Golfing with the Angels

Theodore is a majestic 110 years old gum ball tree in the middle of the fairway hole #3. Over the years, he’s gotten the nickname Treeadore by the members.

It take a good shot and presicion to circumvent him and land your drive on the left side of the fairway. Today with the morning dew, the ball rolled short and stopped in the middle of the fairway. This required a low stinger under Theodore’s branches. Feeling confident over the ball, I visualized it flying under the branches and rolling on the green. However, my ball took off higher than planned, hit a branch straight on and richotted, landing fifty feet behind me.

I bewilderly walked back to my ball, pulled the same club, but this time I had a new perspective. I could get on the green if I skirted Theodore’s left side. Hitting the intended shot, my ball landed just a few inches off the green. The pin was back, leaving a twenty-five foot putt, which astonishingly found the bottom of the cup … for par. What an unorthordox way to play a hole.

In hinesight, sometimes what’s necessary is to go backwards to go forward. A metaphor for life. When I had to go back to rehit the shot, it offered a new perspective … a different way of achieving the same end result.

Golf gives immediate feedback by reflecting back what needs changing … on the golf course of life.

 

 

Scraping the score and focusing on fun, hole by hole is mastery. It takes keen attention and intention to bring the power that lies in the NOW moment into awareness. The most creative sticks in the bag are your clubs, not the pencil. The wealth of imagination you can muster from fourteen clubs is astounding…each one providing an array of options to devise a stupendous shot each and every time.

It’s best to remove and release all emotional charges from the score.  It takes practice, since this has become an ingrained habit. It willl afford freedom to your mind and soothe your body for a fluid unencumbered motion. Worry restricts the flow of good vibes and brings in the shanks, yips, yanks and possibly even a chili dip—and we don’t mean at the turn!

It’s a given that you and all golfers wishes to score low every round.  By removing fret and anxiety from your round is freeing, allowing the Universe to shower you with magical moments and lucky breaks beyond your wildest dreams.

Here’s what the Golfing Angels have to say about score…

“We find humor in the way you gauge your enjoyment of golf, with a pencil.  It’s all about the score, rather than enjoying an extraordinary shot you may have executed out of the bunker or possibly one of your longest drives. Judging yesterday’s round to tomorrow’s is nonsensical too, since there is no way to adequately compare—that was that and this is this. Every moment is different—from the weather to your physiology—on any given day. How well you played is determined by a number at the end of your round, instead of by your quotient of joy, exhilaration, relaxation, laughter, magical moments, sunshine, fresh air, nature, comradery and achievements.”

Recently I played in a tournament with a man who took an extraordinary amount of time over each shot. It was tedious, draining, exhausting and extremely time-consuming. Was he having fun?  It certainly didn’t appear to be so. Being in the zone is going with the flow, without any stress and strain. When you are connected, your intuition and inspiration is the most valuable source of guidance. Go with your first instinct and you will successfully succeed.

Golf is meant to be more than just a game; it’s a path to mastery, a journey towards self-improvement and a mirror which reflects our true selves back to us. It can serve as a masterful teacher if one commits to self-observation, awareness, and mindfulness, which will reveal the hidden aspects of one’s thoughts, allowing for change to occur.

 

 

When I stood on the tee box of an 120 yard par 3 with the wind blowing steady into my face, I realized I needed to use more club and to keep the shot low. The angels overheard my request and manifested that precisely. They recommended I hit my hybrid. After watching a fellow player’s ball get swept up into the wind and pushed right into a bunker, I agreed with the angels’ club selection.

As I was addressing the ball,  I saw in my mind’s eye the ball cutting through the wind and landing pin high. Well, needless to say, the angels had something more absurd up their wings. I hit the ball thin, which made it travel on the ground for 120 yards, through thick grass at times, down a hill and up another, onto the back of the green. Certainly the longest putt I’ve ever hit—with a hybrid! How could that happen?  What about physics?

In hindsight, the message (and there’s always one!) I discerned is not to be concerned with the dreaded hows. The angels, the Universe, God, whatever you believe, orchestrated the most outrageous outcome in alignment with my request. It just wasn’t what I visualized or how I thought would happen, but the end result materialized precisely.

Understanding this demonstration was a mirror for my daily life, affording me greater freedom as I ask, plead and command their help on an array of things, from parking spots to publishing my book.  With my daily intention and focus on my dreams and goals, and with their infallible support, it will materialize—maybe not as I had plan—but nonetheless, as dramatic and fulfilling beyond what my mind can conceive. It’s all in the request!

 

 

Sometimes, my connection with the angels will wane when it rains and even under other situations like stress and strain. This happens mostly when I’m tuckered out, sleepy, grumpy or any of the other seven dwarfs. It certainly makes it difficult to concentrate. The angels want us to accept our humanness during these times. Thank goodness it’s only temporary.

As rain enveloped the golf course, it proved to be a soggy start to the two-day Member-Member tournament. I was sporting rain gear from head to toe, with ten towels in tow and eight spare gloves. By the time we arrived at the last four holes, we were squishy and our grips were squashy, making it impossible to hold on to the club. Duck tape would have helped, but there was none to be found.

Cart path meant our shots were furthest from the path for additional exposure to the elements. The majority of my energy was on maintaining dry grips and keeping up with superfluous supply of towels and gloves…not an easy task. A real life caddie would have come in handy!

This additional exertion depleted my energy and diminished my perceived flow of guidance. Although I unceasingly called forth assistance from the Golfing Angels for target lines, club selection, and reading the soppy greens, it became challenging to hear their helpful suggestions with dampened focus my mind was fuzzy. Their usual coaching, rooting, motivating and cheering with pompoms were not easily sensed. The angels even turned up the volume on their messages in the control room and hooked up additional boom boxes to clarify the communication—imagination is everything!

Here’s the angels two-cents…”When tiredness prohibits and lessens the lines of communication, relax, do your best and realize that trying too hard is detrimental. That said, accept the moment as it is recognizing it’s short-lived, and after good needed rest your angelic connection will return. Sometimes it rains, and if you resist it, it only makes it worse. We’re not referring to rain as precipitation, but as a metaphor of our connection . . . sometimes it wanes. Be gentle with yourself, have fun and go with the flow. We’re always with you rain or not.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As I was practicing putting, I tossed down four balls. I was approximately twenty-five feet from the hole. I called Putting Angel Pete to give me the sink line and speed spot and then with my laser focus, I putted away. The first putt rolled in, the second, the third, and the fourth. I stood there with open arms thinking, did anyone see this? I was looking around for a witness . . . besides the angels, of course. As it was happening, I knew it was amazing, and after, I knew it was astonishing, and there had to be a message. 

I retrieved the four balls and now dropped them twelve feet from the hole. First one rolled in, second in, third in and the fourth stopped on the left edge. Guess the Universe didn’t want me to get a big head. Again, I though, how is this possible. I’m a good putter and all, but this was way beyond that.

The next day I googled what percentage of twenty-five foot putts are holed. A professional golfer holes 5% of all twenty-five foot putts. Well, needless to say, four in a row is significant and unbelievable. Statistically, a threshold is reached with the rise of repetitions. J. B. Rhine, laboratory parapsychologist pioneer, thought that gamblers on a high – a winning streak – really were on to something. He didn’t call it angels, but he thought it was “real.” He attributed it to “psychokinesis” and measured PK.

The angel’s message was . . . “Anything is possible!”. . . and now I believe and feel it in my being. This valuable lesson is a daily reminder. If I become overwhelmed or stressed over how something will manifest in my life, I remember this life-changing experience and know it’s a shoo-in.

The Universe will rearrange itself and jump through hoops to help us with our endeavors and challenges. It’s up to us to believe anything IS possible.

Recently, my ball grazed a tree branch, keeping it from rolling off the back of the green. Another day, my approach shot hit a railroad tie, bounced on the cart path, leaped twenty feet into the air, hit a tree limb, hit the railroad tie on the way down, and rolled onto the green. Or when my ball skimmed the pond and landed in the middle of the fairway on the same hole, two days in a row. Just saying!

Success during a game of golf most certainly starts—and ends—in the mind. It’s a series of focused steps involving calculated decision-making, measuring, correcting, and overcorrecting. But as with every other sport, the game should bring you joy. Too often, golfers’ furrowed eyebrows and perfect posture give off the impression they’re taking themselves far too seriously. Whether you’re a pro, a driving machine, a hacker (i.e., a mediocre or poor player), a weekend warrior, or someone in between, every round of golf is either lost or won because of the player’s state of mind. Almost all that tension can be eased with the right guidance. Some athletes rely solely on their coaches or a player they aspire to be more like . . . but every golfer has far more support than he or she could ever dream of.

It’s been seven years now that the Golfing Angels have been on my bag as my secret weapon. It wasn’t easy to come to grips that I would be sharing them with the world. I enjoyed walking the course with them under wraps. Understandably, when my book Golfing with the Angels is published, my secret would be revealed and others would be beckoning their assistance.

All that’s needed to get the ball rolling, unleash their wealth of assistance, and solicit the angels’ help is your permission. Whether the request be out loud or silent, it doesn’t matter. Talk to them like you would an old friend. Provide them with your wish list before the round of your aspirations and how they can aid. My call goes something like this…”I give you the freedom to assist me with target lines, reading the greens (more on sink lines and speed spots in other posts), fortuitous bounces, heavenly lies, and fun every roll, revolution and rotation on the journey.” I also ask for good flat lies with fluffy grass under my ball and guidance on club and shot selection. Whatever would make your round more satisfying and enjoyable, ask away. Of course, that is as long as it’s not detrimental to yourself or anyone else. We don’t want to mess with karma now!

That said, it takes an incredible amount of trust and faith. When I first started using their help, I’d be standing over a two foot putt thinking there’s no way it’s going to break that way. Sure enough, it did, and over time my trust increased by leaps and bounds. The angels are able to differentiate variables in the terrain our human selves cannot and they have a wealth of inside information on wind velocity, pollen count, geese contrails, gravitational pull, earth’s rotation, and butterfly effect, just to name a few. They’ll help you whether you believe in them or not.

Once you place the call…they’re on the bag and in your life…and they delight in providing a plenitude of signs of their presence. When you’re open to their true-blue guidance, you’ll experience the most magical round, while expanding your enjoyment of the game. And all that’s required is to be graciously grateful for their guidance.  A win-win fore sure!

 

As I was walking the course recently, I realized how expectations play a big part in golf. During a round, your expectations may be to par the hole. When expectations are not achieved it may cause disappointment. Expectations bound us with blinders in a belief—or illusion–of how an outcome should be and closes us off from being receptive to the multitude of possibilities the Universe may have in store. By trusting that there’s a bountiful of beneficial outcomes—which may be even more dazzling and advantageous—is freeing, which may even bring a learning experience and greater gifts. The shift to higher consciousness is all about freedom from the delusions—expectations—of the mind.

Expectations are limiting, whereas intentions are empowering. Intentionality  has a take charge kind of energy and puts you in the driver’s seat. With intentions set and full focus in the now, playing the course shot by shot instead of hole by hole is liberating to the spirit, allowing fun to return to the game, instead of dread.

Focus, Intention, Visualization and Emotion—the acronym F.I.V.E.— is a handy formula which came forth from the golfing angels to assist in manifesting. This is a terrific tool to add to your preshot routine, which also works amazingly off the course as well. FOCUS on bringing your full awareness, energy and attention, back to your being and then set the INTENTION of what it is you wish. VISUALIZE with vivid details your desires and add the EMOTION of joy, fulfillment, elation, exhilaration of how you will feel after this has manifested. Voila!

Here’s a recent personal anecdote….”When I landed in the bunker flanking the green I squashed any mumbling or resistance. I had no intention on being there, so what gives. Remembering to take ownership and claim my power, I thought okay, I need a miracle here and called one in–thank you angels!  I had a nice uphill lie, although little green to work with and a big lip to clear. With conviction I took charge of the situation, reminding myself I have the tools to get out of the bunker. As I took my stance, I ran through the sequence in my mind of the swing thoughts needed and my intention—anywhere on the green would be nice. After hitting the ball, I said “in the hole” and to my surprise, and everyone else’s, it did.  One minute you’re down and out and the next you’re up and in. It’s a challenging-confidence-building kind of game.”

With intention in the bag, and the angel acronym routinely secure it’s time to set goals. A synonym for goal is target, destination and objective.Goals help align desires, placing a spotlight on future happenings, by pulling in the Universe’s energy to support, sustain and supply fortuitous bounces, fluffy lies, and beyond belief miracles.

May all your DRIVES—on and off the course—be guided by intention and focus.

 

The never-ending joy ride of golf…twists and turns, hills and valleys, doglegs and aerated greens. Oh yes, today was the later, with sand galore ping-ponging the ball like an arcade machine, every which way but in. It took a few holes to make adjustments for the sluggish rotation.  It made me realize how many mid-course corrections golfers must do on a daily basis–from whirling wind, to snail-like greens, bare lies, dew and goose poop too.

With the aerated greens like a kid’s sandbox and firm fairways the ball was reacting rather abnormally. It made for a test of all sorts. When on the fourth hole, uphill par 3, my tee shot hit the first cut in front of the green and rolled 30 yards down the hill, I realized today was going to be a round of patience, recovery and boomerang golf. Glad to have the Golfing Angels on the bag with their gifts and guidance.

It takes extreme adaptability to conjure up consistency during these changing times on course. Golfers’ flexibility isn’t just about a full turn. More importantly, it’s about being able to quickly modify the swing to take advantage of what lies before them during these yo-yo fluctuations, by constantly sizing up the situation to follow through on the best trajectory. An ebb and flow is needed at all times to stay on course.

Ricocheting circumstances made trusting the Angels’ assistance touchy. With drastically different from normal conditions, there were many more “are you kidding me,” “what the heck” and “no way” than on a typical day. The Angels were fine with this scenario and equipped to assist in mastering the day of quicksand putts and oodles of trust.

It also took acute awareness to ascertain the sink line and speed spot (see blogs titled Putting Assistance for clarification).  With sandy holes saturating the green, identifying the sink line was like finding an emerald green ball marker. This called for drastic measures…leaving it totally up to the Angels and trusting their fall-in line was on target. They supply the sink line by aiming the line on the ball toward the hole with the break they determine. To gauge the speed of the putt, their guidance on downhill putts was to use the actual hole for feel and for uphill putts, to add 25% of the hole’s distance to feel the shot.  It was a knee-knocking day.

Flexibility, faith and being deeply rooted like the mighty oak are valuable traits on and off the course of life.

4ORE!

Today, during the last four holes, I was getting tuckered out, you know how it is, and I started to push for results, instead of being present and enjoying each shot. This brought in the dreaded three putts and numerous other not as planned outcomes. When struggle enters my awareness, awesomeness exits. I soon realized this was happening and took steps to course correct, and of course, called in the Golfing Angels. By trying to be calm—yes, even on the golf course! —will keep the angel ally aligned and bring in high vibes and birdies too.

What occurs on the course is typically a metaphor for my daily life. As I’m sailing through my day, sometimes, it’s best to check in to ensure the charted course is calculated correctly and calm seas are ahead. If a course correction is needed, it’s best to catch it early as the wind may not be at your back, if you have to swing around. I find it helpful to go within and set clear intentions before I take action on the next thing, to insure the desired outcome is achieved. This or better I ask of the Angels. I intend that my ball be on the green or even better, in the hole. I intend to have the best day of my life, and do. It’s all a matter of taking a minute to focus and intend…and calling in the Angels as well.

The Angels provided this acronym, F-I-V-E, to easily remember their four tips for manifesting on the course and off as well.

F is for focus…bring your all your awareness and focus back into your being with a deep breath.

I is for intention…what is it you wish to manifest.

V is for visualization…see your wish/dream in your imagination with clear delicious details.

E is for execute…take action–even a baby step–to bring this desire into fruition.

By combining intention with imagination will hole-in-one goals expeditiously. Seeing is believing and believing is seeing. To top it off, feel the emotion of joy, happiness and fulfillment, as if your dream has already manifested, to miraculously rocket boost your goal.

High five!

 

 

As I was walking the course, in a detached from the score mode, in the flow, zoned out kind of place, a fellow player asked what I shot on the front. It’s the sixteenth hole when she asked and all I could think was, “am I playing that well?” It was a relaxing round with very few hiccups. So when this question entered my awareness, I started to think about my score and if in fact I was having a personal best or close to it.

On my way to the seventeenth hole, a bit of apprehension came into my consciousness. If I was having a really good scoring round, I better not blow it and play safe. This of course is fear in a low vibration and it will only play havoc with your game and focus if you let it in. Needless to say, I did (let it in) and my going with the flow, focus on fun was smothered, which contributed to double bogie on the last two holes.

When my awareness shifted to the outcome instead of  living in the moment, my concentration was chocked and I failed to determine if the putts were uphill or down, causing both to lip out. I knew the Angels were reaffirming a valuable lesson, especially when I saw one of the chapters–“Scrap the Score”– in my mind’s eye.  In hindsight, I realize my playing partner’s question was out of character, and therefore, had to have been orchestrated by the Angels to wallop me out of my old ways, yet again.

I take full responsibility for giving the end result greater prominence than extracting pure pleasure from each shot. I could have easily chosen to go about my round in the usual fashion, oblivious of the outcome. The metaphoric message may possibly be not to be sidetracked by others or outside influence and to remain detached, deliberately determined and downright zoomed in.

I realize detaching from the outcome gives the Universe (and the Angels) full liberty to fill in the blanks, without my mind hindering the end results, providing amazing synchronicities and maybe even a hole-in-one. I’m learning to leave room for a plethora of possibilities.

 

 

Serendipitous signs are everywhere. Like today, when looking over my chip shot on the second hole for a target line, there was not one to be found. The greens were immaculate and shining in the early morning November sun. As I stood behind the ball, I asked for a target line, and sure enough, as if on cue from the Universe, a leaf-like thing, gliding ever so gently and twirling in the breeze, landed ten feet in front of the ball. It seemed as if I was on a Hollywood set and the director called for action. This turned out to be the precise target line which left me a tap in putt. The angels have impeccable timing, and a whole repertoire of gadgets, gizmos and leaf-like things up their wings.

As I was putting for birdie a few holes later, my putt hit an old ball mark—bump in the road—and was thrown ever so slightly off course. The tap in par was fine, although there was an ounce of disappointment, especially since I had hit two incredible shots to get on the green in regulation to have this birdie putt. It felt like a lost opportunity. On the very next hole, my drive landed in the right rough, second shot in the greenside bunker, third shot five feet from the hole, fourth shot in the hole for par . . . oh so gratifying.

Examining these two back to back pars, the first was nice and easy, but the second one was much more rewarding, fulfilling and all around more fun being able to squeak out a par with the obstacles in my path. This made me realize, sometimes we are thrown off course by a bump in the road, which could be discouraging.  By taking the scenic route—bypassing the fairway—it encouraged me to focus and dig deep. These challenges and hurdles strengthened my conviction—metaphorically speaking, if our life is on direct course, or if we go astray, the end results can be the same with focus on the goal . . . or the hole.

Another lesson surfaced on the ninth hole as I was standing over a thirty foot putt. The sink line the angels provided—straight—just didn’t seem right.  There was shade and sun mixed through the green which created an illusion.  To my eye, it seemed the putt would break hard right.  As I pondered this dilemma, I went with my decision and three putted. Trust is a tricky thing. Just when I feel I’ve mastered it, the angels throw an illusion my way.  As the ball turns, so does this, as another metaphor mirroring my life, reminding me the angels are always supporting me, even if there is a trompe l’oeil staring me in the face.

It can be difficult to take your hands off the wheel. It’s a scary thing. As your angelic trust grows in teeny matters, you will gain confidence and faith in the colossal ones too—like club selection—now we’re talking spine-chilling!  The angels always have our back. Oh the lengths they go!

 

You just never know what adventures await as I walk up to the Clubhouse. Today, for example, while putting on the eighth hole, I was standing over the ball, ready to pull the trigger, when I heard someone scream my name…DENISE!  I abruptly stopped and looked up to see who yelled. There was a lady on the adjacent street calling to a neighbor, who was walking her dog. Her name just happened to be Denise. There are no coincidences.

It took a few days after this occurrence for the facts to reveal the hidden message. I realized the Angels were calling my attention back to the NOW, as I had taken a phone call on the fairway of that hole and was still digesting the conversation. I guess I wasn’t fully present and they decided to quickly nudge me back on track…which absolutely did.

The Angels can assemble many cooperative components. It is mind-boggling how expeditiously they can orchestrate and oversee minute details. Their skills, gifts and guidance are reassuring. A sincere invitation is all that is needed to give the Angels permission to get the ball rolling. They are summoned on the spot when solicited. It takes a tad of trust, faith and surrendering to the notion. You don’t even have to believe in their existence, for they will assist regardless. With our free will contract, we must ask, before the Angels can intervene…that’s the deal.

I called for a miracle on the fifth hole, as my approach shot was drifting ever so gently left towards the water. I was elated to see my ball teetering on the edge, being held by a blade of grass. With gratitude galore for the Angels’ assistance, I deliberately focused and with conviction, hit a delicate pitch shot close to the hole. It was the least I could do!

This trusted team of experts has inside information, from their birds’-eye view and all they desire is to show you how to play the best–and most enjoyable–game you’ve ever played each and every time. The Angels have unlimited minutes, free texting and are just a help me Angels away.

Messages from the Angels are abounding and unceasing. Sometimes, they come lickety-split, like today on the fourth hole.  As I was standing over the putt I heard car brakes screeching in the distance, even though this hole’s proximity is not close to a street. I dropped the ball—so to speak— and missed the message prior to hitting the putt, which zoomed past the hole. I realize in hindsight, the message was to put on the brakes, to slow down the putt. Sometimes messages are sent disguised or distinct, hinging on our heedfulness.

Angelic messages often come via a fellow player’s comments…”The wind was blowing stronger than I thought,” “I forgot to shift my weight,” or “I decelerated.” The Angels use others to get their messages across. At times, messages are soft like feathers and there may even be one on the green to indicate the sink line. Or maybe a showering of pine needles on tee box as a reminder to lighten up and have fun. It’s always entertaining when the Angels get the fairies involved in their shenanigans too. And especially amusing when a ring tone brings forth a message I so needed to hear…”Hit Me with Your Best Shot” “No Hook” “Slice”….always appropriate.

On the tenth green, the Angels indicated a leaf (one of the many) as my sink line. As I lined up, a big gust of wind blew all the leaves (are you ready for this!), except the target leaf. A few holes later, I had a lengthy putt and was picking the leaves off my sink line, when I realized I should call on the Angels. Immediately, a huge gust totally cleared my line. I should have asked sooner.

How many message are returned to sender, undelivered and unopened and how utterly patient the Angels are in trying to get our attention. Sometimes, my impulsiveness has the solution mapped out before checking with the Angels. My goal is to refrain from hastily jumping to a conclusion without first becoming mindful like on the next hole. I received guidance on club selection and target line for my approach shot. Although, being over enthusiastic to hit the shot (of my life), I failed to discern I had a downhill lie and to hit the shot accordingly. The ball went sailing ever so slightly right, hitting the cart path and bouncing out-of-bounds. Being overzealous, I forgot to take in all the valuable variables. I’ve etched this experience into memory!

It’s all guidance to guarantee a gratifying day. We’re submerged in an ever flowing river of riches, and to tap into this treasured resource is so rewarding. Dip your toe or immerse your whole being. I’ll warn you, the Angels are addictive, and once you start, you’ll never stop.

 

 

 

 

As I was standing on the 12th tee, looking at the landscape before me, it became clear I had no clarity on what club to hit. I was playing this course for the first time, hence the confusion. Before I called on the angels for help, a fellow player who is a member at this course, remarked “It’s a lay-up about 150 yards.”  I continued to gaze down the fairway, trying to put the topography into perspective. Were my eyes deceiving me? It seemed so much further. If the drive wasn’t long enough, the second shot was a carry over water to a severely elevated green flanked by a stone wall. It made for a very intimidating hole.

When I finally consulted with the angels, a 7 wood was their recommendation. I knew with full trust this was the correct club, but with anxiety of the unnerving hole and tenseness in my body, I pulled the shot left into a fairway bunker. Undeniably, I was trying to get everything out of the club and over swung. My next shot was a lay-up which splashed into the pond and lead to a triple bogie. Thank goodness it was a team event and my score wasn’t needed on this hole.     

This perplexing perspective made me ponder. From the tee box the hole was daunting, but as played, it became evident it wasn’t as menacing as first perceived. All that was needed was a halfway decent tee shot in the fairway, which then revealed with more certainty what was needed for the next shot and so on. By dissecting the hole piece by piece it became feasible. Golf course architects are obligated to create illusions with elevation changes, bunkers and water features to keep us second guessing and they certainly got me on this one. I can still hear them laughing!

I realized a metaphor for my life was playing through this hole. Looking at the finish (of a project, life’s dream) is overwhelming and could create stress and apprehension—or even the F word…fear!  By taking one shot (baby step) at a time using focus, intention and the angels to navigate the terrain, keeps it fun, on target, and transforms the perceived challenges into illusions. Oh, the confusing delusions of the mind!

Here’s the angels’ recap…

“Know that your full power lies in the now and getting too far ahead of yourself, worrying about the outcome will diminish  your creativity and imagination by setting your sights on something out there (distant green) in the future. Instead we recommend visualizing the hole like a road map, plotting your course from point A to point B and only focusing on that segment of the trip. The journey will unfold with twist and turns, doglegs and rotations, bringing you to your desired destination, embracing enthusiasm instead of dread. Golf’s a course, not a destination.”

 

As I head out to the course with my intentions set for the round, I know I’ll return with an anecdote or two….the Angels never disappoint. Sometimes the message is evident on the walk home and often others need to percolate. There are times when I start writing believing it’s going in one direction, and I am led another way which I never imagined. I must admit, I’m the first to benefit, and it’s always what I needed to hear.

The anecdote below was in the oven longer than most and it wasn’t until this morning, during an aha moment, that I realized what the golden nugget was and the message came forth, naturally with many twists and turns. Here’s the Angels’ recap…

“After a perfectly struck second shot, Denise’s ball rolled to the edge of a pond, making for an awkward stance. The ground was very firm due to lack of rain and her ball rolled further than planned. Adam Atomic the Physicist Angel was on day off…just kidding!  It was actually another one of those valuable tests we conjured up to reaffirm an important principle. In the past, if she hit a shot well and got an unfortunate result, she would be upset. So we threw a test her way to make sure this was no longer the case.

As she walked towards the water’s edge, she was relieved her ball didn’t go into the pond and thanked us (great start!).  Since she used the club we recommended, as well as the target line, she was baffled as to why the ball was in such an awkward lie. With this stance, her feet were behind the ball, making for a challenging shot. Being over impulsive and zealous to make this shot work, she pulled the club we recommended but failed to discern the shot we were advising. You guessed it; the ball went into the water. Her predominant focus was to hit a one in a million chip shot over the water, instead of conferring with us prior. Our suggestion was to chip the ball sideways back into the fairway giving a sensible approach shot onto the green.

We realize that golf is a game of moving forward, but sometimes going sideways is the best (and only) option. When the ball is laterally passed in basketball, soccer, volleyball or football, it is perfectly fine. So why do golfers frown upon this, when it may be the only optimal alternative? Is it embarrassing or despicable? There are no pictures on the scorecard, so we’re puzzled.

This is a valuable lesson to take off the course when focused on a desired outcome. Taking that precious moment to be mindful and pause before acting is by far the most valuable advice we can offer. Sometimes going sideways serves as a metaphor for life, depicting a roundabout, scenic route or not-as-planned path may benefit in the long run. You’ll never know what surprises await or what gifts we have up our wings if you take that heavenly detour.

We, however, do not advise moving the ball sideways in bowling—alley hopping is glared upon—even here in the angelic realm! Chess anyone?”

During a recent two-day Ryder Cup match play event, it was interesting to witness what thoughts and emotions arose in this stressful money-on-the line situation. When the tournament word enters a round and prize money is on the line, watch out! Usually it’s easy to remain focused on fun and detach from the score during an everyday round. It took a while for me to settle down, trust the Angels, hear the Angels and most importantly, relax.  I even asked them to turn up the volume on their messages a few times, for clarity. The Angels reminded me that if I was having fun, I would win in more than monetary ways.

As the round progressed, I saw chapter titles of the book float through my mind’s eye. Always good reminders to surrender to the moment, accept what is, there’s always hope, to scrap the score, and oodles more. In tournaments, I tend to try too hard, which tenses me—and my swing—and disconnects me from my fun self. Being aware of this prior to the start, I was able to nip it at first sight.

I did, however, find myself focused on score, since we were playing as two person teams, in various formats (alternate shot, best ball, captain’s choice). It was important to know where you stood, who got strokes, and if we were still in the hole. It was a lot to keep track of and was energizing the mental analytical aspect of my mind. Something I’m not used to, especially on the course. I’m typically living in the right side of my mind, where creativity, visualization and imagination reside and also the angelic connection. It’s almost impossible to hear the Angels clearly if you’re stuck in the mental processing side. As they continuously remind me, struggle, stress and strain makes the angelic connection wane.

I find it best in this situation to fully focus on the shot in front of me and do the best that I can with conviction. Trying to determine, if I do this on this hole, or that on the next hole, is taxing and takes me out of the present moment.

This is what the Angels have to say about tournaments…”When you bring tension in, your sense goes out…sixth sense that is. If this happens, we’ll certainly try to lighten you up with the array of tricks and doohickeys we have up our wings. We won’t share those with you now, since we want you to be surprised. Oh, the lengths we go to dazzle and delight. Can we get a pinata to the fifth hole to celebrate a hole-in-one?”

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s astounding how soul’s growth transpires shot by shot. Emotional reactions are certainly provoked during a round, usually mirroring daily life and providing insight. Finding yourself through golf is empowering. I appreciate my humanness and ego too, just not on the course.

The angels want to add their two-cents’ worth from their vast view . . .

“We understand having trust and faith is a colossal challenge. It’s certainly the biggest one for Denise to conquer. Even though she asks for our assistance, there is still an “I want to do it my way attitude” sometimes, and sometimes she does. Recently she asked for a club selection on a par 3 and we recommended a 7 iron. Boldly, she told us, “I realize a 7 is probably the correct club, but I really want to hit my 8 iron.” So she did, and her ball landed 15 yards short of the pin. When she approached the green and saw her ball, she remarked “I knew you were right, I just wanted to prove it!” Oh, the human dilemma!

On the tee box, we were eagerly encouraging Denise to use her driver and be fearless. Laying up on this par 4 is typical due to the topography. It becomes habit and routine to play smart course management, which at times is necessary, although we find it very boring. With exceptional ball striking and us in tow, we had an inconceivable upshot calculated to top any previous expectations and were masterminding magnificence.

Breaking out of the (tee) box is empowering and breeds confidence. Well, doubt set in and she elected to lay-up stifling her mojo and ours. After the triple bogie, she decided doggedly in the future to heed our advice and shatter preconceived notions, for that undoubtedly would have been more fun. And in hindsight, going for(e) it would have resulted in whopping joy, translating to a lower score too. A win-win!

Humanness is a trait you can’t negate…embrace your uniqueness!”

 

 

 

During today’s round, I realized how much I’ve changed during the years of working with the Golfing Angels. As I think back to the old me, I have trouble recognizing that person. I’ve become more peaceful, confident, carefree, focused, determined and courageous.  A genuine metamorphosis has occurred for sure…I’m shedding the cocoon.

Walking the course with the Angels on my bag and feeling the Earth under my feet is magical. I felt incredibly relaxed and more present than ever, giving each shot my full attention and executing with conviction. This made the round fun, while also detaching from the score. In the past, I was very attached to the score and the outcome was more important than enjoying each shot. Now, as soon as I catch myself thinking about score or adding up a hole’s score before it is over, I immediately stop and return my awareness back to the now and focus on the present.

Here’s what the Angels have to say…”As silly as this may sound, the score is the least important aspect of your round. We know humans find their score a significant part of the game and a way of charting their progress and comparing themselves to others.  Our advice is to embrace fun and joy first and foremost, for that will accelerate the plummeting of your handicap.”

Before the Angels were on my bag, I would effort to make things happen and golf became work. If my drive didn’t find the fairway, I would give up on the hole before leaving the tee box and would give myself a double or triple on the hole.As I look back at my old obsolete give-up-attitude self, I realize this was a frequent occurrence. Golf being a game of recovery, it warrants flexibility with the circumstances and awareness of self.  It’s funny to remember as well as embarrassing too.

You’ll be singing a different tune, and change in your own unique way, as you navigate the terrain with the Angel caddies on your bag, as they transform all avenues of your game. Change is a beautiful butterfly thing!

Trust is an issue which surfaces throughout the round, and at times on every shot, especially when you first start communicating with the Golfing Angels. Over time, this will diminish with experience. When you ask for their assistance in reading the greens and they provide the sink line and speed spot, it will undeniably push the trust button. With their inside information, they have all the components calculated and all that remains is your faith to execute the shot with conviction. Easy, right?

This concern surfaces especially when I’m in a tournament and standing over a two foot putt, feeling the sink line and/or the speed spot isn’t quite right. Once I told them, “do you know that this putt is important?”  At which they fell over in hysterical laughter. When they regained calmness they told me it doesn’t matter if it’s a tournament or a fun day playing with the girls, their guidance is guaranteed to be genuine.

Trust was undoubtedly the most difficult aspect I had to overcome. There would be many times during a round I would dismiss their advice, whether it was help with reading the greens, providing target lines, club selection or shot selection, because I thought it was incorrect.  Needless to say, they were always right, and over the years I’ve learned this arduously with many anecdotes to prove it. Here’s one told from the Angels perspective…

“After an errant drive left into the adjacent fairway’s rough, we convinced Denise to hit a low punch shot under the bushes, back into her fairway, which worked out nicely.  On the next shot, we gave an aggressive target line to the pin, which is guarded by water on the left and out-of-bounds on the right. With a slightly downhill lie, physics dictates the ball would go right. We had all the complex concurring components in place and knew this shot was in her bag.

However, she elected to aim ever so slightly right of the target line, feeling uncomfortable with the water left and thinking “what would a minuscule right of the target line do.” This lack of faith caused her ball to hit the cart path and ricochet out-of-bounds. We intuitively knew she would hit a straight shot, otherwise, we would not have given her this aggressive target line.

She immediately realized what she did and thought, “What’s the big deal about going in the water anyway. It would have been better than being OB.”  Another triple bogie lesson learned the hard way, which makes them experiences you’ll soon not forget.

All is a day’s play…it’s so much easier to just give way!”

Determining the speed of the greens, or the speed spot as the angels call it is a cinch. This technique has been developed over many years with much success. Here’s what the Golfing Angels have to say on this subject in their own words…

“On the practice green we’ll sharpen your focus and clear the clutter to get you and your putter perfectly polished. Since you’ve already mastered the sink line (earlier post) and are familiar with that process, we’ll get right to the technique for determining the speed of the greens, and detecting your speed spot.

First you’ll need to discern if the putt is uphill or downhill. Walking the line of the putt is sometimes helpful to feel it in your feet or scrutinize the topography for clues. Once you’ve established this vital piece of information, we’ll point out a spot either past the hole or short of the hole. If the greens are running fast or the putt is downhill, the speed spot will be short of the hole. If the greens are slow or you have an uphill putt, the speed spot will be past the hole.

When you ascertain this key ingredient, you’ll laser in on the speed spot as your feel, to gauge the distance and putt away with conviction. This spot will be a discoloration in the grass or a mark on the green that is brought to your awareness. It may even been a leaf, a butterfly, or another player’s ball or ball mark. Always go with your first instinct, cause getting the mind involved will nullify our communication.

With your new sink line and speed spot skills you’ll be unstoppable. This meritable technique also works at the practice facility, as well as, out on the course, of course!”

Success during a game of golf most certainly starts—and ends—in the mind. It’s a series of calculated decision-making, measuring, correcting and over-correcting. But, as it should be with every other sport, the game should bring you joy. Too often, golfers’ furrowed eyebrows and perfect posture give off the impression that they’re taking themselves far too seriously.

Whether you’re a pro, a driving machine, a hacker, a weekend warrior, or someone in between, every round of golf is either lost or won because of each player’s state of mind. But just like in any other sport, almost all that tension can be eased with the right guidance. Some athletes rely solely on the guidance of their coaches, or a player they aspire to be more like. . .but every golfer has far more support than anything they could ever dream of.

If you’re a golfer, you need to know that you have full access to a team of golf specialists, helping you line up your shots, guiding your putts, and even helping you choose your clubs. This team of professionals does exist, and they’re just waiting for your invitation to help. They lovingly refer to themselves as The Golfing Angels.

For the first time ever, golfers are now being given access to a succinct, fairway-worthy guide—usable for golfers at every level of experience. You’ll learn tips, tricks and anecdotal evidence in this blog (and future book) illustrating how to ask for—and receive help from the angels—and how to identify when the angels are trying to get your attention. This trusted team of experts has inside information and all they desire is to show you how to play the best—and most enjoyable—game you’ve ever played each and every time.

In short, anything is possible, especially on the golf course with the angels’ help. . .but golfers don’t take full advantage of the guidance, fun, and support that the angels provide them. Showing golfers how to take full advantage of additional inside information and help from their birds’ eye view will not only change their games, but it’ll change their lives. The angels have unlimited minutes, free texting and are just a “help me angels” away.

 

When the Angels brought to my attention that golf should be named recovery–for that’s what you do most of the time–it dramatically changed my outlook on the round. It lighted me up by realizing I didn’t have to be perfect and I wasn’t expected to hit perfect shots, all the time. The game was designed to have areas of trouble— bunkers, rough, woods, adjacent fairway—to keep things interesting and amusing too! When my ball is in one of these less than desirable places, I now have a different mindset and see it as an opportunity to muster up courage and dig deep or whatever is needed to extricate my ball. This, interestingly, turns out to be an obscure gift which is satisfying and empowering too–when you get the ball out that is!

Here’s a recent recovery round conveyed by the Angels…

“With intentions set for a fun and fabulous round, Denise left the house feeling positively confident.  She stopped by the driving range to hit a few (successfully) for confirmation that we are practicing on her behalf. Yes, we can practice for you too—more on this in future blogs.

On the first tee, her drive went left, hit a tree branch and landed in the rough. With her firm conviction, she was determined not to be deterred from a fabulous round and hit a good second and third shot with a ten foot putt for par, which just grazed the hole. No worries or concerns, she thought, all is well and remained positive. This continued throughout the round just missing the hole from chips and putts. It seemed as if every hole had a challenge and hence an opportunity for greatness, giving her many chances to use the fourteen tenacious tools in her bag.

On the walk home, she thought, what was the message?  We showed her a big carnival type wheel in her mind’s eye (imagination), spinning and landing on the word recovery, which turned out to be the theme of the day’s round. This made her giggle and she thought it certainly was a recovery round  Sometimes, we present a theme for the day to bring what’s most needed. It’s best to change your perspective and look at trying situations as opportunities for growth, confidence building and gratification. Surrendering and accepting what is, as well as doing your very best, will get you through the thick of it—and a thank you Angels is warranted too!”

Calling for miracles has become a routine request on anything from putts to fortuitous bounces. At first, I would only use them sparingly on select shots until the Angels advised me I had an unlimited account. Just for fun I imagine an infinitesimal miracle account number and when I ask for a miracle, the number reduces by one. It assures me the Angels heard my request and a miracle is on its way. Oh so reaffirming!

Here’s an example from the Angels’ outlook of how things unraveled, reminding me there are hidden messages in everything and learning junctures with every roll, rotation, and revolution…

“When Denise landed on the green in regulation and had a thirty foot putt, she called for a miracle. You may be wondering why. Well, the greens were stressed from the hot weather with thin and bare patches, making them roll ragged.

With the greens being a rough ride, hitting the ball firmer was typically better. After getting the sink line and speed spot, her first putt ran past the hole leaving a five footer. This happened yet again since she failed to see the putt was downhill. Even though she had the speed spot, she ran it through the break and was left with a three footer which then lipped out.

Okay, so what’s the message?  It’s more important than ever to discern if the putt is downhill or uphill with erratic greens, which play havoc with feel, and hence trust. By taking additional time when the greens are unreliable, to scope the sink line from different directions gives a purer perspective to perceive the speed spot.  Four putt no more!”

The angels’ wings are tied until we give them permission to help, and they are more than delighted when we do. Since approximately one-third of a rounds’ shots are putts, using the their assistance on the green is valuable. They have inside information from their bird’s-eye view, and are well equipped to read the greens and provide the putting line…or sink line (as they call it). They’ve termed it the sink line, because your intention is to sink the putt. The angels are able to formulate a multitude of variables, we cannot possibly perceive on a human level, to provide the perfect sink line to insure sink-ability.

My time trusted way of getting the sink line is; I mark the ball, identify the break of the putt and then look toward the cup on the high side for a spot which is brought to my awareness. This spot may be a leaf, an old ball mark, discoloration of the grass or even the end of the pin laying on the ground. It’s best not to over think this…whatever first catches your attention is correct. You may find it helpful to soften your focus, and go within for intuitive guidance. For added assistance, I find it beneficial to align the line on the ball with this spot.

The video below demonstrates this easy technique.

When I first started using the angels’ assistance, I would determine the spot for my sink line, and then dreaded doubt crept in. Many times, the angels would provide confirmation when a fellow golfer putted and their ball stopped directly in line with my sink line. I took that as reassurance, and it was. One time, after I saw the spot for my sink line, a butterfly landed on the exact spot…coincidence? Think not!  Those are a couple of examples out of the hundreds I’ve observed. Signs are everywhere! You’ll get better at recognizing them with experience. When fear or distrust enters your awareness, ask the angels for validation, and they’ll gratefully oblige.

Believe, trust and have heaps of fun with the angels on your bag. I can promise your angelic caddies will bring a new level of enjoyment and pleasure, by eliminating second guessing, fear, struggle, three putts and maybe even the temptation to throw clubs. I can tell you golf retailers are not pleased.

Ask away…all you have to lose is stress and strain.  Golf is a game after all.

 

 

I know…golf and angels…what could they possibly have in common. I promise I’ll explain. This has nothing to do with religion or dogma and everything to do with golf. It’s simply to call upon and give the Golfing Angels permission to help you during a round to achieve greater fun, lower scores, satisfying shots, fortuitous bounces and magical moments made for the highlight reel.

As hard as it may be to believe, there is a team of Golfing Angels ready and willing to help. I’ve been utilizing their assistance for over seven years, which has transformed my game (and me too!) by eliminating second guessing, fear, negativity, and bolstered my confidence and pleasure of the game. Well most of the time, that is. It took a while for me to embrace full trust. Even to this day, I must admit, I have occasional lapses.

You may be hesitant to call on the Angels not fully understanding how they can assist or even believing of their existence. Having the angel caddies on your bag is a special gift available to all. All they desire is for you to have the most enjoyable round ever by providing clarity, companionship, humor, and other superb skills. They have inside information to assist you in ways you never thought possible from their birds’-eye view. All that’s required to get the ball rolling is your consent, otherwise their wings are tied.

Their skills are stupendous and numerous. They’re able to read the greens, assist with putting speed, discern target lines, give guidance on club and shot selection, and a whole gamut of other variables, like fortuitous bounces, pace of play, and finding (once) lost balls…to name a few!

Their help has undeniably made me more relaxed and substantially increased my enjoyment of the game. If I hit a shot fat or thin, slice or hook the ball, that’s where the Angels come in again. If the errant shot is heading for the trees, I ask that it gets through with the greatest of ease. My fellow foursome might say I was lucky or I got a “member’s bounce,” but I know who to thank.

I’ve compiled years of fine tuning the lines of communication with the Angels and will be sharing humorous anecdotes, tips, tidbits and techniques regarding the methodology—with sometimes embarrassing metaphoric references to my life. If you need clarification or have any questions, please ask. I look forward to sharing your experiences.

Dream big, ask away and have fun….golf is a game after all.