Positive Golf Kudos to a Great Golf Ambassador
One of the Positive Golf practices that I regularly recommend to new and experienced players alike is to have a Positive Golf mentor - someone who exhibits strong mental golf skills, smart practice and playing, and an enthusiasm and respect for the game. It may be a playing partner, someone you regularly observe at the course, or a Tour pro that you follow online and on television. In my case, I have been very fortunate to have relatives that have been shining examples of Positive Golf thinking and playing. They have inspired me in my approach to the game and also inspired the attitudes and techniques that I pass along through our books, blog, and website. One of these great mentors, my aunt, Phyllis Semple, passed away recently at age 87. Her impact on me and on literally hundreds of people in the local, regional, and national golf community has been so profound that I am moved to write this Positive Golf kudos to her. I hope it inspires those who read it to find their own Positive Golf mentors and strive to be fully aware and appreciative of their wisdom.
Phyllis Semple was known as "the first lady of golf" in Western Pennsylvania. Her passion was profound and her activities and accomplishments were many. Among her golf titles, she won the Western Pennsylvania Championship six times, the Pennsylvania State Senior Championship twice, a North and South Senior Championship, 16 club championships at Allegheny Country Club, the United States Senior Championship and was captain of the Women's U.S. Amateur team that competed in Portugal in 1976. Additionally, she served with the Women's Golf Association of Western Pennsylvania, was President of the Pennsylvania State Golf Association, was on the board of the Women's Eastern Golf Association and the Women's Western Golf Association. She also was a member of the USGA's Women's Committee for fifteen years and on the USGA's Museum Committee for ten years.
In the midst of these myriad golf activities and accomplishments, what Phyllis Semple was known for on a "day to day" basis was her positive mental attitude and approach. She consistently practiced it for herself and regularly passed it along to others. These are some of the things that really stand out:
1. Her Can-Do Attitude: Phyllis Semple was often heard to say on the practice range and the course, "I can do it." One of the especially great examples of this was two years ago when she made two holes-in-one in the same round (at age 85!) at the St. Andrews Club, a par-3 course in Delray Beach, FL. After the first one, she said to her daughter who was playing with her, "I can do it again." And sure enough, she did! Whenever Phyllis said, "I can do it," she really meant it and she believed it. She also passed this attitude along to others. Many golfers she has known can recount a story when Phyllis inspired them by saying, "I know you can do it," when they were feeling doubtful about an aspect of their game.
2. Her "No Excuses" Approach: Phyllis Semple did not use excuses about anything regarding her practicing and playing - not the weather, age, health, equipment - not anything. She battled lupus for 35 years and did not use that as an excuse in her practicing or playing. When something was off in her game, she took responsibility for it and set out to get to the source of the problem. And when the weather was hot or cool or drizzly and lots of folks stayed home, she would still be at the range or the course (yes, when she was in her eighties). It always made me smile on "inclement" days like that when I drove to the club to practice or play and I would see her car parked there with its "TEERUP" license plate. It was not unusual on those less-than-perfect weather days for she and I to be the only ones at the practice range. And practice we did - no standing around and making excuses about the weather!
3. Her "Always Keep Improving" Approach: Phyllis Semple was perenially dedicated to improving her game. Each year, she had a key element she was working on. Several years ago, when she was about eighty, she was "testing" different grips like "the claw" as she was working on improving her putting. One year it was her drives and another her short game. And she worked on this improvement all year, not just a "burst" at the beginning. Every day she practiced her latest "project" with focus, dedication, and determination. She kept me and others on our toes too. "What are you working on?" she would ask. "Stick with it," she would say later in the season.
Yes indeed, there is no doubt that the attitudes and the games of many golfers in Western Pennsylvania and beyond, myself included, have been enriched by Phyllis Semple. The ripple effects from her positivity will be felt for years to come. I give Positive Golf kudos in abundance to this great golf golf ambassador and great lady.
Here's to great mentors and great golf!
Rick Semple
Positive Golfer
Co-founder, TheHeartofGolf.com
http://www.TheHeartofGolf.com
Phyllis Semple was known as "the first lady of golf" in Western Pennsylvania. Her passion was profound and her activities and accomplishments were many. Among her golf titles, she won the Western Pennsylvania Championship six times, the Pennsylvania State Senior Championship twice, a North and South Senior Championship, 16 club championships at Allegheny Country Club, the United States Senior Championship and was captain of the Women's U.S. Amateur team that competed in Portugal in 1976. Additionally, she served with the Women's Golf Association of Western Pennsylvania, was President of the Pennsylvania State Golf Association, was on the board of the Women's Eastern Golf Association and the Women's Western Golf Association. She also was a member of the USGA's Women's Committee for fifteen years and on the USGA's Museum Committee for ten years.
In the midst of these myriad golf activities and accomplishments, what Phyllis Semple was known for on a "day to day" basis was her positive mental attitude and approach. She consistently practiced it for herself and regularly passed it along to others. These are some of the things that really stand out:
1. Her Can-Do Attitude: Phyllis Semple was often heard to say on the practice range and the course, "I can do it." One of the especially great examples of this was two years ago when she made two holes-in-one in the same round (at age 85!) at the St. Andrews Club, a par-3 course in Delray Beach, FL. After the first one, she said to her daughter who was playing with her, "I can do it again." And sure enough, she did! Whenever Phyllis said, "I can do it," she really meant it and she believed it. She also passed this attitude along to others. Many golfers she has known can recount a story when Phyllis inspired them by saying, "I know you can do it," when they were feeling doubtful about an aspect of their game.
2. Her "No Excuses" Approach: Phyllis Semple did not use excuses about anything regarding her practicing and playing - not the weather, age, health, equipment - not anything. She battled lupus for 35 years and did not use that as an excuse in her practicing or playing. When something was off in her game, she took responsibility for it and set out to get to the source of the problem. And when the weather was hot or cool or drizzly and lots of folks stayed home, she would still be at the range or the course (yes, when she was in her eighties). It always made me smile on "inclement" days like that when I drove to the club to practice or play and I would see her car parked there with its "TEERUP" license plate. It was not unusual on those less-than-perfect weather days for she and I to be the only ones at the practice range. And practice we did - no standing around and making excuses about the weather!
3. Her "Always Keep Improving" Approach: Phyllis Semple was perenially dedicated to improving her game. Each year, she had a key element she was working on. Several years ago, when she was about eighty, she was "testing" different grips like "the claw" as she was working on improving her putting. One year it was her drives and another her short game. And she worked on this improvement all year, not just a "burst" at the beginning. Every day she practiced her latest "project" with focus, dedication, and determination. She kept me and others on our toes too. "What are you working on?" she would ask. "Stick with it," she would say later in the season.
Yes indeed, there is no doubt that the attitudes and the games of many golfers in Western Pennsylvania and beyond, myself included, have been enriched by Phyllis Semple. The ripple effects from her positivity will be felt for years to come. I give Positive Golf kudos in abundance to this great golf golf ambassador and great lady.
Here's to great mentors and great golf!
Rick Semple
Positive Golfer
Co-founder, TheHeartofGolf.com
http://www.TheHeartofGolf.com
Labels: mental golf, positive mental attitude, positive mental golf
posted by Rick Semple at 8:45 PM
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