Life of a Conditional Web.com Member

[PureStrikes54]

Wow didn't even realize there was another course getting ripped apart as well with similar scores. Same story over there as well. Thanks for the heads up.

[GolfingBro]

First of all, welcome to GolfWRX!

 

Yes, as your schedule allows please continue to "journal" your experiences. Are you able to be followed on Twitter, Facebook, etc?

 

Continue to chase your dream and best wishes for many successes along the way.

 

Twitter: @MattHansenGolf

[GolfingBro]

I don't know if you're allowed to rate Nike as top of your list for sponsors or not, but have you enjoyed them so far? I imagine the apparel deal can't be beat. What clubs did you play before signing?

 

Nike has been fantastic to work with. The amount of stuff they send is ridiculous.

 

I've played Nike Clubs since senior year of high school. I played Titleist ZBs before that and Ping S59s before that.

[GolfingBro]

Borrego Springs, CA. A hidden gem of great courses, both Ram Hill GC and De Anza CC are amazing. If you are near San Diego I would highly recommend traveling over the mountains and play some pure courses.

[Rob G 89]

My question is more about college golf,how is it structured does your coach have drills and fitness routines for you? Or is it where you work on what you want when you want?

[Pudgelewis]

Best of luck to you, Matt. Very interested to see the story develop. It reminds me of reading Paper Tiger (which everyone who loves these types of things should read). Couldn't put it down.

[nikegal]

Hi Matthew, I hope that you are well!! I wanted to ask about your PSR. If you wouldn't mind describing your swing PSR from start to finsih, including your thoughts and actions. I think that this is one of most amateurs' weakest areas especially under pressure on the course. Do you use your PSR on each shot with your focused practice routine? Thanks so much for taking the time to address all of the questions. You're a sweetheart! Continued success :) Maddie

[isaacbm]

I'm interested in how you're handling you're time between rounds. When I was chasing it, I always thought that one of the things new players really struggled with was how to manage their time when travelling. For instance, if you tee off at 7:00 am one day and finish at 11;00 and then don't play till 1:30 the next day, what do you do to not go stir crazy for the next 25 hours? There's only so many range balls you can hit...

 

I used to see a lot of bad movies more than once!

 

Are you finding this difficult to adjust to? In college, it's easier for some guys because they travel with the team and have a circle of friends to pass the time with. Sometimes guys get off track (drinking, casinos, questionable women, etc.) when they don't learn to manage their time. Just wondering how this is going for you and what your routine is like.

 

Also, is it easy for you to talk to other guys out there on the road or are you kind of a lone wolf?

[GolfingBro]

My question is more about college golf,how is it structured does your coach have drills and fitness routines for you? Or is it where you work on what you want when you want?

 

At my college we had weight room 3 times a week. Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings for 1 hour. My college coach had a few putting games and drills we would do as well as some wedge games with Trackman. Our team was very self motivated and my coach was a strong believer that if we wanted to be on the traveling team we would work hard all on our own.

[GolfingBro]

Hi Matthew, I hope that you are well!! I wanted to ask about your PSR. If you wouldn't mind describing your swing PSR from start to finsih, including your thoughts and actions. I think that this is one of most amateurs' weakest areas especially under pressure on the course. Do you use your PSR on each shot with your focused practice routine? Thanks so much for taking the time to address all of the questions. You're a sweetheart! Continued success :) Maddie

 

My PSR starts way before the shot or even while I'm walking to my ball. During my walk I make sure to focus on something external and not think too hard about the next shot. I find it's very difficult to think about golf for the 5 hours you are playing. As I approach my ball thats when I begin to take note of wind direction, any decline or incline towards the green and any other notable external factors like what the lie of the ball is like.

 

I step off my yardage or use a range finder, depending on if the event allows them or not. Once I have my yardage I figure out my club based on that as well as all those other factors I thought of earlier. Once I have my club and I am 100 percent committed my pre shot is pretty short. I stand a couple yards behind my ball and take smooth practice swings (not taking a divot unless there is thick rough or a weird lie where I need to see ground conditions. Following my two practice swings I step up to the ball, put my clubhead down first and then I step into the golf ball one foot at a time. I take two looks with a few waggles and then fire away. I try to have the shot shape vividly visualized before, and while I hit a shot. It helps me stay more committed.

 

During practice when I play games and have the result oriented practice I do use my full PSR or a shortened version of it.

[GolfingBro]

I'm interested in how you're handling you're time between rounds. When I was chasing it, I always thought that one of the things new players really struggled with was how to manage their time when travelling. For instance, if you tee off at 7:00 am one day and finish at 11;00 and then don't play till 1:30 the next day, what do you do to not go stir crazy for the next 25 hours? There's only so many range balls you can hit...

 

I used to see a lot of bad movies more than once!

 

Are you finding this difficult to adjust to? In college, it's easier for some guys because they travel with the team and have a circle of friends to pass the time with. Sometimes guys get off track (drinking, casinos, questionable women, etc.) when they don't learn to manage their time. Just wondering how this is going for you and what your routine is like.

 

Also, is it easy for you to talk to other guys out there on the road or are you kind of a lone wolf?

 

I usually always practice after a round unless I finish at dark but I don't practice for more than an hour and a half. I'm a lone wolf kinda guy who is able to spend time on his own. But I also share hotel rooms with guys and we all usually do the same thing....watch a lot of Netflix or TV. I don't hang with the guys who drink or go to casinos. A competitive round of golf is tiring and most guys just wanted to chill post rounds in preparation for the next round.

[agatha]

Yesterday Matthew got a text from PGA Latin America saying a spot opened up in his category for this week event in Panama. With the fact he was already teeing it up today in the Golden State event and next week in So Cal Open and the fact he would need to get to Panama immediately he had to pass. I don't think either of us expected that but it was nice to know his status may give him a start at some point. It is the 10 spots for players with Web status.

[GolfingBro]

Today's round I faced an unfamiliar challenge that has only happened once before. Generally when I play in a professional tournament the caliber of play is solid all the way around. That was not the case today. I had a couple of guys in my pairing that really struggled, in fact one of them shot +17. I found difficult to stay in my own game and although I did the best I could to not have what was going on with their rounds affect me, it did in a small way. The 3rd guy shot +8 so I did not have a player to feed off of and help me get momentum going. It is something that may happen from time to time so I need to know how to best block out what is happening and try to stay in my own playing bubble. Tomorrow I will have to do better.

[agatha]

http://www.gstour.com/TournamentScoring/Scoreboard.aspx?TID=3992

On cut line at +1 so a good round tomorrow and all will be good.

[brtnsbs]

Hi Matt, follow you on twitter hope the Chukkas are treating you well! If an extra pair falls out of your golf bag let me know ;)

 

What if any stats do you track? I'm assuming if you do track stats its mostly done personally and not provided by the tour or tournament you are playing in, if that is the case how do you track stats during a competitive round?

 

If you do track any stats do you use them to focus on areas you need to practice moving forward?

[markponi]

Yikes. Sorry you had to deal with that. Unlucky. Question. How badly would your current pro self beat your college self over 4 rounds and why? Thanks again!

[GolfingBro]

Hi Matt, follow you on twitter hope the Chukkas are treating you well! If an extra pair falls out of your golf bag let me know ;)

 

What if any stats do you track? I'm assuming if you do track stats its mostly done personally and not provided by the tour or tournament you are playing in, if that is the case how do you track stats during a competitive round?

 

If you do track any stats do you use them to focus on areas you need to practice moving forward?

 

I don't write down stats anywhere. I can recall most of my rounds and can base what I need to work on off of what I remember. In college we kept stats: Fairways, Greens in Reg, 60-100 yrds, 20-59 yards, under 20 yards, putts inside 6ft, 6ft-10ft, 10-30 ft, over 30ft, and bunker shots. With all the tech now at PGA events they keep track of every stat so its easy to compare based off those stats.

[GolfingBro]

Yikes. Sorry you had to deal with that. Unlucky. Question. How badly would your current pro self beat your college self over 4 rounds and why? Thanks again!

 

I believe that I have kept improving slightly each year. If I compare myself to freshman self I have improved 1-2 shots a round. My game management (be more aggressive off the tee), putting, and strength have all increased from my first years in college. Right now its more mental game for me. I need to be confident and trust every shot and believe I can win.

[bruizer]

Today's round I faced an unfamiliar challenge that has only happened once before. Generally when I play in a professional tournament the caliber of play is solid all the way around. That was not the case today. I had a couple of guys in my pairing that really struggled, in fact one of them shot +17. I found difficult to stay in my own game and although I did the best I could to not have what was going on with their rounds affect me, it did in a small way. The 3rd guy shot +8 so I did not have a player to feed off of and help me get momentum going. It is something that may happen from time to time so I need to know how to best block out what is happening and try to stay in my own playing bubble. Tomorrow I will have to do better.

Oh so you played with Steven Bowditch

[Jsjones]

Today's round I faced an unfamiliar challenge that has only happened once before. Generally when I play in a professional tournament the caliber of play is solid all the way around. That was not the case today. I had a couple of guys in my pairing that really struggled, in fact one of them shot +17. I found difficult to stay in my own game and although I did the best I could to not have what was going on with their rounds affect me, it did in a small way. The 3rd guy shot +8 so I did not have a player to feed off of and help me get momentum going. It is something that may happen from time to time so I need to know how to best block out what is happening and try to stay in my own playing bubble. Tomorrow I will have to do better.

Oh so you played with Steven Bowditch

I almost put this

[The Chicken Connoisseur]

Today's round I faced an unfamiliar challenge that has only happened once before. Generally when I play in a professional tournament the caliber of play is solid all the way around. That was not the case today. I had a couple of guys in my pairing that really struggled, in fact one of them shot +17. I found difficult to stay in my own game and although I did the best I could to not have what was going on with their rounds affect me, it did in a small way. The 3rd guy shot +8 so I did not have a player to feed off of and help me get momentum going. It is something that may happen from time to time so I need to know how to best block out what is happening and try to stay in my own playing bubble. Tomorrow I will have to do better.

Oh so you played with Steven Bowditch

I almost put this

 

Explain the joke?

[knock it close]

Today's round I faced an unfamiliar challenge that has only happened once before. Generally when I play in a professional tournament the caliber of play is solid all the way around. That was not the case today. I had a couple of guys in my pairing that really struggled, in fact one of them shot +17. I found difficult to stay in my own game and although I did the best I could to not have what was going on with their rounds affect me, it did in a small way. The 3rd guy shot +8 so I did not have a player to feed off of and help me get momentum going. It is something that may happen from time to time so I need to know how to best block out what is happening and try to stay in my own playing bubble. Tomorrow I will have to do better.

Oh so you played with Steven Bowditch

I almost put this

 

Explain the joke?

Bowditch shot I think 5 rounds in a row in the 80's over the past two weeks.

[The Chicken Connoisseur]

Today's round I faced an unfamiliar challenge that has only happened once before. Generally when I play in a professional tournament the caliber of play is solid all the way around. That was not the case today. I had a couple of guys in my pairing that really struggled, in fact one of them shot +17. I found difficult to stay in my own game and although I did the best I could to not have what was going on with their rounds affect me, it did in a small way. The 3rd guy shot +8 so I did not have a player to feed off of and help me get momentum going. It is something that may happen from time to time so I need to know how to best block out what is happening and try to stay in my own playing bubble. Tomorrow I will have to do better.

Oh so you played with Steven Bowditch

I almost put this

 

Explain the joke?

Bowditch shot I think 5 rounds in a row in the 80's over the past two weeks.

 

Wow!

[rangersgoalie]

I can't remeber the player , but it was a fellow q school grad who got paired with Hale Irwin on a Saturday

Round. He played lousy, shot in the mid 70's

In the scoring tent he apologized to Hale for "having to watch that"

Irwin stared at him and said he didn't care what he shot, it was his job to take care of his own business, not any other player's.

 

Your are NOT being a dick when you focus on your own game

[tyorke1]

excellant post, it is difficult at times, you spend the day looking for balls potentially on the clock, if they act like an idiot then I tell myself they are on their own but if they act like gentleman i help them and sort of take it on the chin. cant help it it happens

 

 

I can't remeber the player , but it was a fellow q school grad who got paired with Hale Irwin on a Saturday

Round. He played lousy, shot in the mid 70's

In the scoring tent he apologized to Hale for "having to watch that"

Irwin stared at him and said he didn't care what he shot, it was his job to take care of his own business, not any other player's.

 

Your are NOT being a dick when you focus on your own game��

[Hot Rod 71]

Today's round I faced an unfamiliar challenge that has only happened once before. Generally when I play in a professional tournament the caliber of play is solid all the way around. That was not the case today. I had a couple of guys in my pairing that really struggled, in fact one of them shot +17. I found difficult to stay in my own game and although I did the best I could to not have what was going on with their rounds affect me, it did in a small way. The 3rd guy shot +8 so I did not have a player to feed off of and help me get momentum going. It is something that may happen from time to time so I need to know how to best block out what is happening and try to stay in my own playing bubble. Tomorrow I will have to do better.

 

Tough day, wow.

 

I'm no golf guru or mental coach, but its good to experience days like this. I know that sounds counter intuitive, but the only way to manage these situations better in the future is to experience them. Its been said many times that its common to play to the level of our group.

 

I think situations like this are ones that a good caddie can help with. He/she can keep your mind on other things while your playing partners' wheels are flying off. But, that's not always possible. You will have to rely on yourself to ignore what your playing partners are doing. Find other things to focus on while they are struggling; look away and take in the surroundings, think of a favorite song that motivates you, think about a favorite movie, etc. - anything to help you ignore their performance. In my experience the less I watch them struggle the better I play.

 

Just remember, adversity builds character. Good luck!

[agatha]

Tomorrow Megan and I are going to head to Dana Point to watch Matthew play the So Cal Open. Actually Megan is going to caddy for her brother. This pic was from last year at the same event. She used to dislike golf too, now she enjoys caddying. Here is a link to the tournament - https://scpga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/scpga16/event/scpga16160/index.htm

 

 

[Forged4ever]

Today's round I faced an unfamiliar challenge that has only happened once before. Generally when I play in a professional tournament the caliber of play is solid all the way around. That was not the case today. I had a couple of guys in my pairing that really struggled, in fact one of them shot +17. I found difficult to stay in my own game and although I did the best I could to not have what was going on with their rounds affect me, it did in a small way. The 3rd guy shot +8 so I did not have a player to feed off of and help me get momentum going. It is something that may happen from time to time so I need to know how to best block out what is happening and try to stay in my own playing bubble. Tomorrow I will have to do better.

It is even more important when something like this happens to put the blinders on and tighten em down. Your PSR is even more critical when you are in a situation where another FC(s) is having a s*** day because not only do you have to watch the travesty unfold before you, you still have to walk it and this usually adds time to your round which can throw you off if you're used to a certain rhythm and this can make keeping a good tempo and getting into a nice rhythm very difficult.

 

Each of us is an individual so what works for you may not work for RangerGoalie or Mikey Van Sickle however you will probably have to vary your PSR somewhat, ie., taking a few more practice swings or starting it earlier than you normally would until you feel "right" mentally, and you might also try doing some different breathing exercises(this is what I and my Tour Bud do), which while not noticeable to anyone else, allows me to get my body back in sync and I match my breathing to my swing tempo and I visualize and FEEL my desired swing. The fact that this happens so infrequently makes it hard to practice however it's just as you practice hitting out of divots or reversing a 5i or 6i to hit that 1 in 1000 shot, you should develop a "plan B" whereby you remove yourself from the situation to allow yourself to either regain or keep your rhythm and tempo.

 

This is your Profession and I know I am not telling you anything that you do not already know however RG nailed it, focus and concentrate on you, your game and your round. As you said, you can only focus in and think about this "x" amount of time in a round though when you start to notice yourself starting to wander mentally or getting irritated, frustrated or getting out of rhythm or sync, either physically or mentally, BOOM, hit the switch and go to "plan B."

 

I wish Ya the Best Bro :)

 

Thoughts, Prayers Fairways & Greens 4ever,

Richard

[GolfingBro]

Life of a young pro means finding friends places to stay to keep costs down. Thankfully this week I have a fellow pro who went to UC Davis as well opening his home to me for the week. Highly recommend having lots of friends to keep costs down. Haha

[GolfingBro]

Headed to Houston Friday for the Shell Houston Open Monday Qualifier. Feel free to post any questions about the travel/tour you may have or are interested in knowing!