Friendships and Golf

Friendship and golf go together like titanium and urethane. The correct combination can take you a long way. Looking at my cell phone contacts, almost all of the people have two things in common: friendship and golf.

Two friends I miss playing golf with are Don Day and my Dad. Don’s company was a pleasure and he was always complimentary towards your good shots. Don also had the great ability to share a different story on the golf course without ever repeating himself. His tremendous sense of humor never prevented him from having the utmost focus on the shot at hand. I believe Don’s passion for the game was exceeded only by his love of people. Four hours on the golf course is time well spent with friends. Unfortunately, the only bad thing about a round of golf with friends is that it must end. My last round of golf with Don was in 2004 before he passed away.

Another “friend” I miss playing golf with is my Dad. It has been a few years since we played golf and I wish we could have golfed more. Dad enjoyed his golf with friends and would be quick to organize a game wherever, whenever and with whomever. I always respected his knowledge of the rules of the game without compromise, even if it was to his disadvantage. Although Dad may not have been a scratch player, he liked to compete. I have never seen anyone so pleased to par the last hole at the Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland to shoot 98. Why? He won the match by one shot after receiving his allotment of strokes. I also never saw my Dad get angry on a golf course. Something I am still working on today, but this has been greatly improving of late.

Friendship can also develop from healthy competition. The 1977 Open Championship comes to mind. Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson had the utmost respect for each other after their “Duel in the Sun”. A great friendship would develop, after their battles on the golf course were finished.

I may not have seen a friend for a few years, but after a few holes of golf, it is like we never missed a day of contact. Enduring friendships seem to be the norm for those who play golf together. Golf Digest has a section dedicated to “Buddies Trips” with some great stories about friends and their exploits together.

A day on the golf course should be an enjoyable experience. Golf has a unique way of bringing out the best in all of us. Just ask your friends. I am sure they have some fabulous insights into your current psyche after 18 holes of golf. Excuse me, my phone is ringing. I am certain it will be a friend calling to make a tee time.

Bill & Jim

Craig Roth and son Cody

Nick, Ryan, Brad, Scott & Gord
Baltusrol Golf Club 2009

Brad & Al
Iron Man Winners KGCC 2010

Glen & Bill

Harry and Friends in Ireland

Don & Malcom
St. Andrews Caddies

Monte & Bernie
2009 Ogopogo

Soroka Family @ St. Andrews 2007

Fifi & Preban from Denmark
Kingsbarns Scotland 2008



Phil & James
Kingsbarns Scotland 2007



Krista & Nate
Kingsbarns Scotland 2010

Bernie & Christa
2010 KGCC

Greg & Dan
2008 KGCC Club Championship Final (35th Hole)

Baltusrol Caddies

Gail @ St. Andrews 2007

Gord & Phil
Kingsbarns Scotland 2007

Nick & Gord
Chambers Bay Golf Course
University Place, Washington

Lionel & Lindsay
KGCC Club Championship Final 1st Hole
Lindsay Club Champion for 2010

Kim & Mike
Balburnie Park Golf Club
Scotland 2008

Mike & Gord
Indian Wells
Palm Springs
2008

Sandy and Robin
Burnside Course
Carnoustie Scotland

Norm & Sherry
KGCC Club Championship 2008
Norm Champion for 2008

Billy, Patti & Jeff
Anthem Golf CLub
Arizona 2008

Mike, Sam & Billy
Murcar Links Golf Club
Aberdeen, Scotland 2010

Indian Wells 2008
Mike & Friends

Scott, Brad & Nick
1st Tee @ Baltusrol Golf Club 2009

Ally, Gord & Daffyd
1st Tee Old Course
St. Andrews, Scotland
August 2010

Photos from a Summer in Scotland

St. Andrews

Carnoustie 18th Tee

18th Green @ Kingsbarns in a Mist or Scottish Haar.

The 5th hole @ Anstruther Golf Course (The Rockies...and yes this is Par 3)

1st Tee Royal Aberdeen

Kingsbarns Golf Links #2 (Par 3)

Just the other side of Barry Burn @ Carnoustie's 18th

18th Tee Shot @ Ladybank Golf Course

1st and 18th Holes @ The Old Course (R&A Clubhouse, Hamilton Hall, and Swilcan Burn)

1st and 18th Holes @ The Old Course (R&A Clubhouse, Hamilton Hall, and Swilcan Burn)

The Old Course and the Town of St. Andrews

Kingsbarns Golf Links Hole #3

Peterhead Golf Club (Craigewan Golf Links Hole #7)

Murcar Links (Hole #16, Par 3)

Cruden Bay (Hole # 6, Par 5)

Moon Rise over the Old Course (Full Moon on August 24th, 2010)

Hole #2 @ Kingsbarns Golf Links

Going Too Far?

When was the last time you heard golfers comment that their tee shots were going too far? In professional golf the ball does go too far and courses are always made longer. The US Open continually has par fours over 500 yards. At the Open Championship the toughest par four in the world, the Road Hole #17th at St. Andrews, was moved back 40 yards to a new tee. The reason: the pros are hitting the ball farther than they did five years ago when the Open was last played at the Old Course. At the USPGA Championship the final hole played over 500 yards and was a par four. What’s next? 300 yard par threes? Sorry, already done at the 2007 US Open.

The best players in the world do not require any more length off the tee. Golf courses are stretched to their limit. A classic example of this point is the Pines Course at The International in Bolton, Massachusetts, that measures an incredible 8,325 yards. As a result of improved golf ball technology, the PGA Tour will soon be playing courses at this yardage. A simple solution to the ever growing distance phenomenon would be to have the pros use a different golf ball with length limiting properties.

However, golf ball companies have continued to invest millions of dollars in research and design to facilitate the distance craze. Amateur golfers also want to play the same golf balls as their favourite pros on television.
Golf companies employ scientists who could work for NASA developing golf balls that fly farther and curve less than ever before. “Space ball” technology combined with titanium clubs produces drives that travel over 300 yards for the professionals. If any of your golf partners says, “I hit the ball 300 yards”, call me, and I will take that bet every day of the week.

Almost every new golf course designed now must have a set of tees that stretch beyond 7000 yards. Why? The cost of construction could be lessened by not having to build these “Tiger” tees and thus possibly reducing the price of golf and saving the male ego. Why not build a golf course that is 6200 yards from the “tips” and has a par of 70? Save money on the amount of land, construction costs and maintenance by not building these “Frankenstein” monster golf courses. Golf courses should not be catering to the small minority of golfers who can actually play from 7000 yards.

Even with the extra distance there is one thing that scientists can’t make happen more often: holing more putts. Not yet, anyways.

The Heart of the Game

After a summer of golf in Scotland I now have a better understanding of why I play this great game. One of the rounds that helped changed my view of golf took place on August 19th at the Peterhead Golf Club on the Craigewan Golf Links. A chance meeting with golf professional Harry Dougal and the round of golf that followed will be remembered for a long time. I would receive a golf lesson from Mr. Dougal that was more about life, rather than swinging a golf club.

Harry became a golf professional after a long career as a very good amateur player in Scotland. His reason for turning to golf after his profession working in the “Oil Game” (as Harry referred to it) was because of circumstances that happen in life beyond anyone’s control. Harry lost his wife in a car accident. He shared this with me on the first hole during our day on the links.

After a few minutes in Harry’s company, I knew this was going to be a memorable day of golf with a true gentleman. We played through a group of members on the fourth hole and you were certain they respected their affable golf pro. Harry’s easy going demeanor makes you feel comfortable in his presence.

Our conversation during the round of golf covered topics from the oil business in the North of Scotland to winters in Guatemala. Guatemala sounds like a far more interesting place when said with a Scottish brogue.
Harry loves the game of golf, but more importantly he understands why we should play golf. Golf is about enjoying the day: the company of friends, camaraderie, laughter, and the development of friendships.

I was reminded of something that day that I already knew, but must have stuffed to the back of my golfing brain. Golf is not about your score! Golf is about the enjoyment of the game and the people you play golf with. Often golfers are caught up in their own game and forget to enjoy the day. I plead guilty to this statement and vow to work on changing my ways. Don’t get me wrong, I still want to return a good score, but this will not be in the forefront of my thoughts as I try to “Enjoy the Game”

Not once during the 18 holes did Harry make mention of score or even comment about it. He was complimentary to a shot well played for sure, but score was not mentioned.

I am grateful for the 18 holes of golf that I played with Harry Dougal. He reminded me of an important part of golf that I had somewhat forgotten. I look forward to returning to Peterhead Golf Club in the North East corner of Scotland. See you next summer Harry.

Peterhead Golf Club can best be described as a working man’s golf club. People from all walks of life gather to enjoy the “Healthful Exercise of the Golf”. The club certainly had a great ambience and welcoming air to it, even on a quiet Wednesday afternoon from the few members I did meet.

The politics at member clubs in Scotland is virtually nonexistent. After playing at 17 different golf clubs this summer it is apparent that all golfers are treated as equals. Some golf clubs do not allow you to sign up as a foursome on Saturdays, but rather you enter as a single and are paired with other members. This allows all members to be involved and prevents fractured groups and cliques within a club.

I feel more at home in the “Home of Golf” than anywhere else. Golfers like Harry Dougal are part of the reason I am sure.

Know the Rules and Play Faster

This Golf Column will appear Monday August 23rd in the Kelowna Daily Courier.

Know the Rules & Play Faster.

Knowledge about the rules of golf could have saved Dustin Johnson over $1,000,000 and a lifetime of what “ifs”. I am certain Johnson would never intentionally try to break any rule. Johnson demonstrated tremendous class during and after the ordeal. What happened on the 72nd hole of last week’s USPGA Championship was heartbreaking. Dustin Johnson had a lapse in concentration and grounded his club in a bunker. The penalty would cost him two strokes and the possibility of winning his first major championship.

The players had been informed about the “Local Rules” regarding the 1000 plus bunkers at Whistling Straights. All week the players took care before playing shots from any type of sand. The unfortunate part about Johnson’s debacle was that the gallery was standing in the bunker. The area appeared to be worn and trampled ground outside the gallery ropes. Johnson and his caddie must have been caught up in the moment of playing the final hole of a major. They both failed to recognize the golf ball was actually in a bunker.

Golf has a total of thirty-four rules. Read the rulebook at least once and be certain to read the local rules when playing a tournament or a casual game.

On pages 18 & 19 in the Rules of Golf published by the RCGA (Golf Canada) is a section on “Pace of Play” that all golfers should read because daylight is slipping away sooner every day.

Monday August 23rd the sun will set at 8:00 p.m. and with less time for golf the pace of play becomes an issue. You do not want to be completing the final holes of your career round in darkness do you? Here are some tips that will assist in speeding up the game and provide more enjoyment for everyone.

#1 Play ready golf. Regardless of who has the honour hit when it is safe instead of waiting for others.

#2 Record scores on the next tee.

#3 First person to hole out picks up the flagstick. Be ready to replace it when the final putt is holed. Don’t just exit the green and leave the flagstick for the last player.

#4 Leave your golf bag on the side of the green nearest the next tee.

#5 Keep your practice swings to a minimum. One or two are enough for anyone on any full shot.

#6 Watch your golf ball until it has finished rolling, especially after a bad shot.

#7 Play from the correct set of tees. Leave your “ego” at home; you don’t need to see the whole golf course.

#9 Spend as little time needed at the beverage cart as possible.

#10 When on the putting green, read the break of your putt while others are putting. Taking care not to disrupt them.

#11 In between shots walk briskly; start planning your next shot as you approach your ball.

Most golfers don’t realize when they are out of position. Here is a simple way to determine if you need to get your group moving. When arriving on the tee of a par 4 and the group in front has left the putting surface you are out of position. When arriving on the tee of a par five and the group in front has removed the flagstick you are behind. When arriving on a par 3 and the group in front has left the next tee, you best get cracking.

Major Meltdown & Golf’s Global Warming

Another year of major championship golf is complete and Tiger Woods is no closer to Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 professional major titles. Tiger last won a major in June of 2008 when he defeated Rocco Mediate in an 18 hole playoff at the U.S. Open.
Jack’s once impregnable record looked certain to be eclipsed by Woods. Tiger’s assault on reaching 19 majors has been halted quicker than his vehicle was stopped by a fire hydrant on an early morning drive last November. Will Tiger ever return to his once dominant position “Best Golfer of the Universe”? Or has Tiger been given a dose of Swedish “Kryptonite”?
Tiger has twice gone 10 major tournaments in succession without a victory. The interesting part is what happened after that dry spell. Tiger would win 5 of 6 majors from the USPGA in 1999 through the 2001 Masters. After the second dry spell Tiger would win 4 of 8 majors from the 2005 Masters through the 2006 USPGA.
Where’s Lefty? Where did Phil Mickelson go after his win at Augusta? Yes Phil was third at the U.S Open, but his performance during the Open Championship and the USPGA was not up to his usual standard. Tied for 48th at The Open Championship and 12th place at the USPGA is not nearly good enough for a player seemingly destined to become #1 in the world.
Another strange happening this week was the tirade by Sergio Garcia. Sergio lost the plot in one of the 1000 plus bunkers at Whistling Straights. Sergio took more swings at the bunker than a five year old child trying to knock down a piñata blindfolded. Tim Finchem can punish Sergio by having him rake all 1000 bunkers by hand before returning to the PGA Tour. See you at Augusta amigo.
All negative this week you are saying? Time to change direction.
Things are heating up on the “World” stage of golf. Major winners from all corners of the globe have created an interesting time to be a golf fan. Many nations now have someone to cheer for at every tournament.
Golf’s presence on the world sporting stage will be enhanced with golf’s inclusion the 2016 Olympic Games. Northern Ireland, South Africa, Germany, Argentina and South Korea all have a major champion within their borders during the past two years.
The list of countries with high finishes at the Masters, U.S. Open, The Open Championship and the USPGA is impressive. USA, England, South Korea, Northern Ireland, France, Columbia, South Africa, Germany, Sweden, Australia and China all had players crack to the top ten.
A recent look at the world rankings furthers this point. Fourteen different countries are represented in the top 40 in the world rankings as of August 8th. Golf truly has become a global game.
Gord McGarva has been playing golf for over 31 years and could not believe what happened at the conclusion of the USPGA this past Sunday. More about that next week.

Is Golf Too Easy ?

Ian MacCallister was recently found in his basement wearing a straight jacket after hearing about another round of 59 being recorded on the PGA Tour. Actor John Cleese, made several commercials for Titleist involving a Scottish character that claimed, “Golf was not meant to be easy!”

For Stuart Appleby and Paul Goydos golf is quite simple. Both PGA Tour players entered the “59” club this summer on the PGA Tour.

Appleby shot a final round 59 at the Greenbrier Classic to win the tournament by one shot over Jeff Overton. Woody Austin’s final round 63 was virtually unnoticed, as was Boo Weekly’s 63 in round two. (Is this the PGA Tour or the cast from “Two Story 3”?) Another very low score on track for 59 was a 61 by D.A Points. A bogey 6 on the par 5 seventeenth derailed that attempt.

Paul Goydos mowed down the TPC Deere Run Golf Course during the first round of the John Deere Classic with a 12-birdie performance resulting in a 59. His best quote was; “Hey I shot my height”. Goydos is 5’9” and may best be remembered for his candour during interviews when he almost won the The Players Championship before losing to Sergio Garcia in a playoff.

In between Appleby and Goydos shooting 59 there was Carl Pettersson carding a ten under par 60 in the Canadian Open. The only one not at par or better that week in Canada was the “Loonie”. Just five players in the field that completed all four rounds failed to shoot under par at St. George’s Golf & Country Club. The PGA Tour professionals are not missing their square grooves.

The PGA Tour professionals can strive for the magic 59, but what does that leave the rest of us?

What is your 59? For some it may be breaking a certain score barrier during a regular round of golf. Lowering your career best while playing a competitive round could be your 59. Now the hard part - just how do we break those barriers?

One of the best golf instruction books written in recent years is, “Every Shot Must Have a Purpose”, by Lynn Marriott, Pia Nilsson and Ron Sirak. Marriot and Neilson have also created “Vision 54”. Their belief is that the perfect round of golf would be a score of 18 under par (54 on a par 72 golf course); a birdie on all 18 holes.

It is not the attainment of such a lofty goal but rather the process. You must take every shot individually and not be concerned about anything else. Here is a quote from their website that may explain better their philosophy: “The origin of VISION54 emanates from a core belief in possibilities, and by embracing the notion that every individual has unlimited and unique potential.”

Easy to say, but very difficult to execute. Golfers get in their own way by adding up the score as they go. Try your utmost to forget about the score and focus on the execution of the shot being played. How exactly is that done? If I knew the answer, I would bottle it and sell the formula.

The vast majority of golf lessons are given on the practice tee. Do you want a sure fire way to expand your golf knowledge? Take a playing lesson from a certified CPGA professional. It will be worth the time and money.

At last report MacCallister has returned to Scotland and is now sheep farming in the Outer Hebrides, giving up his quest to make golf more difficult.

Gord McGarva has been playing golf for over 31 years and his current potential is an eight under par score of 64.