David Blaine.......

David Blaine is a character I have always been extremely fascinated by. He seems to be the object of a lot of unfair criticism by the general public (particularly us Brits when he did 'Above The Below' in London). I find it hard to understand how anyone can criticise any of the stunts he has done and instead just see it as acts of pure courage, inner strength and determination!

For any person to:
- be buried alive for 7 days (Buried Alive)
- live inside a block of ice for 3 days (Frozen in Time)
- stand on a 100 foot tall pillar that was only 22 inches wide for a day and a half (Vertigo)
and most amazing of all:
- live in a plexi-glass box hanging over the River Thames for 44 days with no food, only water (Above the Below)

is to me a demonstration that anything can be succesfully completed when you put your mind to it. I went to 'Above the Below' and have quite literally never seen anything like it. I went on Day 44 - the last day - and it was an experience I will always remember. I'm very much looking forward to his next stunt, which I believe is upcoming in May.

The reason I have based this entry on David Blaine is that I read something on his website today which is great advice to anyone and to me specifically, something I should bare in mind with my golf and recent events (playing tests).
On his website he has published some of his journal entries from 'Above the Below' and there is a section from his entry on Day 29 that has got me to thinking. It reads:

'nothing great comes easy. Most will doubt you if you try and do something different. It is just their own insecurities. Appreciate them also because - NOTHING GREAT COMES EASY.
Failure is just part of the path. So is: failure, failure, failure, failure . Success will come - you just keep getting better.'

I think there is a lot of sense in the end of that bit and for me it has completely changed my golfing perspectives. I have had people quite flatly tell me they don't believe I have to potential to do what I want to do and I now realise that is just sometimes human nature to be negative and over-opinionated. It has no baring on what my outcome will be and the only person in control of that is yours truly.
To translate all this in to my own words 'failure is a very important part of improvement and success. The only real failure is not learning from these experiences and correcting them in the future'.
Every time you fail something, it makes you better prepared for next time. My own relevant problems with my golf are highlighted by this as it seems clear that obviously I have much to learn and although I have learned so much already, clearly there is still a lot of work needed. Whatever happens next is just merely another rock along the path which, lets face it, is never-ending!

Feeling particularly philosophical today so wanted to share this with you all......

Bloody weather!!!!!

I've got quite a few days off work at the moment so have declared to myself that from this week, my 2006 golfing season is officially underway. However, Mother Nature seems decidedly 'pissed off' with me because any attempt I have made to play in the last two weeks has result in being 'pissed on' by rain. Grrrrrr!!!!

My bro Sam and I are keen to get working on our golf games. For me, as far as i'm concerned I can't start preparing for my playing tests soon enough. For him, it's his first professional season and understandably he wants to have a good chance to prepare for it.

I should explain that there is a playing criteria that needs passing during the three years of PGA Diploma training. It's quite an ironic process too, as it contradicts all facets of being a professional golfer.
Basically you begin your three years with a 'handicap'! (funny because the main change when turning professional is that obviously relinquish your amateur status ie lose your handicap!)
The handicap you are given is 4.0 (cool, 2 extra shots for me when I get there!) and the idea is that you play a minimum of 7 tournaments per year. At the end of the three years, if you still have a handicap of 4 or better, you pass that element. If not, as far as I know, it will be 'assessed' by the PGA.

Wow, that's pressure! No wonder Sam is keen to start playing again. We've both had pretty hefty lay-off's over the winter. I almost feel it is a blessing in disguise to have an extra year now to prepare for this.

I should find out playing test dates in February. I know that my first test will be in May, and I have already decided for certain that I will go back to Bishops Stortford. I'm very much looking forward to it - quite different to my terrified attitude of last year! Looks like Father will be on the bag too again (providing I get him a pair of shoes that fit!) so happy days.

Right now, my form has plummeted but I am not really that worried. I am going through correcting some swing errors that have plagued me for some 6 or 7 years so it's only natural that my body is not responding as well as i'd like it too just yet. When it does, look out!!!!

That's it for today folks. Stay tuned..........

Welcome to my 2006 blog

Hello readers.

Welcome to my new blog. I considered it to be a good idea to start a new blog for the year to co-incide with the new year, new start, new golfing year theme and hopefully it will ultimately end in success.

To be totally honest, very little has happened on the golfing front, or much else really, in the last few weeks as the winter has fully taken ahold and going outdoors has been, shall I say 'pointless'.
But, within the next few weeks with any luck the temperarues will begin to increase, the hours of daylight will lengthen and my campaign for 2006 can get officially underway.

But, for now that's about it. Hope everyone who has been reading my 2005 blog had a great xmas and new year and continues to follow my blog this year. It's nice to have been told that certain people have been reading it and I hope it's been a good read for them.

Adios for now......