Tales From The Bunker

We all know the basic facts of John’s life:

• Winner of two majors
• As talented as any golfer on tour
• Drinking and gambling problems
• Four wives

Despite his faults we still love his oversize personality and understand his struggles with fame. But how many of us know of his childhood where the seed of his self destructive behavior were planted?

John Patrick Daly Jr. was born on April 28, 1966, in Carmichael, California. His father was an engineer who was rarely home and John struggled to get quality time with him as he grew up. John’s choice of outlet was golf. He discovered the sport as a four-year-old after his father gave him two cut-off clubs. He loved it from the beginning.

Due to his father’s job John moved often as a child. The first move was to Dardanelle, Arkansas. John never had many friends as a kid, so golf proved the perfect diversion for him. He could play 18 holes by himself, or hook up with a group to fill out a foursome. His playing companions were just as often adults as they were kids his own age.

Soon John was introduced to drinking, his lifelong demon. He downed his first beer when he was eight, and next developed a taste for his parents’ homemade wine. But his real love was Jack Daniel’s. It was his father’s drink of choice, and after the 14-year-old’s first sip, it became his, too.

His life soon revolved around golf and drinking. Once a good student, his grades dropped as afternoons were spent practicing and playing, and every night seemed to be a party. His weight began to skyrocket and he found a unique way to diet. John realized that Diet Coke and Jack Daniel’s was the ultimate weight-loss method.

No wonder that with little parental guidance and an early introduction to alcohol, his sudden fame was too much to handle.  Daly was once asked what he’s learned about himself through the years.  “That I was happy when I was a miserable drunk. I played better when I was drunk,” he said. Daly paused, smiled half a smile and gently shook his head. “I don’t know,” he said.

Below is a video of the “Bad” John. Hopefully we can soon have one of the”Good” John.

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We have been focusing on diet and exercise in our last few blogs. Now it is time to hear from golf’s original golf “Mr. Fitness” Gary Player. At a time when fitness was not emphasized Gary was very focused on exercise and attributes much of his success to his workout regimen.

In Gary’s own words, from www.GaryPlayer.com,  Gary discuses his views on fitness. Because of the length we have decided to break it into several blogs.

Sit back, relax and learn from “Mr. Fitness”.

“Reporters have often referred to me as the Jack Lalane of golf. I consider that a huge compliment as I know Jack personally and there is no one who looks after himself better than he. From the time I was a young man and my brother Iain literally kicked me in the butt for not being able to finish a race against him, I was determined to become as strong and fit as I could possibly be. When I first competed against the likes of Palmer and Nicklaus, I realized that due to my small stature, my only hope of gaining an edge was to out work them. So I became obsessed with exercise and diet. I was going to be sure that my body would not let me down.

You will have to remember that in the late fifties, early sixties, and even the seventies for that matter, weightlifting was thought to be taboo for golfers. At the time, I was ridiculed and told that weight lifting would ruin my game. Of course, today we know that not to be the case – that is when weights are applied appropriately to the golf swing. I even remember one very famous golf course architect who was quoted in the paper under big headlines after I won the ‘61 Masters saying “Gary Player will never last.” I am pleased to say he might be fidgeting a bit in his grave to this day for that statement! People like that only fueled my obsession and drove me to prove them wrong.

I am often asked what I do in my workouts and how often I do it. Due to my heavy travel schedule, my workout frequency varies on a week to week basis. Some weeks, I am only able to work out three times, while other weeks I may get 5 or 6 workouts in. The fact of the matter is that I know that the gym is the key to my quality of life and ability to continue playing the game that is so enjoyable for me. As far as a routine goes, routines can be very dangerous. The human body is an amazing computer. In order to push it to its limits physically, one needs to vary workouts regularly in order to surprise the body and get it to respond to the workout stimulus. Having said this, for a golfer, there are some fundamental biomechanics that need to be stimulated in order to perform optimally. These fundamentals are included in every one of my workouts.”

 All content © 2011 Black Knight International

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I promised that my next blog would be about weight loss and getting in shape. Should it be titled”The Impossible Dream”?

A friend of ours is a therapist who has been in practice for thirty years. With the exception of hardcore drugs, he feels losing weight and keep it off is the single hardest thing for people to accomplish. If a professional says that, who am I to try to tell anyone how to do the impossible.  

My personal facts are I have gained 12 pounds in the last 60 days. I have not been to the gym in that time so I have lost muscle weight.Therefore my fat gain is certainly greater than 12 pounds. The weight is entirely around my stomach area. My clothes are uncomfortable, my back hurts and there is no way in hell I could make a proper golf turn or walk nine holes.   

The weight gain is mainly from not going to the gym and eating copious quantities of food at bedtime. Christmas cookies and fudge also do not help. In both golf and losing weight you know what you should do but you do not do it anyway. Every night at bedtime I still stuff my face. I have to go to the chiropractor each week for my back because I do not do my exercises.

I used to consider exercise nonnegotiable. That is the key for me. If the gym comes before everything (almost) and I again make exercise nonnegotiable everything changes. I start to eat better, my back feels better, I feel better mentally and basically I feel better in every way.

My single New Year’s resolution is to make exercise nonnegotiable. Everything else will fall into place.

Ultimately this blog is about golf and is there anyone out there who thinks their game cannot be improved by being in the best shape they can be. Increased flexibility, strength and energy can do wonders for your golf game.

Is anyone going to join me?  

In our next blog we are going to do a little self promotion and discuss some of the golf exercise books we sell in our stores. Maybe one will help you develop the routine that works for you? 

As always do not forget to check out our TheEscapePlace stores on eBay, Amazon and Bonanza.
They will help your golf game and more!

Remember to keep  ‘em in the fairway.

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As our readers may recall we recently decided (despite my objection) to go on Weight Watchers. We have both succeeded in losing some weight but have still not yet reached our goals.

Our decision was based on two goals. First was for an upcoming wedding that we wanted to look our best. Second was to help our golf games by being in better shape. Nick Faldo says you need to look at yourself honestly in the mirror and decide if your physical condition is affecting your game. In all honesty it might have been affecting ours.

Like most of the country we have been experiencing a hot spell. We decided to test our new conditioning by walking 18 holes on a relatively short (5900 yards) course in 94 degree heat. While the heat was brutal the weight loss definitely made a significant difference in our games. Normally when we walk, by the time we reach the last few holes I am usually quite tired and my game is significantly affected. Not this time! My drive on the 18^th hole was easily my best of the day, both long and straight. Becky had a similar positive experience and probably tee to green played her best round of the year.

In all honesty I had not expected to notice any real difference as a result of my weight loss. But try picking up a ten pound weight and think about carrying it with you for 4 hours. You get tired just thinking about it.

We strongly suggest to all of our readers who need to lose weight to seriously consider taking off some of that extra weight. Improved health should be a strong enough reason but a better golf game is also an excellent reason. Even if you ride a golf cart you will be stronger near the end of your round and your scores will reflect the improvement.

 Better health and better golf is an unbeatable combination.

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