The Golf Geek

(a lesson in golf from the ski slopes)

What do golf and skiing have in common?

I don’t think I’ll ever get Mrs Geek back on skis.

We tried it, once. I’d spent a week skiing most Easters for around 10 years, and I’d loved it.

She’d never been on skis, but was happy to try. We hadn’t been together all that long, so I wasn’t aware of how much she disliked a number of things inherent in skiing.

She can’t stand being cold. Or wet, for that matter. And, as a complete beginner, she spent a lot of time being both. Everyone else in the group had skied before, so she was the only one trudging off to ski school. Shared experience, having a laugh about your day with others keeps you going when things are tough, so it was a lot to ask.

But that wasn’t what put her off skiing.

That…was my fault, entirely. Read More…

A slight change of focus today.

Usually, I concentrate on helping you improve at golf, using lessons I’ve learned on the course and in life. But today’s a bit different.

I’d like you to help me.

Help me to help you, that is.

I’m guided by my studies and my own journey through golf, but that means I might not be helping you with the difficulties you’re facing. And that’s not what I want to do.

The way round this?

I’d like you to tell me. 

If you don’t mind, I’d be really grateful if you could spend a few minutes to let me know your biggest golfing frustrations and suggesting areas you’d like me to focus on.

I’d be very grateful for any input but, if you’d like a suggestion to get you started, you could answer one of the questions below:

My biggest frustration in golf is                                 

I’d like to see a mental game coach because                              

Although you’re very welcome to use the comments section below, you can also email or use the contact form to get in touch in private, if you’d prefer. While I can’t guarantee I’ll use every email for an article, I’ll cover as many as I can.

[image credit: "Question Mark made of puzzle pieces" by Horia Varlan under Creative Commons licence]

What “lemonade rocks” taught me about golf improvement.

I’ve only scored 100% in an exam once. It happened in my first year of secondary school, in maths of all subjects.

I remember it clearly; we’d moved into the area at the start of the school year so I was an unknown quantity; my classmates were shocked to see this interloper doing so well.

I heard a few mutterings to the effect that I “wouldn’t get that lucky again”, ascribing my success to a fluke.

But I had a secret weapon.

Lemonade rocks.

I feel I should explain a little.

Before the test, I’d been at the “tuck shop” and had bought 2 ounces of boiled sweets (or candy, if you prefer), the aforementioned lemonade rocks. I’d heard sucking on a sweet helped concentration and was thus determined to use this to my advantage.

And it had obviously been successful.

Imagine, then, my consternation when the shop sold out, due in part to my enthusiastic endorsement. I told myself that the type of sweet didn’t matter, any sweet designed to be sucked rather than chewed would do.

But it didn’t work.

I did OK in exams, but not any better than my usual; sometimes I was even a little worse…all because they didn’t have my muse, my lemonade rocks. I came to believe there was something about the sweets themselves, some magic ingredient which helped my brain go into overdrive.

I cut a forlorn figure trudging down every day, more in hope than in expectation, for those yellow-and-white lumps of boiled syrup.

Until the day they were finally back in stock. As luck would have it, I had a maths test the very next day and I gleefully anticipated my results. I knew 100% wasn’t a given, but I’d be in the 90′s or high 80′s at the very least.

You can probably guess how it went.

My 78% wasn’t dreadful, but it was well below my average, let alone my expectations. I realised (only 14 months too late) my results had nothing to do with my choice in confectionary. Who would’ve thought it?

What this has to do with your golf. Read More…

There are all sorts of rounds.

There are great rounds,  slow rounds and silly rounds. There are bad ones, friendly ones and even infuriating ones.

Some rounds never seem to end but there are others you wish could go on forever.

There are rounds you’ll always remember, and others you’ll never forget, no matter how much you’d like to.

But there’s one round we can’t escape. 

Our last one. Read More…

…why you might want to keep your goals to yourself.

I have a new love.

What can I say? I’ve been swept off my feet by a whirlwind romance.

17 days of unexpected delight…but it’s over now. I won’t get to see the object of my affections for another 4 years or so.

I am, of course, talking about the Olympics.

London 2012 was fantastic.

Encouraged by my daughter’s enthusiasm for all things Olympic, I let myself get caught up in the fervour for the first time…and I loved it. I ignored all of the corporate totalitarianism and didn’t complain about the dedicated “Olympic Lanes” on the streets of London, topics which would usually get me ranting mad.

(I’m particularly taken with handball. It looks like basketball for people who think rugby is a bit soft)

And it isn’t over yet. I’m writing this during the opening ceremony for the Paralympics, returning to London 64 years after their debut here. I’m looking forward to seeing these highly trained athletes in action…but I’m also looking further into the future. Read More…