Issue #308

June 29th, 2010


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To Achieve Better Golf Scores:

'Sometimes You Need To Lose So That You Can Learn How To Win'

It seems as though many Golfers get so close to shooting their best score ever, but then we ultimately, out of nowhere, do something to mess ourselves up on the last hole or two. Fortunately, this is a process that doesn’t need to be constantly repeating itself. There is a way to get over the hump so that you don’t “shoot yourself in the foot” on those last couple of holes.

I was speaking to a Golfer the other day on a GMS Instructor For Life Telephone Lesson – this Golfer has worked hard to get his game into the low 90’s. We were talking about what he should be practicing now that he has improved so much and how to advance to the next level. It was a great phone call!

Five minutes into our conversation, as we were speaking about his progress  and all the things he has improved in his game – he told me that during his latest round of Golf he actually was even par after 7 holes!

But, out of nowhere – he took an 11 on the par four 8th hole.  An 11? ‘Where did that come from?’  Hole 8 was followed by a Double Bogey 6 on the 9th hole.

So it was 7 holes of the best golf of his life … followed by a huge let down.

Now there are two ways we can look at this: is this a positive occurrence or a negative occurrence? I’m going positive all the way. Why?

First – even though the 9 holes ended with one hole being 7 over Par and the next being 2 over Par – that still equals a 45. And for a Golfer that was scoring in the 100’s just a short time ago and has recently worked that number down into the low 90’s (with the help of GMS) – a 45 actually isn’t a bad score. It’s still trending better than this Golfer’s average score.

Second – for a mid-90’s Golfer to be even Par through 7 holes says that the Golfer has the ability to hit some good golf shots. It says that the Golfer knows how to make a Par putt. It shows that the Golfer can manage his/her golf game. It says that the Golfer knows how to play one shot at a time and has been working on his/her PLAN.

Third – ‘sometimes you need to lose so that you can learn how to win’. Just as Dustin Johnson experienced a letdown on the 4th day of the US Open – this Golfer experienced a letdown on the last 2 holes of what could be termed a “breakthrough round of golf”. And as big as a US Open win that it would’ve been for young Dustin – finishing 9 holes at even par or in the high 30’s would’ve been this Golfer’s equivalent of winning the US Open.

As Dustin’s 4th round ended with disappointment – I believe Dustin will become a better, stronger Golfer because of it. He perhaps will have a better understanding of how to handle the pressure next time. And I believe that the GMS Golfer I was speaking to will be able to do the same. Actually, I guarantee the next time he’s even Par after 7 holes that he won’t make an 11 on the 8th!

Breaking through on your very first opportunity to score a Major win (or breaking an important number such as scoring 39 for 9 holes) doesn’t guarantee continued future success. Case in point – Trevor Immelman. A great, great Golfer – but as all the experts were saying how his Masters win would catapult him into being the equal of Tiger Woods – it hasn’t happened. Although, on the other hand – how many times did Mickelson fail before winning his first Major? ‘Sometimes you need to lose so that you can learn how to win.’

So for the Golfers out there that have recently come close to breaking through, but somehow messed-up on the last few holes – think of that experience as a positive. To put yourself into the position to breakthrough shows that you have the ability to play good golf. And the more times you put yourself into that position – the more opportunities you’ll be giving yourself to learn how to handle the anxiety that comes with making a breakthrough.

Now the key to getting yourself back into that position is this: don’t expect to be in that position every time you play. The harder you try to get back into that position – the more you won’t allow yourself to get there. The only reason any of us get into the position of being on the verge of breaking through is because we were more focused on playing one shot at a time; and we weren’t concerned with score. Meaning – you were more focused on your PLAN and not focused on how you needed to make that 10 foot putt for Par.

Hence, you were able to put yourself into a wonderful position to breakthrough. However, if in your next round of golf you think about getting back into that breakthrough position – you’re more likely going to have a disastrous round of golf.

That’s the beauty of golf: the more you’re focused on score … the worse your score will be. The more you’re focused on your PLAN … the better your score will be.

The Monkey is always trying to score their best and most often scores like they always do

The Player is always focused on their PLAN and that often puts them into a position to have a breakthrough round of golf

Regards,

Marc Solomon -Your Instructor For Life

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“I Shot 89 The Other Day. First Time In The 80's!!”

Hi Hayden,

You may remember Ken and I came down to see you in April at Heron Bay. I have been working hard on my chipping (Weight On Front Foot drill) and my putting (5 Iron Drill and Ball Behind Ball Drill).

My driving has been more consistent with the Belly Swing and Modified Belly Swing Drill.

All the practicing paid off!! I shot an 89 the other day. First time in the 80s!!

I have been using the GMS Player Page on the Golf Made Simple website to remember all I learned. This is a great resource.

I want to thank you for your great attitude and keeping it fun every day. I am looking forward to producing some more rounds in the 80's. I hope to be back to see you next spring.


Rick A - Cobble Hill, BC, Canada – Sent June 20th, 2010

Attended Boca Raton, Florida location on April 16th to 18th, 2010




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“There Were 11 Men's Teams And We Won!”


Hi Alan,

Hope you are well. Margaret, Carol, Mayo and I attended the March 22nd GMS in Sotogrande, Spain (at Almenara Resort). I just wanted send you a little feedback on how we are doing.

We all enjoyed your tuition and found it very beneficial and enjoyable. We have all improved!

Last week Margaret, Carol and I won the Chester Business Club Golf Charity Day. There were 11 men's teams and just our 1 girl’s team. And we won!! The men hated it!!

We look forward to coming back to see you next spring.

Regards,

Tricia T - Otkinton, England - Sent June 19th, 2010

Attended Spain location on March 22nd to 24th, 2010

 
 
 
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The Buzz with Alex

"Are You Looking For 30 Minutes Or Continued Improvement!"

Are you looking for a 30 minute golf lesson, that'll make you feel good for 30 minutes or are you looking for golf improvement that helps you play great for a lot longer than 30 minutes?

Most golf lessons are like aspirin – you have a bad round of golf, so you seek out the closest Golf Professional and take a 30 minute lesson. It’s quick, it’s cheap and the thought of doing it makes you feel better.

Why does it make you feel better? Because regardless of whether you improve or not …. At least you’re doing something.

But, as so often happens – that headache comes back again the next time you’re on the golf course. So what do you do? Do you go back to take another lesson even though the last one didn’t work?

This is what we call the reactionary style of trying to improve. The issue with this common style of lessons is – Golfers that use this approach rarely see any benefits (except for the feeling of: “at least I’m doing something”). But as far as improvement that will carry over, this approach usually doesn’t help to do much because the effects don’t stick around. It’s usually a grip change, or a swing thought that might produce better results for a few swings --- but unwaveringly it’s back to bad golf shots as soon as the lesson is over. Actually, for most Golfers, it’s back to bad golf shots even before the lesson is over!

Unfortunately, that is how 75% of the golf population tries to improve. And that’s why 75% of the golf population never improves their scores after their first three years of playing golf! Yes, that’s right – just about 75% of Golfers will not improve at all after 3 years of golf – regardless of how many more years they play. Why is this? Because they are continually taking aspirin for their game (looking for quick relief) – as opposed to using a PLAN to improve.

That’s why GMS has been so successful in helping Golfers to play better and enjoy the game so much more. We have a PLAN and we give you that PLAN. Think of it as a system that you use (a system based on your golf game) to improve so that you know the Cause and Effect of your golf swing. Which in simple terms means – you know how to absolutely make corrections and adjustments within 1 or 2 bad golf swings on the golf course.

And what if you have an issue that you can’t figure out? We’re here for you with the IFL Program – GMS’s Instructor For Life! What is the Instructor For Life Program and how does it benefit you?

First – The Player Page on the GMS website has all the Drills, notes and strategies you learned at GMS.

Second – If you have a question about your golf swing -- your answer is only an email away by emailing Instructor For Life for help.

Third – IFL Telephone Lessons. How much is it worth to speak to a GMS Instructor on the telephone about your game? A GMS Instructor is only a telephone call away!

The key is this – besides the 3 day program that you attend, where you’ll see improvement, plus feel a lot better about knowing how to improve and play better … you also have Instructor For Life backing you up just in case.

Now, how much more is that worth compared to the 30 minute lesson you took last week?

For dates and information on our GMS locations – go to our GMS All Locations web page by clicking here or give me a call.

Regards,

Alexandria – Director, Golf Made Simple Inc.
www.GolfMadeSimple.com
Alex@GolfMadeSimple.com

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GMS Photo of the Week

Wisconsin Golf Lessons

This week’s Photo was sent in by Larry Hanson of St. Cloud, Minnesota. The photo was taken after Chalk Talk (our  end of the day review after our 9 holes of On-course Instruction). The photo came with a note that read:

“I greatly enjoyed meeting Hayden. I am eager to return for another day later this summer. Thus far I have had only 1 opportunity to test my new game; I was pleased with my play, shooting an 88 (46/42) which is better than I have been scoring recently. Attached is the photo I took of Hayden along with the two gentlemen in my group Buck and Bill.”

And if you have a photo from your GMS Experience, send it to MyPlayerPhoto@GolfMadeSimple.com and we'll send you a small thank you gift.


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"That's What Friends Are For"

Excerpted from GIW Issue 166 - June 28th, 2006

Here's the scenario - You're playing the best golf of your life after 4 holes of golf. Then on the 5th hole you hit a Drive that you're not 100% happy with, though it's still in play and you accept it as being OK and it doesn't bother you too much.

But apparently it bothers your golfing buddy enough that you didn't hit it perfect because they look at you and say - "You know, you didn't finish your swing on that shot as well as you have been on the first 4 holes. You really need to follow-through better."

Now if you were a Player, you would just look at your Golfing Buddy, smile and say "Thank you for your advice". And then instantly forget everything they just said to you. Though the Monkey would say - "Really? Is that what you saw? Did it look like I was not going all the way through? Was there anything ....

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