I wanted to write this page to tell my golf story. I hadn’t really thought about it, but hopefully it will encourage you to stick with it, and not waste all the time (and money) I did through this journey so far.
Started Golf After Track
As my bio states, I competed in track through ’88, having been a nationally ranked decathlete in Canada at the time. When I retired from track, I picked up a golf club and was hooked. I needed something that was a challenge to keep me sane.
Frustrating At The Beginning
When I first started, here I was a “strapping jock” and thought I could just rip at it and play good. Well…I immediately had a BIG SLICE (banana ball) with my driver. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop it. Talk about frustrating!
I got to the point of total embarrassment every time I stepped up on the tee. I just prayed to hit it somewhere in play, and most of the time it wasn’t. At that time, I was hovering around a 21 handicap. Shooting in the mid 90′s and knowing I was so much better.
Became A Fanatic
Within a year or so, I took my background in track and biomechanics to study every phase of all my events, including the shot put, javelin, discus, pole vault, and all the others, and applied it to my golf swing. I studied video, and still picture sequences til I was blue in the face (and still do, just ask my wife and kids).
I started buying up all the VCR tapes (I know, I’m aging myself), of the top golf instructors. One of my favorite was Rick Smith, but I had them all. Videoing golf swings was not all that popular, but I found a couple of instructors in Portland that would video my swing, and we’d analyze it. I figure I have spent in the thousands of dollars in golf instruction products, lessons, training aids, and equipment.
I even came down to Arizona before we moved and paid a Golf TV Personality a whopping $250 for a one hour lesson, and it was one of the worst lessons I’ve ever received (thank you Peter Kostis…not really!).
Obsessive…ya think?
Looking Back
Knowing what I know now, looking back there were many things I was just not taught correctly. No dissing on teaching pros. But my grip all those years was wrong, my takeaway, and my start down. This has stuck with me all the up to my current game, although I play to a 6 handicap now, but my goal is to get to scratch.
Kind of frustrating when I look back on it, but I don’t want you to go through what I went through, and that is why I am determined (hell-bent) to make this site a complete, golf improvement, destination site. I really want to help you and other golfers play better, and after all these years, I think I know a thing or two about the golf swing, having studied it for the past 22 years for personal reasons. Literally every joint and what it does throughout the entire golf swing. No kidding!
Truth be told, if I were born again, I’d be a golf teacher (and implement my golf fitness still). I don’t want to profess to be a teacher now, but I can relate with you. I can relate with most amateur golfers, as I’ve been there, and struggled through it.
So I hope you put your trust in me to not lead you down the wrong path.
I Want (And Need) Your Feedback
Here’s where you come in. I want feedback. Good or bad. I need to know what you want from this site. I am currently rethinking my whole website, and would love to hear from you, and what you need, so contact me and let me know.
The more feedback I get, the better I can make the site for YOU!
