ON YOUR GAME
Learn to Enjoy the Bad BY RYAN ECKROAT, PGA General Manager, Poston Bute G.C.
If you’ve played golf for much time at all, it comes as no surprise to you when I say that golf is largely a mental game. Yes, physical talent and ability is important to playing well, but if you have a five cent head on your shoulders, your picture perfect swing won’t get you too many good rounds. If you don’t believe me, think back to the times when the player with the ugly swing managed to pick your pockets simply because they kept their wits about them. A few years ago, while playing golf with a friend, I picked up what might be the simplest and best piece of advice that I’ve ever received about playing golf. Early on in the round, I mis-hit my approach shot and missed the green. While I wasn’t overly upset about the miss, it must have been apparent that I was disappointed about missing the green. As we were heading up to the green, my friend tells me, “You know Eck, if we never missed a green, we’d never get the chance to chipin.” Having worked with him for a year or so at this point, I was used to getting such cheerful little tidbits (as he is
by far one of the most positive people I have ever met in my life). However, out of all the pieces of advice I’ve ever heard, this one stuck with me immediately and remains to this day. The reason being is that every missed shot provides an opportunity for a great recovery shot. Think about it, what is more exciting, sinking a fivefoot putt for birdie, or holing out a tough bunker shot for birdie that had your opponent already writing down your bogey? Don’t get me wrong, I would much rather have five-foot birdie putts all day long, but the point is, don’t give up when your ball ends up in a nasty spot. Yes, sometimes you have to take your medicine and chip out from behind the trees, take a drop from the unplayable lie, etc. However, before you make that choice, allow yourself to see the opportunity for success. Better yet, relish the opportunity to show off your recovery skills when you accidentally send a shot astray. Sure, you may not pull it off each time, but your chances of success improve dramatically by just staying positive and thinking about the good things that can happen rather than the bad.
I PICKED UP WHAT MIGHT BE THE SIMPLEST AND BEST PIECE OF ADVICE I’VE EVER RECEIVED ABOUT PLAYING GOLF ...
About The
AUTHOR
RYAN ECKROAT, PGA
Poston Butte Golf Club - General Manager
520.723.1880
reckroat@troongolf.com www.PostonButte.com
Ryan is the General Manager at Poston Butte Golf Club at Anthem Merrill Ranch in Florence, Arizona. As a PGA Member and 9year veteran with Troon Golf, Ryan has managed multiple facilities in Arizona and Colorado. Ryan began his career with Troon Golf at Legend Trail Golf Club in Scottsdale, AZ. He then moved to Colorado to open Vista Ridge Golf Club, a master-planned community just north of Denver. Ryan returned to Scottsdale after being named the Head Golf Professional at The Westin Kierland Resort, Spa & Villas where he served for 3 and a half years before joining the Troon Golf team at Poston Butte Golf Club in 2008.
28 Phoenix Valley Tee Times Magazine l www.GoGolfArizona.com