Slowing down while my body heals

I love golf and competing. But I have practiced way too much. Now my body screams loudly. The golf swing is not body-friendly!

 A shoulder injury I have been nursing for the last few years just won’t go away. It feels OK for a while but when I play for any length of time, the discomfort affects my game.

I’ve consulted with many experts. I’ve tried many remedies --more stretching, ART, softer conditioning, less busy schedule. The only thing that seems to help is a break from a lot of golf.

This year was the first time in my professional career that I did not go to PGA Q-School. It felt weird. I figured I had not played enough to give myself a decent chance.

The break from playing a lot of golf is helping me to re-evaluate direction. I know there are many players on the top tours who took a long time before making it. Isn’t the average age for getting a PGA Tour card about 33? I still have a few years to go.

Besides the technical, I am really interested in the health and mindset side of golf. Conditioning and strengthening is more important than when I started as an amateur. A few more feet off the tee can be an advantage on some courses. Endurance especially on the last day can make a real difference. Keeping positive is better than negative. But not so easy when things are not going well! Golf is a fascinating sport.

I’ve learned a lot. How I can put that to use is part of my thinking these days.
 

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.