Holiday Golf Plans

During the holidays, I plan to play a few rounds of golf. Let me be super transparent. I plan to play as much golf as I can possibly play during the holidays.

In the past, I’ve played a lot of golf, But I’ve made plenty of mistakes on my journey.

I didn’t approach the opportunity to play golf with the right mindset. Or, my plans didn’t work out with the right execution and the wheels fell off the entire apple cart per se.

As I approach my play during this holiday season, I plan to keep my outlook positive with a positive mindset.

Seize the Open Opportunities

Conservative play has its place in golf. Yet, sometimes you just have to be more aggressive. I’m going to take a few more risks, albeit calculated risks but still risks.

Being More Present in the Moment

Evaluations of my last few rounds show me that I start out strong but lose it somewhere around 8th or 9th hole. I can recall on the 8th hole of my last round, playing a par 5 with some errors and mishaps to nearly save par, and then losing my stuff right off the tee on the par 3 10th hole to end up playing for bogey at best.

By being more present in the moment, I can examine what I have to do and focus on execution. By doing so, I can also manage my play to better fit my goals.

It sounds highly technical but it’s primarily mindset. The game’s definitely mental.

Just Have Fun

I enjoy playing golf. I like it when the sun is shining off the blades of grass and the birds are singing in the trees near the tee box. It seems like you get a piece of heaven on earth.

When we take it all too serious, then we forget to have fun. We forget to enjoy just being out on the course. We lose sight of the reason why we even pick up the clubs. I think the Angry Golfer might get where I’m coming from with this.

So, I am going to swing like crazy and pop a few Advil and do it some more. I’m playing golf in the winter in SoCal. I don’t need to make big golf travel plans right now. That’s for the future.

I’ll update you on how it goes.

A Weekend Full of Golf Legends and Life Lessons

 Golf is the closest game to the game we call life. - Bobby Jones

Watching the PNC Championship. let us see some unique pairings of golf legends along with their pairing with family members. Names like Trevino and Sorenstam graced the field of legendary golfers along with Tiger Woods and John Daly among other notable golfers.

While Vijay and Qass Singh won by two shots to finish at 26-under-par to win the 2022 PNC Championship, the unique pairings and groupings offered some succinct lessons on golf and life.

Don’t Take the Game Too Serious

“Let’s not be too serious,” Annika Sorenstam is quoted via Golfweek.

As the article points out regarding her quote, Sorenstam’s message to her playing partner, her son Will, was simply to put more emphasis on having fun playing golf. With his dad as the caddie, 11-year old Will was the youngest in the field of golfers to play the pro-am tournament. It would seem likely that such a status would cause any golfer at heart to approach the tournament with something to prove.

That’s a lesson for a lot of us. We need to reevaluate our approach to playing golf.

We tend to use a lot of words and analogies that convey an image of waging war on the course. And heaven forbid if there is any type of money on the line.

We can get seriously competitive and focus on the wrong part of the game, missing the best parts along the way.

Dial back on the competitive spirit and focus on the fun. Just enjoy the game and the time together.

Playing Through the Pain and Problems

Charlie Woods played the PNC with an injury he suffered prior to the pro-am. Despite the injury, the young Woods managed to keep up with his dad and keep his pair in contention for the championship.

Watching young Charlie Woods fighting to keep pressure off his ankle on big swings reminded me as both a coach and an athlete how much we might hear others urge and encourage us to play through the pain. It was obvious that the young man wasn’t at his best, but he kept playing his heart out.

With high school basketball, I played through injuries and lived to regret it. (DISCLAIMER: Don’t look for me dunking on the basketball court anytime soon.) It did long-term damage, but it also reminded me of the high cost of giving it your all and leaving it all out there as you pursue a victory.

It wasn’t just physical. It was more than that.

Playing through an injury is part of showing up for the moment at hand. In team sports, even when paired with a legend like Tiger Woods t the PNC, you’ve got others depending on you. They’re looking for you to not just show up but to show up with your best and at your best. When you don’t meet that expectation, you tend to do one of two things: take on even more of the burden to carry your team or fall back and give in.

A 13-year old Charlie Woods showed us that he’s willing to show up and carry as much of the load that he can handle even when suffering from a rolled ankle.

How we show up reveals character. How we show up gives others an indication of how much our hearts are into it.

In the upcoming holiday golf tournament, don’t downplay your recent injury-plagued weekend work around the house. Keep away from the signature personal disclaimers of not having played in a while or how the new driver hasn’t been broken in yet. Don’t do all of that on your next tee time or tournament. Just own it and show up for your foursome with your best. Who knows? Your putter might be the difference-maker on the scorecard. Show up and give it your best where you can.

With the holidays so near, I’m playing a few times while in between youth sports seasons. I’m mainly looking at a pair of par 3 courses and a few 18-hole par 72 courses nestled in the mountains and filled with natural hazards and obstructions. I’m definitely looking to do better than my last golf outing’s breakdown.

I’ll post some photos and a few words between play and most probably be back right before 2023 with a recap.

Enjoy your holidays and keep swinging!

Creating an Attack Plan

On the golf course, you’re bound to find out that have a few flaws that need fixing. It is always good to ask for feedback for fixing your flaws. I tend to focus on finding more fairways and giving myself at least a shot at birdie as an improvement on most days.

That doesn’t always happen, though.

Short game swing practice

Develop a Plan

A good plan violently executed now is better

than a perfect plan executed next week

General George S. Patton

I’m a planner by nature. I like to sketch out a scheme with plenty of room allowed for any type of contingency necessary.

Creating a plan of action for the golf course seems like a lot, but it surely helps a lot.

  • Go to greenskeeper and get the course scorecard
  • Identify par 5 holes and any short par 4 (distance at 400 yards or under)
  • Set your goal for making par on at least half of those total holes
  • Play bogey or better on the remaining holes
  • Limit yourself to 2 putts per hole

From there, it’s all about putting your plan into action.

Take Action with Your Plan

Review your plan prior to your play.

  • What type of club and shot do you need to prepare for?
  • How aggressive or conservative do you need to play?
  • What’s your best option for maximizing opportunities and minimizing mistakes?

Hit the course with your plan in mind.

Tackle the front 9, and then at the turn you need to evaluate where you are with your plan.

  • Are you on track?
  • Do you need to make an adjustment?
  • Can you shave some more strokes somewhere?

Go into the back 9 with confidence.

Planning and Performance Don’t Always Link Up

“The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” – Robert Burns

After you play, analyze how you played. Take into account what worked and what just did not go your way. From there, accept what it is and where you are. Then, plan your next outing and attack plan.

Armed with an attack plan, I believe that you can see marked improvement after 4-6 outings of consistent action and analysis based upon an improvement plan.

Golf Gods and Personal Demons

“Golf Gods is not your every day golf brand, we cover the stuff other golf brands don’t dare to cover.” (as per golfgodsonline.com )

See No Evil + Hear No Evil + Do No Evil = Par

I came across Golf Gods clothing by way of a golf subscription box.

It sort of took me by surprise, even caught me off guard a bit. I believe in God Almighty and here was this brand boldly touting themselves as Golf Gods. I was taken aback.

Technically, that’s what good advertising, marketing and promotions should do. It should grab your attention and cause you to pause momentarily, considering what you just witnessed or experienced.

You hear a lot about the “golf gods” while on the course. A missed putt rolls in the cup and lips out like some spiritual force said it ain’t happening today. A favorite go-to club offers nothing but shanks and slices all day long. And who do many golfers blame? The golf gods seem to take the blame.

I shared on another blog about why I no longer by Nike brand gear, shoes, etc. Like I said, I believe in God. Nike is another god. I just can’t see buying the brand.

Golf Gods as a brand is nothing like that. In fact, Golf Gods the brand is just like it says. It is “not your everyday golf brand.” It’s tongue in cheek humor. It’s not saying wear our brand and be like Mike. It’s not that kind of brand.

Personally, I don’t see it as a contradiction. I see Nike as a conceptual brand, as I shared in a livestream for my YouTube channel’s Bible study. Nike’s playing off the characteristic traits of a Greek goddess of victory and using mythological references to its running shoes and trainers in particular. I see Golf Gods making a brand based on golfer idioms and taking that running joke as far as they can run with it.

Not Afraid to Say It with My Shirt

I believe you can say a lot with your t-shirts or hoodies. They’re not just fashion statements.

I wrote on this concept about message merch, discussing merch designs that I offer online through Zazzle and other online shops.

You can use your fashion statement to make a statement.

Your personal style can stand out and make a statement about your personal stance on different things. And I find that cool about fashion and society in this day and age.

I’ve been known to wear some controversial shirts from time to time.

I say to say it and show it with your shirt.

I love that what we wear on the golf course or anywhere for that matter can catch someone’s attention and draw eyeballs, even suspicious stares at times. I take some of what I wear as an ice breaker or a conversation piece. I still sport my favorite Not of This World (NTW) tee that simply says to the world: “I killed Jesus.” It really gets people talking or even asking questions. It definitely shocks some folks and causes others to ask me about my faith in God. And I’m cool with that.

Not Judging Anybody on Anything

Do I wear a lot of Golf Gods gear?

Truthfully, I don’t have much of it and most courses that I play have this collared shirt rule and dress code (imagine that). The gear that I do have from Golf Gods is mainly t-shirt and some accessories.

I don’t have time to judge someone else.

You show up in Nike from head to toe with the TW golf cap and a tiger head cover on your driver and I will still play with you. You show up in cutoff jeans with a wild-colored Grateful Dead-styled polo and I’ll tee it up with you.

Just show up. Tee it up. Have fun and swing it like you mean it.

You can even say it and show it with your shirt.

Keep swinging.

This post is not endorsed or sponsored by any brand. I receive no compensation from Golf Gods or any other brand for this post.

Foot Care for the Fairway

Running and hiking are part of my rationale for embracing foot care.

Foot care is simply a form of self care.

It’s nothing new but it is new territory for me.

I went to a local salon for a pedicure under the advisement of a friend and I am so grateful. My feet have new life. I totally get why so many people swear by it.

What I don’t get is why we don’t talk about it more.

Proper Foot Care Benefits

For me, it’s not just about golf and fitness for the fairway. I’m a golfer but I also hike, walk, run, cross-train and play basketball and tennis. My feet are big part of that. As an athletic coach and referee for middle school and elementary sports, I am on my feet and on the move alot.

Footcare offers plenty of health benefits, especially if we’re talking about ongoing foot care. As an older man, I need to remain mindful of how proper foot care impacts my health and wellness. Additionally, a healthy dose of foot care is recommended as part of a health and wellness regimen as well as a key part of self care.

Proper foot care has benefits for my golf game and overall health including:

  • Improved performance
  • Less pain
  • Limit the effects of long term neglect

For me, I suffered an injury to my foot nearly a year ago that led to an ingrown toenail that caused me ongoing aches and pains. It limited my turning on toes in my golf swing. It impacted how I ran and performed during long walks and hikes. It had an effect on my training sessions. It also impacted the types of shoes I could comfortably wear and what types of shoes worked for me to coach and ref games.

I was in serious need of a pedicure, an exfoliating foot scrub, and a foot massage.

My Personal Foot Care Plans

Getting a pedicure gave me more than just a sense of relief.

I feel like the foot care helped with my feet aching as well as the texture of my feet. You eliminate a lot of issues when you take time to care for your feet. I can attest to that for sure.

In the future, I plan on adding a pedicure to my monthly schedule (and budget). Basic pedicure packages run anywhere from $20 to $25 with more time and more services adding to the costs from there. I plan to add both the exfoliating scrub and reflexology massage myself.

Make an appointment. Even though many salons take walk-in clients, you don’t want to have to wait all day for a 30-minute appointment. Also, plan to bring cash for a tip. Some spots allow you to Cash App or Venmo your nail tech, but cash is still the king of tips.

See you on the fairway and keep swinging!

Black Friday Deals for Golfers Still Going On

Black Friday is done and gone.

It’s over.

So why are there still ads and sales promoting ongoing Black Friday deals throughout this weekend?

Deals are Not Done

Let’s not forget that retail holiday sales have evolved into more than just Black Friday sales. Look at what retailers are doing these days:

  • “Friday might be over but there are plenty of deals still happening right now.” (Today.com)
  • “Black Friday deals have been extended into the weekend” (Techradar)
  • “Cyber Monday is an annual sales event that traditionally happens at the end of November, after Thanksgiving and Black Friday.” (USAToday)

Cyber Monday is still looming about. So, it makes sense that retailers maintain their Black Friday sales for an extended period of time through Cyber Monday.

It is Game on for Holiday Shopping for Golfers

3 Easy Holiday Bargain Shopping Tips

In a previous post, I offered guidance on holiday shopping for different types of golfers. In a short YouTube video, I also offer some holiday shopping tips.

You can still find deals on plenty of golf equipment and gear out there. With everything from subscription boxes to drivers and irons, you can find some deals this holiday season.

Short Par 4

Short Par 4 markets itself as “your personal style caddie.” They have various styles of apparel ranging from classic looks to stylish trendy cool gear. You can subscribe or shop. Check out the clearance sales available.

MyGolfSpy

This site offers more than just great golf product reviews. Look into the Black Friday sales listed and see who’s carrying what you’re looking for these holidays. Also, they offer a buyer’s guide for golfers.

Plugged In Golf

Check out the Plugged In Golf 2022 Holiday Gift Guide. The site also includes a golf podcast that could help with your golf game and equipment selection, even your golf travel destinations.

Honest Golfers

Your “inside man” for all things golf. This site promotes Amazon Cyber Monday golf deals.

GolfBlogger.com

This post shares numerous Black Friday & Cyber Monday deals for golfers.

GolfReviewsGuide.com

Cyber Monday deals for golfers presented by James Matthews.

Lydia Ko Ends LPGA Season on Top

Say the name Lydia Ko a few weeks back and you might get a few confused looks. That was pretty much the type of response that the young lady’s mere mention seemed to elicit while her fellow LPGA competitors like Nelly Korda and Brooke Henderson seemed to be headed on a track of increasing popularity. Add Lexi Thompson’s steady top 10 finishes and competitive Sunday rounds and you could see where Lydia Ko might not have risen to the top of many people’s radar.

Personally, I remain delighted to see Korda, Henderson and Thompson play their hearts out. I think that they all are deserving of the fury of fandom that has arisen for them. However, I find that Lydia Ko has demonstrated another side of professional golf that many fans seem to forget along the way.

Promising Early Years

Look back on Lydia Ko’s early years in the professional ranks. At one point up until 2017, Ko was the youngest player to win an LPGA event at age 15. She set the record on August 26, 2012, when she won the Canadian Women’s Open at age 15. That’s remarkable but not the only thing.

In 2015, Ko rose through the LPGA ranks to become the youngest golfer on the LPGA Tour ranked No. 1. Considering the level of competition and the amount of hard work and dedication required to maintain throughout a professional golf tour, Ko demonstrated an ability to hang among the top players early on in her career.

The Struggle Got Real for Ko

Professionals are not immune to what happens in the world. In fact, their world seems to either explode or implode based upon what’s happening around them and within them and their inner circle. The emotional drain and the pressure from the press can seem to eat away at the joy of fulfilling a lifelong dream of success at the sport a pro loves to compete in time and time again.

Lydia Ko was not immune to the bad press either, especially as she sought to remain among the top-ranked LPGA players. During her down times, it probably didn’t help her professional motivation when she was struggling professionally and people started pointing fingers in the press. Her former coach David Leadbetter blamed her parents in 2019.

Her struggles on the course showed up in different ways:

The fat-shaming and other psychological stress can take it’s toll on a person, even a professional golfer with promise and potential. In an interview with Henni & Hally, a more personal side of Lydia Ko was shown to reveal how “she’s just like everybody else.”

At the end of the day, Lydia Ko struggled for a matter of time within her career. Let’s not get too judgmental about it, though. Tiger had his struggles. Lefty has had his low points. We could name a slew of pros who haven’t always made it to the top 10 finishes and some who have not always made the cut. Ko’s struggles are not limited to her career alone.

Her Return to Glory

https://youtu.be/i8cjYRrwhgY
Lydia Ko golf swing in slow motion

One golf journalist called Ko’s swing “picture perfect.” Some have pointed out how the slow motion videos of her golf swing reveal her training to achieve that turn. I think that her golf swing, especially with a driver, stands out as one of her mainstays.

Admittedly, Ko says that her slump period had her not leaving herself in contention to compete for any type of championship finishes. But all of that seems to be in the past. It seems as though she’s shaken off the down times and approached the game with a newfound vigor.

With her recent finish at the CME and taking the Rolex Player of the Year, Lydia Ko finished the 2022 LPGA season back on top among the best of the LPGA. With that $2 million dollar CME purse and her upcoming wedding in focus, it appears that Lydia Ko is on top of the world.

Let’s see what next season brings about.

Holiday Gift Guide for Golfers

“The only thing a golfer needs is more daylight.”

Ben Hogan

Typically, I write directly to golfers and golf fans and followers. However, today is a different day. I’m truly writing to those who love golfers. I want to share this with those who have golfers on their holiday gift list but might need helpful hints on what type of gifts might appeal to golfers.

As a caveat, I also recently wrote a short article on holiday bargain shopping that also might prove helpful to you. It might not do anything for you other than keep you from overspending on gifts or just simply serve as a reminder to you to make sure that you comparison shop before making a purchase.

All Golf Gifts are Not the Same

Gifts for golfers come in all shapes and sizes. Shopping for a golfer can be a dizzying affair for anyone unfamiliar with the sport and its nuanced knack for causing golfers to desire the ultimate equipment or the ideal experience.

Depending on what type of golfer you’re shopping for, you might want to reconsider ordering that personalized pack of monogrammed golf balls just yet. If your golfer is anything like the greater percentage of us, then those balls might end up in the creek or the bushes based on the trajectory of the golfer’s slice or hook.

Match the gift with the golfer. That’s the best practice.

Different Types of Golfers

Golfers are not all the same either.

Everyone who plays golf or might I say enjoys golf does not like the same type of golf gifts. Golfers play at different levels. Some golfers live and breathe golf, while others get out there every once and a while based on their schedule. The significance of the depth of a golfer’s attachment to the game should come into play when deciding on a gift.

  • Weekend Golfer: maintains a set day and tee time for a weekly round of golf with a regular foursome at the same course or a local circuit of courses.
  • Occasional Golfer: owns a set of golf clubs or two but only plays every so often, especially when there’s a charity golf event that the job has sponsored.
  • Consummate Golfer: plays frequently including tournaments and club events, practices consistently, travels with clubs in the trunk “just in case,” oftentimes stops at the range to hit a bucket of balls, and definitely can rattle off a series of data points that might leave you wondering what kind of aliens abducted this person.

These are the main types of golfers to keep in mind. In most cases, the golfer who you are shopping for falls somewhere within the range of these three types of golfers.

Golf Gifts for the Golfer in Your Life

Consummate golfers most probably have accumulated some golf equipment that they most probably want to stick with for consistency’s sake. So, unless that type of golfer has been dropping hints about specific brands and types of putters or wedges on sale at the local sporting goods store, I’d leave that part alone.

Buy this type of golfer:

  • Stay and Play golf packages (usually available at casinos & resorts)
  • Gift certificates or cards (most gift certificates or cards for courses cover a round + cart)
  • Swing analysis with a local golf pro
Pre-Owned Titleist Golf Tsr2 Driver Graphite MRH 10* Regular Driver [Mitsubishi Tensei Blue AV Series 55 Graphite] *Excellent*

Rock Bottom Golf

Buy weekend golfers and occasional golfers:

  • Golf lesson with golf pro (1-day)
  • Swing analysis at a local pro shop
  • Golf gear (visors/ hats even polo shirts)
Holiday Gift Shopping Tips

My only caution about golf gear is about style and fit. If you are unsure about the golfer’s style, then steer clear of the brightly-colored gear, especially the shirts with the pink flamingos or the tumbling dice. Stick with a classic look and a solid, basic color that is not too flashy. Also, consider fit. Some designs are “slim cut” that does not bode well with big guys who carry extra weight around the midsection. Go with a traditional style and fit and you should be okay.

Beginners don’t necessarily need new equipment. Golf can become a big investment if a beginner buys a full set of clubs and adds a putter and specialized clubs like hybrids and wedges, even an advanced driver. Buying used clubs could be a great place to start.

I offer some more holiday shopping tips via my YouTube channel. Like anything else on your shopping list, budget (set a limit on amount for gifts).

Also, check out ETees Golf post on Christmas gifts for golfers as well as any of the specials available via local golf courses at their pro shops.

Special Livestream Guest Mark Teran of Piped Golf

Have you ever imagined being a professional golfer?

No, man. I’m serious. Has that ever been a personal aspiration of yours, something that you fantasize about during daydreams?

Piped Golf isn’t a pipe dream for a very determined man. It’s part of a systematic and strategic master plan of Mark Teran on his quest to play golf with the best on the PGA Senior Tour.

Coffee & Chat with Rev Bruce returns on Tuesday, 11-22-22, at 9 AM PST. This week’s special guest will be Mark Teran of Piped Golf. This chat will be streamed live on YouTube and available on the podcast Wednesday morning.

Recorded 10/31/22 @ Cottonwood Golf Club (El Cajon, CA)

Mark Teran has a story to share that many golfers need to hear, especially those who have thought about joining the professional ranks in their golden years. Learn more about Mark Teran and Piped Golf as well as his work with PGA senior players as a caddie and as a Monday qualifier. His personal story will make you want to root for him in his professional pursuits.

Meanwhile, check out Mark’s golf swing on a par 5 approach shot.

Coffee & Chat with Rev Bruce has been part of Life Path Multimedia Ministries since 2020. Inspiring words, intriguing stories and implementable tips and to-do’s from all kinds of people and for people who want to live changed lives and leave a legacy of impact on the world. You can support the podcast for as low as .99 cents per month. This will help with production quality as well as exclusive supporter and member perks in the coming months.

Listen to any or all of the prior podcast episodes.