Monday 29 February 2016

Golf in the Olympics

Usually, I spend the Monday posting a recap of the professional tour action that takes place around the world. But today is different. Why? Because it's a Leap Year... February 29th and this only takes place once every four years. It's sort of like the Olympics, which of course we are going to be seeing return in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. For some golf fans around the world this is an exciting time and for others... it has meant a lukewarm reception.
The Olympic Trophy Canada's since 1904

In my case, I am in the latter group. As a golfer and fan of the game I do find it at least a little bit intriguing. But there is a bigger part of me that really isn't a fan of the notion. It isn't because we'll be seeing professional golfers (as opposed to top amateurs) compose the field that has little to do with it. After all, spectators do deserve to see the best athletes in the world and for the most part this does mean professional athletes taking part. I take great pride in sticking to my guns and dating back to the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta I remember seeing players from the NHL take part. It was weird seeing Andy Moog play in net for Canada. Honestly, I didn't really like it. Up until then hockey and the Olympic Games was seen as a strictly amateur event. Although many argued that the Red Army teams of the Soviet Union were professionals. But what did it do? It led to the NHL seeing a bevy of players start emerging into the NHL from countries like of Sweden, Finland, Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic and Slovakia respectively) and then after the Soviet Union fragmented, players from Latvia, Lithuania and Kazakhstan started to arrive. But how does this tie into golf in the Olympic Games?
Photo Courtesy of: CollectionsCanada.ca

I have never considered hockey to be a worldwide game and I am sure that the IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation) has never claimed the same. However, as much as the powers that be try to convince the public that golf is a worldwide game.. it simply isn't. If you look at the parameters for qualifying the IOC (International Olympic Committee) has limited the field to 60 players on both the ladies and men's side. The IOC is also using the Official World Golf Rankings of both genders. The top-15 automatically gain entry in the games however, the number of players per country is capped at 4. Also gaining entry are those players from countries outside of the "15" that do not already have two or more players among those  players in the "15". So what does that mean? If you were to look at the rankings right now on the Men's side of things... approximately 28 countries would be represented although not worldwide golf would be well represented. The Sochi games in 2014 saw 12 men's and 8 women's teams respectively.

So the thought that I have is this. How does golf in the Olympics differ from any stop on the LPGA Tour, PGA Tour or European Tour? Is it necesary? Would it help to #GrowGolf in impoverished countries?

Until the next tee.

Tuesday 23 February 2016

Chilling Epiphany

In the words of "The Beatles" the route of my journey playing golf as a professional has been a "Long and Winding Road". The constant changing tide, ebb and flow that has been the total re-construction of a golf swing and I've commented before about the "blood, sweat and tears" along the way. Playing through major swing changes and not trusting my swing has led to poor tournament results up to this point. Even still I have no regrets. I've always said that everything I'm doing now was for when I turned 50... and beyond. There is no doubt that I've learned a ton about the golf swing (thanks to my coach) and about myself. At times, I would be shown things one day and then when I did those exact things the next day... it was wrong. "No... not like that you dough head" would be one of the terms of endearment that I would hear from my coach.

Over the last little while I have been in a real groove with my swing where for the first time since this adventure began I truly feel comfortable with my swing. My swing has become so finite that I can finally feel and tell when anything real minute is just a little bit out of whack causing poor strikes. Being able to identify the causes for your misses is an important thing to be able to accomplish. As I sit here in my recliner lounging in my CHASE 54 t-shirt and scrubs, I'm actually laughing to myself thinking about how many different "cause and effect" issues I've been through, which makes me think about something coach told me way back at the beginning. He said "When we're done... Alex you're going to be able to fix anything on the fly that you encounter because you will know your swing.. and the golf swing so well". Dare I say... he was right and it explains why at times he had my head screwed on backwards.

Then today occurred... I had a chilling epiphany. Since I've gotten comfortable with my swing I have also made a couple tweaks of (and on) my own through experimentation. Since the most recent tweak I have really unlocked my best ball striking to date. The striking is crisp and pure as evidenced by the ball marks on my clubface. So then I came home and went on Youtube to further investigate my eureka moment. Sure enough, I saw a correlation between what I've been doing and several PGA Tour stars and the legendary Ben Hogan. Now, there has been speculation and different theories about "HIS secret" through the decades and by no means am I suggesting that I have discovered it. But what I will say is, this correlation has worked for my swing and it might be "My Secret". Chilling.

Until the next tee.

Monday 22 February 2016

Bubba Bombs It 'Round..No Wins? Not Fore Nomura

It's that time of the week. The post weekend re-cap of action seen on the professional golf tours around the world. 

Starting with action from Pacific Palisades, California and the home of the famed "Hogan's Alley". The PGA Tour visited the historic Riviera Country Club home to the Northern Trust Open. While viewing the action over the weekend from my little hacienda, it looked like the conditions were benign and according to the players the course was in pristine shape. A testament to the superintendent and his staff. All weekend long the the first couple of pages of the leaderboard was absolutely star-studded. Names like Hideki Matsuyama, Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Ryan Moore and Adam Scott headlined those pages. The action was as fast and furious as the finish at the Daytona 500 (which if you haven't seen it... was great).  

As the day wore on the plot thickened. First there was Rory who was there all weekend in his first appearance at Riviera. But he would have a rough back nine on Sunday en route to a final round 75. But he did create a little bit of magic on the 18th when from the fringe he made a 21 foot putt for birdie. Just prior to that though, it was Adam Scott who would really dialed up the drama. After an approach that ended up past the pin and into the greenside rough, Scott capped off a late charge by chipping in for birdie. The chip was hot and was looking to run way past the pin when it hammered the pin resulting in the hole out and a share of the lead.  So the stage was set for Jason Kokrak and Bubba Watson to play the 18th. A bogey for Watson would lead to a playoff with Scott and a par or better would secure the victory. After the dust settled Bubba would hit the G.I.R and two putts later he was the winner taking home a cool $1.2 million.

Meanwhile, "Down Under" the ISPS Handa Australian Women's Open was being played in Adelaide. The tournament saw a course record on Thursday set by Korean (raised in Canada) Soo Bin Kim who fired a blazing 63. As the tournament wore on names like Korean Jenny Shin, Canada's Brooke Henderson, Australian Karrie Webb, World #1 Lydia Ko and Japan's Haru Nomura were filtered to the top of the leaderboard. The 23 year-old from Tokyo, Japan would hold off a red hot Ko who fired a -5(67) and World Golf Hall of Fame golfer Karrie Webb who struggled all day on the greens on the way to a -1(71). Nomura though, wasn't to be denied her first LPGA victory on the strength of great putting. In fact, she only had 26 putts in the final round where she shot a -7(65) for the victory by 3 strokes over Lydia Ko. With the victory Nomura became the first Japanese golfer since Chako Higuchi in 1974 to win the Women's Australian Open. 
Photo: Golf Digest
This week the focus shifts onto the first stop of the "Florida Swing" as the PGA Tour stops in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida for the Honda Classic. Meanwhile the LPGA Tour stops in exotic Thailand for the Honda LPGA Thailand.

Until the next tee.

Friday 19 February 2016

Fundamentals

Too often I've seen it or talked to golfers about their swing issues. Yesterday, while in a practice session I was working next to a 23 year-old athletic type that also works with my coach. He's a relatively new golfer but I think that he could be a terrific golfer. Unlike me, he's young and is not cursed with "T-Rex arms" but the struggle was definitely real yesterday. Thins and fats aplenty were his demise. Misses that I have struggled with at times as well. I was asked by my coach to keep an eye on him to make sure that he was getting enough down turn on the way back. His shoulder turn was definitely sufficient and for the most part he was staying "centered" throughout the swing and through the ball. So I'm watching him and then I saw something that I've struggled with until I really targeted the issue late this summer.

All too often golfers get caught up in trying to solve a miss that they're encountering, but they actually don't know what the real reason for the miss is. So they start searching for a fix, whether it's through watching Youtube or reading a golf publication. Suddenly, they are just inundated and develop "paralysis by analysis" often making things worse because they are looking for an issue that's far too grandiose. Frustration on most occasions sets in.

Always remember to check out your fundamentals. Fundamentals like grip, posture and ball position are three key fundamentals that if not paid attention to can most likely be the root cause of the miss. It's very easy to become complacent and not even think about them. In Brandon's case yesterday it was the grip. I noticed his grip in his top hand and he was very much in the palm. This issue causes a few things which really is a "Domino Effect".


  1. Tightness of the hands creating a lack of wrist hinge
  2. The same tightness makes you pull the club back with your hands as opposed to turning back with your shoulder.
  3. Because you have pulled back with your hands, you now have made a bad situation worse by now introducing a "lateral shift" pulling you off of the ball.
  4. Your brain and body react and now your shifting back towards the ball in an effort to compensate.
  5. Now at the point of impact you either "flip" the club head as your bottom hand takes over causing a thin hit or more likely you hit it fat as your body is clearly on the "downrange" side of the ball.
  6. You finish... not in balance.

Just think... all of this because of one fundamental being a little bit off. Golf is a constant reminder of "Newton's First Law of Physics"... For every action there is an equal but opposite reaction. Remember golf is supposed to be fun and you can only have that if you have your... FUNdamentals.

Until the next tee.

Thursday 18 February 2016

Acceptance

Why is it that when things are new to the game of golf they are so hard to accept? It really doesn't matter if it's new fashion, a new swing methodology or if it's the debate of working out and it's place in the game. There is always a flip side to a coin... you know the head to the proverbial tail? It's this ongoing "struggle" that makes for great conversation by the water cooler. Here is my take.


Starting with working out and the game of golf. It was in the news this week when Brandel Chamblee of The Golf Channel stated he knows that it (golf) is in a different era and that he was concerned about Rory McIlroy and the degree to which he was working out after Rory posted video of himself performing squats in the gym. Concern that Rory was rapidly bulking up which could be detrimental to his career down the road. Mr. Chamblee is definitely correct in saying that it's a different era. The days of looking like Joey Sindelaar, Tim Herron or Craig Stadler are for the most part gone, Remember when Tiger was lanky and lean? Then, from almost seemingly nowhere he started to look like a linebacker in the NFL. I think that fitness definitely has a place in golf. Golf has become big business and student athletes playing golf in college have gotten bigger and faster like almost every other sport. Look at hockey... remember when a big hockey player was 6'0"? Today, that is no longer the case. But it is in my opinion that working out and golf has to walk a very fine line. In my experiences when I've gotten bigger my swing changed (the vice versa can occur too) but I can tell you this much. I had more power, got longer and more importantly I felt great. Brandel let Rory decide what's best. Working out never hurt World Golf Hall of Famer Gary Player.


Fashion. If there is one part of the golf industry that has seen a ton of growth it definitely has to be the golf apparel business. This is a fact that is quite evident when attending the PGA Merchandise Show. The number of booths present for just apparel is hard to describe other than to say that it easily occupies a third of the exhibition hall. But still, it's a hot topic for debate. Remember when the mock neck caused a stir? Much of that had to do with the aforementioned Tiger Woods. It was edgy but did it ever look athletic...on him. Then there was the advent of Loudmouth Golf. Just when you thought that it was safe to come out after the infamous "Tabasco" polos worn on tour... out came this brand. Loudmouth has readily gained acceptance among golfers and personally speaking I love the brand. It's fun and fresh. I admit that I have talked about Rickie Fowler a fair amount recently but the shockwaves that he has sent through the golfing world this January has been earthshaking. The styles that he is wearing from Puma Golf has been talked about since the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. High Tops and "inspired by" jogging pants bottoms. Say what you will (and many will disagree) but the high tops are here to stay. You know that there will be a plethora of "millenials" and junior golfers that will adopt the fashion. Look at the chukkas that Nike Golf  just released. There is a way to "grow the game" and part of that is to introduce cool, cutting edge fashions that appeal to the next generation of golfer.


New swing methods. Why is it that every time a new swing methodology or thought comes out it's met by naysayers who do nothing but try to destroy it? Why is it that the golf swing has to be a "cookie cutter" where everyone has to be the same? We saw this a few years back when Andy Plummer and Mike Bennett introduced the "Stack and Tilt" swing. Similar cynicism was met in 2015 when David Leadbetter introduced "The A Swing". I have bought and read the e-book and I had the opportunity to discuss it with Mr. Leadbetter himself and one of his top guys from the Leadbetter Golf Academy (Ron Grotjan). Mr Leadbetter clearly states that it is not a swing methodology as it's an alternative way to achieve a repeatable back swing. I have dabbled a lot with it and I will be talking about it more at length in the future but the premise of this swing is to make the back swing easier... and it does. I will not elaborate more on the subject as I will be writing an article about my findings. But here we are again a new idea and cynics arise. Tripp Isenhour of The Golf Channel is sort of trying to debunk the swing stating that the backswing is "too vertical" which could lead to issues with not enough rotation. Well Mr. Isenhour there is no need for concern as the rotation and flattening of the plane is very easy to accomplish. The golf swing as we know is as much "down turn" as there is "horizontal turn". Has being too vertical hurt the careers of Jim Furyk or Ryan Moore? If the "A Swing" makes achieving a repeatable swing a little easier which might help grow the game than why not? Not everyone has hours of each day to work on their game. 


Until the next tee.

Wednesday 17 February 2016

Big Sticks

So as the region is mired in the middle of a sloppy "winter storm" that is dumping wet snow and making driving miserable for everyone I am reduced to thinking warm thoughts. Thoughts of what it was like to be in an equally wet Orlando, Florida at the end of January enjoying myself at the PGA Merchandise Show. In particular, I'm thinking about the "big sticks" that I made swings with during the week. While some were "juggernauts" a few others were a little less impressive. That said, I walked away with the thinking that there is so much parity in the golf industry right now that the difference between "Head A" and "Head F" is so minute that differentiating between the options becomes very much "intimate".

Basically, it all boils down to individual preferences, tastes, and shafts. Of course, by the time that you add a Trackman or FlightScope into the equation you now have an idea of the numbers being generated by each driver. But, what we see, feel, and hear has a place next to that technology and it does remain somewhat integral to our selection process regardless of being somewhat overshadowed. What did golfers and club makers do beforehand without said technology? We watched the ball flight and fitters would use stopwatches to determine our carry distance whilst watching the apex and the total yardage. Maybe we had someone out on the range measuring as well. Sure the options weren't as numerous like they are today when it comes to heads and shafts.

Without divulging too much and ruining reviews for a later time, I wanted to give you my impressions of some of the offerings in as little words as is possible. Based on my "organic observations" here are some of the drivers out there to demo if you're in the market for a new "big stick".

Cobra KING LTD - It's very possible that Rickie Fowler alone has sold his fair share of these based on his results this year. One victory overseas and a playoff loss in Phoenix, the LTD has seen a lot of "T.V. Time". It's cool looking, fresh, hot and has "Zero CG".

Srixon Z 355 - This is a driver that feels the best through impact (remember what I said above about intimate). In a time where everyone thinks that lighter is better (and the key to more length off of the tee) Srixon has taken a "new" approach. By utilizing "Action Mass" Srixon feels that the key to consistency and distance is in the club having more mass. The Z 355 has accomplished this feat by having a swingweight of D8. What was old is new again.

TaylorMade M2 - I have owned the M1 and simply put the M2 in my opinion is a superior driver. Better feel, better sound, better spin and better distance. I wish that the M2 was the M1. Many TaylorMade staffers have gone to the M2 in favour of the M1. That says something. See my review at www.alexandertothgolf.com

PING G - PING has various heads in this range including the LS Tec.  It feels great and it feels even hotter almost like you can feel the "trampoline effect" where the club face springs in and out. No doubt it's a forgiving stick but I had issues with the spin when swinging the PING G. It took me using the LS Tec head and a Tour X Stiff shaft to get the spin numbers down.

Bridgestone JGR - Having already written a review on this driver I feel that this might be a "sleeper" out of all the models this year. Passes on the ball results in long straight drives that just seem to carry forever. The flight of the ball was fun to watch.

Callaway XR 16 - No doubt that Callaway Golf knows a thing or two about R&D but then they teamed up with aerospace leader Boeing. Callaway with Boeing's help was looking for one operative word for the XR 16... "Speed". This is the head that the well reputed long drive champion Jamie Sadlowski uses in competition. This is a driver that at the end of the week, I ranked inside of the Top 5. Long, forgiving and accurate. I would have loved to see some launch monitor numbers on this one or better yet... to see it on the course in action.

There are so many others that I have to pass judgement on but not right now. Drivers from Yonex, Wilson Golf, Nike Golf and other models from Cobra Puma Golf to name a few. Stay tuned because at a later time I will list my Top 5 drivers from the show.

Until the next tee.

Monday 15 February 2016

A Legend Grows, Taylor Made For A Win and The Lang Haul

So this week around the world of golf was quite an amazing week. From the Monterey Peninsula to New Zealand the week was very newsworthy. "Cell-ebrities" weren't the only people making news and of course I am referring to comedian legend Bill Murray whom allegedly threw some cell phones over a balcony at a restaurant after some fans were constantly "getting in his grill" trying to take selfies with the "Ghostbusters" and "Caddyshack" star. It makes you wonder... what would have happened if "The Lama" was there? Maybe a 7 iron... 275 yards? By the way, I love some of the movies that Murray has done and I have enjoyed his "bit" during the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am but... is anyone else growing tired of his antics?
Photo Courtesy: Golfweek

Speaking of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am what an exciting tournament we saw on the PGA Tour this week. Say what you will about the team event which was won by eventual winner Vaughn Taylor and his partner Gregg Ontiveros. But before we can look at that part of the story we have to look at the series of (to some) unfortunate events leading to his win. Vaughn Taylor to say the very least has been very much a journeyman for the last decade. Taylor wasn't initially in the field this week but come Thursday there he was... with his stand bag on the tee. He got into the tournament as the first alternate. Oh... about the stand bag. After not being able to "swing" the extra fees for his staff bag on his flight, Taylor opted to go with the "bag of millions". A TaylorMade stand bag that housed his TaylorMade R11s driver, RocketBallz Stage 2 fairway woods, Tour Preferred MB (2014) irons, Cleveland Golf RTX 2.0 wedges and Odyssey Golf Versa #9 putter. It had been a long time since Taylor won... going on eleven years and his life has changed. But, was it as much as his blistering round on Sunday which saw him start 6 strokes back behind 54-hole leader Phil Mickelson? Or was the focus on the fact that after going perfect for the week inside of six feet, the aforementioned Mickelson missed a birdie putt that agonizingly lipped out that would have forced a playoff? No matter how you look at it "Lefty's" final round 72 was simply not good enough. It wasn't about that final putt in the grand scheme of things as we have to think about what went on earlier in the day. Regardless, that is back to back great weeks for Phil. Welcome Back Lefty!!!

Meanwhile in Naples, Florida notice was served to the Champions Tour. Look out now fellows, as it turns out Bernhard Langer can putt without an anchored stroke. There is no doubt in my mind that when you look at the Champions Tour one name has really dominated the senior circuit for a few years now and that name is Langer. The 58 year old native of Germany notched his 26th victory this past weekend at Twin Eagles Golf Club on the strength of a a first round 62, a second round 66 and then a not as pristine 73 to hold on for the win. For what seems like a lifetime, Langer has used a long putter (ski-pole) and truth be told I do not recollect a time when he didn't use one. So what is the moral here? Old dogs can learn new tricks.
Photo Courtesy of: USA Today


Then there is the growing legend that is Lydia Ko. When the teen sensation first popped onto the scene there was a lot of hype that surrounded her... and for good reason. Ko was touted as a phenom and she has definitely lived up to the billing shaking the LPGA to its very foundation. Unfortunately, this wasn't only figuratively as it was literally as well. Sunday in Christchurch, New Zealand the final round of the New Zealand Women's Open was being contested. While she was getting set to tee off for the final round the region was shaken by a 5.7 magnitude earthquake. For those not in the know, Ko is a native of New Zealand. Ko would win the tournament by 2 strokes after firing a 70 but it was afterwards that makes her legend grow. The emotional 18 year old stated that she was going to be donating her earnings for the victory to help those affected by the earthquake which was also followed by 52 aftershocks. By the way, her earnings for the victory was roughly $33,000 USD. Now if I may be blunt for a second. I just wanted to state that it's a travesty that the LPGA  only makes that much for a win. I know what most would say... the LPGA doesn't have the following, television ratings, corporate sponsors or interest of the PGA Tour. This fact is a crying shame as the ladies are more approachable, the LPGA is a great product and truth be told more male amateurs can relate better to the swings of the LPGA than the guys on the PGA and they really deserve a heck of a lot more exposure... and winnings. Just some food for thought.

Until the next tee.

Saturday 13 February 2016

A "68"

As I sit here reflecting on life in general... and of course golf I can't help but think that playing golf again is a lifetime away. At the moment, the temperature here is -20*C or with the exchange rate for my American friends and readers -4. Now that I think about it hmmm a "68"... Nice score!!! (see I told you that I was thinking about golf). So what is someone like me to do on a day like this?

I think that one option is quite obvious seeing that I'm writing this article as my Labrador "Muskoka" is uncontrollably whining after getting a scent and "the call of the wild". It's a day that sees me not heading to a dome to work on things and as much as I should go to the gym to workout I am choosing not to take part in that endeavour either partially because I need a rest. So what I will do today on a day that is neither fit for human nor beast?

Short game... I will work on my short game. As important as our full swings are, the short game is the money maker. Yes, we need to put the ball in play but when we're missing our targets we need the short game to be...as the cool kids say nowadays "on fleek". Truth be told, I cannot believe that I just worked that into one of my entries. I know that I have written on this topic before on my website (alexandertothgolf.com) and there is no doubt that it is an important topic. My point today however, is that no matter what... there's always a will and a way to work on this aspect of our games.

I am currently in the middle of testing a SeeMore Putters Corona Del Mar that I seem to be rolling better than anything I have rolled before. To do this mid-winter I am using a Big Moss Augusta Putting Green (review posted click on link below) that I was very fortunate to have tested and not only did it test well... it became an integral part of my practice regimen. They roll as true as a green... a well conditioned green. If you don't have one... look them up or roll putts on your carpet or alternative type of mat. They key is that you're putting time into your... putting. (see what I did there?). While you're at it... grab a wedge and spend time working on your chipping too...you'll thank yourself for it. If you have an impact bag (which I do not) work on your wrist angles going into the ball. You can do this also by gentling going into something firm (a pillow or a piece of wood or bottom of your sofa)  making sure that you're club does not get past your hands through impact. Don't be "flipping out".

Basically, the moral of the story is just don't sit on your "collective keesters" today or tomorrow. Even if you're housebound in -20* weather doing some "California Dreamin'" while watching the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am take some time during commercials and practice. Who knows... maybe you'll shoot a "68".

Until the next tee.

http://www.alexandertothgolf.com/apps/forums/topics/show/13159816-big-moss-golf-the-augusta


Friday 12 February 2016

Review - Srixon Golf Z945

If there is one thing that I love about attending the PGA Show it's the fact that I have the opportunity to swing products that I normally don't see. That reason isn't at the top of the list but... it most definitely is a perk of attending. There are a few brands that fall into this category... Bridgestone Golf, Yonex Golf and Srixon Golf to name a few.

While at the show I visited the Srixon Golf booth on a couple of occasions. Just prior to the PGA Demo Day calling it a day and on the final afternoon of the show as some companies had already pulled their proverbial tent stakes and called it a show. I actually made swings with their entire range in a very short amount of time. From their Game-Improvement Z 355 irons to their Z 545 irons all the way to their simply scintillating Z 945 irons which are the focus of my latest review at alexandertothgolf.com #TheHomeOfOrganicGolfReviews 

Please click on the link below to read my review.

Until the next tee.

http://www.alexandertothgolf.com/apps/forums/topics/show/13313444-review-srixon-golf-z-945-irons?page=last

Thursday 11 February 2016

Ownership

Well here I am.. I've spent the last five years working with my coach and it has definitely has been a relationship that has been many things. It has been fun and it has also been difficult at times. The amount of laughs that we've had over this time are impossible to count. He has been a coach, mentor, and a father figure. Also in this time period we have struggled to get me where I need to be with my swing.

We've seen flashes of brilliance and while there have been my fair share of those moments we've also seen times of utter despair, blood, sweat and tears (literally). For the first time though, I feel like I'm finally on the cusp of something great happening with my game when it matters. The reasons for this are numerous as every time out... no matter the situation or result it has been educational. I know that this sounds like a cliche but it's true. I've had sessions where it went (or at least I perceived it to have been) horrible... but there is ALWAYS something to take away from a session whether good or bad. Like Coach Dixon says "Alex... don't be upset. There is nothing to be upset over... it was a work session so there is nothing bad about it." Of course, my borderline perfectionist personality in me wants to strike every ball properly which as golfers we know is practically impossible. What was it that Mr. Ben Hogan said? He hit what... two perfect shots a tournament? I mean, we're talking Ben Hogan.

But getting back onto the topic where I said that I was "on the cusp..." What I'm about to say is real risky... if you're superstitious (which I happen to be) because there might be some sort of "strike-down" by the "Golf Gods". For the first time in this process of playing golf as a professional, regardless of how well I've played at times I feel like I finally have "ownership" of  "my swing". Much of the credit has to go to my coach (of course) who has given me a thorough education on the golf swing... in particular mine. There is no doubt that he has been patient with me. I'm not too sure what clicked exactly (or when) but I have been in a real groove with my swing. Every swing for the first time feels like the one before it. At times where my strike has been slightly less than optimal I know exactly what caused the issue. My tempo has been on and perhaps the "Swingclick Plus Golf Training Aid" that I've been testing for a review has contributed to my success. I won't say much right now as that review will be posted next week but it identified an issue that coach wasn't able to rectify in this time frame. No fault of his as this was an issue on my part and there was no way to change "my wiring". Either way, all that I know is that I'm very happy with where my swing is both mentally and physically right now. I cannot wait to wake up and go to the dome in morning and keep this train rolling.

Until the next tee.

Wednesday 10 February 2016

Clambake Time

As the 2016 PGA Tour season slowly gains momentum we go from the desert and rowdiness of Scottsdale, Arizona to the rugged coastline of the Monterey Peninsula in California. This week's tour stop... the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. If we look at the history of the tournament it all started when Bing Crosby invited a few friends to play some golf and enjoy a clambake. A simple party among friends. Little did Mr. Crosby know it would turn into what it has after that first invite.

The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am is like no other tournament during the season. Yes... there are other Pro-Am's throughout the year but the collection of celebrities at this event is a who's who of amateur golfers. Company CEO's, Professional athletes like San Francisco 49ers QB Alex Smith and Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers Actors like Ray Romano, Mark Wahlberg and of course Bill Murray ("I said...Hey...Lama!) and names like Chris Berman and some guy named Wayne Gretzky who no doubt will most likely be paired with Dustin Johnson. 


Photo Credit: Golfweek

But for the professionals in the field what does this event mean? Honestly, I would love to pick their brains off the record, but at the very least it means that long days on the course have just become longer days. Perhaps much longer. No doubt that many of the guys have a great time out there playing with the celebrities. But for some of them there almost has to be a feeling of "Can we just get this over with?". I've played a in a Pro-Am on a couple of occasions and I don't mind them... I actually like them except for the one time a 9 year old boy was in my pairing and his crying and temper tantrums became a little distracting. But I digress.

Photo Credit: ESPN

It takes a different kind of player to play well in these tournaments (look at last year's winner Brandt Snedeker) he's a pretty easy going and cool cat... perfect for this sort of thing. He's won this tournament 2 of the last 3 years. Actually, I like him for the win this week as well especially when you consider how well he's played this year. Another likable guy has won this tournament in recent years Phil Mickelson in 2012 (and many other years as well), D.A Points in 2011, and Peter Jacobsen in 1995.

Other than Snedeker who do I like this week? I could pick Dustin Johnson seeing he has won this event a few times as well but as a darkhorse I like Srixon staffer Jerry Kelly. The right make-up for a Clambake.

Until the next tee.

Tuesday 9 February 2016

Sheer Luck

Up to this point golfers in the Niagara Region (Ontario) have been so lucky. First, many of us have never really had to trade in our clubs for snow shovels as snow here has been a thing of minimalism. More to the point, El Nino most certainly has been proven to be both a blessing and a curse. A curse because a winter of mostly above freezing weather is unheard of.

It has been a real long time since I was able to play golf on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Then after not playing golf in Florida during PGA Show week I arrived home to green grass (when most of the East was buried by a storm) where I unceremoniously played golf February 1st. Bonus golf!! As we are getting set to brace ourselves for a blast of cold air I am getting set to go into the bubble today to work on my swing.

It's sheer luck to have a place like the Niagara Falls Sportsplex around the corner from me. When we get those Arctic blasts I can still work on my swing. Admittedly, I get a little twitchy and I "jump from the top" and it's a "Death Move" usually resulting in the low left. I have started to employ SwingClick Plus which I will be posting a review on both here and alexandertothgolf.com. If you haven't heard of SwingClick it's a training aid that really bolsters and reinforces tempo. Time to get going.

Until the next tee.

Monday 8 February 2016

A Born Again.... Blogger?

Well it has been said that "if you don't succeed... try try again". Well it isn't like this is totally the case but as I have been doing research I have come to learn that maybe... just perhaps I should have been doing my website (alexandertothgolf.com) as a Blog vs a Website. To be totally honest, I am not the most tech savvy person in the world and I never really knew the difference.

For the last few years I have seen my website (or what I thought was a blog) evolve into something that I never imagined. From 1 page view (which made me happy) to where it sat last year having nearly 30,000 page views I have really seen an evolution occur over at alexandertothgolf.com (The Home Of Organic Golf Reviews) and I guess it's that evolution that has led to this post... my first here at Blogger.com. After what I thought was a great 2015 I think that 2016 looks to be even better.



I spent the end of January in Orlando, Florida at the 2016 PGA Merchandise Show and I made many contacts and it looks like this will be a solid year of reviews and articles. I will continue my ongoing work on my website but I see myself spending a lot of time writing right here in these cozy confines and sharing the posts throughout social media. But for those of you that don't know what "The Home of Organic Golf Reviews" was it simply meant "a grassroots approach... first hand observations using my senses" but in no means am I saying that technology has no place in golf. Look forward to terrific tips, golf equipment reviews, golf apparel reviews, training aid reviews, golf course reviews and so much more.



In a way I sort of feel born again. Well, I think this entry has seen it's time to come to an end... so until the next time.

Until the next tee.

-Alex