Changing Your Grip

I said when I first started this blog that golf had given me many things, though I’ve never played.  It’s led me to places I never dreamed I’d go (Japan would be one of them). It’s taught me lessons on perseverance and helped me hone great people skills. It’s led me to people — so many, many people — I’ve loved meeting. I keep learning — through golf.

Last year, in the process of writing for a regional magazine, I learned a little about 3D motion capture from PGA professional, teacher and expert Dan Woods at Ravenwood Golf Club in Victor NY.

Please don’t make me explain to you what that is. It involves wearing a vest with — okay, you know how they dress people up in vests and suits to create animation for movies like Avatar? Picture that.

Only they do it with a golfer swinging a club.

You may also remember I wrote a post here about walking the old VA golf course near my home, and what that meant to me.

And last year, I wrote a blog post on the world’s most inspiring golf courses. One of them was American Lakes Veterans Golf Course in Washington State. That was my pick for the most inspiring U.S. course, because they work with inpatient vets at their hospital and any vet who needs PT or treatment for things like PTSD — by taking them  on the golf course to play. They have specially designed golf carts for amputees, paved areas for wheelchairs at the practice areas, and PT and OT therapists who are right there with them on the course.

Then I gained a Twitter follower called @WndWarriorGolf — the “Wnd” stands for “wounded.” Military wounded in war.

He asked me to give some attention to a golf tournament they’re having. Here’s what is going on via their blog site:

A golf tournament seems like the perfect way to raise contributions for Quality of Life Plus www.qlplus.org. Working with Harmon Golf in Rockland MA, we are calling all pros and hackers alike, to join us on Monday October 4, 2010 at 9 a.m. for our first annual Golf Tournament to benefit Quality of Life Plus

We’ll play 18 holes filled with many contests, followed by lunch whereby everyone can take jabs at each other – or get awards ; -) And they will be special awards! Contributions keep coming in from the golf industry!  There’ ll be a silent and live auction, as well as special guests, live music and plenty of tributes.

Ordinarily I wouldn’t promote every charity golf tournament that asks for it — but this is different.

Quality of Life Plus is based in the engineering department of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. “The kids” there are creating the amazing things “to get veterans – in fact anyone – rejoining the simple activities we take for granted in life”.

3-D motion capture for golf swing analysis comes from TaylorMade. That inspired The Wounded Warrior project: What if  learning to PLAY a game like golf could make rehab fun?

Using the high resolution system that helps Tour players and amateurs alike see their swing with 1/10 degree accuracy, we can show disabled Veterans how they are moving. The built-in biofeedback capability can then be used to help them move more efficiently. Hopefully, with the success of this program, we’ll be able to expand service offerings to anyone who has been injured and needs to learn how to move again.

So, yeah — I will happily talk about their first golf tournament. Because I can’t think of a worthier cause.

And just to round out  how connected things are for me in golf still — it’s held at Harmon Golf in Rockland, MA.

Craig Harmon is my youngest son’s godfather. And the head pro at Harmon Golf in Rockland is, I believe, my favorite all-time caddy of TJ’s — Tom Cavicchi. Someone I haven’t seen in — oh, 25 years?? — but have never forgotten.

Golf’s latest lesson to me:

Amazing thing are taking place in the world of golf technology that will make a difference in our veterans’ lives.

Inspiring people are creating brilliant programs. And even non-golfer, non-tech people like me can help in a small way–  like writing about it.

Where in the world is the golf course pictured here?

It’s Kauri Cliffs in New Zealand.

Kauri Cliffs is just one of the 60-odd golf courses that I had to choose from for a guest post on travel writer Andy Hayes‘ blog Sharing Experiences. You can read about 11 of the World’s Most Inspiring Golf Courses there.

Kauri Cliffs didn’t make the cut — not because it isn’t drop-dead inspiring for its location, design, etc — but because I had to choose between it and another blow-you-away course in New Zealand — Cape Kidnappers.  Here’s a peek at what you’ll find on the blog post…

This is Cape Kidnappers — built on 600 foot high bluffs that “jut out on the ocean like fingers of God” (I wrote that — read the post).  I love course designer Tom Doak’s statement: “If it were any bigger or any more dramatic, it would probably be cordoned off as a national park.”

Choosing the 11 was a monumental job, as you can imagine. I had certain criteria — there had to be something inspiring about each course — the topography, natural environment, a place with heart… mere awards and great PR were not enough. Also, it had to appeal to non-golfers as a travel destination.

The course had to generate questions like these…

Where can you play 144 holes in 24 hours all on one course?

What golf course in the longest in Africa and situated in a huge bushveld wildlife sanctuary, where you can go on a safari after you’re finished playing golf?

What do Tom Kite and Donald Trump have in common?

What course has the only natural island green called “Tail of the Whale?”

Where will you find the world’s original Redan hole?

Choosing the only U.S. course I could (Andy’s rule — they had to be from all around the world) was the hardest. About 85% of the courses that contacted me were in the U.S.

In the end — my U.S.  choice may surprise you. But it certainly met the inspiration factor.

Now I still have a great many courses that I would like to tell you about — and I will, here on Changing Your Grip.

Coming next time: The Grass That Saved a Golf Course From a Hurricane.

We’re going to have fun with this.