Thursday, April 25, 2019

Self Improvement On and Off the Golf Course


self improvement golf
While we can’t control everything in our lives...like a bad shot on the golf course, we do have some say in what happens during our daily routines.

With a few smart strategies in place, you can employ some incredible self-improvement strategies that will enhance your life. Think through what you want to work on, whether it’s kicking a bad habit, developing a healthy one, or trying new things.


Below are a few ideas you should consider both on and off the golf course. Thanks to Stephanie Haywood for her help writing the non-golf portions of this blog.

Develop Confidence


develop confidence
Probably the most important part of a solid score on the course and for life, in general, is to develop a confident attitude. Do not live in fear of your next shot, think of yourself as a good golfer and always remember your best shots. Positive self-talk will help you immensely both on, and off, the course!


Tend Those Pearly Whites

Being busy, stressed, or tired can often mean something’s got to give. If you have neglected your dental visits for any reason, why not get back in the habit? Believe it or not, your oral health is actually a reflection of your overall health. There appears to be a link between what’s going on in your mouth and your mental health, heart health, and gut health. By making improvements in your oral health, you can be happier, healthier, and see all around betterment in your well-being. It’s a great way to ensure you have plenty to smile about, as well!

Go on a Golf Getaway Weekend

We all need a break every once in a while to recharge our batteries and clear our minds. So, if it’s been a while since you’ve had some quality downtime, perhaps it’s time to head off on a much-needed weekend golf getaway. The good news: You don’t have to travel very far!

Myrtle Beach, for example, is a wonderful place to recharge as it offers everything from gorgeous beaches (including the 60-mile Grand Strand), dunes, and numerous shopping opportunities. Golf enthusiasts can also take advantage of the many beautiful courses throughout the area, giving you a great opportunity to get in a little exercise and stay active during your stay.

Make your getaway easier by booking a golf package with better rates on both golf and hotel accommodations. Leaving the chaos of life behind for a few days will allow you to recharge your batteries.

Address a Hurting Heart

Sometimes, when we go through something very upsetting or traumatic, it can be easier to set aside our emotions than to deal with them head-on. This can be especially true when it comes to grief, although as Psychology Today explains if we don’t explore our painful emotions stemming from a loss, it can lead to what is termed incomplete grief. There are some wonderful resources out to help connect you with support groups, information, and advice.  

Straighten Out Your Finances

As tax time rolls around, many of us have to pause to consider our overall financial picture. If you aren’t in the position you would like, it may be time to take a gander at your finances and set things right. If you never created a budget for home use, it’s the perfect time to do so.

Start by listing your monthly income from all sources and tally it. Then, list all your monthly expenses, including your fixed expenses and your more flexible ones.

Your flexible expenses are things that you can alter, such as clothing and entertainment (golf is not flexible for many people like myself), while the fixed ones you can’t change easily, such as your housing and car payment. Deduct the expenses from the income, and your end result should be zero. If you’re in the red, cut some expenses, and if you’re in the black, put more money into savings or toward paying down debts.


Pulling Things Together


In golf as in life, once you set goals for yourself, how will you achieve them? You might be surprised to learn setting goals doesn’t normally prove helpful. You are actually more apt to see success by setting goals in a stepping-stone style. Clarify what you want to achieve and how you will get there, and rather than trying to do things in an all-or-nothing manner, pick just a few ideas to work toward at a time. That way, you’re less apt to become overwhelmed and discouraged.  


We all have things we could be working on in our lives. If you are looking for ways to enjoy a better quality of life, there are choices you can make and gains to be had. Do some self-introspection, set some goals, and make self-improvement a priority!

What type of self-improvement methods do you apply to your golf game? Let us know in the comments section of this golf blog and tag us on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

Image courtesy of Pixabay

Tuesday, April 16, 2019

3 Reasons Tiger Woods Won The Masters

Tiger Woods Masters jacketA game plan was in place, as Tiger Woods reported after his long-awaited Masters win, and the follow-through was extraordinary as throngs of fans stood by to see the reawakening of their long-lost hero.

As Masters.com stated, it was Tiger Woods' "Return to Glory".

The 2019 Masters with Tiger Woods as a frontrunner reminded fans of days gone by, with steadfastness and purpose of action, shot-after-shot was placed almost effortlessly into scoring position.

As Woods gained strength and momentum during the Masters, golfer upon golfer laid a path to his eventual win. Even with a bogey on 18, Woods could not be caught, and the triumph was both sweet and spectacular to watch.

How did Tiger do it? He mentioned he had a game plan like all professionals do before they play in tournaments, but the average golfer rarely puts a plan into practice. In this blog, Golf for Beginners takes a look at the three reasons Tiger Woods won The Masters and what we, as amateurs, can do to improve our own golf games.

Tiger Woods MastersWhen interviewed after The Masters, TW said he, "kept control of my emotions, my shot placement...I still stayed present and focused on what I had to do today." How can these actions apply to us?

1. GAME FACE ON! Keep control over your emotions.

As you could see from Tiger Woods, as well as from every golfer at Augusta National, there were no outbursts, and you could not tell whether or not they hit decent shots from the looks on their faces - keep your game face on throughout the round in spite of difficulties.

2. SHOT PLACEMENT: Know where you are going to place each golf shot. Tiger Woods took a controlled, aggressive approach - he looked at each hole, acknowledged the trouble areas and was safe yet aggressive when hitting each shot.

Don't just hit the ball, think your way around the golf course and visualize each shot.

3. FOCUS: Remain focused on your intended goal. Where Tiger kept relentless focus, Molinari mentioned after his round that one reason for his loss is that he lost focus.

Tiger Woods won The Masters through focus, sheer will, and determination - if you follow his lessons, you may be able to lower your score around the course and stop any real blow-up holes.

Follow Golf for Beginners on Twitter and feel free to post golf comments to this blog.


Photos: NBC Sports after the round taken from my TV!