Seve

Image by Getty Images via DaylifeMany of you will have read about Seve Ballesteros and his battle with brain cancer. This hits home for me, not only because we're the same age but also because I met Seve at the site of his British Open victory at Royal Lytham, only minutes after his victory. He came into the pro shop to escape the crowds whilst waiting for a TV interview, he was so excited to have won the Open Championship and in such spectacular fashion. His birdie from the parking lot on 16 was one of the most amazing things I've ever witnessed.
Our paths crossed again a few years later on a flight from London to Barcelona and he was thrilled to relive the memories of his first major win.
Seve was a short game genius and one of the most imaginative players that ever played, sometimes his genius was born of necessity because he wasn't the straightest driver of the ball.
Seve is also a great example to those of us that weren't born with his prodigious talent - That we need to simplify our swings in order to ensure longevity. We didn't see much of Seve as a golfer after the age of 40, even he could not prevent the degeneration of his handy swing as the years progressed, despite having access to all of the world's top teaching talent.
In partnership with Jose Maria Olazabal, Seve established the greatest Ryder Cup partnership ever 11-2-2, a record that might stand forever.

So get better soon Seve, we may not see you on the leaderboard again but golf is a better game and the Ryder Cup is a better competition because of you.

Birthday Golf

Image by danperry.com via FlickrIt was my birthday yesterday and two of my friends got together and conspired to arrange a surprise Golfathon - 3 days of golf and friendship - to help me celebrate.
I'm not normally big on surprises but this one was awesome. One of the guys flew in from Florida so it was both completely unexpected and totally awesome that he did that.
You might be wondering by this point why I'm blogging about this. Two reasons -
1. Playing three days in a row is a great way to judge the state of your game. If you're a once a week golfer like me and seldom have time to practice, you can get a better feeling for how your basic skills are. If you're in good shape you will get better each day. If your swing is not sound, you'll get worse and will probably develop some new aches and pains.
2. Going into a Trip like this requires either practice or realistic expectations. Don't beat yourself up if you have some bad shots. You're there because your friends enjoy your company, not because they expect you to play to some unrealistically high standard. So be gracious and happy - no one enjoys a grouch. Take time to smell the roses and make sure that you're friends know how much you appreciate the time that you're spending together.