Even though I've recognized that one of the obstacles that stops me from scoring lower is the over-emphasis on doing so, I keep doing it. Even though I've determined that staying focused and finding joy in each shot is a solution, I keep putting pressure on myself to score lower.


Photo by Hans van Reenen at flickr.com

I've been starting my rounds successfully, creatively executing one shot at a time, taking in and appreciating the beauty around me between shots. But as soon as I see a good round developing, my focus changes. I loose my detachment about my score.

I did it again yesterday.

I had another great start. I shot 2 birdies and 1 par through 7. I missed a 2-foot putt for par on eight to go back to even par, and bogied nine to finish the front 1-over. I was pretty happy with how I was playing.

I got off to a good start on the back too with pars on 10 and 11. But then something changed. I missed another 2-foot putt on 12, then another on 13! I 3-putted again on 14 and missed another par putt on 15. I managed one more par on 16, but missed my forth 2-foot putt for par on 17. Just to finish in style, I missed another easy par putt on 18 to finish 6-over on the back.

I finished with an amazing 21 putts on the back nine - 18 of them on the final 7 holes! Even though I tallied 12 GIRs and 12 Fairways during the round, I also came in with 5 3-putts.

I realize now I'm simply putting too much pressure on myself to break 75. I've broken 75 three times, and each time I did so I just went out to play golf and enjoy it with no emphasis on scoring well.

That's what I need to return to. Playing for the pure enjoyment of the game and opportunity to learn and grow. Good results will naturally follow.

As Fred Shoemaker reminds us, the more you focus on learning and enjoyment, the better you perform, yet the more you focus on performance, the less you perform, learn, and enjoy.

Find out for yourself why you play golf and play for that reason only. And don't make it about your score or handicap. That will take care of itself.

Labels: Fred Shoemaker, Rounds

As I've shared previously, one of my goals this year is to cut my index in half for the third time and to shoot my first round under 70. These are appropriate and realistic goals to set for the year, but goals that should not influence my goals for individual rounds.

Ironically, I've finding that the biggest stumbling block to going low and shooting extraordinary rounds is putting any emphasis on doing so. If during any round, I try to make this round the round that helps lower my index or sets a personal record, the round is doomed and destined to be ordinary.

In golf, it appears that you can't try to achieve your goals, you have to learn to remain open to the possibility of achieving them naturally, through effective physical and mental preparation.

I've experienced three breakthrough rounds in my two years of play, and each one took place naturally, with little effort, and little emphasis on score. This happened the first time I broke 80 on a difficult course, the first time I broke 75, and the first time I shot under par.

However, I've played dozens of rounds that could have been extraordinary, where I started off without an emphasis on score. But after finding myself below par early in the round or at or near par towards the end of the round, I experienced a breakdown after trying to reach a goal or benchmark.

My most memorable examples are shooting a quadruple bogie on the eighth hole after getting to 3-under, ending with a double and triple bogie after entering 17 at 1-over, and shooting a double bogie on 18 after entering the last hole at even-par for the first time ever.

In each of these rounds, and many others, I got caught up with my score and let my mind race away from the present moment into the future. Instead of continuing to enjoy the process of taking each shot one at a time, the very process which setup the chance for another great round, I let my focus change to the outcome.

I did it again yesterday at Dairy Creek Golf Course. I played this course for the first time yesterday from the back tees and surprisingly found myself even after 10 holes. I was striking the ball well and sinking critical putts for par.


Dairy Creek Golf Course

I managed to bogie 2 out of the next 3 holes, then made a disastrous decision to make up for a poor drive on the par 5 14th, which led to a triple bogie. Instead of laying up in front of a creek crossing the fairway on my second shot, I tried to bend a shot around a large eucalyptus tree to get across, closer to the green. I hit the tree and couldn't see where the ball came out. I hit a provisional, and hit the tree again. This time I saw where I came out - an unplayable lie next to the fence bordering the creek. I never found the first ball.

I shook it off and finished the round okay, but missed a great birdie opportunity on 17 after reaching the green in 2 but 3-putted, then bogied 18 to finish 6-over. It was a good score overall, but a disappointing finish after such a good start.

As most golfers are aware, as soon as you place emphasis on your score during a round, you place unnecessary pressure on yourself, which adds tension and stress, and makes you more error prone.

This has become my biggest obstacle to breaking through 75 and reaching another round of par, and thus, my biggest opportunity for growth.

I think the solution has to do with finding joy in the process of creating and executing each shot, not in the outcome of each shot or round.

Labels: Attention, Courses, Dairy Creek, Disciplines, Joy, Rounds

The most valuable tool a golfer can bring to the course is a strong mental game.


Morning View by Hinting at flickr

However, according to the team at GolfPsych, each golfer requires different solutions in learning to think well on the course due to their unique personalities and experiences.

Their research on the best players in the world found that there are 8 Champion Personality Traits for golf. They are the only ones that matter and they are critical to your success.

1. Good Focus - Good mental routine for each shot. Opens focus between shots. Not distracted.

2. Abstract Thinking - Thoughts on course management and relevant variables only. Doesn't over-think or over-analyze.

3. Emotionally Stable - Little reaction to poor shots and bad breaks or to good shots and good breaks.

4. Dominant - Moderately aggressive. Takes smart risks. Challenges course.

5. Tough - Tough-minded and Self-reliant. Indifferent to others. Overcomes adversity. Unaffected by conditions.

6. Confident - Secure, self satisfied and guilt free. See self as winner.

7. Self-Sufficient - Very decisive and prefers own decisions. Resists peer pressure.

8. Optimum Arousal - Aware of and controls level of tension to enhance performance. On 1-10 scale: 4 for putting, 6 for driving.

I'm planning to evaluate these traits in my own personality during upcoming rounds to determine which ones require the most attention and improvement. I can assure you that they all need some attention, but at first glance, Self-Sufficiency jumps out as the trait that I may need to work on most.

You can learn more about GolfPsych and the programs they offer at www.golfpsych.com.

Labels: Disciplines, GolfPsych, Personality Traits

A good practice session yesterday paid dividends today. I worked on becoming aware of the errors I've been making in my swing and putting stroke in order to improve them.

A large component of my goal to shoot scratch golf is to do so without instruction, in order to prevent the endless cycle of depending on others to find and fix my problems. This goal requires that I develop a keen sense of awareness.

Many golfers resist awareness since no one really likes to look at his weaknesses. In fact, the more you develop your awareness, the more weaknesses you find and the more it appears that you're getting worse instead of better. But awareness also highlights and develops your strengths, resulting in increased confidence, inspiration, motivation, and satisfaction.

Dan Millman explains in Body Mind Mastery that "life is a great school, and nature is the ultimate teacher - but without awareness you can't hear the "teacher." Awareness transforms life's lessons into wisdom; it can translate confusing circumstances and events into useful knowledge. Awareness, then, is the beginning of all learning.

So I headed out today to my great school, Monarch Dunes Golf Club, and joined up with a threesome including a father and son. I was eager to try out a few things I discovered during my practice yesterday that I hoped would improve my putting.


Monarch Dunes Golf Club 9th

I started strong with a par on the very difficult opening hole, another par on 2, and birdie on 3 with a nice 10-foot putt. I hit a wayward wedge on the approach to the par 5 4th and recorded my first bogie. Another par on 5 kept me at even par. I hit a fairway bunker on 6, then mishit a 170 yard approach shot and bogied.

Now 1-over, I parred 7, then put a 6-iron on the par 3 8th to 5 feet for a great birdie attempt to get back to even, but left it short dangling on the lip of the cup. However, the tap-in par began a streak of 9 pars in a row. I made several key putts to save par during this streak.

I stepped up to the par 4 16th still 1-over for the round and cut the dogleg with a great drive to 65 yards out. I began to consider that this might be the round that I beat my best-ever round of 75 at this 135-slope course. I'd had one other opportunity not long ago when I got to 17 at 1-over, but choked with a triple bogie on 17 and double bogie on 18 to finish with a 6-over 77!

Letting myself leave the present moment cost me again. I scalded my sand wedge to the back of the green and failed to get up and down for par.

Now 2-over, I launched a drive on 17, but pulled it and rolled across the fairway into a lake bordering the left-side of the fairway. I nailed a 5-wood after taking a drop, but landed the huge bunker guarding the green. I got on from there, but lipped out my short 2nd putt, resulting in my first 3-putt and first double bogie for the round.

Refusing to finish with another 5-over on the last few holes, I buckled down on 18 and finished with a par to get in with a 4-over 75 round, tying my best round at Monarch Dunes.

Letting my mind leave the present moment cost me a stroke on 16, and letting myself try to make up for it on 17 by over-swinging cost me another stroke and poor putt on 17.

At least I got another glimpse of the kind of round that's possible if I can learn to stay present and finish strong. Most importantly, I met my immediate goal of improving my putting. I only missed one putt that I should have made, and that was due to my mind lapse at the end of the round when I got preoccupied with the outcome.

Labels: Awareness, Body Mind Mastery, Books, Dan Millman, Disciplines, Monarch Dunes, Rounds

This winter, I've spent most of my available free time playing golf instead of practicing golf. With flexible hours working from home, I can usually sneak out for one or two rounds of golf during the week and once over the weekend. But I haven't been making time for practice, assuming I can maintain my current level of play just being on the course. Instead, my index has drifted from my recent low of 4 back up to 5.

Last fall, I spent many of my lunch breaks at Cypress Ridge Golf Course working on my chipping and putting and hitting balls on the range. I was using my practice sessions to not only improve my ball striking, accuracy, putting, and touch around the greens, but also my concentration and visualization skills.


Cypress Ridge Golf Course 18th

My game began to improve quickly. I started hitting more fairways and greens in regulation. I succeeded in getting chips close to the pin and making putts for birdies and pars far more often.

During the last three months of last year, I not only scored my first round of 75, but recorded a total of nine rounds of 75 or lower and shot my first hole-in-one! My index quickly dropped from 7 to 4. In the nine months prior, I'd only seen a gradual decrease in my index from around 10 to 7.

Although my game has become pretty consistent now without practice, with nearly 80 percent of my rounds under 80, I haven't recorded a single round below 77. Those low scores just don't happen unless you're hitting greens in regulation and making a lot of putts for birdie and par. As should be expected, that part of my game has slipped a little without practice.

Looks like I'll be spending a little more time back on the range and practice green.

Labels: Courses, Cypress Ridge, Disciplines, Practice

In my opinion, the biggest obstacle to playing extraordinary golf is self-criticism. Repeatedly, I witness friends and strangers beat themselves up over bad shots and watch their rounds deteriorate as frustration mounts. As any golfer knows, it's easy to do.

It's interesting to watch as others in the foursome try to encourage this golfer to help him remain positive and constructive. However, it rarely works. The only remedy for this golfer is to encourage himself and be the friend to himself that others are being to him.

Being your own best friend is a choice. Decide to be constructive and be gentle with yourself. If you will not be your own unconditional friend, who will be?

As Dan Millman points out in Body Mind Mastery, "if you are playing an opponent and you are also opposing yourself - you are going to be outnumbered."

Millman suggests that we "maintain an attitude of unconditional self-worth, free from self-criticism. You can agree that it is cruel and unnecessary to tell someone else they are stupid, a klutz, to give up, you'll never be any good. If you would never say those things to anyone else, why not pay yourself the same courtesy?... If babies carried around the same tendency towards self-criticism that adults do, they would never learn to walk."

This very advice changed me over a decade ago when I was playing softball. I was always encouraging other teammates after they made a mistake, but continually berated myself for the most minor physical and mental errors. Only after treating myself with the same compassion and respect that I treated others, did my game and enjoyment improve.

Although, being human, I still have bouts of frustration playing this most frustrating game of golf, I've found that my best rounds occur only when I allow myself to make mistakes and remain positive.

Expecting perfection is simply immature. I recently played with a golfer who shot a round of 64 once, but left the course pissed off because he felt he could have played better.

My weekend golf partner set me straight once after I lost my temper after a bad shot by reminding me that I'm not good enough to get that pissed off.

I remembered that wise remark yesterday after getting a little frustrated after ending my round with five 3-putts. That quickly helped me realize that in reality I'd just shot an extraordinary round, coming in with a very respectable 77, despite my 36 putts.

Although we all need to allow ourselves to make mistakes and expect a few of poor shots, I've found that the frequency of those poor shots decreases significantly when you cut yourself some slack and remain open to the possibility of following it up with your best shot. The experience I shared recently about hitting my second shot within 2 feet of the pin from the worst of lies after one of my worst-ever tee shots is a great example.

Labels: Body Mind Mastery, Books, Dan Millman, Disciplines, Self Criticism

I discovered last year that many of my best rounds had occurred immediately after being inspired by reading a new book about mental aspects of the game - many of which I've already referenced in this journal. However, I found that a round or two later, I'd revert back to my old habits of trying too hard and expecting good results, leading to frustration and anxiety.

Although these books inspired me, they hadn't changed me. I began rereading several of these books to keep the ideas and suggestions fresh in my mind. That helped me make progress, but I'd eventually regress again.

Upon further analysis, I found that these new approaches were helping me to get mentally prepared for a round beforehand, but that I rarely evaluated a round afterwards in enough depth or detail to determine what I did well and where I still needed improvement. Perhaps doing some post-game analysis would prevent me from having to keep relearning from the same mistakes and make my improvements more lasting or permanent.

I therefore decided to start this journal to record my evaluations, insights and experiences while learning to play more artful golf. From past experience, I've found I learn best by writing, which helps me sort out my thoughts and forces me to evaluate a subject more deeply, eventually resulting in a lasting understanding and change.

And if, along my journey to playing more artful golf, I happen to share a perspective or approach that helps or inspires another beginning golfer, that's even better.

Labels: About

When I took up golf on a regular basis in early 2005, I set one goal for my first year - to break 80. I broke 80 for the first time that June, after about 4 months of weekly play. Interestingly, I didn't break 80 again until the following November, my only other sub-80 round that year.

For 2006, it occured to me that perhaps my goals should be more geared towards ongoing improvement instead of achieving only a specific score.

I decided to join the Men's Club at my home course to get tournament experience and set a goal for the year to reduce my index on an ongoing monthly basis and to shoot one round of par golf.

Turns out I achieved each of my goals last year, and more!

I joined the local Men's Club and learned to play as well in competition as I did in recreational rounds, and ended up winning the "Net" Club Championship.

I reduced my index from 10.3 in January to 4.2 in November, and lowered my index each month from the prior month in 8 out of 11 of those months.

Late in the year, I flurted with par several times, shooting 1-over one round and reaching the 18th tee at even par another round, but then double bogied 18. On December 13, with only 2 weeks and a couple rounds left to reach my goal, I shot a 1-under par 71!

I also experienced other significant milestones in 2006 - I shot my first ACE in October, first Eagle in August, and first 9 holes under par in October.

Memorable rounds last year include shooting 3 Birdies in a row during one round and 8 Pars and an Eagle on the back nine during another round in December, shooting a round with 5 birdies in August, 14 GIR in September, 13 Fairways in October, and a streak of 7 rounds under 80 ending in December. I didn't shoot a round over 90 in the entire second half of the year.

In addition to playing 4 new local courses for the first time last year, I also took my first golf vacation. I played 5 courses in Palm Springs in March and 4 courses in Whistler, B.C. in August.

My second year playing golf was quite a success. I increased my frequency of play to twice and sometimes three times per week, along with my enjoyment and passion for the game!

For 2007, my goal is to play more new courses, stretch daily, continue my improvement by reducing my index to 2.0, consistently shoot rounds in the 70's, and shoot my first round of golf under 70!

Labels: About, Disciplines, Goals

What we have to do as golfers committed to improvement is believe in the possibility of our potential and challenge ourselves to reach it.

Regardless of our skill level, every once in a while we all experience a round where we get a glimpse of our potential. On these rare occasions, it seems that with little effort, the ball goes were we want, we hit more fairways and greens, and sink more putts. We're calm and relaxed and the game just comes to us.

It's during all the other rounds that we must remain open to the possibility of our potential and remain focused on our intention for each and every shot. It's during these rounds that we must make a choice to be confident, fearless - and artful.

Instead of letting our mind naturally wander towards thoughts of past or desired results, we must keep focused on the specific requirements of each shot. It's a simple choice, but requires our discipline and will.

Dr. Gio Valiante shares in his book, Fearless Golf, that "the opportunity to be a fearless golfer isn't dependent on anything other than our will to do everything possible to execute golf swings at precise targets, and to believe in the possibility that by controlling our interpretation of events and our approach to hitting a particular shot we have the opportunity to maximize our potential. Playing with confidence ultimately is not an after-affect; it is a choice. The power lies solely within us."

I had an opportunity to apply these disciplines in a round yesterday, coming off some very poor rounds in my recent outings and learning that my physical, emotional and mental biorhythm cycles are all at or near the bottom.

Nothing has been easy lately. I've been duffing chips, scalding pitches, and 3-putting greens. I've had more than my normal share of double and triple bogies, even a quintuple bogie! However, my commitment to focusing solely on each shot, one at a time, has lacked the necessary effort and concentration.

It appears that the confidence I gained by improving my game through these very principles, made me feel as if golf was now easy, and I could shot good rounds at will. Instead of striving towards even more improvement, I'd become self-satisfied and perhaps complacent. And now, far from being "in the zone", my scores and shot-making began to slip.

So yesterday, while playing with a couple scratch golfers, I made the choice to really focus, to remain open to the possibility of a great round, and to play artful golf. The worst thing that could happen is that I record another poor round, but it was also possible that I open myself up to playing closer to my potential, and even keep up with these better golfers. I did just that.

Even though I let my focus falter on a few occasions, resulting in horrific shots, I followed through with total concentration on the rest of my shots, yet remained detached about their outcome. Although nothing came easily, and a few shots were just plain horrible, I managed to score one of my best rounds ever at this difficult course, coming in with a 37-39-76. More importantly, I'd learned a valuable lesson.

The highlight of the round came on the par 3 5th hole. I topped my 9-iron off the tee and landed on the top of a mound of long fescue about half way to the green. It was one of my worst shots ever. Amazingly, I didn't let the shot phase me in the least. I didn't get mad at myself. I wasn't even feel embarrased in front these 2 scratch golfers, one of which I'd never played with, the other I'd played with only once. Instead, I took out my sand wedge and hit the next shot to within 2 feet of the pin and tapped it in for par! I stayed open to the possibility that my next shot could be extraordinary.

I can't wait to see what's possible when I make the choice to play artful golf during a round when shots are coming more easily!

Labels: Books, Concentration, Disciplines, Dr. Gio Valiante, Fearless Golf, Rounds

After a lot of inconsistent play during my last 2 rounds and feeling like I was swinging a foreign object, I decided to check out a biorhythm chart for the dates I recently played. I figure if Tiger Woods referenced biorhythms in an article for Golf Digest, it can't hurt to check them out.

Tiger shared, "I don't know whether our biorhythms get out of sync, some muscle memory is depleted or that computer between our ears suddenly crashes, but every player has days when consistent ball-striking is a foreign concept. I know I've had my share."

Biorhythm charts illustrate the principle that we are influenced by physical, emotional, and intellectual cycles. Many people report that they can improve the quality of their lives by monitoring the highs and lows of these cycles and acting accordingly. For example, you might try to schedule important exams during your intellectual highs, avoid talking to your significant other during your emotional lows, or arranging the lineup of your baseball team around their physical highs.

The Emotional cycle tracks the stability and positive energy of your psyche and outlook on life, as well as your capacity to empathize with and build rapport with other people. The Intellectual cycle tracks your verbal, mathematical, symbolic, and creative abilities, as well as your capacity to apply reason and analysis to the world around you. The Physical cycle tracks your strength, health, and raw physical vitality.

Combined, these attributes help determine your ability to succeed at tasks and to obtain what you desire, your motivation to act, and the drive that allows you to continue a difficult pursuit, and your presence of mind that you need to make crucial decisions.

In golf, these 3 attributes come into play on every shot. Your intellect helps in choosing the right club and target and taking wind and terrain into account. Your emotions influence your ability to react constructively to bad shots or bad luck. Your physical ability affects your strength and proper swing technique. In theory, if all your cycles are peaking, you're "in the zone."



Well, maybe there something to this theory. My chart for yesterday shows all three cycles at or near the bottom. Most importantly, it shows a negative and descending emotional cycle, an unfavorable condition for golf according to a biorhythm study of tournament winners by Biosoft Sports.

Maybe it explains my 4-putt on 2, followed by my chip and 3-putt on 3 from 1 foot off the green, followed by another 3-putt on 5 and a triple bogie on 6 after landing in a lake and then a grove of eucalyptus trees. All this on the day after shooting my first double-digit score on a hole in nearly 2 years.

I've checked my biorhythm charts only a couple other times in the past, after extraordinary rounds when everything seemed effortless. In both of those circumstances, I learned that my physical, emotional and mental states were near or at the top of their cycles.

True or not, it at least helps me accept the ups and downs in my score, ability, and enjoyment when playing golf to think that my body undergoes natural cycles much like nature itself.

Labels: Biorhythms, Rounds

Watching the enthusiastic Tadd Fujikawa steal the limelight at the Sony Open in Hawaii last weekend, with his innocence, humility and infectious smile, has inspired me to try to have more fun and play with more enthusiasm.


Tadd Fujikawa

I found out in a round yesterday that it's not quite that easy. I'm already pretty upbeat when I play, but I have to work hard at staying that way when shots and holes get away from me. But upbeat isn't necessarily enthusiastic. There is definitely room for more fun in my game!

Yesterday, in an attempt at being more enthusiastic and fun, I made the mistake of treating the game like it is easy and fun. Looking back, I appears that my ego took over early in the round, letting me think I was good enough to just go out and have a good time hitting good shots, as if it didn't take any effort.

I made an impressive par on the difficult opening hole, but followed that with a 3-putt from 8 feet on the next hole for bogie. I gathered my wits and parred the third, then hit a perfect drive and layup on the long par 4 fourth, leaving me 90 yards out for my approach - my best position on this hole ever.

That all ended when I scalded my next shot with a sand wedge, sending the ball over the green and down the hill into a lake. I then dropped and swung my lob wedge right under the ball moving it a couple feet. My next shot was slightly better, but landed on the uphill short of the green. I finally chipped up and 2 putted for a 5-over 10… a quintruple bogie from 90 yards out!

I managed to put this fiasco behind me and play an average round afterwards, but I knew there was a lesson hidden in that - not so fun - experience.

I've been playing pretty well and consistently of late and I think I got a little cocky, treating the game with a little less respect, as if I can now score well no matter what. As I've learned many times, golf, like life, has a way of keeping you humble when you get complacent - or impressed with yourself.

Tadd's enthusiasm while playing great golf last weekend was balanced with a high degree of focus, concentration, and most importantly - humility. Thanks for the lesson Tadd.

Labels: Disciplines, Humility, Rounds, Tadd Fujikawa

I nearly always walk a course when I play. It seems that all my best and most memorable rounds occur when I walk. When I walk I see more, hear more, focus more, and relax more. It doesn't hurt that I could use the exercise too.



Jeffrey A. Rendall includes excerpts in an article at GolfTheMidAtlantic.com from several interviews he's done with Rees Jones, who shares that, "you pace yourself when you walk, and you actually start feeling the hole. You have to 'feel' the hole in order to play a complete round of golf and I think walking really gives you a better opportunity to enjoy the visual landscape -- because I call a golf course a nature walk to play on... Golf is an escape. It's getting away from the travails of life, and if you concentrate hard enough, you will, even mentally, get away from all your worries. But if you're in a hurry, it's not really what golf's supposed to be. Golf's supposed to be a form of relaxation."

For me, golf is not only a form of relaxation, but provides the opportunity to be out in nature - to experience sunshine and rain, to feel strong winds and mild breezes, to listen to chirping birds, rustling leaves and burbling brooks, to smell freshly cut grasses and flowers in bloom, and to observe a variety of birds and trees, scenic landscapes and colorful skies.

When I walk, I'm much more likely between shots to become aware of and appreciate this beauty, which quiets my mind, and better prepares me for my next shot. Not only does this communion with nature give me peace and enjoyment, it makes me more aware of my intended target, relevant course conditions and subtle breaks on greens. It gets my mind off me, my game, and my expectations, and makes possibile extraordinary shots and rounds.

Bob Weisgerber shares in an article at Golf Today Magazine, that "Golf courses are the product of owners and architects working with a canvas that God gave them... Blending the wildlife, the endlessly varied vegetation, the atmosphere, and the optical perspective of a thoughtfully designed golf course can be nearly mystical in its impact on the human psyche. It is more, much more than a game. It is a fresh new experience that enriches your life and your feeling of belonging to a world of wonder."

Labels: Articles, Beauty, Bob Weisgerber, Nature, Rees Jones, Walking

My recent progress in lowering my index-to 4 is largely a result of improved putting. My scores are getting lower and more consistent - I've scored between 77 and 79 in my last 7 rounds at my home course - even though many parts of my game remain inconsistent at times. Making more putts has increased my number of birdies which help offset those ongoing double or triple bogies, and has helped me save countless pars and bogies. This new confidence with my putting keeps me open to the possibility that I can score good rounds even after shooting a string of poor shots.



Fred Shoemaker in Extraordinary Putting says to consider "that the way you are in putting is the way you are in chipping, is the way you are in your full swing, is the way you are with your family, in your business, in life… Imagine that putting can show us our relationship to learning, how our actions and behavior are shaped by our point of view, how we view and relate to our body, and how the depth of our awareness is the only thing that will develop us. Putting can show us the assumptions and beliefs that we have come to take for granted. It can reveal the interference - the doubt and fear that stop us everywhere in life. It can also show the genius of our body and provide a pathway to performance and enjoyment that we can take to any part of the game, or to any situation in life... Consider the possibility that you may be far more able than you think and that when you let go of self-interference and increase your awareness, you will see exceptional ability emerge."

I've definitely found evidence that my strengths and weaknesses on the green are similar to ones I'm aware of in other parts of my life. Time will tell if my efforts to address these putting weaknesses and to find my own body's "inner genius" - to open up this pathway to performance and enjoyment through increased awareness - will translate to the rest of my game, and life.

Regardless, my increased awareness, resulting from being focused in the present moment, has transformed my putting from the worst part of my game into a part I am confident in and can depend on. I can actually now say that I love putting!

Labels: Awareness, Books, Extraordinary Putting, Fred Shoemaker, Putting

The primary motivation for many golfers is to earn recognition from others. For these golfers, what others say about them is more important to them than improving and developing their game. Rather than being lost in the thought of hitting the precise shot they want, these golfers often become indecisive and uncertain with the club in their hands - a quick way to unravel a golf swing.

In contrast, some golfers have as their primary incentive a desire to learn, improve and excel. A focus on learning and personal development is inconsistent with worries about how our results will be viewed by others.

In both these cases, a golfer's attention is on things related to hitting better golf shots - strategy, course conditions, tempo, and location of hazards. But the golfer intent on learning and improving is better able to stay focused and remain composed during their round.

And it's a pretty good bet that they're enjoying themselves a good deal more and worrying a lot less than their self-obsessed and self-conscious counterparts.

According to Dr. Gio Valiante in Fearless Golf, "these Mastery golfers get lost in the details, puzzles, and mysteries of the game, and they see their task as mastering those details and understanding the game's mysteries. Because they view mastering golf as a constant challenge, they find it easy to become fully involved in what they are doing, whether practicing chip shots or putting in competition. Their motivation for playing is not for awards or approval from others. For mastery-oriented golfers, the shot matters much more than the consequences. Awards, trophies, and public recognition are seen as natural consequences to excellence, not the primary motive for achieving that excellence."

Today I had the unique experience of playing a round with a local golfer who I just met last week online on a new golf community website. It turns out we both spend most of our time playing Monarch Dunes Golf Club - a new golf course designed by Damian Pascuzzo which was recently rated the top new course in California by Fairways & Greens magazine and among the top 10 new courses in the country by Golf Magazine. So, after a introducing ourselves via email, we decided to meet and play a round at our favorite course.


6th Tee at Monarch Dunes Golf Club, Nipomo

He had read my profile online which included information about my relative success in lowering my handicap from 16 to 4 in my 21 months of play, so I was a little concerned that I might feel a little pressure to live up to that level of play - and instead choke.

Instead, I stayed focused and relaxed, committed to play for my own enjoyment instead of impressing him or anyone else. I played well, hitting only a few poor shots.

However, going into the last hole with a chance to shoot a 76 with a par, I saw a couple course employees by the clubhouse, watching groups come in on the last hole. I had 180 yards in and thought to myself that it would be nice to give them a nice approach shot to admire on this hard-to-hit green. With that grand thought in my mind, I hit my 6-iron right into the lake well in front of the green. In all my many previous rounds, I'd never hit a ball into this lake! I dropped at 160 yards, hit a nice 7-iron to about 15 feet, but barely missed my bogie putt to end the round with a double-bogie 78. Argh.

Seems every round I play presents me with a new little opportunity to grow! I guess that's one of the reasons I play.

A funny side note is that when I finally met this new online friend face-to-face today before the round, I immediately recognized him. Someone in my group had rudely, but accidentally, hit into his foursome that was ahead of us a couple weeks earlier. He recognized me as well.

Labels: Books, Courses, Disciplines, Dr. Gio Valiante, Fearless Golf, Monarch Dunes, Motivation, Rounds

Artful golf requires the ability to tap into athleticism through imaginative and creative play. Unfortunately, golf quite naturally elicits the opposite response, causing most of us to over-analyze, think too much, and try to hard.

We all have natural creative and athletic ability. In fact, I believe that in every golfer there is a great, creative player just waiting to be set free. In my experience, the key contributor to stifling this natural ability to play golf is a busy mind rooted in self-doubt, causing stress which leads to a tense body.

A quiet mind is essential for intuitive and creative play. A relaxed body is necessary for the maximize use of natural and trained skills. By learning to quiet your mind and relaxing your body, you can take your game to the next level and beyond.

According to W. Timothy Gallwey in The Inner Game of Golf, "there is a state of mind more conducive to excellence. The true professional in every field performs from a base of solid faith in his potential to act successfully, and to learn to do what he hasn't yet achieved. He keeps his goals high, without letting himself become so emotionally attached to them that he fears failure. His sense of his own value is independent of external results. He doesn't listen to self-doubt, nor does he perform by rote. He dances to the tune of his intuitions... Inner golf can be an expression of skill for the sake of excellence. It can be art."

Golf can be art, when the mind is quiet and free from self-doubt. When I truly succeed in letting go of my thoughts of doubt and fear, a relaxed concentration takes over, where I'm open to my intuition and free to play.

Labels: Books, Disciplines, Doubt, Intuition, The Inner Game of Golf, Timothy Gallwey

The California Central Coast has a beautiful golf course located in Morro Bay. Although not as challenging as the local courses I play more frequently, what sets Morro Bay Golf Course apart from the others is its scenic setting on Morro Bay Estuary adjoining the Pacific Ocean.


2nd Green at Morro Bay Golf Course

Morro Bay Golf Course is often referred to as the "Poor Man's Pebble Beach" and is especially rewarding to play in winter when the clear skies provide incredible views of the bay and ocean from tree-lined fairways, and many species of birds can be seen who find sanctuary in Morro Bay during their migration south.

Interestingly, of all the courses that I've played in our county, Morro Bay is the only course where I've failed to break 80 - even though it's rated among the easiest. However, the last time I played Morro Bay was one year ago, back when my index was about twice what it is now.

So, now a better player, with an opportunity to play Morro Bay yesterday with a friend, I decided it was time to finally shoot a round at this course in the 70's. With 9 out of my last 10 rounds in the 70's at more difficult courses, this seemed like a pretty realistic goal.

I started the round with a nice run of pars. But midway through the front nine, I started a run of bogies that lasted 7 straight holes. I was driving well and putting okay, but I kept coming up short on my approaches. I just wasn't hitting many greens in regulation.

I finally broke my run of bogies with an awesome birdie putt on 12. The putt was easily one of my best ever - a 40-50 footer with a horseshoe-shaped downsloping break. It looked like the horseshoe chip shot Tiger made a couple years back when his ball went into the hole with the Nike logo captured nicely on the edge before dropping.

I followed that only birdie for the round with a great drive and long approach to 13 for an easy tap-in par. Breaking 80 was still achievable.

Approaching 16, all I needed was one more par to break 80. On the long par 5 16th, I killed my drive, but duffed 2 shots in a row from the fairway. However, I hit a perfect wedge on my 4th shot to within 2 feet of the pin for a great opportunity to save par. I missed the putt!

I still had 2 more holes to get one more par.

I missed the green on the long 240 yard par 3 17th, but lobbed my 2nd shot to within 5 feet for a makeable par. Another missed putt put me on 18 with my last chance for par.

I continued my streak of great tee shots on 18, but again came up short on my approach. My chip went right by the hole, but a little too far past to expect to make the return putt for par. I missed the putt and ended the round with an even 80.

On the bright side, I did achieve a round free of double or triple bogies - something I've only accomplished now about 6 times! But I failed to set appropriate goals for the round. I started the round with a "result-oriented" goal for breaking 80, and then even expected to do it.

When setting goals for a round, I've learned repeatedly now to avoid making goals tied to results or score. Our goals should be more about how we want to think and how we want to manage the course.

Decide before the round starts how you're going to think, and do it on every shot. When you add up your score at the end of the round, use it as an indicator of how well you achieved your goal for consistent thinking. Your state of mind is a matter of choice. Make a choice to think well and you'll score well.

Labels: Courses, Disciplines, Goals, Morro Bay Golf Course, Rounds

Most people who succeed in their various professions each describes being fully immersed in the moment during performance, with little or no thought of technique or results of their efforts. They lose themselves in their own creative process.

In my experience, no other discipline in golf has proved more important than being creatively immersed or centered in the present moment.

Artful golf appears when the mind is centered. When you find your inner center, creativity shows up. Your mind becomes free from the anxiety and interference introduced by judgment of a shot just taken in the past and fear or hope of executing a shot in the near future.

Fred Shoemaker shares in Extraordinary Golf, "when you disappear - the thoughts, worries, and judgments you have about yourself - Golf as Art shows up… Golf as Art recognizes the enormity of the potential of the moment. This can also be called creativity. It is the realization that what could exist greatly exceeds what does exist, and it keeps each moment vibrant, alive, and full of possibility. When a person plays golf in this way - fully absorbed, full committed, merging with the game - it is a marvelous thing. It is extraordinary golf."

Many of us experience this immersion in the moment when we start playing golf, while our expectations are realistic and golf is still a game to us. However, for various reasons, we eventually begin putting pressure on ourselves to perform.

We begin to expect results and we get consumed by outcome. The joy of the game gives way to frustration as we obsess over making perfect shots, winning holes, and shooting lower scores.

I'm personally making progress staying centered during shots, and even at letting go of judgment and reaction immediately following a shot. However, I still struggle to stay in the present towards the end of good rounds. I begin thinking about results and trying to achieve an outcome.

My biggest lesson, among many, came last month when I was playing a round with a friend that promised to be my best ever.

I shot a personal best 2-under on the front nine with 3 birdies and a bogie. On the back, I managed to shoot more pars than bogies by the time I walked up to the par 5 17th tee. I was only 1-over for the round. My best round at this course up until then had been a 4-over 75. Even with a bogie on 17 and 18, I'd beat that score!

On 17, I drove the ball into a lake on the right, which I had succeeded in carrying in all my dozens of rounds prior. I followed that with a couple more poor shots and a 3-putt for a triple bogie. I then drove the ball into a grove of trees on the par 4 18th, and 3-putted again for a double bogie.

The golfer I was playing with was also shooting his personal best round. Entering 17, he was 4-over, only 3 shots behind me. Unlike me, he shot pars on both 17 and 18, succeeding to shoot his best-ever round, not to mention beating me by 2 strokes!

His ability to stay centered through the end of the round made a huge impression on me.

Find your inner center, swing freely, and trust that the outcome will take care of itself. Great shots always follow and Artful Golf shows up.

Labels: Books, Centeredness, Disciplines, Extraordinary Golf, Fred Shoemaker, Rounds

A lesson golf continues to teach me is to let go of expectations. I struggle with this more often than I like to admit. It seems each time I shoot a good round, I expect to follow it up with another good one. If I hit a par 5 in 2 one day, I expect to do it again every time afterwards. The list goes on. As anyone who plays golf knows, it doesn't work that way.

Bob Rotella shares in his book, Golf is Not a Game of Perfect, that "the first thing to do is to throw away your expectations as soon as you step onto the golf course, and just play."

Rotella goes on to say that, "expectations are great if you confine them to long-range considerations. It's fine, for example to expect that if you work at your game intelligently for an extended period of time, you will improve. But expectations can hurt you if they are narrowly focused on the results of a particular stroke, hole, or round."

This doesn't mean you can't believe you'll play well or hole a putt, just that you can't expect it. You need to replace expectation on desired results with goals of having fun and staying focused on every shot. Then the desired results just happen.

A round that stands out for me in bringing this lesson home occurred very recently. The prior day, I had played the first 6 holes with a young scratch golfer who works at the course. Amazingly, I found myself keeping right up with him, parring each hole. When we reached the 7th tee, we saw that the course was very backed up ahead of us with foursomes and that we were in for a long round as a twosome. Since he plays for free, he decided to quit. I decided to join him.

I came back out the next day, expecting to follow up where I left off - hitting fairways and greens, making 2 putts for pars. Instead, over the same 6 holes I parred the day before, I scored a quadruple bogie, triple bogie, double bogie and bogie. I was 10-over after 6 holes!

Fortunately, I realized what I had done - starting the round off expecting good results. On the 7th tee, I decided right then and there to let go of those expectations and just play. I played the final 12 holes 2-over!

Labels: Bob Rotella, Books, Disciplines, Expectations, Golf is Not a Game of Perfect, Rounds

I've found that golf, like any other pursuit in life, requires certain disciplines for effective learning and improved performance. You can't just show up at the course without any physical or mental preparation and expect to enjoy yourself or score well. To excel at golf, you need a plan, an attitude, a reason, and an ability to play.

To keep things simple, I've turned G.O.L.F. into an acronym that identifies the disciplines I've discovered that help me play artful golf - a creative game that I continue to enjoy and improve at.

G.O.L.F. = Goals, Openness, Love, Freedom.

G is for Goals - the plan for play. The Artful Golfer sets goals for every shot, every hole, every round, even every season. Each shot is taken only after conditions are evaluated, a club is selected, and a precise target and flight path is determined. A tee shot follows an exact plan for how a hole will be played, based on evaluation of course conditions, hazards, and ability. A round of golf begins after the golfer determines desired results, whether it's the enjoyment of the surroundings and friends, to swing freely, or to improve execution of a certain attitude or skill. Goals for entire season are set with the intention of increasing not only performance, but enjoyment and maturity.

O is for an Open mind - the attitude for play. The Artful Golfer is open to possibility, open to creativity, open to risk, open to patience, open to consequences, open to luck, open to guidance, and even open to technology. The Artful Golfer is open to and expectant of the extraordinary, while at the same time open to and accepting of poor or ordinary results. While open to the possibility of extraordinary play, he accepts the ability, luck, and lack there of, that he brings to the course each round.

L is for Love of the game - the reason to play. The Artful Golfer knows why he plays. He may love the competition, being outdoors, being in nature, being with friends, being challenged, making putts, hitting long drives, learning more about himself, or the opportunity for personal growth. His love of the game produces the integrity to play by the rules and the gratitude to appreciate that he has the health, finances, and time to play.

F is for Freedom - the ability to play. The Artful Golfer plays with a complete sense of freedom - freedom from fear of failure or disappoinment, freedom from swing thoughts or formulas, freedom from impressing others, freedom from judgement, and even freedom from hope and expectation. The golfer's ability to develop skills and to reach his creative and physical potential can only be realized when his mind is free from fear and interference. As Fred Shoemaker shares, "Freedom is stepping up to a shot unburdened by the past, with a future full of possibilities."

The Artful Golfer Loves to play with the Goal of swinging Freely, Open to a future of extraordinary possibilities. I'll explore these artful disciplines in more depth in upcoming entries.

Labels: Disciplines, Fear, Goals, Love, Openness

Nearly 2 years ago, in my late 40's, I took up the game of golf, again.

My 4 prior attempts to play ended early due to other commitments, injury, lack of time or lack of money. I'd never stuck with the game for more than a few months.

My current life circumstances have enabled me to pursue golf more seriously this time. Determined to stick with the game and improve, I've gradually increased my frequency of play over the past 21 months from weekly the first year to 2-3 times per week last year, and succeeded in cutting my handicap in half twice - from 16 to 8 in the first 12 months and 8 to 4 in the past 9 months!


Scores Over Past 21 Months

I've made this progress without taking lessons and without an emphasis on learning about, thinking about or fixing my swing. Instead, I've focused on my inner game - improving concentration, visualization, awareness and attitude.

In this online journal, I'll share some of the insights I've learned from others and discovered myself along the way to my eventual goal of shooting par.

Labels: About

Here at The Artful Golfer, I'll share insights and experiences pursuing Golf as Art, a unique approach to golf that I was inspired to explore after reading Extraordinary Golf, by Fred Shoemaker.

Shoemaker believes that anyone, beginner or pro, can play golf in an artistic way and have experiences so deep and compelling that they will benefit others as well. He shares, "when you disappear, Golf as Art shows up. The resulting void is where all the important discoveries, personal development, satisfaction, joy and fulfillment take place."

Labels: About, Books, Extraordinary Golf, Fred Shoemaker