Sam Goulden Golf Blog

Our founding fathers had it right.  They did not say that all men were entitled to happiness.  They said that we were all entitled to the pursuit of happiness.  This means that we should all be allowed and even enabled to pursue happiness.  

In golf, the pursuit of happiness is why we play.  We hit one shot that encompasses everything we know we are capable of achieving.  We play one round or maybe just nine holes that shows us our ability.  Does this mean that the goal of golf is to achieve the perfect round of golf?  Does the perfect round even exist?  And if we were to play that perfect round, is that true happiness?  

I believe that those of us that pursue golf happiness are actually already happy.  I feel that as long as we are able to correct our mistakes, we are happy.  Does this mean that we will always hit perfect shots or play perfect rounds and thus attain golf happiness?  No, this simply means that we have the golf specific knowledge that allows us to pursue that perfect round of golf.  Golf is “not a game of perfect”, as Tom Watson once famously stated and Bob Rotella made famous.  If this is the case, let’s realize that it’s the pursuit of happiness that makes the game enjoyable.. not “happiness” in and of itself.

In your game, remember that it is the pursuit of the perfect shot that makes the game fun.  Not the perfect shot.. If you hit all perfect shots, it would not be so enjoyable to do so.

Well, we are on the brink of a new season and though the weather hasn’t exactly broken, the spring is just around the corner.  There have been some big changes in my life recently with starting a new position at Glen Echo CC in St. Louis.  As I’m sure many of you know, I have truly enjoyed the past four years at Wolf Hollow.  I hope that the relationships that have been such a staple in my life can continue.  I will have limited time in Washington but am offering golf schools at Big Driver that hopefully will allow us to maintain our growth as friends and players. 

As a new season starts, I invariably tend to think about my goals for the coming year.  One big change I will make this year is to practice more on short game and wedge play.  We talk a lot about getting our swings in good shape to avoid penalties and give ourselves more birdie opportunities.  This has been the theme of my practice sessions over the past few years and it has paid off.  I now feel very competent when making a full swing on even the tightest tee shot or longest par three.  The time to practice the short game is at hand.  Getting to the green in regulation is the first battle, getting it in the hole is the next priority.  Some of you are at this place now as well.  We have put in the time on the driving range and now need to focus on scoring.  Some of you still need to refine your swings to put yourselves in scoring position.  

This year I want to help you all get to the place where I am now.  It is a great place to be. Knowing that you can trust your swing and just go out and play. I will have video analysis set up to help with the full swing practice.  I have also created a tracking sheet to zoom in on the areas that need the most improvement. Tracking all stats is often an eye-opening experience and one that we can all benefit from. 

I look forward to working with you all this year and I can’t wait to help you reach your goals in 2009!  Please don’t hesitate to call or email to set up a lesson series.  Talk to you soon!

Everyday we are here on this earth we have options.  We can walk or drive, drive or fly, even go or stay home.  When the situation arises, recognizing these options is the first step toward making a decision.Golfers everywhere are so concerned with the aesthetics and technical aspects of their swings that they may miss out on some of the most enjoyable decisions out there.  Hit a six iron from 100 yards because it’s the only way to get the ball close to the hole.  This is the case today because the greens are frozen and if I hit a wedge it’s going to bounce over the green.  Granted, I don’t hit many 100 yard six irons, but that’s what is fun about it.  I’m trying to do something that may or may not work out.  I pulled it left but hit it the perfect distance and was pleased to know that I could do it.  Last time I missed a green from 100 yards, I think being pleased was the farthest thing from my mind.Remember in golf and in life all we can do is assess the situation, make a decision, and then move on.  Let’s try to keep our eyes open for these interesting and fun options in golf and in life!