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New Release
The Fairway Of Life
Simple Secrets To Playing Better Golf By Going With The Flow ~
Rand Scott Marquardt
Life & Mental Golf Performance Coach 
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When you are playing or putting your best there is an almost magically effortless stroke. It is as natural as walking or driving your car without thinking. The same can be said about drinking a glass of water. There is no conscious effort to pick up the glass, hold it in your hand, lift your arm, tilt your head, or even swallow, and then to set it down on the counter softly. No, it’s completely natural and effortless. And believe it or not, when you are putting your best you’re not even thinking about it.
Remember when Hardy made the putt in Bagger Vance in the scene at night? He simply let it happen. I’m inviting you to practice more of the same. Obviously, you’ll read your putt. You’ll see the line. You’ll feel the distance. You will take in all the elements such as grain, speed, break, conditions, etc. – your body will process this in a matter of seconds. You’ll go through your normal practice routine. You’ll align your putter blade…and (here’s the secret), just prior to executing…relax, be present, and simply putt to nowhere, which also stands for now here. While the wisdom of your body will be putting to the target, the feeling is a putting to nowhere, giving your best effort, but effortless. All your focus is in the now - head down, eyes over the ball, feeling the line, and distance, shoulders, arms, and hands swinging naturally, almost pendulum like. There’s no flinching or sudden jerk, or any kind of tension whatsoever, just as natural as rolling a ball.
Putting to nowhere and now here are both one and the same. I am putting effortlessly feeling like I am putting to nowhere – even though my mind, body, and spirit have already calculated in everything in perfect harmony. All you have to do is get out of your own way and let it happen. Because if you try too hard to make it happen and want it so badly (too much future and result-oriented process), most likely peeking and coming out of your putt, you will end up pushing it further away. Likewise, if you have past thoughts of previous failure you are also out of the present moment of now. Playing present golf means you are now here in this moment, the only moment you will ever have. Here are the three keys to successful putting:
1. Seek joy first
2. You are now here
3. Putt to nowhere
Practice and remember these three concepts, especially integrating the concept of seeking joy and having fun first, and all the growth you could ever imagine will come joyously and abundantly into your life. Stop taking it so serious, and start having more fun! I guarantee your putting will improve and after it is all said and done so will your scores. Embrace watching your handicap drop. In fact, set an intention to play better golf (stretch your comfort zone) and you will.
Tiger’s World
You can hardly turn around without hearing about Tiger’s recent fall from grace, or is it? Will Tiger reinvent himself and give the world a new message, one in which his father spoke of? His recent stumble has sure caught our attention, hasn’t it? How else do we learn or remember these kinds of lessons? Is it not the recovering alcoholic who makes the best AA teacher?
Life is always showing us about life itself. In order to receive this higher message someone has to experience adversity first – and those periods are the times of the greatest gain. Tiger’s celebrity status has the whole world looking carefully at this insidious disease called “infidelity.” Who hasn’t had the thought that the grass might be greener somewhere else, if even for a brief spell? Then cast the first stone if you will. The greatest betrayal of all is to oneself. I truly believe the greatest pain from all of this is Tiger’s own internal suffering that he has caused himself. The consequences of our own actions weigh heavily on the exact ones we love the most.
An enlightened Master spoke many years ago, “Do not judge and you will not be judged.” Many with very self-righteous positions will judge this event harshly. Even fellow pro’s have lashed out voicing their strong objections. And in the very moment you judge someone as not being on their path, you are not on yours either. Be very careful to judge another, rather I invite you to simply observe. Notice how you feel when judging another even though you might be right. No, I shall not condemn nor condone the behavior from the world’s most mentally tough athlete and perhaps the greatest golfer of all time. I shall simply observe and ask myself some even deeper questions; like what would love do now or how will this make me a better me? It is my observation that much of the world would rather be right then happy.
You see these kinds of personal issues left unresolved will literally eat away at you on the inside. You may appear to cover them up temporarily, yet sooner or later they will bubble up to the surface. They are like energy draining beach balls that we attempt to hold under water. When we are out of integrity with ourselves it affects all aspects of our lives including our own golf game. Therefore, it is essential to make peace with our past; to make peace with our selves; to come clean; to forgive; to tell the truth; and to reinvent or better our selves by becoming our higher or more authentic Self. That is my hope and desire for Tiger and anyone else who knows why they have received this message today. You just have to go inside – for if you do not go within, you go without. Perfectly imperfect is what we are.
I shall keep on observing Tiger’s World with hope and anticipation that he resolves his personal issues by telling his truth and making peace with himself. I eagerly anticipate his return to golf. I also look forward to the young guns like Anthony Kim, Rory McElroy, Camilla Villegas, and Rickie Fowler giving Tiger a run for his money too!
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