As 2007 winds down, it's time to reflect back on the year, and make plans for a new one.

Last January, I posted my goals for 2007, along with a review of my 2006 accomplishments. 2006 was a big year for me. In my second year of playing, I cut my handicap by more than half, recorded my first sub-par round, hit my first hole-in-one, and competed in my first club championship and took 1st place net. Entering this year, I was hopeful about continuing this progress. I shared that I intended 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!


Golf Course Winter Shadows by Steve at flickr.com

Well, I came close. I took 3 golf trips and played 7 new golf courses. I spent time with a golf conditioning coach, and even visited a chiropractor, and am now stretching every morning. My back still gets sore, but the chronic pain is gone! Although I didn't cut my handicap in half again as planned, I did get down to a low index of 3.3 and will be closing the year near 4.0. I did manage to come in under 80 in more than half my rounds, but breaking 70 eluded me.

I flirted with a round in the 60's on a few occasions, but the usual bad hole or a couple 3-putts stopped me. My last round was a 75, even with an OB, a lost ball, and 2 3-putts! I had a quadruple bogie during a round of 73 and a triple bogie during a round of 72. My best opportunity came during my recent round of 71. I was 2-under after 15, but double bogied 16 after someone in my foursome made a point to tell me my score.

Even though my progress slowed, it didn't stop. My putting and chipping have improved the most. That recent par round included only 24 putts! And even though I had a couple 3-putts in my last round of 75, I sunk a number of long putts and didn't miss anything close - and rarely do anymore. I'm finally confident with my putter! My chipping is improving too. This week while practiced getting up and down from different locations around the practice green using chips, pitches and lobs, I did so 23 out of 25 times, with 20 in a row!

My scores haven't come down in proportion to my improved short game mostly because my ball striking has gotten worse thanks to a shoulder injury. But even though I'm hitting less fairways and greens temporarily, I'm getting much more consistent about getting up and down to save par. I'm pretty confident that once my ball striking returns early next year, I'll see some extraordinary results.

I recorded 125 rounds this year, about 15-20 less than last year. I shot rounds of 75 or below in 1 out of 5 rounds (consistent with my handicap) and broke 80 in well over half of those rounds - leaving plenty of bad rounds for my handicap calculator to throw out. I shot 8 rounds of 73 or less, including 2 rounds of par, and only shot in the high 80's in 5 rounds. Plotting my scores for 2007 made for a perfect bell curve with an average score around 79.

This year I participated in 3 competitive leagues. I finished 3 points out of first place in my men's league that plays monthly tournaments at a local course. After leading in the standings all year, I slipped out of 1st place when I decided to take a trip to Bandon Dunes instead of competing in the club championship. I took third place in a weekly 9-hole team league where points are earned for both stroke and match play. Our team took 2nd place. The third league was a travel league where we play a different course each month. I've learned to score as well under the pressure of competition as I do recreationally.

I'll probably join these leagues again next year, along with a new men's club and travel league getting started at my home course. In the travel league our team will compete against 3 other local SGCA member courses in home and away matches during January and February. Somehow, I'll find the time to keep playing in the roller hockey league I just joined, continue donating my $20 to our local youth in our weekly skins game, and keep up with my work too. Now what was that I said recently about balance?

I truly enjoyed all the competitive golf, but it was my golf trips that highlighted the year.

My wife and I traded our timeshares twice this year to travel to Arizona and Hawaii. I played 3 rounds of golf in Arizona at the Sedona Golf Resort and 3 rounds at The Prince Course in Princeville, Kauai. Instead of playing more courses during these trips, I decided to play the same course a few times to see if I could improve on my prior round - since I struggled in both of my 1st rounds. I managed to shoot rounds of 76 and 77 on my second attempts at these courses. Good play or not, it was a pleasure playing golf in the incredible settings offered by these courses!

The biggest highlight of the year came during my trip to Bandon Dunes, with Fred Shoemaker and the Shivas Irons Society. I had recently attended my first event with the Shivas Irons Society, playing with its founder Steve Cohen at the Alisal Ranch Course in Solvang. When I then learned they offered a trip to Bandon Dunes, co-hosted by Fred Shoemaker and Jo Hardy, I jumped at the opportunity!

I didn't shoot any low scores at Bandon, but did have a few stretches of good play. I played a sequence of at least 9 holes at each course in only 1-over and succeeded in driving a short par 4 at each course. I was simply awestruck by the beauty of this place and the natural setting and links-style designs of these courses along the windswept dunes of the Pacific Ocean - golf as it was meant to be! The best part of the trip however was meeting and playing golf with Fred and Jo, along with all the other participants. It was a great group of people! If time and money permit, I think I'll repeat this trip next year!

One other golf-related event that I really enjoyed this year was watching our local golfer, Josh Warthen, compete in Big Break Mesquite on the Golf Channel. He demonstrated the exemplary character and attitude we all know him for, along with some great golf. Congratulations Josh on making it all the way to the finals!

2007 will undoubtedly be memorable, but I'm eagerly awaiting 2008.

Next year will be my last year before turning 50 and is the year both of my children graduate college! As they finally get started in their careers (fingers crossed), I will finally focus on fitness (out of necessity). I'm really motivated to improve my strength and flexibility so I can continue to play golf and hockey - into my old age. In my golf game, I'll make it a goal again to lower my index to 2.0, but my main goal is to continue to play for the love of the game, and look to its opportunities for community, discovery and transformation.

Wishing you all an Artful Holiday and New Year!

Labels: About, Goals, Progress

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

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

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

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