Author: Hilary

Hi Ladies:

I know you’ve all had sleeples nights wondering, "Will Kay love have a new golfing partner named Eddy?"

Or "Will she persuade him to come to Discovery Bay and give us all insights into our golf games?

Your nights will be worry free after you read the final chapter of Kay’s story. Here it is. Enjoy.

We are back in the Fairway room listening to Kay Loves’ story from Myrtle Beach. This is the last chapter…….her golf guru speaks his final words of wisdom.

HOW KAY LOVE SAW THE LIGHT (or met her golf guru)…PART III

“So, Kay Love did you let him buy you another drink?” I asked. “Well for sure I did.” she replied, “He’d given my ego a beating so I deserved something in return. Mind you everything he said was right. Actually, I thought he’d finished his “Insights into Kay’s game” but I was wrong.”

“So Missus, I’ve gotta be getting back home soon, didn’t realize it was gone 5 already, can’t be late for dinner now can I? You got the stamina for one more thing I wanna share with you?”

“Sure.” I replied, “Go for it Eddy, I can take anything now, what more can there be?”

“When I met you earlier today you told me that you had been looking forward to playing this wonderful course of ours and you were so disappointed in your game today. You came all this way and you quit after only nine holes, what was that about?

“I was hoping to shoot in the low 40s on the front.” I sighed, “I’ve played courses with a similar slope and a 48 was not what I was shooting for? As I told you my whole game was a disaster. I understand now that my game wasn’t helped by me letting my adrenaline control my desire for the perfect shot. Obsessing about a perfect swing didn’t help me today either. I shouldn’t have been thinking about my Pro and my shoulder dip.”

“I understand Missus. A 48 eh, how did you do on the first hole with those bunkers guarding the green?

“I got in the bunker with a terrible shot with my three wood.” I shuddered at the thought of it.

“But how did you get out, that’s a deep bunker?” Eddy asked.

“Sure is deep, got out in one and made the putt.” I answered.

“That was a good up and down Missus. How ‘bout the third hole with that ribbon of a green alongside the lake?”

“Terrible.” I winced at the memory. “My 5 wood to the green landed right into the deep rough at the back.”

“Hmm a five wood?” Eddy said, “You musta had a great drive to get you to within a 5 wood distance from the green?

I thought for a moment and said, “I suppose so, I was driving the ball well today.

“Think hard,” he said, “how many good drives did you have?”

I struggled to remember as all I could think of was the bad shots. I finally realized. “Seven.” I said.

“Seven wow, well that’s every hole you needed a driver on you came through, right?”

“Right, Eddy I didn’t think of it that way.”

He continued his quizzing “Any other great sand saves like on hole number one you can remember?

“Oh yes,” I answered quickly, “that deep bunker on 4 I got out of easily and the one on 7 was a breeze too”.

Eddy wasn’t done yet, “Think about your putting, how many three putts you have?

That was simple for me to answer. “None.”

“So for a player who was having a disastrous round your drives were good, you had miraculous sand saves and no three putts . Where was this disaster you’re talking about?” Eddy asked.

“My score, I told you, a 48 for 9 holes. It was not what I wanted.”

"I want you to think like this from now on, your best game isn’t necessarily the one with the lowest score. Your best game is when you do exactly what you want to do a lot of the time. Don’t focus on your numbers, focus on your performance. When I play my aim is to plan the type of shot I want to make, and then make it happen. Plan, then execute. If you can make many of the shots just as you planned you’re having a good round. Look at your numbers in a different way. You’ll often be surprised that a bad “by the numbers” game wasn’t that bad after all.”

Then he got up from the table, drank the last of his beer and said, “Gotta go now my dinner’s waiting. Good meeting you Missus, happy golfing!”

“Hilary, in an instant he was gone, and I never got the chance to thank him for his great insights into my game. The next day I asked at the Pro shop if they knew where Eddy was and no one remembers seeing him, weird eh?” said Kay Love, “Maybe I’ll get to meet him again one day?

So Ladies that’s the story of how “Kay Love Saw the Light (or met her golf guru)” but if you happen to ask Kay Love about Eddy and his guru abilities I have a feeling she may not remember seeing him either!

As play day is cancelled again I thought you all might have time to read the next episode of Kay Love’s story. Enjoy.

Hi Ladies here we are back in the Fairway room. Eddy had just finished explaining to Kay how to control her adrenaline addiction so she was really ready for another drink! .

HOW KAY LOVE SAW THE LIGHT(or met her golf guru)…….PART II

“That’s a great story Kay Love, is that it? What happened next?’ I asked. “Next, next? Let me think Hilary…….

Oh yes Eddy got me another glass of the Pinot Noir which I really needed. We relaxed a while neither of us saying anything. I was trying to get that Zen stuff into my brain. I was about to thank him and leave when he stopped me by saying, “So you get the Zen stuff eh but you know you have more problems than that Missus, don’t you?” I was pretty offended.

How did this scraggly guy know what problems I had? How presumptuous of him. “Okay Eddy tell me what you’re getting at, I’d be surprised if you know me that well.” I was sure he’d back off, but he was a persistent little guy.

He started on his third beer and continued. “So Lady how many golf Pros you been to? What’s the latest fix for your swing?” Funny he mentioned that I thought as I had just paid for a series of 6 lessons with the new Pro in San Ramon. I eagerly replied, “My new golf Pro is getting me to work on my right shoulder dip. He said my turn is all wrong and I have to change it if I want to play better golf.”

“You’re chasing that perfect swing” exclaimed Eddy with a wry grin. “I knew it. Don’t feel too bad lady, didn’t mean to offend you. Please, before you get up to leave, let me explain what I meant.”

Offend me? Yes, I was really upset. How dare he attack me that way but I decided to hear him out.

“Not all golf teaching Pros are equal. You need to find a teacher who takes the time to understand YOUR swing and then helps you fine tune it. If you are already playing fairly decent golf and a teacher tells you to tear down your swing and start over, then FIND ANOTHER TEACHER! It doesn’t mean your swing stinks, it just means it’s not HIS swing and he doesn’t know how to teach a different one.”

“I know what you mean.” I replied. “My game always gets worse after lessons and the Pros always say it’s because I am changing my swing and it will get better. Sometimes it does, but often I think it only does because I go back to my old swing.”

“Now you’re not offended eh? Eddy asked. I felt bad as he looked so concerned that he’d upset me. “I’m fine you just hit a nerve. I am always trying to fix my swing with books, magazines, lessons and all. Please go on and tell me more.”

With a relieved look on his face Eddy took a large gulp of his beer and continued.

“If you have a swing flaw a good teacher can find a way to work around this tendency and not revamp your swing. A golfer may drop his right shoulder too much and a Pro wanting to change it could really mess them up. Maybe dropping that shoulder was okay for the way that player swings. I saw a player whose swing plane was off but he was very comfortable swinging that way. I suggested he just slow down his hands at impact and it straightened out his fade. All swings are different and yours might be the one that is right for you. As they say, there’s more than one way to skin a cat.”

“I never thought of it that way Eddy. Every time I have a swing problem I find a Pro to help me fix it and they change it. I must have changed my swing seven times in the past two years.”

“Forget all of that Missus. When you think of trying a new Pro don’t expect that the Golf God’s been keeping a secret and he now chooses this guy to reveal it to you. From what I saw of your swing dropping your shoulder isn’t a big flaw. Maybe that’s how you get back to impact so well. For sure you don’t need a swing change. Find a teacher who will understand your swing and fine tune it. I think you’ve just been looking for your swing (love) in all the wrong places.”

“Like the song eh Eddy?” I laughed in reply.

“All I’m sayin’ Missus is the next time you hear you need a swing change, run for the hills.”

Eddy got up from the table and said, “Want another drink?………………………………..to be continued

Hi Ladies:

From all the stories I’ve written I am sure you know by now that Kay “Love to Buy New Clubs” Smith is my hero(ine). She always appears on the course where she’s needed. Remember how she helped Jeanne “Zoom Zoom” Zwemer let off steam and relax inside that bubble? She showed “Emily Everyone” how to count to ten rather than slamming her 7 iron into the ground, and how can we forget the Red /Blue boxes method for focus? But Ladies I ask you, who helps Kay Love??

She called me recently and asked me to meet her in the Fairway room for lunch. I had no idea why, but when I got there she said. “Order lunch fast Hilary, I have a strange story to tell you.” I love stories, as you know, so I ordered my chicken fajita rollup in record time and then she began………..

Ladies here is the first part of her story.

HOW KAY LOVE SAW THE LIGHT(or met her golf guru)PART I

……Well Hilary (with just one L) I was in Myrtle Beach last week on the most wonderful golf course I’ve seen, but I was having my worst game ever. I was getting more and more disappointed in myself and was ready to quit when this scraggly old guy came walking across the 9th fairway and said, “Hey lady, wanna partner for the back nine, I’m up for a game?” “Sorry Mister,” I replied, “my game is in the tank right now and all I’m looking for is a stiff drink in the bar.” “Good idea.” he said, “Mind if I join you?” This guy was like a flea on a dog, hard to shake, so that’s how I found myself at a sticky, beer covered table in South Carolina bar downing my first glass of Pinot Noir. My customary Arnold Palmer wouldn’t do it for me after the round I’d just had. Little did I know then that I’d found mygolf guru.

As we clinked our glasses together in a perfunctory “Cheers” he introduced himself and said “Good to meet you Missus, my name’s Eddy. What’s the problem today that made you wanna quit. It must be serious business?” “Serious business?” I replied “It is. I was so excited to play this course and hoping for great things, but every hole was a disaster. It was similar to times when I’m in tournament play at home. I know I can beat my opponent but then I choke and lose the hole. I hope for so much and then it’s all a huge disappointment.”

“That’s very simple to understand,” said Eddy, “It’s ‘cause of drugs.”

“Drugs? Did you say drugs?” I was astounded that he could think such a thing so I told him. “I don’t have any drugs in my body, you’d better apologize Eddy.”

“Can’t do that lady because I can tell you’re hooked on the body’s strongest drug…..adrenaline. Adrenaline is the most dangerous substance in golf. It’s good for marathoners who have to dig down to make that final burst of strength to the finish line, or in the last quarter of a football game to chase down a running back that’s sprinting to the end zone, but for golfers it’s the kiss of death. In golf you have to do the exact opposite and keep adrenaline at bay. To have the greatest round of your life like you wanted today, or to win a hole in a match, you have to put success and winning out of your mind. Don’t think “If hit this well I win, if I mess up I lose”. Only think of how you hit the shot. You know for sure you’re getting your mind right if after you’ve hit a shot,” he paused, “……..it takes a few seconds to realize how well you hit it.”

“I hear you Eddy, and I know that’s what I do, but isn’t that what the golf Pros do in tournaments. Don’t they rise to the occasion, playing beyond their abilities when the big one is on the line? Don’t you hit it better knowing what’s at stake?

“Sports experts everywhere tell you to bear down, go for the prize, and get tough but that’s how that pesky drug adrenaline takes over your mind and body.” Eddy leaned over the table and whispered. “I’m gonna tell you a secret. What the Pros are really doing when a match in on the line, or they have to make a putt to win, is concentrating even harder to kick that fact right out of their mind. Hoping this shot makes it to the green is a lot different than hoping you don’t screw up.”

“Sounds pretty believable Eddy but how do I kick this drug habit you say I have?” I asked. “No Missus you’re not a druggie,” he chuckled, “but you gotta get your emotions under control. The only plan that works is having the same feeling inside you every time you hit a shot.” As he banged his fist loudly on the table he said, “You always have to feel that this is the shot that counts!” No ups or downs, just level play. You practice your swing all the time on the range right? I nodded. “Well practice having that feeling inside you then too. Every shot is the shot, no more, no less”

“Hilary that was really serious stuff he laid on me, and I knew he was right. I got it. It doesn’t do any good to stand over the ball thinking of how the weight of your team is on your shoulders, or this is the shot to post your lowest score ever. Pumped up with adrenaline should not be my drug of choice. Not to get too mystical on you Hilary but it’s somewhat Zen –like.

“To win, you have to put winning out of your mind, to have your best round ever play each shot with the same “level”ness of intensity.”

I was blown away by what she told me, and wanted to hear more…………to be continued