In the Rough, October 22, 2008

"Remain calm all is well"

Kevin Bacon shouted over and over again in the final scene of the movie, Animal House, when he was trying to calm the riot in the streets caused by the boys from Delta house.  I recall that not working out to well for Kevin.

The current volatility in the markets and the economy makes me feel as if I've started a round of golf with four straight birdies and somehow managed to be over-par at the turn. You don't question things when you're "going good" but you feel completely frazzled when "it goes south", and the good start seemed like a long time ago and you can't remember how to get back to the beginning.

Sound familiar to any of my fellow golfers out there? How do we keep the  good times going with our golf swing?

First of all, get through the round by painting visual pictures of your golf shots during your hot start. You have to forget about the poor shots at the end of your nine.

Focus on one quality shot at a time, not a score for the hole you are playing.

Pay attention to your short game. How many times have you lost focus and chunked a simple chip or started 3-putting? Minimize the damage during the round and keep your head up. You will still be able to salvage a round. Who knows, with the right attitude and plan, that hot start may show up for the last 4 holes of the round!

In between rounds, my advice is simple, keep your practice sessions short and focus on quality not quantity. You don't want to pound hundreds of balls when you are swinging well. Chances are, you will get tired and start incorporating bad habits into your swing. Afterall people, there are only so many Vijay Singh's in the world and chances are you aren't one of them.

You should never feel physically exhausted after a practice session. Save the aerobics for the gym or track!

Focus on good form and good swings. Always end your practice sessions on a positive note with a solid shot or by holing a putt. Never leave on a miss or a poorly struck shot. If you have a suspect mind like me, you will focus on the cause and effect of your last poor shot and undo all of the good work you had done that day.

As I keep reminding everyone, there is reason I work for a living in golf instead of playing for a living in golf. Remember, like I tell my kids, "do I say not as I do"

If all else fails go to the bar and have a beer and think how lucky you are not to be working on a Tuesday!

I'm a little old to be star-struck and hero-worship should be for kids under the age of 12....... I've met my share of sports stars and been around some celebrities in my life and have never gotten the vapors or turned into babbling idiot. I'm perfectly capable of that on my own, as most of you know by now.

But I may have a hard time keeping my game under some manner of control if El Tigre was pulling a loop for my group. Great story about Tiger caddying for John Abel a 59-year-old guy from New Jersey who won an online sweepstakes as a winner of the "Tee off with Tiger" contest! Tiger went nine holes, carrying the clubs, wearing the bib, signing everything for John, talking to his family, giving local advice and even showing John the spot where he made the famous put tto get into the playoff at the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines this year. John didn't make the putt, by the way!

I know Tiger was getting paid, but the one quote that really stuck with me about his experience was "how much of a down-to-earth-guy he really is," in referring to Tiger.

I am unabashed Tiger Woods fan, but one of the things I admire about him besides his golf, is his ability to stay out of the limelight for all the wrong reasons. Is Tiger perfect? No, are any of us,? Notme but I have never heard stories about dubious behavior or anyone who knows him say that he is not a likeable guy.

I think we all want our heroes to be amazing on their sports stage and regular guys or gals off it. From my perspective, Earl's boy fits the bill in that regard. If my kids want to worship Tiger for a while, I'm more than ok with that.

Economic Crisis be Damned!

Go Play Golf!

Bob Seganti, PGA