Hmm..that's interesting...

Don Grose
I may just be fooling myself..I hope that's not the
case. For two recent games of golf I tracked my
putting. On both occasions I had fewer than 30 putts.
So...18 holes...two putts per hole is 36...And because
I don't historically chip in too frequently - and
don't hit my approach shots with pinpoint precision -
I am comfortable with the idea that my putting is
pretty sound..so..I conclude that weaknesses in my game this year are centred in other areas. Typically,
I am not long off the tee. But, I am , not always but
generally fairly consistently on or close to the fairway. I need to work on my irons. Having all this
information with which to work has been a good thing.
For the last couple of times out I have ( when was a
golfer ever given this advice ) taken an extra club and tried to swing consistently with the emphasis on
making good contact. I'm hoping a corner has been
turned. As luck would have it - on Saturday morning
just before heading our for our 6AM tee time ( yes,
that's nuts ...even for me )I happened to flick
on the Golf Channel. An instructor from somewhere in
Florida was recommending that when you get to the range
instead of concentrating on full shots, even with a
wedge, that you instead, put your feet together and
take half swings,with an eye to maintaining your balance and making good contact. It's funny how things
you've heard a hunrded times in the past finally sink
in. That was my sole swing thought as I approached
each shot that morning - and what a breakthrough.
For three successive rounds I was one or two over on the front nine - which is usually as long as I am able
to maintain focus - and while I struggled some coming
home - my scores and game were improved, significantly,
and I had a lot more fun...I'm looking forward to the
weekend ahead.
I had the pleasure of playing in the Danny Gallivan
Cystic Fibrosis Golf Tournament at the Old Ashburn
Golf and Country Club last week.
It was my first involvement in this event and I left
with the following observations.
There are many really, truly good-hearted, fine people
who work very hard to support very worthwhile
charities in our communities.
There is a natural, justice in this life that makes
it's prescence felt all too infrequently, but it
makes me want to share this story.
This tournament was started by a man whose two children
were diagnosed with CF as youngsters. In the 22 years
of this event, his heart and soul have been poured into it, in an effort to find the ultimate cure. In the last several years , both his son and his daughter succumbed to the disease but great strides have been made in the areas of treatment and life expectancy of those stricken.
In the 22 years of the event no one had ever
scored a hole in one on one of the holes to which
a major prize award was attached. That all changed last week when Ian Thompson aced a 205 yard dogleg
par three. Thompson was gracious in his words at the
dinner after and there wasn't a heart among the 200
gathered that wasn't touched...Nice.
Stanley Thompson left an indelible marking on the
Ashburn course...A little touch of the Highlands,
Digby and Westmount ( in Ontario ) right in the middle
of Halifax. Those who get to play it regularly are
very fortunate.
Don't look for a Mickelson victory at the British
Open..I wouldn't put a lot of money against Tiger
clawing his way back to the top.
Gotta go..I have a ton of stuff to do...
Til next time - hittem long and hittem straight.
Don