NO GOLFER LEFT BEHIND!

What a great time was had by all this past weekend at our GOLF SCHOOL LIKE NO OTHER, co-taught by British PGA Pro Les Bolland and myself. We had a terrific group of eight women and men, ranging from 30-to-60-something and 12-to-30-something in handicap. Plus one of my wonderful junior players, Josh, joined us for a very special day out at La Costa Country Club.

For three full days we got up to go to golf school instead of to work. It was a “total blast,” as our inner-teenagers all agreed! Not only that – and in large measure because of the great fun and focus everyone shared – no golfer was left behind.

At our closing session, as each group came in from the golf course all excited and aglow, we tried to give out a “Most Improved Player/MIP” award. But it was impossible, because every single person had made such big personal gains, and everyone got nominated by everyone else as well as by themselves for MIP!

Les and I both offer holistic approaches to better golf. In our own ways we blend concepts and practices from eastern disciplines of aikido, yoga, meditation, shiatsu, macrobiotics and energy work into our golf instruction.

Through his Swingolf, Les encourages people to open up, let go, let it flow, relax, swing, be happy, be confident, play the game.

Through my KiAi Golf teachings, I create an entire context for the golf swing and game built around form and flow, centering and balance, fitness and focus, connection and consistency, “mechanics and magic.”

It was truly amazing and very fun to watch each person developing the mind-body skills for greater self-mastery, opening up and taking themselves into the unified “zone” and discovering new harmonious capability literally waiting right there!

I wish I could bottle all the smiles and happy energy from this golf school. As Annika Sorenstam once said, “We are not golfers who happen to be people, but people who happen to play golf. We can all get better at whatever level we choose.”

So have no doubt: it’s the whole to the hole!

Golf is not “just a mental game,” or about mechanics or fitness or equipment alone. All of the above are essential – in a simply integrated joyful way. Everybody already has it and can do it. No golfer need ever be left behind!!

A GOLF SCHOOL LIKE NO OTHER!

Hi everyone! Wow so many moons and golf shots and life experiences have happened since my first few KiAi Golf blogs months ago.

I got so involved living it all that I just didn’t take the time out to write about it all (am sure you can relate!!)

So here we go, it’s time to swing the pen again …

Today begins A GOLF SCHOOL LIKE NO OTHER! Three days of engaging golf in a total east-west/mind-body/thought-full yet thinking-less immersion into playing better golf.

The Golf Sensei (yours truly) is teaming up with the creator of Swingolf, British PGA Pro Les Bolland, and we’ve got a great group of golfers together for a lot of fun and learning in San Diego. Wish you were here – and promise to keep you posted!

As this “way-cool golf-school” begins I’m reminded of walking Rich Harvest Farms at the LPGA Solheim Cup in August. That golf course is truly a masterpiece. Every single hole is a work of art, from the velvet fairways to rough rough, to constant cavernous bunkers and breaking greens to marshy creeks and reeds keeping manicured magnificence feeling rural and natural, to people and wildlife co-habitating and risk-reward beckoning every decision and shot.

Rich Harvest never lets up, and it never lets down. Never a trace of boredom or disappointment. Perpetual extreme challenge amidst graceful gorgeous balance and delight. A perfection that’s easy and natural, very demanding yet without stress, filling all the air and stretching out in every direction.

So imagine yourself now on a golf course where every hole is a masterpiece. See all your swings feeling "just-right" (what I call "KiAi", all in harmony). And imagine all the moments of your life, without exception or fail and beginning with this one – each and every day, all day long, in every word you say and thought you think and move you make – all becoming masterpieces!