I drive about 2,5 hours in a car every day back and fourth to the golf course. First, I hated it. Now, I actually enjoy it. It gives me a lot of time to think about stuff. There are a few things that really came to my mind.

The reason why I started writing this blog is that I love golf and wanted to comminicate with people who share the same passion. My hope is that the comment box under each blog will serve as a forum for people who wants to improve their game. We all learn from each other. If you think what I do is good, weird or just bad, comment and myself and others will reflect on it. If you want to add something, I would be really happy to read it. I love improving my game and your tips will help me and others to acheive their goals. Improving in anything is the best feeling ever…

This year at the Malaysian Open, I shot 63 in the first round. A reporter came up to me after the round and told me that I improved my first round score by 18 shots from the last time I played the tournament in 2007. That was one of the best moments in my life. Right there with the reporter. It made me realise that the work I had put in had improved my game. Nothing tastes sweeter!

Got a request on a short game video and I’m trying to put it together. I want to be able to post the videos straight on the blog but it seems a little to complicated for me at the monent. Will figure it out soon. If you guys have any videos of your swings, please post them and we all can have a look and give some pointers if it’s needed and you guys will improve. There might be some golf coaches who reads the blog who can help out. Also, I really like looking at swings. 

Played worse ball again today. It’s all I play down here in Monaco/France. It feels like it’s the best exercise out of so many perspectives. Just to explain the rules: You hit two shots from the first tee. You pick the worst ball and hit two shots from there. Pick the worst one again and you do that until both balls are in the hole. And then do that for 17 more holes. Why is this so good? Here are my thoughts:

1. You have to concentrate more than usually. If you start with a good or a bad shot, it’s tough to clear your mind and focus on the second shot. Specially on the greens. Let’s say you make the first 10-footer, you have to make the second, otherwise it doesn’t count. Worst case scenario is if you make the first and really try to make the second and run that 5 feet past, now you have to make two 5-footers in a row coming back. Good mentally! In the beginning I could not stand playing this on-course exercise for more than 9 holes. Now, I can do 18. 

2. It makes you understand your limitations. If you have 250 yards over water and you know you can carry 255 on a good day maybe it’s not certain that both balls will carry the water. Same thing if you have a really tough flop shot over a bunker. If you hit a perfect high flop shot it will be inside 5 feet. Since, it’s a risky shot, a misshit could end up pretty much anywhere. Maybe you hit one high flop to 5 feet, the next in the bunker. If you take the safer route and play a medium high shot, it will end up around 10-12 feet away. You might not make two 12 footers in a row but it’s better than playing from the bunker. 

3. It makes you want to hit more greens in regulation and therefore play a little bit more strategic off the tee and to the green. I rather have to balls on the green 20 feet from the pin than one in the hole and one in the water hazard. 

4. It makes you really remember your birdies. To make a birdie in this game will put a smile on your face.

5. I don’t think mental coaches can teach you what you learn in this game. 

6. To play only one ball after playing this will seem easy. Golf is never easy though is it, that’s why we love it:) 

My college coach Mike Holder introduced our golf team to this game in the middle of a qualifying tournament (the team plays for the first five spots who gets to play in the college tournament) so we really had to focus and not let the tough exercise get in our heads and end up shooting in the 90’s and be out of the qualifying.

What do you guys play usually?

See you!!!