Carlsbad, pre-Titleist fitting

 

First off, there are new stats posted on the statistics tab located here: http://thedanplan.com/statistics-2/  I have put up a trending handicap for as far back as I can find it on the GHIN system.  As soon as I can get the data from previous weeks I will post it too, but for now at least there is a list of my handicap since 5/1/12.  There are also some statistics from the previous 10 rounds that I have played.  I will update these stats periodically as the numbers come in and change.

Mary flew with me to Carlsbad this week so we could have a mini vacation before our schedules get too hectic over the next few months.  She is in the beginning stages of opening a brick and mortar bakery that requires a ton of planning and once it is open will keep her very busy training people and working through the summer.  My schedule is starting to get crunched, too, as the summer tournaments heat up and peak practice season takes off.  Neither of us will have more than one free day between now and September so we decided to use this trip to Carlsbad as our summer vacation.

It’s proven to be quite nice so far.  The weather is wonderful and it is amazing what getting away from one’s daily routine can do for the spirit.  After just the first day away I felt completely refreshed and had some some good swing realizations that came through visualization while on the plane and walking down the beach.  It’s interesting how much you can learn while away from practice and how important visualization can be.

There are different types of visualization that can be beneficial.  Mental imagery is a technique in which you imagine yourself in a specific environment performing a specific activity successfully.  I use this technique before playing a round, especially a tournament round.  By going through every hole and successfully hitting the required shot in your mind prior to teeing up the first ball you can concrete the image of success and build confidence in your game which, for me, translates into improved performance.

The other type of visualization is imagining yourself correctly doing a form that you wish to change in your swing.  This is like an inner dialogue between you and your swing.  I was picturing my putting in slow motion and wondering where the inconsistencies were coming from where I occasionally pulled the ball and realized that it was all an alignment issue and if I aligned my shoulders with my body that I could make a more consistent arc.  In turn, my putting would improve.  I’m not sure whether I would have had that same realization while practicing this Sunday when back in Portland, but regardless it was interesting that even while away from the game it is possible to make some progress.

With a background in photography, I often visualize the swing and my rounds while away from the game and I think that it’s a wonderful way to learn when it’s not possible to literally be on the course practicing.

Speaking of photography, this picture pretty much sums up Carlsbad for me:

It’s a surreal landscape when compared to the Pacific Northwest.

We were also lucky enough to find an incredible little hotel very close to the beach called the Carlsbad Inn.  If anyone is coming down to get a fitting done by Titleist I would definitely recommend this spot.  It’s right on the beach and within walking distance to all types of restaurants:

and the sunsets are amazing:

While watching that last one, Mary told me that she had never seen the sun set into the ocean.  That got me thinking how easy it is to take the simple things for granted.  I grew up in Atlanta and we used to go down to the Florida panhandle in the summer where you could watch the sun both rise and set over the water.  I’m very lucky to have been able to observe such an amazing site as a child and countless times as an adult.  It is important for me to remember this and to stop and appreciate the small moments in life.  These things won’t happen forever as we all have a limited number of setting suns.

I try and appreciate every day and never forget how fortunate I am to be able to do the things that I am doing.

Considering that fortune, I cannot wait to write about the Titleist experience soon.  I was fit for clubs yesterday and once all of the specs are in I will do a full recap of that experience.  Top notch and HIGHLY recommended to help improve your game.

One last photo from the first day.  We almost fell into our first tourist trap…

A full write-up of the fitting experience, including everything that I have learned while here will be posted soon.  Please check back in to learn all about what a proper fitting can do for your game and gear.