days, I got some coaching but it was hit and miss as the coaches had many of us at the same time as their “students”. One to one coaching was tough to get at the right time.

It’s been a good week working on my putting, chipping and pitching. I even got some feedback on my full swing---posture and set up improvements.

It’s funny how much you can be completely oblivious to what you’re doing. That’s sure what I find each time I receive some feedback about something that wasn’t even on my radar. What a shock!

It’s also a boost when the coaches verify some of the same thoughts I’ve had myself.

Getting Back into Gear

2008-01-09T10:30:00.000-05:00

I’m gearing up for a solid 2008. Right now, I’m in Dallas with my putting coach to work out any bad habits from the last few months.

I feel pretty good about my game. Won a minor league one day event this week (68) plus the skins game.

For the rest of January and into February, I’m aiming at playing in some Gateway Tour events in Florida and, for a change, Arizona.

Looking Ahead to 2008

2007-12-26T13:45:00.000-05:00

The biggest challenge in golf is to be patient. My first swing coach and still my mentor, Steve Chapman often wanted me to tone my “hurry up and win” thoughts (and my big frustrations when I did not). Hard to do when you’re so competitive. But, his advice was right on.

When I saw Rick Jensen in September, he reminded me of this. Mastering the method takes time. Smart practice is where it counts. Instead of practicing in a vacuum, always practice with a goal and target in mind. Track the results. Learn from the feedback. Take the long view and aim for an upward trend.

Jon Mills’ story sure points that out. It’s been a wild up and down experience. After finally making it on the Nationwide and getting his PGA card in 2006, he lost it all. But, he hung in there, fought back doing Monday qualifiers at Nationwides and now is back at the PGA.

I’m taking a page out of Jon’s book. By sticking with it, I’m going to work on inching up.

I’ve set some goals for 2008. Aim for more top five and ten finishes. Do more Monday qualifiers. Try out for the Canadian Tour. Continue to work closely with my swing, putting and mental coaches. Find a better practice facility. Improve how I practice. Get better at strategy when competing. Work on my mental game.

How I manage my thoughts is a big goal in 2008. I have a better idea now about how to do that. Practice seeing the positive in every outcome first. Notice those negative thoughts and frustrations when they come up. Don’t fight them. But, don’t let them get to me either by dwelling on them. Just let them go and play ball!

As I found out when at Q-School, golf’s easy when you’re doing great. It’s when things start to fall apart that the going gets tough. That’s what makes golf exciting!

Didn't Close the Deal

2007-11-19T22:47:00.000-05:00

It “sucks” and it’s no fun missing the top 20 at the second stage of PGA Q-School. I was expecting to get to the final stage. After a strong first stage finish, it was a shock not to keep the momentum going.

It’s easy when things are going well. The hard part is when I’m over by 2 or 3. I don’t feel comfortable. I can’t shake it without a lot of effort. I start going back into old habits. The experience sure pointed out to me that it takes quite a while for new habits to take hold.

I’m glad I was able to recover in the final round. But, not enough to make up for lost ground.

I’ll be going over what happened, trying to make sense of it with the help of my coaches. This is what golf is all about. You gotta “close the deal” over and over again. I fell short this time. I aim not to the next time.

What’s great about golf is that there are always lots of other places to compete and work on the game.

A Milestone: First Stage of PGA Q-School

2007-11-04T15:52:00.000-05:00

After two days of rain delays in Palm City Florida, we crammed four days into three for the first stage of PGA Q-School. I’m tired but happy. Made it through!

It’s been a long time since I hit minus thirteen in a competitive tournament. It feels good.

I hit the ball solid. Hit a lot of greens. More confident in my ball striking. Made sure I kept my head straight when it was tough out there.

I must work hard in preparation for the second stage. I have a long way to go. Lots of golf to play.

Preparing for PGA Q-School

2007-10-27T16:45:00.000-04:00

I’ve had a couple of great experiences at Nationwide Monday qualifiers. They are helping me to keep my game sharp in preparation for PGA Q-School.

In one instance, I was well on my way to making the cut when a butterfly started swirling around my head. Just as I swung, it landed on my ball. If I’d been Tiger, I would have stopped my swing. Now I know better as my ball went out of bounds.

In the other qualifier, I missed three putts inside of four feet, something I almost never do. That was a wake-up call never to neglect in practice what I am good at.

I’ve been focused on my long game a lot. It’s coming around. I’m feeling good about it. But, I sure know now that, in a pinch, it’s my short game that has saved me in the past and will in the future.

Figuring Out How to Get the Golf Ball in the Hole Faster

2007-10-01T13:11:00.000-04:00

I spent an awesome day with sports psychologist Rick Jensen from the Performance Center at the PGA National Resort and Spa, Palm Beach, Florida (http://www.pgaperformancecenter.com/tigertank.htm).

I learned so much about myself. For example, how I think during my short game that gets me good to great results most of the time. How I haven’t used these thinking skills well enough for my long game. Where I can sharpen my “champion’s thinking”.

My biggest “aha” is to focus more on “out there” (the target) and less on “in here” (the mechanics). I knew it before but needed someone to show me practical ways to get myself out of the way. I couldn’t do it without Rick’s help in identifying what about me was in the way! It’s not easy to see yourself.

I feel more positive and confident. I now know better how to practice and to be my own self-improvement coach both on and off the golf course.

Choosing Priorities

2007-09-22T19:16:00.000-04:00

I was booked to try out for the Canadian Tour last week. It was tough to decide not to go. When I weighed my priorities, I decided to focus on other things right now.

I’m playing in some small local tournaments and working on my game, especially the mental side. I’m going to try out for a couple of upcoming Nationwide tournaments as part of preparing for PGA Q-school.

I also did something I never expected. I got a kitten. I named him “Juno”. He keeps me awake at night sometimes but he’s fun to be around.

De-Cluttering My Mind

2007-09-08T17:22:00.000-04:00

I’m shooting better. It’s a great feeling to gain back more control off the tee.

But, to keep it going, I’m working on getting the clutter out of my mind. My determination and tendency towards the technical can distract me from just “playing golf”.

Finding My Own Personal Power

2007-08-30T20:28:00.000-04:00

My coach from Kent State Herb Page always poked fun at me whenever I got too technical. I’m beginning to understand his point.

Last week at the Canadian Tour’s Jane Rogers event, I pulled myself out of a few messes. It was my determination that saved the day. I’m learning to trust that more.

Picking Fewer Fights With Reality

2007-08-25T17:10:00.000-04:00

I’m back in Canada at the Jane Rogers Championship competing with many fellow Canadians. It’s like my amateur days during the summers.

Even though the stakes are higher, James Lepp, Andrew Parr and my other Canadian buddies enjoy hanging out, shooting the breeze. For example, a couple of days before the tournament, Lepp and I caught up while we played soccer in a field near Square One, one of Mississauga’s big plazas. It was more fun to do our aerobics that way than running.

On my golf, I’ve been doing my usual “pulling rabbits out of a hat”. I had a good first round but couldn’t find any birdies. The second and third rounds have been wild roller coaster rides.

I thought I had made peace with myself a couple of weeks ago. Just letting go and accepting where I’m at. But, still keeping in my mind where I want to be. I guess this latest mental goal is no different than the technical ones. It takes a lot of practice before things settle in.

Back on Track

2007-08-04T16:42:00.000-04:00

It’s always good to go home. Get centred. Have fun with friends and family. Just hang out.

I was fortunate also to meet with my swing coach and have a heart to heart with Henry Brunton from the RCGA. I’ve now got a better sense of what to practice and how to keep developing.

My main thing is not to be concerned about the results of a tournament. Just focus on staying in the moment, getting the experience, learning from it and practicing, practicing, practicing.

Taking a Break

2007-07-26T17:47:00.000-04:00

I’m headed back to Canada to see my swing coach. My long game badly needs some fixing.

The timing is good. I’ll be able to take in some of the Canadian Open, see my buddies from amateur days. It will be good to observe the top pros too. I’m sure I’ll learn something.

Getting Some Canadian Tour Golf In

2007-07-11T20:36:00.000-04:00

I’m excited about being able to play in an upcoming Canadian Golf Tour Event, the Jane Rogers Championship of Mississauga, August 20 to 26. Elliott Kerr, the President of Landmark Sport Group and sponsor, granted me an exemption.

The new Canadian Tour event is in honour of Mr. Kerr’s late wife, Jane Rogers, who courageously battled cancer.

It will be great to see some of my golf buddies from my days playing on the RCGA Amateur team.

Battling My Long Game

2007-06-29T22:53:00.000-04:00

When my game comes together, I wish I knew why. It sure is a nice feeling.

In my most recent tournaments, it’s been a grind. That great feeling just isn’t there. So, I’m back to videotaping myself to see what’s going on.

My short game almost never lets me down. It’s been good for years. And, I’m thankful because it rescues me when my long game gets erratic. If only I could apply the “formula” to my long game!

Sometimes my long game is fine. Then, just when I think things are fine, I find myself in the rough too much. I’m sure my frustration doesn’t help.

This is my big challenge—to be more consistent in my long game. I am hoping to have some help from a sports psychologist to dig deeper on the mental toughness and agility side. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s part of what getting in my way.

Learning from Sonny

2007-06-06T11:44:00.000-04:00

Luck was on my side with my visit to Toronto for the Bell Celebrity Classic fundraiser. I got to see my friend from Kent State, Andy Sonnanstine, debut as a pitcher for the Tampa Devil Rays against the Blue Jays. What a night!

I was surprised at how nervous I got watching him. I really wanted him to do well. Because I have to keep my emotions in control for golf, I don’t feel nervous much. I started to breath more easily as the game went on. By the time his coach pulled him at the end of the eighth inning, his team had an 11-6 lead.

Who would have guessed what the Blue Jays would do in the last inning? A comeback matching the biggest ninth-inning rebound in franchise history. A wild 12-11 victory! For Sonny, I thought “Oh, no”!

I learned something from him as I watched what he did over eight innings. When things looked like they weren’t going well, he breathed deeply and took a few moments to clear his mind. He didn’t allow himself to be rushed.

I don’t do that enough. Maybe it’s because in golf we’re always on a timer for the number of minutes allowed per hole. Then, when things don’t go as planned (like balls off-bounds or lost in the water…), I hurry even more.

I realize that a few seconds to pull my thoughts together won’t matter for the timing. But, they could matter a lot for my game.

A Small Step Forward

2007-05-15T12:24:00.000-04:00

I’ve tried to get into the US Open a couple of times. But, I never got past the local try outs. Last year I was an alternate. This time I made it.

I hit the ball pretty well. Made a few putts and felt comfortable all day. When I made 64, someone told me I’d tied the course record. But, I found out later that Fred Couples had a 63 in a Honda Classic a few years ago at the Weston Hills Country Club, Weston, Florida where I was yesterday.

Next is the sectional in Columbus, Ohio. No matter what, it’s a great experience.

When Scores Don't Tell the Real Story

2007-05-09T15:52:00.000-04:00

When +6 makes the cut, you know something weird is going on. We had a little more wind than usual. That makes scores go up a bit. But, it was the placement of the pins and bumpy greens that got in the way of figuring out how the ball would roll.

So, we depended more on chance and luck than our brains.

Anyway, that’s golf!

Working on the "Feeling Thing"

2007-05-06T10:50:00.000-04:00

I’m working on balancing my competitive and analytical nature with the “feeling thing”. I’m learning to relax more over the ball, to “gear down”.

I had one really good round this week—a 65. It reminds me of what I can do when I relax.

Funny things happen on the course though. On the second hole, of a golf course I’m familiar with, I always hit a driver over the lake without any problems. The drive felt good. I expected to carry on as usual. But I never found my ball. No one else saw it either. It’s a mystery. So, I had to take a penalty and hit it again. Those are the times when it’s hard to stay relaxed!

Plugging Away

2007-04-28T19:22:00.000-04:00

Golf is sure giving my mind a work out. I’m in a good routine for my physical fitness and practicing. On the driving range, things are getting better. And, the speed on my long putts has improved---something I’ve been working on since December. Yet, when I’m on the golf course, I get surprises I didn’t expect.

I guess this is golf. Just when you think things are coming together better, it throws you a wrench!

In the meantime, I’m enjoying the warmer weather and making new friends in the golf community. Mark Leon, a fellow Canadian, is bunking in with me and J.C. while he gets some experience on the Gateway Tour.

We’ll all remember these days, like Zach Johnson said after he won the Masters. He liked the chicken wings and the fun with other struggling golfers.

Battling the Winds

2007-04-16T19:56:00.000-04:00

Scores soared in the 40 mile an hour winds today at the Nationwide Qualifier in Gainesville, Georgia. I played pretty good golf despite the winds. But, not low enough to make one of the seven spots available.

It's always a good experience. Each time I learn a little more and have a chance to play with other great golfers.

Now back to the Gateway for a few weeks.

Looking to the Nationwide

2007-03-29T20:47:00.000-04:00

The weather’s warming up and so am I. A lot of my golf buddies are trying out for Nationwide tournaments. We all want to break into the big time. So, we’re going back and forth between the Gateway events and Nationwide Monday qualifiers.

I’m heading to Georgia in early April where I’ll aim to get into two Nationwides.

In the meantime, some things are looking up. I’m hitting straighter, keeping out of trouble more. I’m playing more consistently and my short game is good.

Refueling

2007-03-17T17:32:00.000-04:00

St. Patrick’s Day reminds me of luck, fun, good fortune and taking time out for the mind and spirit. This past week I’ve been working on the spirit. I needed to refuel for the next round of tournaments. There’s no luck or good fortune in golf without taking time out.

It also reminds me of my own background. I’ve got a little bit of Irish in me on my maternal grandmother’s side. My great-grandmother, Margaret O’Donnell was one of 17 children. When she was just seventeen, she came to Canada from Liverpool, England to start a new life. She had guts and the strength of character to hang in. Thanks to her, I’m here following in her footsteps. She didn’t do golf but she’s an inspiration.

This past week, I returned to my great-grandmother’s adopted city, Toronto, to see my family, friends and coach, Steve Chapman. It was short, yet enough to get me going again.

Beating the Elements

2007-02-20T14:58:00.000-05:00

Like last year this time, I’m happy to be in a warmer part of the continent. No snow or freezing rain. It’s not all to the good though. We have some really cool days and lots of wind.

Lately, we’ve been battling the wind. The scores skyrocket.

I’m glad to have the experience. It’s practice for future tournaments in Europe, for example, where wind is a regular part of the game.

Using the Strengths of My Mental Style

2007-01-28T18:20:00.000-05:00

I took a “Mental Golf Workshop” test after finishing my last tournament. What an eye-opener!

My coaches since I started golf have always talked to me about things I can do to get better at the mental side of golf. I have grown over the years, such as worrying less about the score and more about the shot I have to make. I’ve tried to stay positive too and control my emotions in the moment. But, I have known all along that there’s much more to the “mental game of golf”.

In many ways, it’s been hard to figure out what to do. I like concrete ideas. The mental part is not that way. So, the great thing about the test is that it’s explained the mental part in more detail and it gave me practical ways to improve.

Take the competitive part of my nature. It came out as really dominant. That’s good especially for pressure situations. On the flip side, I can try too hard and create tension that hurts my performance.

I also learned something I’ve known for a while: my results orientation and aggressiveness on the course can lead to wasted shots.

The great part about the test is that it spelled out specific practices for four important areas of the game: goal-setting, pre-round preparation, mental tendencies over the ball and course management.

I’ve got a break now in the Gateway Tour. I will use it to try out the tips from the test.

One of the big ideas is about positive energy and positive self-talk. The test advised me to “gear down”. When my competitive nature tells me “you should have done better”, turn it into “what can I learn from this”? or just let it go. The positive fuel creates positive energy.

Overall, the suggestions focus on managing tension. My competitiveness increases tension. So, I’m going to work on some practices that help me relax more while I keep my competitive focus.

Going on Right Track

2007-01-21T19:28:00.000-05:00

I’ve settled down, playing more conservative, smart golf. I’m still looking to win. I know that I’ve got to use good judgment about how to get there.

My putting is better. I’m making longer putts based on what I learned in December from one of my coaches.

My hitting is still a work in progress. I’m not comfortable yet with my hitting average.

The Gateway Tour has a solid record of preparing golfers for the Nationwide and the PGA circuit. So, I’m focusing on practicing and playing.

I’ve made many friends who play regularly on the Gateway. That’s a real plus.

Mental Lapses

2007-01-10T16:40:00.000-05:00

My coach from Kent State, Herb Page, would have some expressions for what I did this week on the golf course. But, I can’t put them down in print!

I didn’t do well, not because of technique. I wasn’t using my head. I forgot all I’ve been teaching myself: stay in routine, do the same thing at the same pace, keep my mind quiet and in the moment and focus on what I want for the shot.

Instead I veered from my routine: I tried some experimenting, letting my analytical self interfere. Herb knows all about this. So does Steve.

I was aggressive on too many holes when I should have played conservatively. There are just too many hazards on the course to be taking chances. Once things started getting disastrous, I couldn’t stick to the moment. Nasty!

Live and learn. Those mental lapses can sneak up and take over. I let my mind play tricks on me and my judgment went out the window.

I am going in the right direction though and feel good about how I am progressing. Next week, I’ll have a chance to get back into routine.

A Good Start for 2007

2007-01-07T17:58:00.000-05:00

I played decent today in my first tournament for the year. On the plus side, my putting is better. But, my shots off the tee are still not consistent enough.

Over the holiday break, I learned that I had two problems with my putting---acceleration and timing. After hitting the ball, I was not letting go but pushing more. On timing, for the total putt, I was taking way too long on my back swing. I learned this from my new putting coach who has some great machines that give you brutal feedback.

He compared my putting to Tiger’s. Based on time to release, I was still on my back swing when Tiger had finished both the back and the front swing.

It’s been interesting. I am working on slowing down my follow through and speeding up my back swing.

I could feel the difference these last three days. It’s helping me on distance control where speed is more of a factor in accuracy to the hole.

Preparing for 2007

2006-12-22T18:56:00.000-05:00

I’m getting ready for my second year as a professional golfer. I had a strong first year.

In 2007, I want to improve my control and consistency. I competed with so many top players and learned more about what it’s going to take to get to the PGA. It’s not just about thinking smart on the golf course. I’ve got to prepare myself better in the way I practice and what I practice.

To help me improve my game, I am building a coaching team around me. I continue to look to my coach, since I was 13 years old, Steve Chapman. He’s a pro at Glen Abbey in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. Sean Foley, in Orlando, Florida, is proving to be great when I can’t get back to see Steve. This week I spent two days with a putting coach who works with top players on the PGA. The feedback was just what I needed. I’ve got some work to do on my timing and acceleration.

Now, my main goal is to practice, practice, practice before the start of the season in January.

Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Back to the Drawing Board

2006-11-20T17:09:00.000-05:00

Only 4 out of 17 Canadian players made it through the PGA’s second stage Q-school. I wanted to be one of them. But, I guess I’ve got to wait another year.

Coaches from the RCGA like Doug Roxbourgh told me when I started on the pro tour that it might take a few years. He knows what it takes---experience. I did not want to believe him.

It looks like he’s right. Most of the players who are going to the final stage are older than those who did not make it. There are always exceptions though. I sure want to be one of them.

I’ve learned from my first year as a pro that I need feedback on a regular basis. I don’t like the feeling of going into a tournament with parts of my game not quite where I’d like them to be. That’s happened to me too much this year. I will set up my coaching better for the New Year.

I’ve got some serious work ahead of me to take my game up a notch or two.

My goal for 2007 is to get more consistent lower scores for each tournament. It means wasting less shots and having more confidence in what I am doing for each shot.

I’ll be back on the Grey Goose Gateway Tour and I’ll try out for more Nationwide events.

I am grateful for all the support I’ve had this year from family, friends, coaches and sponsors. It has kept me going and made it possible for me to play golf. Thanks to everyone.

Relaxed Under Pressure

2006-11-05T19:55:00.000-05:00

Like the pre-qualifying stage of Q-School, the first stage this week was another wild experience. I found out again that I play better under pressure.

After two great rounds, my game derailed. My tee shots were all over the place and they finally caught up with me on the third round.

I went from tied for 15th to 43rd. As only 26 spots plus ties would make the cut line, things weren’t looking good going into the fourth round.

Maybe it was sheer determination. I knew what I needed to do. I loved the feeling of pressure. It kept me going.

It must be the zone the greats talk about. Everything gets blocked out. Total focus and concentration. I’d like to get it back more often.

Next week, I move onto the second qualifying stage.

Tight Competition

2006-10-24T21:54:00.000-04:00

I’m more rested and ready to roll again. So, I tried out for a Nationwide Tour this week thinking it would be good preparation for the next stage of Q-School.

A lot of guys showed up, about 200 hundred in all. The rush is on to improve standings for next year.

Again, I was in a playoff with guys tied at 68. This is when I could kick myself for not getting that one putt in or for the bogey on 17. Anyway, I was the last guy booted out---darned!

I’ll be back!

Balance is the Big Lesson

2006-10-02T12:52:00.000-04:00

The lessons are many after finishing the final Grey Goose Gateway Tournament for 2006. The most important is balance---pacing myself. Too many tournaments tapped me out. That showed up in my results, especially this past weekend. I had two great rounds (67 and 69) but I couldn’t hold it in each of the last nine holes of the next two rounds. Then, one thing led to another. I was not a happy man!

The good news is that overall, I’ve had a great start to my pro career. Eighty per cent of the time, I made the cuts. Ditto for being in the top 20 or higher.

The downside is overplaying: I played almost 100 % more tournaments than Tiger this year, thirty five events in all:
-30/32GGGT (made 25 cuts)
-3 Nationwides (made 1 cut)
-1 charity event for Bell
-1 PGA Q-School, pre-Qualifier (made it)

It reminds me of my amateur days. Combined with school, our schedules were a grind. The summers were no different. By the time August rolled around, I could feel the toll on my body and mind. Many of my golf buddies felt the same.

Even though I am disappointed with my finish to the GGGT season, I feel good about my game. My putting is consistently reliable. My average with fairways in regulation is up. I can go low more and more often. My distance is competitive. I’m learning to be more patient. I’m trying to go for the singles and doubles rather than the home runs.

One of the headlines in today’s newspapers about Tiger’s sixth consecutive PGA victory in 10 weeks matches my feelings---Tiger’s “taking a nap”. That goes for me too.

I’ve got the next stage of PGA Q-School coming up. So, I want to be in good shape.

Serious Win/Lose Pressure Worked

2006-09-23T14:00:00.000-04:00

I felt good about my golf game at the PGA School Q-School Pre-qualifier. After a month of grief in August with my long game, I had it back. My up and downs were solid.

But, just when I needed some birdies to bail me out of bogeys, they didn’t happen. On two holes I really blew it. I got real worried that I would not make the qualifier.

Something happened to me on the last day. I got fired up with the pressure. My brain said “no way” can I let this go.

The birdies came back. I made it.

There’s still a lot of golf to go---three more qualifying stages.

A New Adventure---Q School

2006-09-16T20:04:00.000-04:00

I’m off to the new pre-qualifying stage of Q-School in La Quinta, California. The PGA has added this stage for the first time. Unfortunately, I’m missing the last Grey Goose Gateway tournament in Florida.

I’ll be playing though in the Sidney Frank Memorial Tour sponsored by GGGT. It’s open to the top money earners from the Florida and Arizona locations. We’ll start on September 25 in Desert Mountain, Scottsdale, Arizona.

One thing about golf----we get to travel to interesting places.

I’m feeling better about my long game. As for the birdie/bogey ratio, I still have some work to do to conserve birdies.

A Valuable Experience

2006-09-04T13:45:00.000-04:00

After two days at my first Nationwide tournament, I had a “very colourful” scorecard, to quote my mother. I was among the top five players for birdies and bogeys. Not a good combination!

I’m working on figuring out what happened. I want to use the lessons for the next Nationwide. The course was different from those I’ve been playing on since January: longer yardage, longer roughs and faster greens. I made way too many mistakes out there.

I feel I belong though. It was great to see guys from my college days and summers as an amateur. The next time I’ll be there the whole time---that’s my goal.

A Milestone

2006-08-30T15:04:00.000-04:00

Someone said that golf is a game of inches. It’s easy to picture what that means in putting.

As a new pro, inches sure mean a lot to me.

On Monday, as darkness fell, I was battling in a qualifier against eight other golfers. We were all tied at 68. It was a sudden death playoff. Five of us would get in.

I parred the hole. It was enough to qualify for my first Nationwide Tour.

Check out the Nationwide Legend Financial Group Classic event in Ohio at http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/h088

Now, to make the cut!

Rolling with the Punches

2006-08-26T19:36:00.000-04:00

I’ve had a dry spell this month. My long game went wonky. I tried fixing it and screwed things up more. Not good to fool around with motor memory!

As it turned out when I saw my coach yesterday, I’d gotten sloppy with my stance—too wide. Such a simple thing but I could not see myself. Neither could any of my buddies.

Steve’s always good with solutions. That’s one of the many things I like about him. He told me to cut a piece of wood exactly the width of my shoulders and put it in my golf bag. When things don’t feel right when I’m practicing, I can do a quick check on my stance. That’s just one of many tools and tips Steve gave me to help me be my own coach.

There’s a break right now in the Grey Goose Gateway Tour schedule, so I’m off to a Nationwide Tour qualifier in Cleveland.