Golfgal's 10 step program to better golf

It’s almost December 2010. Where did the year go? It seems like only yesterday I was contemplating my NY’s resolutions that I knew I would break faster than it takes to yell “FORE!!!”. 

For the past ten years, I’ve vowed every year to lose weight and get into shape. Sound familiar? I even had the magic numbers all picked out – i.e. optimal weight and dress size. But every year I not only failed, I gained more weight and was in worse shape than the year before.

But this year, instead of practicing insanity – doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome – I decided it was time for a change.

After my 2009 trip to Maui where I felt my golf game had come to a screeching halt, I made a promise to myself to reduce my handicap by 3 points (which at that time stood at 20.6) in 2010.

Just that subtle change in mindset, from a wish to a promise, made an incredible change in my attitude, and I believe… my outcome. In my mind, I could already see myself as a better golfer because:

1. I’m passionate about golf and committed to improving my game.

2. My goal was SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely)

Once I made that promise to myself, I sat down and thought about what it would take to fulfill it…

Last year golf had finally been recognized by the Olympic poobahs as a real sport. And who plays sports? Athletes, of course. So I looked into the mirror and said to myself, “You’re an athlete and it’s about time you started acting like one!”

Okay, so how do athletes behave? Well, they:

• Start with the right equipment.
• Work with a good coach.
• Train physically and mentally.
• Practice, practice, practice.
• Evaluate progress, review goals and repeat the process.

So with that in mind, I put together my 10 step program to a 17.6 handicap:

1. I signed up at a gym near my office and hired Jonathan, a personal trainer, who designed a program for me that was focused on improving my golf game. We worked out together every week.
2. I set up a buddy system with a friend so that we pushed each other to work out at the gym at least 4 mornings a week. When one wasn’t there, the other sure heard about it.
3. I scheduled bi-weekly sessions with a massage therapist to work out some serious calcification issues I have with muscles and joints long abused by bad living and bad golf habits.
4. I scheduled a club fitting to buy new equipment that was right for me.
5. I signed up for numerous golf lessons with my new swing and mental coach, extraordinaire Ginny Golding.
6. I bought Dr. Bob Rotella’s books: Golf Is a Game of Confidence and Golf is Not a Game of Perfect to help me feel less naked on the first tee.
7. I chose to eat healthier foods – only whole grains, lower fat, higher protein meals. I thank my lucky stars my golfguy is an amazing chef.
8. No more martinis – only red wine, purely for medicinal purposes, of course. ;)
9. I bought a journal to help record my progress.
10. I woke up every day and said to myself, “It’s not the destination that matters, it’s the journey. Enjoy the journey.”

I took my first step to better golf on January 5, 2010, and on November 19, 2010, after shooting an 87 on the Wailea Emerald course on Maui...

my handicap factor dipped to its all time low.

Woohoo!!!

That night, back at the condo in Lahaina, I drank champagne on our lanai, watched the sun set, and celebrated reaching my goal. 

I felt a bit like Julie cooking her way through Julia Child’s 524 recipes in a year, with one exception; Julie’s journey was over the day she completed recipe 524. For me, when I hit my goal to reduce my handicap by 3 points, I knew I was just getting started. 

Next year I’ll start a whole new journey to 15 and love every minute of it!

Golfgal

Golfing with Limitless Vision

I want you to meet a friend of mine.  His name is Donovan Tildesley.

He's 26 years old, a graduate from the University of British Columbia and an insurance broker.

Donovan’s also a golfer and a competitive swimmer. And he loves nothing better than to ski the steepest double black diamond runs he can find.

Sounds like your ordinary athletic young man who loves life, doesn't he?  But Donovan is anything but ordinary...

I met Donovan through my golf coach, Ginny Golding.  She started coaching Donovan 2 years ago; and when I asked her about that, she said, "Donovan teaches me how to see the world through his eyes and I teach him golf."

Donovan Tildesley is blind.

Donovan was born with Leiber’s Amaurosis, a condition which left him without retinas.  But despite that disability, Donovan has achieved more in his 26 years than most people achieve in a lifetime. He’s a man with limitless vision.

Donovan is a Paralympian, who also holds 2 world records in swimming.  Not only is he an extraordinary athlete, he's an extraordinary human being, giving countless hours of his time to help others, like the Canadian Harambee Educational Society, a wonderful charity that helps young women in Africa receive an education.

Donovan’s also an eloquent, motivational speaker who challenges his audiences to be the best that they can be, whether they be in school or already in the corporate world.

I spoke to Donovan about his life, his accomplishments, his golf game and his future.  His story is an inspiration to us all.  And he's just getting started.

Part 1 of my interview with Donovan:




Part 2...




In golf and in life, we all have our heroes. I think I just discovered mine in both.
Thank you Donovan!

Golfgal

Non-golfing photos courtesy of Donovan Tildesley (http://www.limitlessvision.ca)