(Part 1) The Three Simple P's That Helped Me Overcome

                          Patience , Persistence And Prayer

  1^st) Patience - the quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune or pain, without complain loss of temper, irritation, or the like.

2nd) Persistence - persisting, especially in spite of opposition,obstacles, discouragement

3^rd) Prayer – the practice of praying :prayer is our solution to human problems, to seek guidance, understanding, the strength to overcome adversity and to seek hope when it seems all is lost

        I am going to stray off from golf and try to share my personal experience and how I overcame a tragic point in my life. When I started this blog I wanted to reach out to anyone who loves the game as much as I do but has physical limitations such as myself. No matter what faith you might follow the three words listed above are universal, they are meant to inspire and give hope. In order for the healing process to start you have to be mentally prepared to accept the challenges that lay ahead and find the strength to move forward. By applying these three simple principals I found that inner peace and a path to follow.

       My story starts in the fall of 2000 after being in an accident and being life flighted to major hospital that specializes in spinal cord injures. I remember the nurse on the flight telling me she would be counting my breathes because there was a chance they would have to perform a tracheotomy due to the level of my injury. I awoke the next the day alone in the intensive care unit and to my disbelief found myself paralyzed from the neck down. At the time this had happened I was 44 yrs. old with a wife a two young children who were hours away, I could not even contact them to seek and express comfort. That is when I realized I was in the fight of my life, just 1 day early I was a healthy young man on my way to a golf course to prepare for a upcoming golf tournament and now not knowing if I would be able to walk again. That is when I recalled the teachings of the three P's and just how important they would become on my journey in life. If I were to reach one person who is seeking some comfort at a time of need then that would make my journey all the better.


(To be continued in part 2)

Quantity versus Quality

               We have all that phrase before but just what is more important Quantity or Quality. I believe that when it pertains to golf we should all strive for Quality, every time we tee up a golf ball we should be focused on the moment at hand. Being a golfer with a disability every round that I do get to play is a round I wasn't suppose to able to play in the first place. I have to learned to take advantage of that opportunity mainly because it could be taken away at any time. I have a whole new respect for the game and the challenges that come with it. When I was healthy I tried to play as much as I could but like so many of us I got caught up in the Quantity aspect . I always had the mindset that there would always be a next time to maybe try a little harder ,well now that I am faced with a different reality; I often wish could go back and start all over again. But as we all know in life or in golf it just doesn't work that way.

               This is why a created this blog, to be able to share my thoughts and views not only on golf but the Quality of Life. When I was laying in a hospital bed and was not able to move my arms or legs it opened my eyes to a whole new view of life itself. Everything that I thought was so important or worried I would not achieve just melted away. I now know that it is not the Quantity of Days in Life but in the Quality of How We Choose to Live them.   

I saw this picture on a Blog Posted By (Susan Lewis) (Public on Google)

ALL YOUR COMPLAINTS, WHINING AND PROBLEMS ARE CANCELLED.

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

          They say “ A Picture Paints A Thousand Words “ well this one says a    whole lot more. I borrowed this one from a fellow blogger only because it follows so much of what I am trying to get across here.How can anyone complain when they hit a bad shot, miss a putt or even complain about little aches and pains. If somebody can show me the quit in these children then I am really missing the big picture. Another thing that I see is that no one else is in the picture making them line up to race they seem to waiting for someone just to start the race.

         It should teach us all a few lessons, the first is to learn to adapt , the second is to not give up, the third is don't look for excuses find solutions. Does it really matter who will win the race? I see nothing but them all winning and thats just for the courage to step up to the line. I'll even bet that if one of them were to fall they would find a way to get up and finish the race anyway they could. My dad once told me that “ In Order to Truly Understand Winning You Have To Lose First” but when I look at this picture I only see Winners.

         So the next time you think you are having a bad day remember this picture and I hope you will truly think it over again. Remember that golf is but a game that we play for enjoyment and to challenge ourselves. If you see this picture that way then you are on your way to winning no matter what you score.  

                          GPS Units And Rangefinders

               Today I would like to open the discussion on the introduction of Golf GPS Units And Rangefinders into today's game. I am sure that everyone out there has heard of these or had the chance to try them. A few of my local courses even have them mounted in the carts. They take all the guess work out of just how far you are from the green ,where the pin is located on the green and even distance front and back of the green. I have even seen some units that show the green with elevations so you know what to expect before you even step on the green. Sandtraps and water hazards are shown in detail so you know the distances front and back and can easily pull the right club every time. One of the biggest advantages of these units is they certainly do speed -up the game .

                Rangefinders on the other hand use a laser that you point at a specific target on the course,such as the flag on the green, the yardage to the front of the trap then point to the back of the trap and so on. They also take the guesswork out at the practice range as you know just how far you hitting each club on any given day as long as you have someone tracking where the ball lands. They also are very accurate and some of the newer units also incorporate a screen like a GPS Unit so you get the best of both worlds. And with the popularity of Smartphones you can purchase an app that uses the phone as a golf GPS unit, I have even seen some apps that you use the camcorder on the phone to help analyze your swing. No matter which way you decide to go you cannot go wrong.

               Can you imagine what some of our golf hero's like Bobby Jones, Sam Snead, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Seve Ballesteros,and many more could have accomplished if they had this technology today. Back then they had to rely on a good caddy and just plain ole instinct. They also relied on notes from previous tournaments and practice rounds as well as just a pure understanding of their capabilities and knowledge of the game. I truly believe that if they had what is available today they would have set records that no one could break.

               And now this is where I like to turn from golf and get back to my comparison of it to life. As I used the comparison of our golf hero's and today's technology wouldn't it be nice if we had a way to use it as guide in travels in life's path. To know just how far that trap or hazard is just how we could navigate around them or just to see them coming and prepare for what follows. But in life it doesn't work that way , we have to use our instincts and use good judgment and most important trust in them as a guide down life's path. Even with the best technology available today we will make mistakes sometimes we should just trust ourselves.

                     Never Let Your Reach Exceed Your Grasp ???

         As I stated in my previous post just what I have been thru in the past few years concerning my disability and just how I never gave up my dream to play golf once again. I would like to reach out to anyone going thru a similar situation. It doesn't have to pertain to just golf but life in general. As the title of the post reads “ Never Let Your Reach Exceed Your Grasp ??? ” made me stop and think just who was that meant for. I believe that you should never stop reaching, if you have to stand up on your toes and that doesn't work try standing on a chair and if that doesn't work look for a ladder. The point being if you can, always keep reaching sometimes the best things in life are just out of our reach , if you can see it keep reaching.

          We all can't be the next pro to win a million dollars on tour but we can always find a way to improve even if by simply one stroke at a time. Sometimes it might be just becoming a better person, parent or friend. You just might inspire someone else to overcome an obstacle in their life. That is all I am trying to accomplish here. I have tried to surround myself with people who have been nothing but positive. That is why I haven't given in to hopelessness. If I have inspired just one person then I have succeeded in this venture. Thanks for letting me share this with all of you.

                             If You Can Keep Reaching You Will Never Know Unless You Try  

           This Is A Free Lesson From An Affilate

Title: How To Load Up Like A Spring In Your Backswing For Longer Drives

 

To get the most power in your backswing you... ...need to wind your 

shoulders up as much as possible against your hips, which should be 

restricted in their turn.

 

The more torque you create between your shoulders and hips, the more

power and distance you'll get.

 

Now your backswing should start with your big muscles, namely your 

shoulders, arms, hands etc. and your hips should not move for as long 

as possible.

 

Once your shoulders and arms get to a certain point your hips will have 

to move, but again this should happen as a result of your shoulder turn 

and not before.

 

Your shoulders should always turn more than your hips and for this to 

happen you must start your backswing first with your shoulders until 

they pull the hips to a start.

 

This is nothing that you want to consciously do but something, which 

you can train to happen, and here's how....

 

Grip halfway down the shaft of a club with the butt-end resting against 

your sternum, and move your arms and shoulders as far as you can 

without turning your hips. That is the point in your golf swing when your

hips should start turning, not before.

 

Another good way to rehearse the correct turning sequence is to sit in a 

chair and swing your arms and turn your shoulders as far as you can.

 

Eventually there comes a point where your hips won't let you turn any 

further - this will vary depending on your flexibility - and again that 

would be the point in your golf swing when the hips should begin to turn.

 

Your shoulders must move faster than your hips as you start your backswing 

because they have further to turn. And for your shoulders and hips to be in 

sync you must do what has been described because otherwise if you let 

your hips turn too soon in your backswing you'll be all out of sync in your 

backswing and the rest of your swing will be history.

 

For more great tips like this to help you hit the ball further along with a 

complete program designed specifically by a sports scientist to help you 

swing faster and hit the ball further go here now. http://consistentgolf.com/swingspeedchallenge/?e=

 

Never Say Never

                                                            Never Say Never

If I were to concentrate on the reasons that I should not be able to play golf I probably would have given up trying. I started this to give hope to anyone wanting to enjoy golf no matter what. If you don't mind I would like to share some personal issues of my own and remember I am not complaining or looking for excuses these are challenges I choose to overcome. That is why I say Never say Never !

First off , I have a bruised spinal cord injury which put limits on my strength from the neck down, it also limits my mobility and has caused nerve damage which is controlled by medications. I also have permanent carpel tunnel syndrome in both hands which limits strength in and feeling in both hands. Also because of the lack of strength in the upper body I tore my rotator cuff and needed surgery and they had to place a pin in the tendon to hold it in place. To overcome these issues wasn't easy but I found a way.

I have to walk with a cane and mafo braces on my legs, especially when I play to correct balance issues , I wear 2 gloves to help get a better grip on the club , I have had to change my swing many times to compensate for the lack of club head speed and lack of strength. In future posts I will share more but I will leave you with a saying that has helped me in all aspects of my life:

                                           “Some People Find An Excuse Others Find A Way”