Banging at golf balls for better or worse

I’ve probably hit about one million golf balls on the practice range since I got the bug at age 13. At a local golf club in Horny Ontario where I started I had so much fun banging away and then going around the golf course with some of the older guys who took me under their wings. After, I’d go back at it trying to perfect my shots.

My mother had a hard time getting me off the range every day during those long summer days. She patiently waited until I finally gave in to the night’s darkness.

So, it’s no surprise that the “banging away” caught up to me in the last year or so. My back swing has taken a beating with the muscles tightening up and screaming at me sometimes. At the second stage of PGA Q-school last year, I knew I needed to do something different in my practice and fitness. The muscles were giving me unhappy messages.

Fortunately, I’ve been working with some great trainers to ease the pain and heal the muscles. By keeping careful records of how my body reacts after different swings, my fitness coaches have been able to give me specific advice as to what to change.

It’s a bit of a journey but things are definitely improving. Dealing with injuries is just part of any athlete’s life. It sure wears on my patience though. I chomp at the bit to compete every day!!

I’ve had some fun in the meantime to keep my game sharp - putting contests, one-day events and friendly rounds with golf pros and teachers and guys that love to play golf whenever they can fit it in.

Now I’m easing my way back to the big time.

The Drag of an Erratic Tee Shot

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.

Wild Week in North Carolina

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.

Messing Around With My Swing to Get More Feel

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.