"That natural ability to translate your thoughts into actions is the un-spoken essence of golf." -- Peter Nomm


Philippines Ladies Amateur Open by Saxmax

Peter Nomm shares his insights at Great Golf into the role athletic ability plays in golf, suggesting that, "coordination and a feel for the athletic movement makes the game much easier to learn and to improve upon." In his experience teaching golf, he has found it far easier to work with an individual who has played many other sports than one who has not, because that natural understanding of how to throw a ball or swing a bat has many similarities to hitting a golf shot.

Nomm says that "anything you can do like playing catch or shooting baskets will also help you reap rewards in your golf game. That natural ability to translate your thoughts into actions is the un-spoken essence of golf. Practice this feel and work on your coordination, and you will be surprised to see how it translates into your golf game!"

I agree that Nomm's advice to practice other sports can benefit your golf game. Other activities not only help develop feel and coordination, but provide new opportunities to recognize and eliminate tension, allowing relaxation in movement to be experienced, the essential ingredient to swinging freely.

According to Dan Millman, "relaxation in movement is the foundation of physical talent."

Labels: Athlete, Dan Millman, Peter Nomm, Relaxation, Tension

Ian Andrew, a Golf Course Architect residing in Ontario, Canada, just finished up a long exploration of design ideas, holes, strategic concepts, architects and architectural history at his blog about golf course architecture. The series ended with a countdown of his choices for the greatest architects of all time. Only two living architects make his list. I was particularly pleased with his top choice, Alister Mackenzie, the renowned designer of Cypress Point, Royal Melbourne, Augusta National, Pasatiempo, and remodelling work at Pebble Beach and St. Andrew's Old Course.


Alister MacKenzie's 15th at Cypress Point by rebjr

Alister MacKenzie was a doctor in Scotland before giving up his medical practice to become a golf course architect. The monumental change in direction came about when he suggested to the old men hanging around his office, "why don't you go out and play some golf." And although they had been complaining about an endless number of ailments, once they started playing golf, they never came back. With that, Dr. MacKenzie figured he could do more for the world by designing golf courses than by being a doctor.

Ian Andrew shares that, "MacKenzie could do it all. His work has so much variety from the strategies to the artistry that he almost defies description as an architect. His routings featured holes that very few would dare try, he almost seemed to revel in the oddest bits of land and there possibilities for holes. Every part of his designs pushed the envelope from the wildly contoured greens through to spectacular bold bunkering that framed his strategies. MacKenzie loved to present multiple options from hole routes to approach styles, leaving the player often to choose where they cam in from and what style of approach to hit. He generally presented the player with choices but occasionally pushed the player to hit one great dramatic shot too. Only a handful of architects have been able to create bunkers that blur the line between strategy and art and the greatest of all was Alister MacKenzie. He was able to combine artistic flair, with scale, a little intimidation, a tremendous amount of strategy and the greatest blending of grades around bunkers any architect has ever done to build the best bunkers the game has ever seen."


Alister MacKenzie's 2nd at Pasatiempo by rebjr

Although it's only a dream of mine to someday play Cypress Point Club or Augusta National Golf Club, I do have plans to play Pasatiempo Golf Club next month with the Shivas Irons Society!

After being inspired by Ian Andrew to play a Mackenzie course and by Hilton Tudhope to play more courses this summer and play golf in a place where there are like minds, I decided to sign up for the Pasatiempo event. And amazingly, Pasatiempo was Mackenzie's favorite layout and where he made his American home, which still borders the sixth fairway.

I can't wait to play my first course in the Monterey Bay area!

Labels: Alister Mackenzie, Courses, Ian Andrew, Pasatiempo, Shivas Irons Society

After posting an entry recently about a recent breakthrough and sharing some thoughts on how I picked up the game rather quickly, I discovered a better explanation for my improvement, and found out I have plenty more to learn. This morning, I found my way back over to the The Shivas Irons Society website and ran across a new article by Luke Brosterhaus about ability, effort, and luck. While reading Luke's insights, I realized what an important role a deep belief in my ability and dedicated effort to improve that ability continues to play in my learning experience.


Golf by dskciado at flickr

According to Luke, "you'll really struggle to improve if you do not believe in your ability."

I've always thought that anyone who plays golf can develop the ability to play well, and that our ability to play well has more to do with belief than natural talent. We all know we have the ability to hit a straight drive, hit a green from 150 yards out, pitch or chip close to the pin, or make a short or long putt. We've all done it before, so we know we have the ability. We just have to believe we can do it again, especially over the very next shot we're about to take.

It seems that all my bad shots are a direct result of either a lack of belief in my ability to make the shot (often from a bunker) or a decision to make a shot that I truly don't have the strength or skill to make (perhaps a shot over one branch and under another). All my extraordinary shots were born from a deep belief in my ability to create the shot beforehand.

My steady improvement has been a result of first identifying when a lack of ability exists (golf makes that easy), and then making the required effort to practice those shots until the ability is developed sufficiently. Once I've gained the ability, my success depends on believing in that ability on every shot. That doesn't mean I succeed every time, but the simple fact that I believe I can make a shot increases the odds I will. Letting go and trusting in our ability is surely a better alternative than letting doubt and fear creep in, which are certain to interfere with that ability.

As my abilities and game have developed, I've continued to expose myself to new shots and new situations in order to identify new weaknesses and inability. This has required that I get out of my comfort zone and play new types of courses, play with strangers, play competitively, play from different tee boxes, and take some risk and try new shots.

So, after experiencing a string of great rounds over the past few weeks at familiar courses, I got the opportunity to play out of my comfort zone last weekend in two unique rounds, and discovered I have several new inabilities that need my effort.

Last Saturday, I had the enjoyable experience of attending my first event hosted by The Shivas Irons Society. I signed up to play in a golf and wine tasting event at The Alisal Ranch Course in Solvang, CA. In addition to meeting some very interesting new people, I was introduced to an "old style" golf course - the tee boxes were even right next to the prior greens. I'm used to playing a course with very fast greens, ample fairways, and modest number of bunkers. The Ranch Course quickly taught me that I need to develop my ability to get up and down from bunkers, lag putt on slow greens, and tighten up my drives to avoid shots from behind trees. This new experience quickly ended my streak of rounds in the mid-70's, but succeeded in helping me find new opportunities for growth.

Even though I shot a round in the low 80's, I did make several impressive shots. I had one of my best rounds with my lob wedge. On several occasions, I had the opportunity to open the face way up and take a full swing from short yardage to get to a pin protected by bunkers and mounds. These shots required my full trust, which I mustered on each occasion. Unfortunately, I rarely made the following putt to save par. Two other shots I enjoyed included a sand wedge from a downhill lie next to the back lip in a bunker (followed my a missed putt), and a 3-wood that landed a green from 250 yards out in the fairway (followed by a 3-putt). After what seemed like a very long string of bogies, I finally came up with one birdie during the round.

The following day, I played in a tournament with my Men's Club from the back tees (72.9/134). Having only played from the back tees a few times and never in the past nine months, this was practically a new experience too. The back tees really add difficulty to the par 3's and many par 4's, requiring short-iron-like accuracy from your long irons. I quickly learned from this round that I need to practice my distance control and accuracy with my long irons. I did however beat my prior best round from the back tees by 1 stroke, shooting an 80 with one OB and 1 missed 2 foot putt. The round turned out to be the third best score for the day and I took second place net.

In both rounds, I faced new shots that I rarely experience in my normal rounds. In each of these cases, I lacked belief in my ability to make them. Poor results followed. What I learned was that I need to play a variety of courses on a more frequent basis instead of getting too comfortable at my home course(s).

Believe in your ability to play extraordinary golf.

Labels: Ability, Alisal Ranch, Rounds, Shivas Irons Society

In response to Golf Digest's recent contest question to readers, where do you want to play golf this summer?, Hilton Tudhope at The Shivas Irons Society created a summer contest of his own. He challenges his readers to describe the state of being (and doing) they'd like to explore in golf this summer, whether it's Nebraska or Nirvana. He will publish the interesting, the insightful and the downright crazy entries by the end of August. You can email your thoughts, of 200 words or less, to hilton [at] shivas.org.


Summer ballooning over Fairbanks Ranch Country Club by ms4jah

Hilton Tudhope is the author of A Golfer's Journal at The Shivas Irons Society. In his latest article, he shares the artful state of being he wants to be in this summer when he plays golf.

I want to play golf in a state of mind where I can feel the wind on my cheek, hear the birds overhead and remember my partners' names.

I want to play where the course forces me to stretch - my legs, my skills, my imagination - so that golf and learning walk the same fairway.

I want to play where the vision of the architect isn't compromised. I want to play without cartpaths and rooflines in my eyes.

I want to play golf where spin rates and launch angles have no importance. I want to play a game in which to hit it farther I see farther.

I want to play where I can have a match against my biggest fears - a respectful match with worthy adversaries, not a grudge game with my own ego.

I want to play golf in a place where there are like minds. With friends, old and newly met, who value the quality of the adventure more than the sum of the shots.

I want to play golf where I can just play, and have that be game enough.

Labels: Goals, Hilton Tudhope, Shivas Irons Society

I continued a streak of extraordinary rounds today, shooting a 75 at Monarch Dunes Golf Club (70.7/135) in a Travel League I play in. My score came in good enough to win 1st place net and 2nd place gross. Six of my latest rounds have now come in between 73 and 76! This is a real breakthrough for me. Although I've scored in the low 70's plenty of times before, I've never done so as consistently or with as little effort. I'm really learning to just play and not try so hard anymore! I've even become a good putter, the part of the game that I've struggled with most. In fact, I've been playing so well that several golfers have asked me recently how I got so good so fast!


Tiger celebrates a chip-in birdie on the 16th at the 2005 Masters

My standard answer to this question has always been that I started getting better when I simply began playing more than once a week. But, although more frequent play does help develop and maintain better touch and perhaps even consistency, it doesn't necessarily result in better scoring. I've met plenty of golfers who expected to become better golfers once they retired and finally had the time to work on their game and play more, but who actually got worse.

I've also replied that the game came pretty naturally to me, coming from playing hockey. Hockey has a complimentary swing. I've found that hitting down on the ball is much like taking a slapshot. But again, although my natural ability and a natural swing may have reduced my learning curve, it only took me so far.

Another factor I share is that I learned quickly by coaching myself instead of taking lessons and filling my mind with too many swing thoughts and techniques. I've learned to simply relax, quiet my mind, focus on the target, visualize my shot, and swing. I just trust that my body can do what I visualize it doing. I've never seen my swing or had it analyzed. However, after taking my first and only golf lesson just a couple months ago, I can see where getting help from a pro on occasion could speed up the process of improvement even more. I just wouldn't become dependant on one.

What I realize now is that my improvement really began when I changed who I am on the course. Golf is a great teacher, and I was eager to learn from it.

My biggest breakthoughs came when I let go of scoring and winning and learned to just play and have fun. I learned to appreciate the beauty of my surroundings. I learned to enjoy playing with friends and meeting new ones. I learned to be patient when I was struggling. I learned to accept my mistakes. I learned to let go of doubt and fear. I learned to trust myself. I learned that my next shot, my next hole, and my next round could be extraordinary. I learned the "Art of the Possible" from Fred Shoemaker, who shares in his book Extraordinary Golf, to use our time between shots "to put the past in the past, create a future that is powerful and full of possibility, and live into that future."

So, while I take a moment to celebrate my recent breakthrough, I also give thanks to those who have shown me how to play a game, and live a life, that is full of possibility and excitement.

Labels: Disciplines, Extraordinary Golf, Fred Shoemaker, Rounds

Since picking up the game of golf just over 2 years ago, I've been most influenced by Fred Shoemaker's approach to the game, playing Golf as Art. If you do an internet search for "golf as art", there is little information to be found pertaining to playing the game. However, you'll discover some very inspiring websites displaying golf course paintings, photography, and video. I've gradually been adding some of my favorites to the Artful Links section of this website. I'll introduce you to some of them below.


Approach to the 6th at Cypress Point by Michael Miller

The painting above is by Michael Miller. Miller was the head professional at the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles from 1993-1998, even while he was honing his craft as a painter. You can find his work at GolfClubAtlas.com, in the Art and Architecture section. This website hosts one of my favorite discussion boards as well, frequented by several well known golf course architects.

Another artist I've discovered is Joshua CF Smith. Josh has always been in and around golf. From leading the way on his high school and college golf teams, to building courses along the west coast as a superintendent for over 6 years after graduating from college. Josh has learned to further appreciate the beauty of golf landscapes through capturing their very essence on canvas. You can find Josh's work at JoshuaCFSmith.com.

I was introduced to the golf course photography of Aidan Bradley last year when Monarch Dunes Golf Club opened on the California Central Coast. He was hired to photograph the new course and his work is prominently displayed in the clubhouse as well as their website. Bradley's portfolio, which includes top golf courses around the globe, can be found at GolfCoursePhotography.com.

Other favorite golf course photographers I've found include Kevin Murry and Evan Schiller.

Just yesterday, after making a post about The Wandering Golfer, I found the website of the show's cinematographer, Scott Wilson. Scott is now traveling the globe for show's 3rd season. Through this experience, he has developed a passion for filming captivating Hi Def images of golf courses and resorts. His work can be enjoyed at FlagstickFilms.com.

Lastly, a soon to be released golf art film promises to show the true nature of the game. "The Nature of the Game, A Visionary Tribute to Golf" will highlight stunning images of famous and diverse golf courses, and hopes to explain the inexplicable of why we love this game. You can view a trailer for the film at TheNatureOfTheGame.com and read more about the film in an article at WorldGolf.com.

Feel free to comment to share the links of your favorite golf artists!

Labels: Art, Links