Hey friends,

I've been contemplating starting this newsletter for a while, and now, the moment has arrived. I must admit, I've had my fair share of doubts. Thoughts like, "What can I write about that hasn't been covered already?" or "What sets me apart from the rest?" even, "Golf Digest must have tackled this topic already."

But then it hit me. This is about sharing MY STORY. It's about how my own struggles on the course and the lessons I learned from them can potentially help some of you. After all, I've been in your shoes, navigating through the overwhelming sea of information, desperately seeking improvement. And you know what? I've only ever taken one golf lesson in my life, and it resulted in a week-long bout of the dreaded shanks! Needless to say, I swore off golf lessons forever. Maybe that's why I find joy in coaching others now, helping them navigate this crazy game that both captivates and frustrates us.

Before we delve deeper, let me clarify a few things. Some of the challenges I'll share occurred during my childhood, while others are battles I still fight today. I won't be presenting them in a strict chronological order. Instead, I'll dive into the tough times and how I conquered them. Remember, the beauty of golf lies in its indifference to age; the game only cares about how we find a way to get the ball in the hole. So, please take these stories, struggles, and victories and extract something meaningful from them. My hope is that by sharing my experiences, you'll glean valuable insights to overcome your plateaus and rediscover the joy in golf.

With that said, let's embark on my first challenge as a young golfer.

It was 2006, my junior year of high school, and I decided to join the Cedaredge, Colorado high school boys golf team. Having played various sports throughout my life, including baseball, basketball, tennis, and even a brief stint in football, I thought I could handle golf quite well. Heck, I'd even played some golf in middle school, scoring in the 50s and 60s (excluding penalties) alongside my brother. I truly believed I had a chance in this game.

Then, reality struck. Golf hit me like a ton of bricks. It was excruciatingly difficult, and the harder I tried to hit the ball, the more elusive it became. It was unbelievable. However, I did have a knack for driving the ball. I could bomb it off the tee, leaving older folks at Deer Creek Village Golf Course (now Cedaredge Golf Club) astonished as I launched it straight down the middle, 280 yards. But then came the short game... duff, duff, blade, on the green, three putts for an 8. Yes, 280 yards in one shot, followed by a score of 8 on a 366-yard par 4. Meanwhile, an older gentleman who hit it 240 yards into the rough walked off with a par. That's when I realized that to compete in golf, I needed to master the 100-yard and in game. But little did I know, golf had another challenge in store for me...

During one Cedaredge Bruins practice round, we took on the front nine of our neighborhood course, a picturesque layout adorned with houses along a few holes. It was open enough to allow comfortable unleashing of the "big dog" (a.k.a., the driver). Brimming with confidence, I teed off with my driver on hole #1, and as expected, it sailed high and far into the air... only to end up dead RIGHT! The dreaded slice had come back to haunt me. "What just happened?!" I silently questioned my fate. "Surely, this won't happen again." Reload. But to my dismay, SLICE! Suddenly, nerves, fear, and disappointment washed over me as I stood there, embarrassed in front of my friends and teammates. My grip pressure skyrocketed from a relaxed 5 to a tense 10.

The round continued, and my slices persisted, but oddly enough, an 8 now felt like a breath of fresh air. Most of my scores ballooned to 10s and 12s because not only did I struggle with the short game, but now my long game had deserted me too. We reached hole #9, and once again, my shot veered into the penalty area on the right. I re-teed, preparing for another attempt. That's when my teammate, Ryan, offered a simple but crucial piece of advice: "Bo, stop aiming to the right!" He placed a club at my feet, aligning my toes to the intended target line. Lo and behold, my alignment was nearly 30 degrees right of the desired target line. Little did I know that such misalignment would lead to an overly steep swing, leaving my club face wide open to the target line and resulting in an uncontrollable slice.

LESSON #1 - Always ensure your body—ankles, knees, hips, and shoulders—is aligned parallel left of the target (for right-handed golfers) or parallel right of the target (for left-handed golfers).

Since then, I've paid close attention to my alignment before every swing, and it has dramatically reduced those dreaded slices with the driver. So, the next time you find yourself hooking or slicing, double-check your alignment. While it may not solve all your swing issues, correct alignment serves as a solid foundation and fundamental aspect of the golf swing.

Stay tuned for more stories, tips, and insights on overcoming challenges and transforming your game. Together, we'll navigate the intricate world of golf and uncover strategies to improve our performance on the course.

Best of luck!