santa stopped by.

pgatour.com

http://www.pgatour.com/story/9080600

Managua, Nicaragua

Rotella Rules

1.  Play to play GREAT.  Don't play to NOT play poorly.

2.  Love the challenge of the day, whatever that might be.

3.  Get out of results and more into the process.

4.  Know that nothing will bother or upset you on the golf course, and that you will be in a great state of mind for every shot.

5.  Play with the feeling that the outcome doesn't matter.  Preferable to caring too much.

6.  Believe fully in yourself so you can play freely.

7.  See where you want the ball to go before every shot.

8.  Be decisive, committed and clear.

9.  Be your own best friend.

10.  Love your wedge and putter.

Dr. Greg Mondin notes

Scott,

  Thanks for the tournament schedule.  Here is a summary of our meeting
last week.

Themes:
   Distract yourself from the intensity  of focus on golf.
   Build in "mental breaks" or "intentional distractions" from what you
pay attention to  during play.
   Practice these breaks during practice rounds and on the range.

Remember your tendency to overdo and rely too much on one thing or
routine. Make sure to incorporate variety with these intentional
distractions.  Pay attention to what happens with you when a particular
distraction becomes less effective.

Mentally stepping away from golf happens off the course, after the round
too.  Relax without the Golf Channel!


Tasks to consider:

  Develop a list of intentional distractions, items, thoughts, songs,
scenery, etc. that you can go to when you need them.  Some of these will
be specific to the course you're playing that week.

   Visualize yourself using these distractions effectively during play,
perhaps even as part of a post-shot routine (e.g., hit the shot,
register/accept the result, look at a house off the fairway).

   Practice exercises:
      - Breathing with focus on aspects of each breath itself.
      - Mindful attention to a mundane task.  Take a raisin, hold it
between your fingers for 20 seconds or so, slowly examining the
minute details in texture, etc. Then hold it in your mouth for 20-30
seconds, paying attention to how it feels, tastes, and your reaction
(physical and mental) to it being there. One bit, same as above re:
attention.  Chew & swallow, paying attention.

     - Mindful Walking: Walking slowly and deliberately, paying attention
to each individual step.  We can talk more about this one, as it has
some on course application as well. The Buddhists do this one step
and breath at a time, i.e., inhale - right foot, exhale-left foot -
for 20 minutes!


Let me know how it goes,

Greg

golf channel article

http://golfchannel.com/core.aspx?page=15100&select=18101

 --> Courtesy: Oregon State Sports Information
Scott Masingill won the 1971 Pac-8 Championship at Eugene Country Club.

photos from calimesa

 

take the club more outside

a little higher, get it cocked and then cut the ball.

putting:  keep eyes level.

bartels

cock club off of ball and relax left arm in backswing.

hitch-hike

stuart appleby.

boise

2 Boise City, Idaho 2004 Pop.: 490,600 Tornado Hurricane Quake Wind Hail Brush fires Extreme weather 4 0 10 0 0 0 22 Total* 36* The lower the total, the safer a place is and vice versa. Click here to read more about the methodology in our introduction.

connected with my left bicep

tight against my chest back and through seems to help get the club behind me on my backswing. 

as club opens elbow needs to move BACK

around me, rather than straight back.

club needs to feel like it is opening

and swing more around my back.

colorado

it didn't work.  snapped one off of one, then got it back, made two bad swings on eight and nine, and never felt comfortable again.  short game is good.  my posture must work back into a too straight up and down position when i get nervous........

colorado open

real comfortable yesterday, but the back nine fell apart.  on the range focused on turning my left shoulder back and keeping my stance closed.  Leaderboard

think that will work tomorrow.

biloxi

http://wlox.com/  

Tehama

 

29 August 05

 

Re:  Monday Qualifier

First Tee @ Pebble Beach

Monterrey, CA

 

Close again.  I shot a 2 under 70 at Tehama Country Club (Clint Eastwood’s club) and  a 67 and 69 qualified, with four of us tied with 70.   No, I didn’t talk to Clint……..I was too busy.

 

I didn’t stick around to play off for the alternate spot (there isn’t a chance that the alternate would get in this week) and made it back home last night.

 

I played good again, but not great.  I’m just not hitting the ball with my irons close enough, often enough.  I made one bad mistake with a wedge that cost me a stroke (or two) on a par 5 and that was the difference. 

 

But even though I’m not driving it great and not hitting my irons great, I’m NOT hitting the ball out of play, so in a funny way, I’m getting more comfortable and in time, I WILL start hitting it better and better as the fear of a wild shot goes away.

 

And my chipping and putting is, which is a great safety net.  Chipping and putting can keep a round together and keep a poor round from getting away from you.  In a multi day event, it is a savior.

 

I don’t know what my schedule is from here to the Q-school in November, but will keep trying to move forward and will keep you informed.

 

Thanks again for the support and kind words.  I really appreciate it.

 

Scott.

 

 

scotch pines web site

Scotch Pines Golf Course - Payette, Idaho

Seattle Qualifier

15 August 05

 

RE:  Monday Qualifier

Boeing Greater Seattle Classic

Seattle, WA

 

I shot 70, but didn't get into the tournament.  My friend Doug Johnson shot 65 (birdied 7-12) and Tom Herzan with 67 got the two spots.  There was a 69 and then my 70 finished fourth out of approximately 45 players.  Two years ago (when there were four spots) the round would have worked, but not today……..

 

My round was solid and I was in the mix.  The game changes that I have made with Dave Bartels have really started to become natural and the back issue that I had last month in Scotland is a thing of the past.  Physically, there are no problems.  And I'm building confidence in my game.  Injuries can be damaging to the brain long after the back has healed.

 

I hit 16 of the 18 greens in regulation and 12 of 14 fairways on a beautiful Northwest day at Trophy Lakes (6900 yards), but just didn't get the ball close enough to shoot a low round.  I was paired with my close friend Doug Lacrosse, so it was an enjoyable day.  Even though I'm not seeing any results on this tour, my game has progressed and I'm still working toward the Q-School in November and believe that I can get through that process.

 

I plan on playing in the Pebble Beach qualifier on 29 August (at Tehama, in Monterrey) and then don't know my schedule between that and November.

 

Thanks to all for your support and encouragement, I'm flattered by the interest in this quest.

 

Scott Masingill.

 

PS  Many of you ask about Laurie.  She is doing well, but has spent 10 days with the kids in California (always an adventure when THEY are on the road), so there could be a Catty Report upcoming........

progress

club is CLOSED when it crosses the line.  swinging the face open and then moving aggressively back thru the ball.

Bill Parcells, "don't let last week's loss cause THIS weeks loss...."

 

 

not as good today

really have to work on keeping right elbow in close and not let it cause the club to cross the line.

solid 63 at scotch pines

continuing to work on posture, wrist cock and position at the top.  and putting plane is improving.  swinging inside and open.

Hillcrest

stupidest set-up that i have ever seen on a golf course.  every hole within 2 paces of the green's edge or on a severe slope.

hit the ball well.  worked on right hand grip, posture and cocking club at top.

 

plane

i think i'm getting the swing plane figured out.  i need to bend over more, so that my arm swing can more easily match the angle of my shoulders as they turn.  by straightening my legs, i give myself more room to bend from the waist making it easier to get my arms/shoulders on the same plane.

update

27 July 05

 

July has been interesting, but I sure haven’t accomplished much with the golf.  With the qualifiers for the two largest fields of the year in consecutive weeks and the fact that I was playing so well, my expectations were high.

 

The US Senior Open qualifier was in Oregon on 14th of July, and I woke up that morning with back spasms, and was unable to even finish the round.  I have never had any sort of problem with my back, so this was a real nasty surprise.  I then went home and had one day to try and get some therapy before getting on a plane for Scotland.  When I got to Scotland, my back was still an issue and I shot 80 in the qualifier for the British Senior Open and didn’t get in.  There were 52 spots and 75 qualified for the tournament.

 

Since my air travel wasn’t for 5 days and the cost to change the ticket substantial, I decided to make the most of the trip, turn it into a holiday and learn to swing the golf club with my ‘new’ back.

 

Played links courses in Northern Scotland every day.  And now my back is fine and my golf game really good. 

 

Played Murcar in Aberdeen, Royal Dornoch (teed off at 540pm with no one in front of behind, on a sunny evening), Tain, and walked, carried my bag for 36 holes at Golspie.  Even made a hole in one at Golspie on the second hole…….

 

Northern Scotland courses are not crowded, the people are amazingly friendly and the days are long.  Golspie is within 6 degrees of the Arctic Circle, so stays light until 11pm this time of year. There is plenty of time for everyone to play.

 

Even though the golf year has been a bust so far, I will continue to stay positive, work on my fitness and game, then play in the Monday qualifiers for Seattle and Pebble Beach.   I still think something good can happen in this process.

 

Thanks for all your support.

 

Scott.

Eugene

Enjoyed the trip to Eugene.  Played solidly, continuing to square up the setup.  Driving the ball better and better.  Putting is still not as good as it could be.  Still working on slowing down my eyes and staying real still.

Ridgecrest

hit is well again today with cafferelli.  hit two three irons today that were right on the button.  a good sign and especially good in scotland.........

http://www.golfnuts.com/frame04.asp?ProductCode=T8

Dave Bartels, Pierce Park

A good session, looked at tape, ALL good and talked about having set-up keys, but no swing keys.  Been heading that direction, as my confidence has increased.  Looks and feels good.

practice

good session, just working on posture, and plane.  didn't focus as much on my hands but a little more on where my arms are swinging.  still getting the club cocked better and better.  want to get with dave bartels before i go to portland/scotland, just to see exactly what it looks like.

Tempo in swing and in putting stroke

slowed down both the full swing and putting.  a good thought.

the sisters

Wedges

LW  82/89

SW   96/104

PW  108/120

9I         /138

Adjustment

Learning what mid-round adjustments to make with this swing.  Moved slightly closer to the ball, when I was losing shots to the right.  Also lengthened my putting stroke a bit on the shorter putts.  My confidence is increasing.

Subconcious

A player's subconcious never ignores a destructive thought. It's always listening. You don't have to achieve perfection in the thoughts you feed it. Everyone is human and everyone suffers occasional douts and worries. But you MUST make sure sure that the helpful thoughts dominate.

the pleasure of the game comes from chasing dreams

more than catching them.

the golfer's mind, by bob rotella

read it, curt!

"You must also find a balance in your life.  I know very few people who manage to keep their lives in an sort of rigid, systematic balance.  I smile when someone tells me he's got his life broken down into blocks:  eight hours sleep, eight hours for work, four hours for family, three hours for golf, and maybe an hour for working out.  Real people are always out of balance in some way.  Maybe one month they're so immersed in work that they don't find enough time for their families, their golf, their fitness.  But they recognize the imbalance and correct it the next month.  Maybe the period of imbalance is much longer---measured in years, rather than weeks, or months.  It's fine for an aspiring professional to devote five, seven, or ten years to improving his golf game and establishing himself on the Tour, almost to the exclusion of all else.  But a some point, the balance must be redressed."  Bob Rotella.

full contact golf at ridgecrest

with billy cafferelli, jerry elliott, dean oliver, lee campbell, bill thompson.  cell phones going off on every shot.  profanity at it's finest.  best preparation ever for a major championship.   made a six footer for birdie on the last hole, shot 66, with 8 birdies (with 3 fives on my card), and won $400.  elliott wanted to play that 'dot' game again.  reminded me of a time in palm springs when...........

work on eye position with putter.  when i miss short putts left, must get my eyes crooked to the line and take the putter back outside.

grip:  tour velvet, 58 round.

65 again

key continues to be a square stance, and connected right elbow and making sure that the right elbow does not 'fly' at the top.  minimizes motion at the top.  need to find some competitive situations.......

have gone to the regular proV1 from the X.  seems to perform a little better.  new X seems harder than the old.

another 65

golf is starting to feel easy again........

sweetbay

fear

If someone has a lot of fear on the golf course, it tells me he's spending a lot of time away from the golf course worrying about never being successful, worrying that he's working his tail off, putting in time and energy, and that he'll never be rewarded. He's fearful he wasn't destined to have great things happen to him. Bob Rotella, pg 95, The Golfer's Mind.

course setup for sw id am

  i played last night, and #3 was the ONLY bad hole location.  but here is what i think happened on sunday.  every player went off of the first hole and so everyone went through this same mental exercise:   #1 was a VERY difficult, fair RED flag.  but a tough, tough hole and a tough, tough start. #2 was a GREAT hole location, but visually intimidating, because from the fairway the flag looked like it was OFF the green to the right. #3 was 1-2 paces too far forward and a bad location, but more importantly a RED flag.    by now the players have seen two RED flags and both are brutal locations, they are INTIMIDATED and WARY AND TOTALLY $%^&*(ING CONVINCED that the entire course is going to be set up this tough and that the superintendent in nuts and my game is going to totally fall apart, and i'm going to be embarrassed with my score and i'm going to probably get back on drugs/alcohol, lose my job and be homeless and on the street!    so,NOW when the players get to #8, see another RED flag and anticipates another brutal location because past experience with RED right has been unfair on the front slope.  then #9, ANOTHER RED flag close to the trap that looks like it is almost in the fringe (but a GREAT location).  then on to #10 and ANOTHER RED, even though it is not front right, the scars from the RED flags on #1 and #3 still exist.  and memories of the #10 RED, right location in the past are haunting the player.  the next RED flag is #14 and again it is a good pin, but the player has memories of disaster when that pin is red and the ball running off the front left, so he goes PSYCHO again at the sight of the RED location.  #15 is a tough, fair location, but with a lot of slope. (i did not play #16 so don't know where it was, but my guess it was back against the slope which is fine).  #17 another good location that could have been RED.  #18 is another RED flag and a tough, fair spot.   in a nutshell:  a combination tough location on #1, a bad hole location on #3, and memories of past disasters with the SAME color of flag that you had on #8, #10, and #14, absolutely drove the field PSYCHO.   my only suggestion would just be to mix it up a little better.  6 tough, 6 medium, and 6 hard locations.  some 2-3 steps from the edge of the green, but not all and not all of the "traditional" locations.  confuse the player as to which is a tough location, which is not.  and maybe have all one color of flag for tournaments.  i believe that the color RED after the start, scared the players to death.   golf course is absolutely MAGNIFICENT right now, don't let this discourage you in ANY way.  no big deal, golfers are natural-born complainers.  i'm a GREAT example.......   thanks for EVERYTHING that you do, you and crew do a fabulous job.

better and better

65 again.  really trying to stay still with putter.

best ball striking ever

just keep stance a little closed and right elbow in close on the way back.....

keep right elbow connected

and close stance slightly.

update

14 June 05

 

So, I’m walking through Wal Mart and I see this 42” plasma flat screen, HD TV.  Perfect for my living room and just in time to watch the US Open, with the group that traditionally comes by our house during that weekend.  It is exactly the same price as the plane ticket to Aberdeen, Scotland to try and qualify for the British Senior Open in mid-July.  Laurie has been bugging me to buy the ticket and finally she asked me as I was looking at the TV, if I was going to wait until the plane ticket prices went up as an excuse to NOT go this again this year.  Talk about netting it out, I can’t accomplish anything by sitting on my butt in front of the TV at home.  I really don’t have the money for both of them, so I buy the ticket to Scotland.  Just have to watch the Open on a regular TV.  I’m going, and I’m determined to do well.

 

I’ve been working hard with Dave Bartels on my game since November and I feel that I’ve really made some progress.  I need to get out and see what I’ve got.  I feel better about the way I’m playing than I have in a long time.

 

So here’s the plan:  I’m going to try and qualify for the Senior US Open on 14 July, in Woodburn, OR, then leave for Scotland on 16 July. The qualifying is 19 July, and the tournament proper is 21-24 July.  If I get into the Senior US Open, it starts 28 July in Ohio.  Could make for an interesting July.

 

I will then play in the Monday qualifiers in Seattle and Pebble Beach in August, and who knows what after that.  I will pace myself for the Q-School in November and give that a go again.

 

I know many of you have wondered what I’ve been doing, and I appreciate your concern.  My life is wonderful; I’m healthy, happy, just taking a break from the competitive golf, working hard at the trucking business and trying and change/improve some parts of my golf game.  I’m getting all of  it done, and I haven’t given up on this process.

 

Thank you for all your concern and support.

 

Scott.

bartels @pierce park

better and better.  closed my stance with my driver and hit it really good.

65 tonight

five birdies in a row on the back, hit a lot of good shots:

wedge-putt #10, chip on #11, tee shot-pitch #12, tee shot and wedge to #13,  3 iron to #15, 8 iron from the rough on #16,  20 footer on #17, 7 iron at the hole on #1,  putts on #2,#3, and #4, then a rescue from 235 on #5, a chip in on #6 and a 40 foot bomb on #8,

and swing is feeling natural.

bought the ticket to scotland.  going to play well there.  determined to do so.

pga tour players putting between 10 and 15 feet make:
 
    28.03% if for birdie
    33.07% if for par
    35.02% if for bogey

okay, the turn helped a lot

great practice session.  turn, but don't get right hand too far from right shoulder, then turn back.

got closer to ball with putter, feels better.

 

scotch pines

decent yesterday, iron game was better and wedges were good.  didn't putt well. 

the feeling of the club being closer to my shoulder is starting to feel natural, i need to get with bartels and make sure i know what it looks like.  i don't feel like i'm turning at all but i'm hitting a lot of good shots and NO wild ones.

ordered jim hardy's "the plane truth" book, will be interested in reading it. 

sent my entry in for scotland, i'm committed to make that trip and ENJOY the travel.

scotch pines practice

another good day of practice.  the adjustment seems to be to get my right hand closer to my right shoulder at the top of the swing.  that cocks the club better and eliminates motion at the top.  then i can just turn back into the ball.  hit a lot of quality shots. 

went back to taylor made irons, and adams three wood.  hit mizuno irons with S300 shaft and they really felt good.  i may put an S300SL shaft in my adams irons.......

yakima

another solid day of driving, but lost a lot of irons to the right.  straight legs, bend from the waist and then feel that the club is laid off.   no focus on weight shift.

this is really working

closer to the ball, straight legs, good posture and flatter takeaway with a good wrist cock.  ball flight is consistent, distance control excellent.  just have to make sure that i'm not too open at address.

with Dave Bartels @ Pierce Park

worked on better posture:  straighter legs, more bend from the waist and a feeling of closer to the ball, head more over he ball. 

take-away as flat as possible and horizontal wrist cock.  feel like the butt of the club is pointing outside the ball on the takeaway.

better wrist cock

by swinging right hand closer.  feels like my right hand is on shoulder at top of swing.

us open qualifier, warm springs

was real smooth on the range, and then made a horrible swing on my first tee shot, crossed the line and hooked it into jail. my grip tension probably has something to do with it. i must grab the club at the top of my swing when i'm most nervous. swing on first and last hole in arizona had somewhat of the same feeling.  as day went on, the better swings were shorter, but with wrist cock.  when i really feel the pressure to hit the ball straight, must not cock my wrists. 

pierce park

good practice session today. high hands, cock wrists, then turn BACK THROUGH the ball. very encouraged. putting the ball wonderfully.

scotch pines

66 yesterday, high hands, swing hands a little outside, and don't be afraid to cock wrists at top.

working on a good preshot routine: make a nice round, baseball type of practice swing and then duplicate at ball.

sunday 14 may 05

reach for ball, hands higher, flatter turn.

session with dave bartels

session today went well, still working to find mechanical cause of movement at top.  tried swinging with more hand action, but the most interesting experiment was moving further from the ball.  if cliff's swing and laid off position is caused by being too far, mine could certainly be caused by being too close.  less knee flex, higher hands at address, and further from ball are  the keys that will work on.

first tee open, pebble beach, sept 05

 

seemore putter

starting to putt better, ordered a see more "money" putter, 40" belly to practice with yesterday.  www.seemore.com

Golf Game at the Moment

Golf swing is looking better.  Takeaway is key, slowly cocking club early and correctly and then swinging behind me.  Hoping to get with Dave Bartels this week to see what it looks like on tape.