New experience: Tour de las Americas Q-School

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

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.

The Liberation of Knowing

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

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.

Smart Adapting by The Gateway Tour

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!