Play Better Golf

Posts Tagged ‘golf memories’

I have great golf memories from my days at Indian Canyon Golf Course in Spokane, Washington.

One of my favorite club professionals there was  Bill Welch. He used to encourage me to read and learn all that I could. And he was not shy to tell me to lose weight or keep exercising!

So I’d often rise at 5am before High School and run a few miles before I hit golf balls or practiced my short game.

I lived a drive and a wedge from the club house of Indian Canyon.

As soon as I got home from school, I’d head out the back door with my golden retriever leading the way to the lush fairways of one of the most beautiful public golf courses in the world.

These were the days when not a lot of people knew about the secret of this beautiful golf course. That meant I had the course to myself many times late as the sun set.

With permission from Bill, I’d take my shag back out to the first tee and hit one drive after another down the narrow shoot of the first hole.  Usually a small gathering would form at the top of the porch outside the golf cafe of  regulars and strangers. They’d peer down at this chubby little 16 year old golfer hitting one ball after another straight down the middle.

I didn’t hit very far. But I rarely missed a fairway.

Those were the days…..

Since then I still have a passion to learn…and to share the golf tips I find.

Check some out here:

Get Best Golf Swing Tips!

More to come from Teegolfer.com!

Written May 25th by TeeGolfer

I’m not sure how I feel about that. In someways I feel old and in other ways I feel like I’m 20 years old.

Birthday’s tend to bring back memories.

As a golfer, I have some that stand out.

For example, back in 1982 around the time of my birthday I was a freshman in college playing in the NCAA golf tournament on a high ranking collegiate teamfro m the University of New Mexico.

Going into the final round, I was in the top 5 and in great position to make not only a mark as a freshman golfer but also the team that was to go to Japan later that year. They were taking the top 6 or 7 of the top ten who were not seniors.

As I went to the first tee, a few butterflies flying their best to fly in formation, one of the competing
coaches made a comment about my chances to make that team. I’ll never forget my coach’s look on his face!He popped another rolaids and stared the coach down. The last thing he wanted for his young freshman lady golfer was a coach playing a head game on the first tee.

I thought about it and the butterflies flipped and flopped. I must have gotten over it soon. I remember that I had this wonderful tendency to stick it close to the pin most of the time during these final rounds. I was on my way to making a d ramatic entrance into the world of the National Collegieate golf world.

All went well that day, until I stepped on to my 71st hole. It was a par 3 (I played the back nine first), not toolo ng, over a ravine with out of bounds left and a lateral water hazard on the right ….I think. It might have just been a lot of trees and bush on the right. (I’m playing Stanford University’s home course).

As I stepped up to the tee I made the ultimate BAD mental mistake.I thought ahead….instead of thinking
of the shot at hand. I’ll never forget what was going through my mind as I knew that I was easily in the
top 5 individually at that time. So, instead of thinking about the target and shot at hand I thought…”I’m going to Japan! I’m going to be in the top 5!”

Oh, I cringe 29 years later.

I proceeded to hook two 7 irons in a row left out of bounds. I ended up making a 7 or an 8.

A devastating blow like that could not be shaken. I bogied my 72nd hole, finished 1 shot out of the
top ten and was 11th.

If you just look at the score…and see a freshman making it into the top 11 out of the nation, that looks pretty darn good.

But to me, it felt like total failure.

Now…so many years later with a family…kids…other stresses of life, I realize it still is quite an accomplishment.

And I’m grateful. To be healthy and alive with hope. My hope doesn’t have to be based on what I shoot on the golf course!

Today, I’m active in helping others whether it’s in improving your golf game with mental keys, or in using the latest video strategies in marketing!