~~Today's Lesson~~

Well,

I have not written for a while simply because.....it is too HOT here in Phoenix to play! (And for those of us who hate to practice, it is WAY TOO HOT!)

I met with the director of the Cactus Tour today.

My big hairy lesson:

Recognize and stick to what you are really, really good at.

What am I really good at?

Speaking, writing, communicating...
and oh, by the way, I was told that I am funny.


~~Sigh~~

Possible Tour Play?

www.thecactustour.com

Golf...a Metaphor for Life

I have been playing golf for years, and have often thought that golf is, indeed, a metaphor for life.

As I expand my thoughts, I plan to turn these thoughts into a book for anyone who wants to improve their game...of golf and life. You will find many "double meanings" in the missive below. Look for them; they are intended.

- To go longer, go slower.

- A relaxed approach (physical and mental) goes a lot further in the success of your game.

- To get up, you must stay down. (Focused and "with" the ball or whatever your game is.)

- Emotions need not control your actions. It really is your call.

- Avoid paralysis by analysis. Over thinking equals under performing. And no fun! Just swing!

- Negative thoughts lead to poor outcomes.

- As the great Jack Palance once said, "Confidence is sexy. Don't ya think?" (Note that he didn't say that arrogance is sexy.)

- Always tell yourself what TO do. (Most are surprised when they go in the water after thinking, "Don't go in the water.") "Stay in the grass" is a much better self-command.

- Slow and steady is the key to consistency. Herky Jerkies are...well...Herky Jerkies!

- If you help enough others win, you are really the winner.

- To get more control, loosen your grip.

- The well-mannered get along easier.

- Perfection teaches you nothing. Welcome and enjoy learning from your miss hits.

Drawing the Ball...on purpose!

Up until the last few practice sessions, I was just happy to make contact with the ball. I was impressed with people that could "work" the ball, making it go right, straight or left , as is necessary for position condition.

I was just happy to get it in the air and down the fairway. I am always thrilled when I have a long walk to get to my next shot.

Anyway, I know how to fade the ball, as that is my natural tendency. That is a left-to-right direction. But drawing the ball was something I only used to do by accident. I wanted to learn to work the ball.

Today, I practiced hitting the ball straight, with a fade and with a draw.

Now...I draw the ball...on purpose!

She's Baaaack!!

Today was a good day on the range. I created a golf thought that really worked for me. Each shot, regardless of club, was tighter, truer and crisper. As frustrated as I was the other day is as satisfied as I am today. Ahhh....the yin and yang of golf. Golf is an amazing metaphor for life. (I'll write about that in another post.)

I practiced my short game also today, positioning myself with a sand bunker between the pin and me, with very little green to the hole.

Shawn, who happens to be a professional caddy, was also practicing around the same green. He asked that I stop chipping so that he could retrieve balls from the sand. I told him, "No, stay there. I'll chip over your head." One could say that he is brave, or one could say he is stupid.

He stayed where he was. I chipped over his head, and the ball landed in the hole! He said, "I guess you need a challenge to win, huh?"

Well...maybe.

Momma said, "There'd be days like this."

Well, sometimes you have it, and sometimes you don't. I went to practice today, and here's how it went.

1. I forgot my golf shoes.

2. I got lost on my way to the course.

3. I kept hitting the big ball before the little ball. <--Don't make me explain this.

4. I shanked. I shanked. I shanked. <--"shank" is a bad word.

5. I got miffed and left.

6. I forgot that I had my glove on until I was shopping....for booze. (No, I did NOT libate!)

7. I am sure I am forgetting something else....


Yes. Momma said "There'd be days like this." (Oh...I forgot. I don't have a mom....sigh.)

Golf with Bood's dad

Bood's dad Dave and I played golf at Talking Stick in Scottsdale.

We got to the first tee, and I went to pull out my driver, only to find it missing! Although, I try to find the positive in everything, this was not funny!

I knew I had my driver earlier, as I was cranking it at the driving range. I went back to the range to find it. No driver. I told the attendants what happened, and they went on the hunt.

I drove back to the first tee without my driver. But Dave, being the gentleman that he is, handed me his driver.

As the round progressed, he only got miffed when I took his driver and out drove him with his own club! Ha!

(Turns out that Dave is a good sport, as well as a gentleman!)

The positive that came out of losing my driver was this: FOCUS. No matter what is going on around you, FOCUS on the present. Had I let this "detour" get into my head, I would not have been able to play well. FOCUS on the PRESENT.


(BTW, someone found my driver....probably where I left it.)