Golf In A Parallel Universe (19 page)

Sunday May 25th 2014. I finished my 6th day of self practice. Tomorrow I leave for Dublin, Ohio to play in my next scheduled tournament which is the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance. This will be a good tune up tournament for the U.S. Open which is two weeks away. I can do my last day of self practice in Dublin. Of course from here on out it is all self practice. But I have to do the work these 7 days just like Gus told me.

Sunday night at home and I am a little tired. I am drinking a beer and relaxing. It's been such a crazy last few days and I try to think what all I need to do to get ready for my trip tomorrow. Then I remember “Ah Emily," I say to myself. I am thinking maybe I should call her. But then, is it too early to call her? We saw each other a few days ago. I hate this. If you call too early after your first date, then you seem desperate. But if you call too late, you are a rude jerk. Gosh, I feel like I am in highschool. I have totally lost track of time. But I then realize that it has been over a week since I saw her. I decide to just text her and ask if she has time to talk. I text her and she replied that she can talk. I get ready to call her and I am so nervous. I feel just like a highschool kid. Finally, I called her. And after first 30 seconds it was just like talking to an old friend. She is just so easy to talk to. She asked me how things have been going with my lessons and I told her that they have been going great. I told her that I have been busy and sorry I have not called. She just laughed and said don’t worry about that, she knows that I have been busy. I told her the story about how Gus is stuck in the 1970’s with his old TV’s and VCR equipment. We had a good laugh about that. And we just continued to talk about everything and nothing at all. It was so nice to talk to her.

Before I knew it, we had been talking for an hour. As we were winding down, I told her that I am leaving tomorrow for Memorial Tournament in Dublin Ohio. I should be back next Monday. That is of course if I make the cut. Otherwise I will be back earlier. But I am not planning on missing the cut. I will have a much needed week off the following week, and I told her I would love to see her again. She said that she knows she will be here then and she will look forwarding to seeing me again. I told her I will call her when I got back. She said she will be following me on this tournament and wished me good luck.

As we hung up I realized that I have a real chance here. Life is pretty good now. I have some money for the first time in years. I may be at a turning point with my Golf Game. And now maybe even a relationship. “Wow how things have changed," I told myself.

Then I got a quick text from Jerry Churchill . He asked how my lessons with Gus went and if I will be at the Memorial Tournament this next week. I replied that the lessons were great. And I am leaving in the morning for the tournament. He told me he will see me there. Life is funny. A new golf swing. A possible girlfriend. And now I am texting to a Golf Legend, Jerry Churchill . “Oh well time for bed. Tomorrow I get back in tournament mode," I tell myself. I go to bed and have those dreams again. Each time they get a little be more clear, and I am starting to see some faces.

Monday Morning. Luckily my flight is not too early, 11:00am. I got a good night's sleep and got to the airport to catch my flight. It feels good to be traveling again. I am anxious to play in this tournament. I want to see if my new swing will pay benefits. The flight arrives at the airport in Columbus Ohio a little after 1:00pm. The plan is to grab a bite to eat and drive to Dublin which is just North of Columbus. I make it to the course about 3:00pm. Today, just a casual day. I will hit some balls and do some chipping and putting for a couple of hours. I told Zack since I will be getting here late, not to bother on being here today, I will see him tomorrow. It was good to get back out on the course with the tour. I ran into some of the guys and had some good visits. I did not tell anyone that I had been going through some major changes with my swing. I did some chipping and putting for about an hour. Then I plan to hit some balls for a while and then go to my hotel which is close buy.

After a few minutes of hitting balls Jerry Churchill came by. "As I was walking up I was watching you swing, and I can tell that Gus has been working with you," he told me smiling. “Really?” I replied in a happy tone. “Yeah, hit a few for me, I want to see your swing." I hit a few and he stood back watching me intently with his hand on his chin in a thinking gesture. After a few shots, he just said with his head shaking back and forth with his eyes wide open. “Wow, what a dramatic difference. You have a real golf swing now Son. I am shocked!, he told me enthusiastically.

“That much difference?," I asked. “Yeah, your swing has such a clear path through impact. Before you were always blocking yourself out. And your tempo, is the same with every shot," he told me. “Funny thing. I do not really feel like I have made any major changes," I replied. He explained that is the beauty of working with Gus. He will make some minor changes and mold your swing without you even realizing it. He really works at training your brain and your thoughts to develope a great golf swing. “And I am sure he used some unconventional tactics to get you to understand his concepts didn't he?," he asked.

“Yeah he did” I said laughing. I told him about all the strange things he did with the softballs and things and how I thought he was crazy at first. Jerry just laughed and said he knows the feeling. “But he got your to think, didn't he?," asked Jerry. “Yeah he sure did," I replied. I told him the light bulb went off in my head and I finally got it. “Same thing happened to me when he was teaching me” He replied.

He asked me what my approach or plan for this week for this tournament. I told him that I want to get and play. And put this new swing to good use and make the cut and make a run and try to win the tournament. He listened to me and shook his in a yes or understanding gesture. “I have a couple of recommendations if you are interested," he asked. “Sure” I replied.

He explained that when you go through major changes in your swing, it takes time to adapt to it. When you start in competition it is really hard go to commit to your swing changes because you will be focused with the competition. When you get out there you are going to have some hiccups trying to adapt to your to my new swing. And in the heat of competition that can be stressful and old bad habits will creep back in.

“I recommend to not think about competing in this tournament. Don’t worry about making the cut or making money. And don't worry about trying to win the tournament. Just think of it as a practice round with no stress. Just concentrate on the techniques that you have learned. If you make a 10 on a hole, laugh it off. No biggie. If you don’t make the cut no big deal, at least you got to play two days with your new swing. Your only goal is your swing, not the tournament. Just think of it as a spring training baseball game. Winning or losing means nothing. Just work on sharpening your skills. If you go in there this week with this attitude. I guarantee you will make progress with developing your new swing," he told me. “Makes sense," I replied. I told him I will take this approach this week. We shook hands, and he walked away.

I picked up my clubs and got into my rental car and drove to my hotel and checked in. When I got to my room I just relaxed. This room had a great view. So of course I used that as an excuse to grab a beer and look at the view and think about things. The things that Jerry Churchill told me today made so much sense. This tournament is just a practice round. The real deal is two weeks away, which is the US Open. I am wondering if I made a mistake by taking these lessons so close to the US Open. I was on somewhat of a roll the last couple of months and may could have made a run for it. But then I think about the TPC a few weeks ago. I played the best that I could play. But I just could not hang with the guys at the top. So the more I think about it. Taking these lessons and revamping my swing was probably a good idea. Maybe I will do terrible this week and maybe I will do terrible in the US Open. But I know I am on the right track in developing my game into something special. I had one more beer and got a bite to eat and went to bed early. I fall to sleep fast. And I have those same dreams again, just like every night.

I wake up early Tuesday morning. I have noticed that those dreams seem to be getting stronger and more clear each night. I just do not understand. I never had those type of dreams until I won the masters. Sometimes I wonder if I should worry. But they are not bad dreams. Just peaceful dreams, so I guess I should not worry about them. I got up and ate some breakfast and headed out to the course. I am looking forward to testing out my new swing this week. And since talking to Jerry Churchill last night and making the decision just use this tournament as a practice round, I feel like I have no pressure.

I arrive at the course about 9:00 am. I am getting my gear out of the trunk of the car and here comes my Caddie Zack. “Hey buddy, how's it going?," I shout out and we give each other a big hug. He knows that I have been working on my game with lessons the last couple of weeks. So he took a vacation with his family.

“So how did your lessons go?," he asked. “Great," I replied. “Tell about it what all did you do?," he asked again. “Well Zack," I said laughing. “I could not begin to tell you what I have been through the last two weeks. We will need to find a time to sit down and have a few beers to go over what I have been through. Let’s just say it has been a very unusual last two weeks," I said laughing.

As we are walking to the clubhouse, I tell him about what I discussed with Jerry Churchill about last night. I plan to take a casual approach to this tournament. I will just play it like a practice round, no pressure. Zack thought that was a good idea. I went to the club house and got my registration out of the way, so I am all set.

Time to go to the range and hit some balls. Zack had made arrangements for a practice round at 11:30am with a couple of other pros. I started to hit some balls and Zack was working with me like he always does. Cleaning clubs and balls and handing me my clubs when I change clubs. Also measuring my distance on various clubs. Basically a good caddie is a manager, a coach, an equipment cleaner, and a companion.

As I got warmed up and started hitting some full shots. Zack just stood back and said “Whoa!”

No one knows my swing better than Zack. He has seen me hit more ball than anyone. “What's up Zack?” I asked with a grin on my face. “Just keep hitting balls” he said in a serious tone. So I hit some more. He never said a word. He had a serious concerned but please look on his face.

“Jim," he said. “You're right we need to sit down and have a few beers to go over what you have been through," he said shaking his head. “Let me see your ID! I know you are not Jim Galloway, this is not his swing!," he said laughing. We both laughed. “What the hell," he said shaking his head.

I told Zack that I do not really feel like my swing has really changed all that much. I explained that Gus has a way of making gradual changes that you do not notice. And that is the beauty of his teaching. “Believe me. Your swing has changed. It is most definitely for the better," he said shaking his head in disbelief, but happy manner.

We hit a few more balls and did some chipping and putting for a while. Then we teed off at 11:30am for our practice round. I was hitting the ball great. I never felt that I have hit the ball so solid in my life. “Good thing this is a practice round” Zack said. “It is going to take me awhile to get used to this. I have no idea on what clubs to recommend on shots now," he said laughing.

“Just take away three clubs less," I replied in a somewhat joking but, matter of a fact tone. If I am in a situation where I would normally hit a five iron, then give me a eight iron. If it is a normal three iron in the past, then give me a six iron.” “Wow” he replied. “And your drives. I used to be able to count on taking a break when we got to your short drives. Now I have to walk 30 to 40 yards every time. You are going to wear me out," he said laughing. We joked around for a few minutes about my new distance.

But then we got serious and played our practice round. He had already scouted out the course early this morning. He had info on all the pin placements, the contour of the greens and all the things that he does so well. He worked to adapt to my swing and gage my distances. He said it will be awhile before he can accurately determine what clubs I will need to hit in different situations. What really surprised was my tempo and even my concentration. Every shot was the same. Did not matter if it was an eight iron or a three iron, I kept the same tempo. And I seemed to be more mentally focused on each shot as I addressed the ball.

As we played our practice round I had a few bad shots here and there. My score was not really all that good. I had a few shots where my approach to the greens were a little right left or right and took some bad kicks. Also had some shots where I chose the wrong club because I am not used to my distance and I hit way over the green. But overall I had a good solid round as far as striking the ball so I felt invigorated with my new swing.

The follow day Wednesday it was more of the same. But starting to get a little more consistent. We had a good practice round, and I went to the range and hit some more balls after our round. Zack worked with me on the range on getting a good handle of my distances with each clubs. We talked about our game plan this week. We both agreed to do as Jerry Churchill recommended. To just treat this as a no stress tournament. We both felt that I have some work to do because of some of my shots I am having trouble gauging my distance. We could see the potential of some bad holes. I better be ready for some double bogeys or worse. I may not make the cut. But the future looks good. Once I get this swing down, I have a chance of really competing for some tournaments. The US open is two weeks away, and that's what I got my mind set on. After our time on the range we called it a day. My Tee off time is 10:00am in the morning. I tell Zack I do not plan to be here too early tomorrow. I will see him at 8:00am here. We call it a day.