– 44 Degrees Celcius

A bit cold here in Calgary today.

The good news is that it means golf season isn’t quite around the corner yet. Why is this good news? Well, I’ve now made it through my second formal lesson and I am definitely going to need some time to right the ship before I actually try and play this game again.

Let’s just say there have been a few necessary adjustments that I am currently working on. Nothing major. Just my grip, posture, and follow through. Well that’s actually just the start, we haven’t gotten to my back swing, transition, or move through the ball yet.

Recent video analysis has revealed me to be the Hunch Back of Calgary a veritable ‘Quasimodo’ of the golf world. How I ‘ever’ managed to hit a golf ball with that posture is beyond me. Add in my faulty grip and poor release and I am apparently in need of a drastic and complete overhaul.

The video analysis has also revealed massive swing faults in my take away (waaaaaay inside) and a 18 inch plus loop on my way back to the ball. It was difficult to watch…I cried a little. My instructor, god bless him, did not cry. I could tell he wanted to. A consummate professional to the end. I salute you Paul.

That said…I am now convinced that I must have incredible hand eye coordination combined with amazing strength and pure athleticism to have overcome such poor fundamentals and actually hit the ball solidly from time to time. I know, what ever gets me through the day.

At some point I may (and I repeat MAY) put a ‘before & after’ video sequence on this web site to show where I started from. At this point it is just too painful for me to share and quite frankly the video would have to be rated ADULT as it truly is obscene.

The weather has driven me to get a minor golf ‘fix’ by playing Tiger Woods PGA 2008 by EA Sports on my Mac. I started as a bogey golfer and within a month I have improved to the point of generally shooting five or six under par. I have shot two rounds in the fifties (58 & 59) and I am now on the verge of moving to the PGA tour where I will chase the big money.

If only ‘real’ life could be so kind.

Happy New Year!

The first day of the year. A time for refection and review. A time for looking forward, dreaming and planning.

My dream as those who follow this blog know is to build my life around the game of golf. To write about the game, travel and play the game, develop business interests within the game, and perhaps even play the game professionally.

I have made some modest steps in this direction in 2007 and look forward to 2008, a year in which I will pursue my dream in earnest.

My first serious step toward game improvement will be top level instruction (see previous post for details) and following that a practice and fitness regimen that will allow me to be the best that I can be.

On the business side…

I will be pursuing sponsorship to help with the financial requirements in terms of the continued cost of instruction, equipment and travel.

I will also be developing a web site that will include this blog and move beyond it in terms of providing and categorizing information focused primarily on instruction and equipment in the form of reports and reviews. I will provide sound bites on other issues such as golf news and travel.

The site will be designed specifically for golfers who are serious about improving their game. The site will be informative, no nonsense, easy to navigate, and fun! All information will be based on my own ‘Golf Experiment’ to go from a double digit handicapper to the Champions Tour over a seven year time frame.

My intention is to build a network of family, friends, business associates and sponsors that will support me in achieving my goals. I learned a long time ago that it is extremely difficult (if not impossible) to pursue and realize our dreams on our own.

Here’s to the pursuit!

Have a great 2008 my friends.