Author: Editor
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State Tournament, Day 2: Over-Coaching, Respect and Winning Attitudes
On the practice range the tension hangs thick and quiet as the low lying clouds. Earnest conversations between caddy and child. Sweat wiped from furrowed brows and shaking heads before the first tee is even reached. Rob, who thrived and listened with rapt respect to Max’s words of wisdom after the turn yesterday says to…
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State Tournament, Day 1: It’s a Beautiful Game
Intention. Non-judgemental awareness. Write down the bad habit or thing you want to change. Put a check mark next to it every time you think about it or do it on the golf course…….. We listened to some Zen Golf by Dr. Jospeph Parent on the 1.5 hour drive in the car. I like this…
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Season 2, Tournament 2: Totally Calm
Last night I read a quote that I feel I need to print out, laminate and keep in the golf bag. Live so as to be detached from outcome. Do it all because it resonates with your highest self and responds to your beseeching inner voice – not because of rewards that might come your…
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Season 2, Tournament 1: (aka Hell in a Handbasket)
6 am I walk the dogs and breathe in the peace of our golf course at day break on the leash, hoping the feeling remains on the bag. I feel pretty organized, both bags and coolers packed last night, clothes laid out, up with the sparrows. There is no “out” today – it is all…
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Callaway Gardens for Fun
Practice green. I’m never ever good there. I think I know what I’m doing but Rob never listens, it never ends well and after 5 minutes I tell him to figure it out. He shouts: “Me figure it out, is that the key?”. Well actually yes, I believe it is……… We play the round in progressive…
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Junior League Practice Scramble
The first real heat of the season, a rough looking warm up, and then a four hole wait while team mates played with the more experienced 13 year old in the group before Rob’s turn to play a tough looking 2 hole practice scramble. Clubs in the area play the PGA Junior League which is a…
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Tournament 9, Season Championship: Long Days and Lucid Moments
The Day Before: It’s been a week of fairly consistent practice, hopefully some of it smart. Coach’s comments : Bear has gotten a little too much in to out, but I think he understands what he needs to do to fix it. [I certainly hope he understands any of this.] Good putting with Rob. Especially with…
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Tournament 8: A Day in the Life of a Golf Parent
The Day Before: A very wet week, but good practicing nonetheless, I think. Coach worked with both boys on Routine : visualize, stand back, practice swing, trust the shot………. Of course excellent advice and fundamental to success – just needs to be actually implemented ! Bear can talk the talk till the cows come home.…
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Tournament 7: A Note from Dad on the Bag and How to Deal with Dishonesty on the Course
The Day Before: Practice round : Friggin’ nightmare game sometimes. Bear crying after 1st drive, 2nd and 3rd – one after the other off first tee. All right into the woods. He still pars the hole (using one of the above). After hole 2 he is mad enough to erase the score to this point…
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Tournament 6: All in a Day’s Work
The Day Before: The boys practiced solidly this week. I think. They spent a couple of hours each day except Monday (and Friday for Bear) out there. Perhaps I should be ensuring “smart practice” but there is a limit to my time (and honestly my patience). But Max is on my case about structuring and…
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Regional Tournament – Jekyll Island Cup: Notes on Playing Regionals from Dad on the Bag
Practice Round: No matter how prepared you think you are to get out there you’re probably not. Restroom, drinks, snacks ….. Oh yes, batteries for the GPS ……. not a good time to find out you need them on the first tee box. The fear and adrenaline of a regional tournament, Rob’s first regional tournament…
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Tournament 4: Affirmations, Self-Destruction and Sucking
Well today I’m on the bag for Bear – something I swore I would never do (and think Bear would second that motion). But here we are, and I am quite determined this will be peaceful and happy – or as near as possible ! The truth is that I have never caddied for Bear…
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Tournament 3: Angels everywhere
Oh my God !!!!! We are on the practice range and I have already told him he is in danger of going out there by himself – as in no caddy. No respect. Back chat. Bad attitude. Gratitude and happy thoughts are how good things happen – and nothing good is happening out on the…
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Tournament 2: Difficult
Full swing what do you mean? You gave me two terrible calls on the first two shots !!! It’s very difficult to be a caddy. Rob is volatile to say the least and I have learned that the best approach to this is to say as little as possible and remember that this too shall pass…
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Start of the Season, Tournament 1: Get Up, Dress Up, Show Up
Day Before: I’m nervous for sure, but the bar is set very low for the boy! No practice at all this week and the one trip to his coach today resulted in the following feedback: Rob didn’t hit many good shots, so the yardages he gave you were basically from one good shot with each club. He…