Breaking through, leaning on confidence, building a healthy tournament mindset.

             Emerald hills golf course is located in Arnolds Park IA, near lake Okoboji, an impressive lake resort community. Head Professional Randy Rohlfsen, has always treated me with respect and enthusiasm as I have been a part of playing this wonderful event for several years now. Like the San Juan Open I get to enjoy competing on a great course while meeting new faces and kind members. Making face as a professional compliments what it means to be on tour, because without them (host event Sponsors and Amateurs) There is no us. My gratitude to play on the Dakotas Tour is the feeling I get from special events like this one.

            I make more birdies on par four’s than I do on par five’s it seems, maybe cause it feels that much better to capitalize on good shots and great putts. This week’s Emerald hills Camp-Foster Pro-am was one to remember after a good solid round of shooting 69 (click for Scorecard). The day was a mixture of fortuitous bounces and managing disaster after tough breaks throughout the round. Wednesday morning July 10^th 2013, I teed off on hole number one and played effortlessly making four birdies until I hit an overhanging tree off the tee on hole number seven. Despite managing a bogey from a poor tee shot I had seen where I unconsciously made the mistake. Hole seven’s tee shot forces a fade off the tee to be able to leave a direct shot to an uphill approach to the green, for the shorter hitters it could pose as a challenging long par four. As my confidence in ball striking has been high, I re-thought my decision to “leave the three wood in the bag and opt for the five wood (19⁰ hybrid), haven already taken the head cover off the three wood and choosing my line of sight, my mistake was not realigning my target accommodating the higher trajectory thus clipping the overhanging branch and falling straight down on the forward tee box: I must point out that I did land in front of the red tee marker’s for those of you who think I should have dropped my trousers.

            Four well managed shots later I made bogey and gave myself a look at a decent ten footer to save par. Mentally, when discussing with my caddy – Kip Knutson, the line I had instinctively chosen was the correct one and my will of wanting to save par cause me to second guess my read in the break. The break from the other side of the hole I somehow saw I a slight double breaker from that distance of 10’ having an uphill put. This course has no trick to its greens and there is no dominant break towards a river like the courses in Durango, CO. or the San Juan Open, Either way I managed my efforts to not over react and be presently aware of what I had accomplished from tee to green. 

            Holes eight through hole eleven I notice my emotional state was leaning towards nervousness and questioning my ability to finish this already great round. My swing wasn’t the issue nor was any other part of my physical game. How could it I had the help and good company of a caddy conversing about this great day of golf and how we both enjoyed watching and playing good golf. As a golfer, Kip considers himself around a 12-handicap on most courses, he enjoys the thought process of the game and learns by habitual observation. He had his fill that day knowing his excitement in learning I was pleased to have him by my side. Kip know enough about me and my level of confidence as a professional player that expressing my thoughts about the last bogey on hole eleven was a mere result of miscalculation of club selection, given our location on this downwind par three playing slightly downhill at 163 yards to the pin. Pulling 8-iron out of the bag I landed the ball 164 yards over the flagstick ending up one pace off the green. The number to the front of the green had been about 154 yards (typically an 8-iron distance for me) and ten paces to the pin location tucked in back left corner of the green. Like most shots this entire round my ball striking was predictable in slightly pulling my mid-irons a few yard left of my intended target, I did that with my 8-iron over the flagstick when I realized a comfortable 9-iron would have done the job like it did on my approach on hole seven from the same distance and wind direction. Allowing me to discuss this fact of miscalculation and affirmed my belief as a result together we moved on to the next hole, par five 12^th hole. 

            Internally, with the help of self-affirmation I need to process why I felt nervous during those last four holes and if I continued believing in my nervous behavior I would end up reacting instead of playing golf with fluidity, “trust in hitting a good tee shot, trust in hitting a good approach and believe in your ability of being a great putter.” I remember rehearsing this at Bakker Crossing that past Sunday second round striving to make the cut, my energies from posting a under par back nine that day helped me today at Emerald hills making one more birdie, saving par on another failed approach on the par last par five -16^th and coming to the eighteenth green having to two putt from the fairway fringe and hopefully save my par.

            I worked my way back to four under par as I stared down that 6 footer for par on eighteen. I read an obvious left to right break and proceeded to miss on the lower side of the hole. Now, I could go into micromanagement mode and detail why I missed this putt for par and lose out on about three hundred bucks in earnings not to mention tour bonus points. Overall I learned that under pressure when finishing the round the process of a strong mindset is the result of an organized practice regimen. I could always go back and adopt a few more disciplinary actions to strengthen my putting routine; I know this will comfort my state of mind over a similar putt, and possibly for the win.

            Always building trust in what I do to play better golf is the goal and learning constructively from my mistakes and errors. This is what I have done here today and hope to continue the process as I play on to my next three day event in Aberdeen SD – Moccasin Creek Western Printing Pro-Am July 19^th – 21^st, wish me luck everyone.           

The Western-Printing Pro-am picture of the Moccasin Creek golf course

@ Moccasin Creek this weeks golf event on the Dakotas Tour ~ The Western-Printing Pro-am ~

keep an eye out for the notes I will be posting about this tournament.

San Juan Open two days of prep June 2013

6/17/13

            Playing last week in Durango, CO brought out every aspect of good play in me, sure I made mistakes along the way and my scores on paper doesn't show the real pressure and mental discipline it takes to play each shot one at a time. The difference between a practice round and a tournament round is the process of a single shot; from beginning to end and the flow of the game in between. To simplify this process is to think of all the principals that make up each part: the planning, pre-shot, action, and post-shot. Over the years to keep an even temper by not showing the frustration is valuing each component particularly the “post-shot” routine.

            A tournament round mindset consists of this process that has built character and kept my motivation positive and always looking forward. Attitude about being a low-level professional golfer is the dream of making the journey to the PGA Tour.

            The San Juan Open is only a few days away and I have plenty of trusted knowledge of what makes up this course. Eric Lien, my housing sponsor, had taken me around the course to refresh my memory and pointed out some tee box changes to lengthen the course.

Hole One is no longer a par five it’s a long par 4.

Hole Five has a tee box back left more behind the fourth green, it actually gives you a better angle for the tee shot to the corner.

Hole Seven (#1 handicap) is now a par five and the tee box is stretched all the way back by the driving range.

Hole Nine’s tee box is about one club further, I welcome this change because I take the risky driver out of play and will most likely use a five wood (19 degree hybrid) to the corner and if the wind blows harder the most I plan on using is the three wood.

Hole Fourteen has an extreme longer back tee box that has a total blind tee shot. It does make this particular par five more challenging than previous years. The least club I should have in the hole is an 8 iron versus a “inside 100yrd” wedge, when you could cut the corner.

According to the local paper and the word around the golf club, Eric, was told Hole Sixteen will become a shorter par 4, tempting the player to go for it off the tee.

Even the game plan doesn't change by much, the targets and tee box position will matter in pre-planning for the next few days. Hole Sixteen is a fun hole and with a good vibe of the distance I carry my driver at this elevation there are three maybe four spots around the green I need to practice shots to certain tougher pin placements.

The rest of the week my goal is to re-evaluate the game plan in its entirety and discipline my thoughts to stay with it during play. Last week at the Navajo Trail Open I varied from a plan that challenged my attitude and I am sure its was the reason for tiring out and really feeling the emotional swings. I would be aware (mainly after the fact) of how aggressive that shot really was.

In previous lessons on about tournament golf its always best to not play so aggressive and play for par and let the birdies happen. I must remember that this course has plenty of opportunities for making birdies but the fact remains I committed to minimize my mistakes at this event. Because 18 birdies and two eagles is plenty under par. I have a stronger game today than I have back in 2008, I am a mature player, sticking to this plan is a functional way to not get ahead of myself.

6/18/13

            This morning I borrowed Eric’s cart to practice a little on the range. My plan today was to just hit a few shots and map the course by refreshing my notes from previous years. Joel, a gentleman at the pro-shop told me nobody is allowed on the course until the morning ladies group goes off; then he invited me to join him for a 10:30 tee time,  I was much obliged to his offer. I thought “well I should take this time to hit a few wedges and just take my time warming up. I had not yet had breakfast as I now planned to get some after the practice session.

            I took my 52 degree out of the bag and began hitting short distance pitches trying to regain the feel of a good grip and slight compression with my shoulders. I wanted to swing as light and easy as possible after having a chiropractor adjust me yesterday’s noon. I enjoy a good adjustment and the feeling I get when I am aware of the perfect alignment of my spine, hips and shoulders. Hitting wedge shots I began a mental chatter of having time to improve by fixing my alignment and posture to become stronger. I took notice that my neck, trapezoids and shoulders tend to tense up the fastest before I need an alignment. I do believe it’s the amount of torque in my swing that applies great pressure on that area.

            The best thing about being a pro golfer you’re always looking to improve and finding that half a stroke edge in your weekly performance. Taking my time on the range was to focus on the alignment and posture; with each swing I begin to feel the physical workout of a good warm-up. I pay attention to the shoulder alignment through impact creating a sensation of muscles contracting with a vibrant feel, like hitting a punching bag and feeling the aftershock in your smaller muscle fibers. Noticing the symmetry of both right and left inner hip flexors feel like they have fired properly allowing me to rotate my core through impact, with balance and good timing. I hit half a pyramid of range balls this way and my swing thoughts and feelings remain of a good 60 yard pitch shot I practice last week at Durango. This way I know I’m on task with the invite of the new “adjustment” to my swing.

            This style of fundamental set-up is not entirely new, familiar sensation from previous events I played and particularly the San Juan Open 2008 is the result of having a Chiropractor on sight, they had setup in a tour bus allowing me to get adjusted almost every day; at that time I really needed it.

            I need to add, before I forget that my posture is stronger because of my hips being level and my lower abdomen is strong enough to keep me from wanting to hyper-extend my lower back. In previous swings I would notice that the lower back relation to my left hip would cause a slight pull with the wedges and mid irons. My focus on a good posture was to have a balanced lower body and feel my lower core not pronating through impact, this kept my shoulders level and the swing thought of a good release felt balanced and aligned.

             A full hour of practice with finishing off with several seven iron shots I feel good about the changes this early in the week and I plan on tapping on the slight fears I have from the transition of the old swing to the new. The hard thing on tour is not having the Chiropractor available and I do my best to yoga each evening and morning to stay flexible in most of my joints. I did get an adjustment last week before played at Durango, but that was in Willmar and I traveled 22 hours to get there and after four rounds and a stressful stay I really needed to be realigned yesterday.

Navajo Trail Open - Durango, CO June 2013

            My spirits are high and being able to be here playing professional golf is a real blessing. I have been patient with the game for twenty years, and it still has lessons to teach me. The Navajo Trail Open is my first official pro event this year. I am motivated by knowing this initial stage has many hidden meanings that are deep down in my soul aware that I have played well in the past at other events and shooting impressive low scores. Getting into that zone mentality is no easy task and I strive to be present on a daily basis when it happens. It is a process of picking up the clues left behind while performing under pressure in tournament golf.

            Taking inventory of my game, seeing the weakness of my putting and conflicting thought patterns in my mindset; and other short game areas, that lack consistent feel and awareness of active imagination, either creative of synthetic in nature.

            Today’s 2:30 group was three other gentlemen and I by the names of Brandon, Dustin, and Bobby. To sum up how our day went, we all left out a lot of birdies out there and some of us struggled to make par on certain key holes. This round tested my ability to recognize my attitude during play and did my best to flood my thoughts with positive self-talk. Not corny self-talk either, I know I have greatness in me, my ball striking proved this by allowing me to transition my thoughts comfortably into target golf.

            Brandon, a PGA of America affiliated pro, had a fundamentally sound swing that I observed most of the round. I used to observe the same caliber of players out on the Minor-League-Tour in Florida; back then I was okay with shooting high 80’s while I enjoying competing against Nationwide Tour players practicing for the off season. Brandon’s swing and overall game brought back key ideas that made sense in simplifying the game when playing under pressure.

            To develop a strong mindset you have to learn to be aware of who you are, what your game type is, and how you can transition your thought process effectively during a round. There are always going to be areas of the game that needs improvement, as long as I can keep up the pace of a good practice session during the season, I am only going to get stronger as a player.

1. The key swing thoughts that I took from Brandon’s game:
2. Setup and address, easy, balanced and routine.
3. This /\ made sense for the tee shots as I knew a lot of my strong set up.
4. I just needed to piece the routine together by watching Brandon’s pre shot routine
5. I observed a strong balanced setup and tighter, more compacted backswing.

·       At a certain frontal angle I could see Brandon compress the ball through impact because of his unwinding of his body coil.

            This observation made sense to me, it’s like I was watching it on TV and I would get that feeling of what I had been working on in my swing while watching a PGA Tour event in my living room. Hyper observation allowed me to trust my swing for the last few holes as I continued to strike the ball with a better level of attitude.

            A familiar sense of playing with this swing before during a good round was enough to trust my ability to move in this direction, swinging with the intent of getting better. I will have to let the persistence take care of it in the end. Feeling free’er with each shot is a matter of making every shot just as important as the last one.