Work Hard, Dream Big

The Week in Pictures

Port Kennedy

Didn't play my best today. The game owes you nothing.

Great Day!

My swing is starting to take shape nicely. Trying to keep my right elbow from flaring and more tucked in... getting close. Good gym session tonight cranking out my new program- I love it.

8am tee time at Joondalup in the morning. Ciao, Jim

Getting Better!!

Width!!

Steve Jobs

"Again, you can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life." (Jobs 2005)

"Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart." (Jobs 2005)

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary." (Jobs 2005)

"Stay hungry. Stay foolish."

Team Rabobank Sunday Morning Ride

Good hit out this morning for Team Rabobank's newest signings Rance de Grussa and James Bates. Ride around the river suburbs (Claremont, Peppermint Grove, Mosman Park) down Stirling Highway to Freo for a coffee. Then back along the coast past Leighton, Cottesloe and Swanbourne beaches back up to Nedlands. Light recovery session at the beach after. Great start to the day!

Study Week!

Early morning trip to the airport Tuesday morning was worth it for 2 bottles of Belvedere duty free.

Spent a lot of time this week looking at watches and finally found the one that I want! Oris Williams F1 Chronograph.

New bike!! Giant Rabobank TCR Advanced 2. New hobby whilst sitting out a long term injury lay off form golf.

Been doing it pretty tough this week with all these presents! Much better than spending the week studying

Splint

4 weeks wearing this thing. 12 week repetitive strain injury. Going to give me more time to put a better effort into my studies, work harder on my fitness and spend more time hanging out with my mates. Life is full of adversity and so is sport. One of my favourite quotes which has been very appropriate: "From adversity comes strength".

Tuesday

Greg Ashton master clubfitter at Joondalup bending my putter upright. Sitting better on the ground now. More suited to my stroke like Steve Stricker's putting action. Also taken 2 inches off it in length so it's now 33 inches.

My new kicks- haven't taken them off since I got them Saturday. Wrist specialist on Thursday arvo. Uni, pilates and podiatrist tomorrow. Busy day. Sleep now. Ciao

Monday Night

Tired from getting up early to watch the PGA. Listening to some beats. Entourage was so good tonight!! Shit weather today- too windy, average practice session. Still don't know when I can play, I just have no idea. Seeing another specialist this week. Big day at the course tomorrow. Still no hitting balls.

Getting back to it

This month has been frustrating. A nagging wrist injury has restricted me to putting and hitting shots with one hand. Finally started to hit some pitch shots with two hands...IT HAS BEEN A WHILE. Felt pretty good and my swing felt like it hadn't left me completely. Day off today which consisted of some Uni and pilates training. Starting to feel pretty good and confident, just have to build up to hitting full shots.

Had to pull out of the Club Championships this weekend which was disappointing but just haven't done enough the past month. Just a bit frustrating when some people don't appreciate how to manage injury especially since I work with the best physio's and doc's in Perth. Bigger things to come!!

Bath, stretch, dinner and then a bit of Uni work to finish off the day. Back to it tomorrow!

Upcoming Pennant Final

Another fairly light training week so far with a wrist strain still bothering me and a pennant final looming on Sunday. After giving my wrist a real flogging at pennants on Sunday, I gave it a rest Monday and used the day to get a scan on it and an ultrasound as well as catching up with an osteopath. The scan's came up all clear however if the problem persists I will have no choice but to have a MRI (a costly exercise).

The osteopath said that I had 1 leg shorter than the other which was causing an imbalance in my spine and consequently my back pain. After a trip to the podiatrist yesterday who confirmed the problem, I will start experiment with a lift over the next few weeks. If successful, we will build a step into my orthotic which will not only help my back pain but my golf swing and physical training. It was great to get this news but frustrating that it has taken almost 1 year of seeing physio's, doctors, chiro's and podiatrists for someone to finally tell me what the problem was!!

The last few days I have been restricted to putting practice as well as chipping and hitting shots with my right hand only. I'm starting to get pretty good at it and can now hit a 9 iron almost 100 meters when I strike it good.

I can't wait for the final Sunday. We have a strong team and to be apart of a flag would be very special and nice way to finish off what has personally been a frustrating season. It will also be a nice lead in to the upcoming Paxton season which starts up early September. I will be looking for much improved performances and some wins in the season but for now a return to Uni and more training is on the radar.

Some pics from today below.

Cheers, James

Kennedy Bay Golf Links

It's been a frustrating week!! Tweaked my wrist playing bunker shots late into training on Monday. Yesterday, I knew from my first practice swing that it was still not right. So I did about an hour of putting and then caught up with my physio to get it checked out. Nothing too serious- just a nagging bit of imflamation inside my wrist.

We had competitive training today down at Kennedy Bay which is simply a magnificent golf course and was in great condition. I knew from my 2nd shot on the 1st hole that my wrist still wasn't right. Played out the first nine and then racked the clubs and walked around with the guys on the 2nd nine which ended with a heavy downpour.

With my wrist still sore, I will take it easy the rest of the week by only doing chipping and putting with pennants on the weekend the main focus.

James

1st Week Done!!

Glad that the first week of training at Pro Tour Golf College is finished. The first week like last time has been the hardest- just getting back into the routine of things. About to go play the Saturday Comp at Royal Perth and then pennants tomorrow. Body feels tired but good to have a sleep in this morning.

James

Nice Weather

Some nice weather today here in Perth. Good day's work. This is me on Dune 7 at Joondalup Golf Resort21 degrees tomorrow! Might even have to wear shorts.

James

Back to School!

After two weeks break, Pro Tour Golf College is back in full swing for Term 2. I enjoyed the time away and got to do things my way for a change. I had a couple extra days away from golf and was able to work on my fitness with my pilates instructor Prue Newhnam at Body Logic Physiotherapy (in Shenton Park).

I took the time to do a modified training program with a greater focus of getting out and playing holes out on the course. Subsequently I am starting to feel more confident on the course and coupled with a greater technical competency my scores are slowly starting to show some improvement.

However having two weeks away from training whilst it was a nice change, I struggled to practice efficiently on my own. THIS made me realise that training at Joondalup with Pro Tour Golf College is where I need to be. The highly structured training schedule promotes a competitive environment that encourages me to "train like I play so that I can play like I train".

Some photos from the first week!




Looking forward to the British Open this week.

James

Pro Tour Golf College

I'm now starting my 8th week of training at Pro Tour Golf College. We train up at Joondalup Golf Resort Monday to Friday from 8am and finish anywhere from 1pm right through till 4pm even 5pm. Training is engaging and at times really tough and mentally demanding. Specifically, concentrating for long periods of time. However this creates discipline, something I feel that I have improved through 7 weeks of training.

I can feel all my skills improving. Specifically approach wedges, putting, shots around the green and my full swing (so basically all the necessary skills to shoot low scores).

Tuesday morning is psych session. Tomorrow's session is goal setting and I am really looking forward to it. I know that if I keep training how I am training that anything is possible. I already feel like I'm getting closer and although my scores aren't reflective I know that in time as long as I stay disciplined that it will come.

Here are some photos from the first week:






Time for a bath and stretch then off to bed. Another big day tomorrow. Champions train, losers complain.

James