First Round North Dakota Open

               The game hands you nothing but the courage to play and enjoy the process of doing instead of complaining. First round 74 today at Fargo Country Club Bobcat North Dakota Open, a respectable round I might add (scorecard), there were considerable higher scores than average on this tour for the opening round, one reason might be the pace of these fast greens as most player are accustom to firing at pins and firming their putts to the back of the hole. It has been a few month’s since I have played on greens as fast as these the San Juan Open is always a memorable event because the greens are very fast and role true off the face of the putter.

               Fast greens are my favorite to putt on, they enforce urgency to pay close attention to dominant breaks towards the river and factor in other elements in some cases the wind direction causing an overly breaking putt to hold its line; Florida  and southern golf courses instill awareness of grain not so much attention is needed up here.

               This first round with quick analysis of the game played this far into the round I have determined that my mentality of guarding against not being in a certain pressure state of mind; the only way to maintain a flowing mindset is executing a plan of added focus energies on key scoring hole for tomorrow. It was easy to come to this decision as for the round I played today I made four bogeys on three of those easier scoring holes today. My first one came on our front nine, hole number 14, and a shorter par four that call for a position in the fairway to a tucked back right pin location. Bombing driver can and most likely will end up behind the tree on the right side of the fairway closer to an elevated green. Intimidating as the hazard is all along the left side hitting driver is too aggressive when my goal for the day was to gain momentum and make way for key scoring holes.  I hit 3 wood carrying my momentum from the start on ten. No birdies recorded but I had makeable looks at them with nothing but confidence, sometimes in this game the putts just don’t drop when you felt like you did all you can do to make it happen.

               In all honesty that’s how the day went on from the horrendous low hook left 3 wood that came to rest in the hazard. The course was not set up with ridiculous pin placements either, the damage from the flooding early July allow the players to lift clean and place through the green on any of the holes that were affected.

               A few holes later driving into the green side bunker on the short 325 yard par 4 as the fairway doglegs right, the tee shot calls for a very high driver with a fade that will land softer on or before this firm green. As I waited our fellow playing partners where struggling tee to green, one player caught the tops of the tall trees off the tee and ended up in the water, similar result watching his approach from his intended drop and this time the ball landed just beyond the tree line. Player two from the left hand rough landed his approach pin-high only to watch it bounce hard over the green short siding himself to a near impossible up and down for par to this elevated green. Several minutes went by before I could play my bunker shot to make a score of three and walk away feeling like I have something going again. Heartbreaking as the bogey was, I ended up making my thought of trying to hard and feeling tension from trying to control the shorter shots from the bunker and landing the uphill chip short, causing it to not roll out, I needed to play free and search for good rhythm. Committing to this mentality I changed my attitude and filling my mind with positive imagery, not just golf shots either, missing my family when on tour I get to wonder how much fun and all the smiles my children have when they are with mama, I hear my wife’s voice encouraging me to not to limit myself in belief but to know that I have the tools to play well. This past weekend’s title defense in Prince Albert SK has validated my level of confidence for this moment.

               Making the turn, I gladly accept my one over par performance till this point heading into our back nine. Game plan had stayed the same with a couple or errand shots, my mental awareness striving to be free with my swing the positive reinforcement of attitude no longer need adjusting. Josh rolled up the push cart next to my soon to be second shot on hole 3 and said “there is a difference in playing the game with your mind and playing it with your heart!” I acknowledge his expression before I step into my pre-shot routine and those words rung in tune with what I have been trying to accomplish from the start of the round; now I won’t get all mushy and detailed like how the sky is so blue and the birds were signing at that moment. Those words were a positive affirmation to greater achievement.

               Putting , in the past, primarily at the start of each season would be the less free of mechanics and under pressure of total control, in tournament golf this is a bad combination and not just for putting but for any component of the game (drive, approach, short game etc.). To the defense of the putting game the round of golf requires almost 44% of all your strokes regardless of how good (or bad) your score turns out to be. I bring this point up because in my game the putting part has improved immensely as the pressure continues and for this opening round my mentality for putting is poised to executing great putts with chosen reads and feeling pleased assuring myself that I played that shot the way I imagined it would and the result did not match my creative reads in the breaks.

               Today’s round in 29 putts is what my stats showed – 14 putts on the front and 15 putts on the back nine. Three different holes I can remember not being in the right frame of mind to save par costing me added strokes, some short game shots had a similar outcome promoting downer level of confidence. I am fortunate to come this far in the tour and have the skills and mental ability to change my attitude to any unpleasant situation so it does not destroy my spirit. That last line you just read came from the word of Napoleon Hill himself as I listen religiously to “Think and Grow Rich” his book on audio, while driving in the car during the longer hauls of travel. I am grateful to the economic philosophy expressed in those pages because it gave me the urgency to have self-discipline and use the god given power of thought.      

Join me on Facebook for live updates during the tour 

search - jon beaver golfpro

Thank you and have a great day.

I MADE THE CUT AT ARROWHEAD

               Not a one day event either, making a cut in what the tour considers a major championship, more points are awarded during this type of event. I have to mention that in all my career playing tournament golf I have never putted this well before in two consecutive days. My putting stroke feels free fundamentally allowing me to trust my chosen line. Majority of putts made are credited to my ability to have a good imagination but when strategy comes to play for harder breaking putts Josh and I will come to a consensus by observing fellow players reactions to putts missed or made and seeing the line best suited for the putt.

               I have valid questions though? Usually during a round that need answering, like the need for newer fitted equipment? Because, my strengthened swing matured as my tour schedule progressed. I naturally feel uneasy before I approach a long par three in hopes of hitting a solid shot, sometimes constantly worrying about my intended ball flight. Sure, I can work around it by playing to the weak image of me hoping for the best, or I can swing in great tempo with utter confidence like the rest of my game (putting, short game, Wood and Driver). Mid iron’s play level of confidence from the start of my tour this season has always been questionable. In my experience as a tour player I know in fact the benefits of newer fitted technology alongside an experienced coach will take me to higher levels.

               Measuring myself to these players in physical, emotional and mental attributes it is easy to compare what strengths I have, to envision myself on the range warming up before tournament tee off I swing each club with the utmost confidence the moment struck epiphany that I can be confidently aggressive on key scoring holes and take advantage of the length I have off the tee. Playing this week at Arrowhead tournament for the first time (and 1^st year) I began strategizing how easy this course can be played when I know what to expect.  

               At the moment there is just me, no sponsors, old equipment (purchased a few newer non-fitted woods), no coach, and no full time caddy. This week I have been fortunate to have Josh Cole of New London, MN volunteer and join me this week. He really has taken a load off my stress levels and I want to add that the last cut I made I had “Kip Knutson” on the bag keeping me calm and allowing me to converse in a manner of expressing my mental images and commitment to each shot regardless of the result good and bad.

               I am one to be proud of this accomplishment as I set out to do the same routine as before and come out making the cut, if by chance finishing higher in the field at the end of the three day event. Making the cut allows room to set new short term goals in playing better for that day. My daily routine before tee-off does not change, my mentality is constant, my lessons of perseverance is staying patient in order to win at obtaining goals.

               Making this tournament cut could not be possible without help and relationship of Josh. We travelled out to Rapid City Monday August 5^th and played two practice rounds; I played and Josh was more eager to take notes. As he and I had many questions about a course we have never seen before, our detailed notes in Josh’s little black book is the work of two experienced players of the game collaborating a good strategy based on our observation of how the putts would roll and to which direction. We found out during both rounds the three dominant factors that will affect the amount of breaks in the putts.

                              Ultimately our goal is to play great golf on any given day, by doing so we build on the experience for the next round. Tee to green strategy is having the right club selection for the intended shot and managing your misses well to make birdies or save par. Aggressive play all the time hardly pays off and effects the mindset long term. As a team our attainable goal has been met this week by making the cut, now we have to keep doing what works to strengthen our mindset.      

               My goals are to make more cuts and search for cultivating a winning mindset leading to always being prepared to play in the same manner as the champions or top ten leaders on tour. I feel some days that statistically it takes only half a stroke in making the cut too winning on tour. The gap between is learning to deal with the emotional balance of everyday life.