Month: September 2015

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. 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 that 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 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 a 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!”

Golfing with the Angels is available at Amazon https://bit.ly/4jYHGTR

 

During today’s round, I realized how much I’ve changed over 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 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 try 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,  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 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 thing!

Golfing with the Angels is available at Amazon https://bit.ly/4jYHGTR

When the Golfing 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 lit 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 Golfing 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 she remained positive. This continued throughout the round, just every so slightly, missing the hole. 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.

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!

Golfing with the Angels is available at Amazon https://bit.ly/4jYHGTR

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 Golfing 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, scoping the sink line from different directions gives a purer perspective to perceive the speed spot. Four putt no more!”

Golfing with the Angels is available at Amazon https://bit.ly/4jYHGTR