The Golf Geek

I’d like to introduce a guest post today, from Colin Knight. Colin’s the part-time groundskeeper, part-time marketing director for Belmont Lodge in Herefordshire. Although hitting bogeys every day doesn’t help much with his efforts to help manicure the lawn, it’s helped to teach him the patience needed to tend the grounds of the large English course.

Playing 18 holes of golf is a microcosm of life.

In both, much thought is given to how to succeed and how to excel.

It takes an untold amount of practice and perseverance to reach the upper echelons of golf, just as it does in society.

You don’t stumble across a wild albatross in the street and you won’t hit one by chance in golf, either.

We can achieve success in our lives and careers by persevering with our work and being dedicated to be the best we can be in our chosen field. If you want to be a truly great golfer, you will have to show the same dedication on the green.

But golf is a two-way street.

There are lessons you can apply from life to your putting and driving, but there are also important skills you can collect when you’re stuck in a bunker on the ninth hole which translate perfectly to the world outside the course.

Scuffing twice in a row whilst your ball rises and almost imperceptibly falls backwards, all the while showering your new slacks in sand, isn’t as specific to golf as you might think. Read More…

(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]

…it’s been a while.

I’m sorry I’ve not been around.

While I can offer any number of reasons, one stands out. Just at the time I took my Christmas break from the site, I rotated into one of the busiest posts of my professional career. And this came at a time when I’d been busy I’d been working with some players whilst ensuring I continued to develop my knowledge and coaching skills.

I also wanted to revamp the site, as a few people had mentioned the white writing on green background was difficult to read.

I just didn’t have the time to do what I wanted, and my break grew longer.

I’m delighted to say that’s no longer the case.

I don’t think I’ll ever work in such a busy post again, which means I’ll be able to continue offering you free articles to help you improve at golf. Although the rotten winter has meant I’ve not been able to get out to play, I’ve been as busy as ever developing my skill set and I’m desperate to start sharing what I’ve learned.

As you can see, I’ve been decorating, and I hope the site’s new look is easier on the eye.

As ever, I’d love to hear from you.

If there’s an area you’d like me to focus on, if you’ve got a question you’d like me to answer, or if you’d like to us to work together, please get in touch.

You can either click here to email, or use the contact form. You can even use the comments section below. Let me know what you think of the site’s new look, if you like- all feedback is gratefully received.

Let’s see if we can help you enjoy your golf even more!

I have a confession to make.

I haven’t played enough golf this year.

And I don’t mean in an “I can never get enough golf” way. I really just didn’t get out to play anywhere near often enough.

It’s understandable in a way. My kids are 6 and 3, I’m nearing the end of my training as a physician…and on top of it all, I’ve started coaching players this year.

I also fell into the trap of thinking “it’s only worth going out if I can play 18″, when it would’ve been better to have scratched the itch and played as many as possible.

But I certainly don’t think of this year as a failure. 

It’s just not a helpful label. And it’s inaccurate for a number of reasons.Firstly, it’s only one aspect of my life, when the others are going rather well.

More importantly, why judge something as if it’s over when it’s not? Read More…