Current Mood: "Wintertime Blues" -- John Hiatt 

(current condition. courtesy wild Sound Filmaking)

Well, it finally happened. That son of a bitch winter finally showed up – and with a vicious vengeance nonetheless. After a January full of 40 degree weather and hour drives to the shore to take advantage of the precious bonus golf, the Northeast is now blanketed in close to two feet of the unwavering white bullshit that myself and all other sane people loathe with a glowing white hot passion. Or “snow” as some people call it.

With that in mind, it’s time to turn my attention to “indoor golf activities.”

In my case, it’s a little exercise, a lot of reading and – as you’ve probably noticed – “intermittent” writing about my progress and method and trips to the cigar lounge to accomplish said writing.

I know that last one seems counterproductive, but I say dance with the one that brung ya. I didn’t go from a free-swinging hack who couldn’t break 100 to a 2.4 handicap on “clean living.”  

As all of you know, there are plenty of roadblocks on the way to good golf for someone not blessed to be a trust fund baby or a golfing prodigy. Instead of naming them all, we’ll just call it “life.” In my case, “life” has happened a lot lately. Not all of it bad (as you’ll see in the relatively near future) but not all of it good (big ups, Granny! Say hi to Avo for me!) but all of it has kept my laptop at arm’s reach – until now!

So what have I done to improve? Good question. Glad I asked it!

-         

-     - Finished Bob Rotella’s, “Golf is not a Game of Perfect”

-     -  Finished "Zen Golf" by Dr. Joseph Parent

-           -   Began reading Bob Rotella’s “Putting Out of Your Mind”

-           -   Exercised 7 minutes per day (at least) for 5-7 days a week

-           -  Cut extra carbs from morning routine, opting for veggie/spinach/sausage omelets for breakfast

I know a lot of that doesn’t seem like much, but when you were eating “Man v. Food” -type breakfast sandwiches every morning for a year, that’s a shitload of break being completely nixed from the diet. Now if only pizza weren’t so damn yummy….

By far the largest thing in 2017 has been those books. I’m not what you would call a voracious reader, but I’ve already read three books cover-to-cover since January. The first, was “Zen Golf” by Dr. Joseph Parent and the second was a book about money (which has helped, too – but I’m going to keep my personal finances to myself as I’m finally becoming someone whose identity someone might actually want to steal. The third, and most recent was the previously mentioned “Golf is Not a Game of Perfect.”

Both books have paid immediate dividends. Armed with a new focus and a concise yet consistent pre-shot routine, I played some of my best golf of the last 12 months in January. The putting and chipping were easily my best performances of the year, averaging 25 putts per round in the first 5 outings of 2017.

The hardest part of the next couple months will be watching tournaments from sunny parts of the country and looking out at the never-ending blanket of white while I wait to put my gains in the gym and between my ears to good use.

In the meantime, I’ll keep digging and writing whenever I can. I have a couple pieces chambered, too, that I haven’t forgotten about that’ll be up soon.

Until next time…

Hack to Hero: Ins, Outs and What-Have-Yous

"Hey bud, maybe stop talking while I take the picture, huh?"

“A Bad attitude is worse than a bad swing.” – Payne Stewart

Hello!

So, it’s been about a week since I last posted here – a quick return for me! And today, I just have a little more rambling to do.

I may not have written much (or, shit, done much) in the last seven days, but I’ve been thinking quite a bit about the upcoming golf season and all that lies ahead for me. And it seems to me that, for at least a little while, this blog will be more of a hodge-podge of my thoughts and musings about my efforts and work, tips and tricks and lessons learned than any sort of formal blog. Hopefully that’s alright with you.

Some of the things I will be tackling in the coming weeks while the snow hangs around will be:

Dietary changes

I have a few meal plans made up and a couple steps I want to take. Last year, the dietary side of things didn’t really pan out as I am currently still drinking more soda than your average human should, binging on candy and chips and eating pizza three times a week. I managed to maintain my beginning weight throughout the year which, if you saw my work van on a daily basis, you might consider that proof or miracles being things.

Starting this week, I’m going to be cutting carbs and taking in more protein and vegetables. Daily breakfast sandwiches are going to be the first to go – opting instead for egg bowls and omelets stuffed with spinach, peppers, onions, ham, bacon and a little cheese. The pizza will be the last to dwindle as pizza is important.

The Carolla Effect

Anyone close to me knows I worship at the altar of AdamCarolla. The former “Man Show” host-turned Podcast mogul may be considered an acquired taste by those on the liberal left, but for anyone who has ever sat and listened to his poignant, pragmatic approach to life, decision making, re-wiring oneself and getting the most out of this skin-and-bone vessel we’re floating around in, you know that the man could make a living – and in a way, kind of does – as a motivational or self-help guru for anyone willing to look in the mirror and realize that maybe – just maybe – they could be their biggest problem.

(photo courtesy footballmatters.org)

Luckily, under Carolla’s guidance, you’ll also find out that you and only you hold the keys to your rewiring and future success. It’s about getting up and doing. As Carolla says, instead of wasting time debating whether or not you should bring the coffee mug rolling around the floor or your pickup in the house, you just pick up the fucking mug and do it. It’ll take less time and you’ll be better for it.

For me, the hours of free content has been more than a blessed break from the monotony of cruising around Western Massachusetts at work, it’s put a little fire in my belly. Besides my wife’s decree that I can play as much golf as I want until we have kids, the Adam Carolla Show, Take a Knee and Adam & Dr. Drew shows on PodcastOne have been the largest motivating factors in my actually getting this going. Instead of day dreaming about playing in the U.S. Open, it’s time to do it.

Dealing with Defeat

I haven’t mentioned much about the manhood-robbing avalanche of strokes I buried myself under in both the Massachusetts State-Am and Pub Links qualifiers I played in last year, but I will. The fact of the matter is, it was immensely difficult for me to face facts that my handicap, while impressively low, was not necessarily accurate as none of those rounds came with a modicum of pressure. And to go from shooting in the mid-70’s to barely breaking 100 in a tournament was devastating to my under developed competitive psyche.

Since then, I have learned a lot and still have much more to lose. I will tell the story of each event soon, detailing my horrific unraveling, what I learned those afternoons and since, as well as some of the positives from the experiences.

(Photo courtesy Amazon.com)

Books and Such

For Christmas, I was given three books by Dr. Bob Rotella – “Golf is Not a Game of Perfect,” “Putting Out of Your Mind” and “How Champions Think” – as well as purchased “A Good Walk Spoiled” by John Feinstein and “Paper Tiger” by Tom Coyne.

I’m going to do much more homework this year. I’m going to really immerse myself in the game in a way I haven’t before – which should scare those close to me, as they’re already tired of my incredibly specific and obscure golf references and anecdotes. Sorry, y’all.

Helping Hands

On this journey, I certainly will not be alone. While I have no formal instructor or caddie or coach or shrink or anyone else that a Tour Pro might have on the payroll, I have plenty of support from friends, family and industry professionals who have helped me in more ways than I can count since I kinda-sorta started this mission last Winter.

I am eternally grateful for their support and yours, as I know it’s much easier to shit on someone’s dreams and ambitions than it is to throw your support behind it – and I appreciate that!

Until next time! 

-Matt 

The Hack is Back! Reflections on 2016, Goals for 2017

                                            (courtesy eastlongisland.com)

               So, it’s a new year and time for a new commitment. Well, rather, a re-commitment, to a challenge – nay, a quest – that I sort of abandoned last year. Of course, I’m talking about my journey from 30 handicapper to 1.4 INDEX capable of attempting to qualify for the United States Open.

                I know this isn’t the first time I’ve done this here, but I’d like to apologize for not updating this thing since about Valentine’s Day of 2016. I promise you, I would have rather been updating the blog than doing a lot of what I had to last year.

                In defense of my sparse updating schedule, 2016 saw me get married, start a new job, go to the Masters for the third time and lose two grandparents on top of the normal BS we call “life.” That being said, it wasn’t a totally lost year on my journey despite my infrequent updates – so the next couple weeks, I’ll mostly be catching you up on 2016.

                First of all, progress WAS made. I began the blog as a 3.7 handicap shooting 82 in less-than ideal conditions last February. As I sit and write now, I am a 2.4 INDEX coming off a 77 (with two doubles) in equally as frustrating conditions this past Monday. Again, it’s not going to be turning any heads or earning me any checks any time soon – but progress is progress and more than a stroke in a summer is still solid, especially on this end of the spectrum.

                Twenty-sixteen brought a lot of firsts: First competitive rounds, first round under par (sort-of) and my first two rounds of even par. For someone carrying a 2.4 handicap, that may sound kind of nuts – but I don’t make a lot of birdies or doubles. It’s not by choice, but my strategy has long been “par you to death.” Unfortunately, that’s going to need to change. No one qualifies for U.S. Open’s with even-par 72’s.

                That’s why I’m deeming 2017 to be “the Year of the Birdie.”

                Last winter, I said my goal was to hit more greens in regulation – which I did. Crunching the numbers, my percentage of greens in regulation jumped form an abysmal 15% to close to 35%. Putts were also down, as I went from averaging 34.5 putts per round to just under 32 a round.

With jumps like that, you’d think I’d have gotten even better, but I saw a dip in fairways hit and lost ball while trying to overhaul my driver swing in an effort to gain some yards off the tee. Ahh, the plight of the amateur!

With all this in mind, I’m also announcing a slight alteration to the plan. I will not to be dumb as to think I have a snowball’s chance in hell to get to a 1.4 INDEX by April to try and make it to Erin Hills – so the new target is the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills. I figure, by then, I’ll have another summer of competitive rounds and about 18 months to knock that final, pesky stroke off the handicap.

Stay tuned over the next couple of weeks as I will be posting a couple more reflections, some plans for the new year and some tips and tricks that helped me in 2016 and that I will be leaving heavily on in 2017.

Thanks for coming back!

-Matt

Hack to Hero: The Journey Takes Shape

Happy Valentine's Day!

I'd first like to start by sincerely apologizing for keeping you folks out of the loop for so long -- the last 10-12 days have been incredibly busy for Heather and I and I am just now getting time to get back where I belong -- behind a keyboard.

Despite my lack of communication with you, I have been making slow but steady progress in my journey to Erin Hills and, God willing, the 2017 U.S. Open. The last two weeks may have been busy, but they've also been quite exciting.

First, I'd like to announce that I have partnered with a "wellness guru" named John Murphy to help me me achieve my goals. There will be plenty more on and from John in the near future on this blog and from me.

One thing you will see in the very near future is that John is the perfect match for me and my journey for a number of reasons, but none more important than the transformation he made himself a couple short years ago.

Second, Heather and I have both been doing extensive research looking for the best diet/nutrition plan for us and believe we have found our book -- "The All-Day Fat-Burning Diet" by Yuri Elkaim -- to follow.

Honestly, I haven't done too much of the reading -- yet -- but Heather has already seen results and enjoys the judgement free attitude and leisurely pace at which Elkaim allows you to go. For my journey, obviously, there isn't much time -- but there is some.

This may sound silly, but considering that changing my body is almost a secondary goal, I'm admittedly more concerned about my golf game than my body. Seeing pros like Jason Dufner and Carl Pettersson go through quick, extreme changes in their physique and subsequently struggle mightily with their games soon there after.

I, obviously, do not have the luxury of ending up in this situation, so I'm more than content for the body transformation to be more gradual than abrupt.

So far, it's been a little more than three full weeks since I began this journey and I've already lost three pounds -- not a lot, but it's a good start. I've only played one round of golf (living in New England is tough) but have spent hours practicing my putting in the apartment! So at least I'm doing something.

And since I've lost a little weight already, I wanted to make sure ya'll have a reference point at the end of this journey, so below I've included -- reluctantly -- the ubiquitous "before" bathroom selfie photo. Not that I'm ashamed of my body, but I feel bad that you have to look at it:

Sorry about that...

Until next time, duffers!

-Matt

This was not where I played on Sunday....Unfortunately 

Hey all!

I know in the last blog I promised you an update last Thursday. Unfortunately for the sake of the blog, I was quite busy this weekend and unable to get in front of my laptop for more than a few seconds at a time.

That being said, I’m back with an update – And I’ve found more than a few hurdles that I am not only going to need to clear if I’m going to succeed in my goal, but may very well need your help in doing. First, however, here’s a look at my vitals for the day:

Weight: 250 lbs.

Diet:

-          4 eggs, cheese and ketchup

-          16oz Orange Juice

-          Spaghetti and Meat Sauce

-          11 Home-made chicken nuggets, Honey mustard sauce

-          1 20oz Sprite Soda

-          4 20oz bottle of Spring Water

-          1 box of Mike & Ike candy

-          12oz whole milk

-          3 “Back to Nature” Thin Mint cookies

Exercise:

-          3 sets each: planks, 20 jumping jacks, 20 crunches

Golf:

-          None today, but had arguably the most satisfying 82 of my life on Sunday afternoon (I’ll get into that soon)

Obviously, there’s already some visible progress being made! I’ve dropped an LB on the scale and actually got to play 18 holes of golf. Knowing that I live in Western Massachusetts and its January, that in and of itself is a bit of a miracle. It was 58 and sunny on Sunday this year; last year it was 7. So there ya go.

I played Oak Ridge Country Club in Agawam and, as you might imagine, conditions were less than ideal. Having not swung the wrenches in about two months, it was just nice to get out there and make some swings. An 82 is in no way a good score, but it felt much more like a 74. Consider the two three-putts, inconsistent firmness of the greens and a couple of really, really bad bounces on the frozen greens and it was a pretty good day.

My goals for the 2016 season was to work on two things: Hitting greens and making putts. On Sunday, I hit my share of greens (not nearly enough, but great for the year’s first round) and made every comebacker I left myself on the afternoon.

What became evident was that I have a lot of work to do when it comes to dealing with on-course issues and bad breaks. I need to learn to be more like Tom Watson and less like Greg Norman. So, like I said last week, if any of you know a good head doctor, feel free to point me in their direction…

Off the course there was plenty I learned, too. Like, that dieting is going to be a real bitch if I keep caving to cravings. I’ve added salads to my diet (which, for anyone who knew/knows me knows is a very recent addition. I had never eaten an entire salad until this January) and cut out my No. 1 vice, Coca-Cola, almost completely from my diet in the last three months, opting instead for diet soda and the occasional Sprite. Those two items will be the next to be systematically eliminated from regular consumption.

Tomorrow and Wednesday will present my biggest issues – Moe’s Southwest Grill and Cozy Corner Pizza being readily available during my lunch break. I have GOT to stop eating entire pizza’s and cups of Moe’s queso every time I have the chance. It’s just not healthy let alone conducive to my succeeding in this mission.

Unfortunately, will power has never been one of my strong points and this will continue to be an issue throughout the journey if I’m not careful. Again, if anyone knows that head doctor….

If you haven’t checked it out yet, I spent a portion of my Sunday talking to great, Adam Fonseca at GolfUnfiltered.com for a podcast about my journey. If you’ve got a spare 45 minutes, give it a listen!

If you have any recipes, exercises or information that has helped you and might help me, I’m open to it – this is a community project for all you golf nerds like me, I just happen to be (and am honored to be) the lab rat. You can message me on Twitter @HacktoHero27 or via email at hacktohero@gmail.com.

Come back late this week for more, and a detailed look at my week and progress.

As always, thanks again for following along!

-Matt 

So -- it's officially the end of my first two days of the "Hack to Hero" Journey and there's (obviously) a ton of work left to do.

For the next 16 months, I’m going to update this blog daily or every other day depending on my work schedule. As I stated earlier, I have a full-time job, a soon-to-be wife and plenty of other daily obligations that routinely keep my golf clubs and I apart longer than I’d like – just like the rest of you dreamers!

In the coming weeks and months, I’m going to figure out exactly how the blog is going to be laid out, but I will be updating you on my game, diet, routines and anything else that you might find interesting throughout the process.

Here’s a look at today’s information, and an idea of what to expect going forward:

Weight: 251 lbs.

Diet:

-          2 McDonald's Chicken Sausage Biscuits

-          16oz Orange Juice

-          Spaghetti and Meat Sauce

-          2 Tacos from Moe’s, w/chips and queso dip (don’t judge me)

-          2 12oz Sprite Soda

-          4 20oz bottle of Spring Water

-          1 box of Hot Tamales candy

-          8oz whole milk

-          3 “Back to Nature” Thin Mint cookies

Exercise:

-          Hahaha – you’re funny.

Golf:

 Found out the course down the street is open, so despite frigid temperatures, I will be playing this weekend. Stay tuned…

I know, I know – that all looks pretty damn bleak. But it is day one and there are still more than 500 days until the 2017 U.S. Open. There’s a long road ahead, but I have made some strides. In fact, today, I even purchased gluten free, diet Thin Mint knockoffs.

Seriously, if you need more proof that I’m a bit of a sadist, just remember I started this journey at the height of Girl Scout cookie season.

Now, obviously, the goal of this project is to turn myself into a 1.4 handicap capable of qualifying for the U.S. Open at Erin Hills in 2017, but there are a couple of other ancillary goals to reach along the way.

First, I’m looking to drop 40 lbs., from my 251 lbs., current weight. Obviously, looking at the diet log from today, there’s plenty of work to be done there and, with a little diligence and a few hundred salads, the poundage ought to just fall off.

Second, I’m looking to create a blue print for any weekend hacker who wants to step up their game.

As much as it seems like these players who grace our television sets every Saturday and Sunday were touched by a superior golfing deity at birth, they, I believe, are mostly the product of sheer determination, hard work, persistence and a little God-given ability. Simply put, I want to show those who want it bad enough (not necessarily a PGA Tour card, but a better game and a healthier lifestyle) a way to get to where they want to go.

I’ve long joked that I’ve had nothing to overcome – but now, I realize that’s my hurdle. I’ve been blessed to spend my whole life with no real pressing urge to “get out” or make a better life – I had everything I ever needed and was wildly content to stay there: until I stated playing golf.

In golf, there’s always something to overcome. For me, I started as – to put it bluntly – a shitty golfer. I won’t put you to sleep here with all the details of my golfing past – that will be coming soon! Long story short, I write this as a 3.7 handicap – down from an estimated 30 handicap as recently as the summer of 2010. Ever since graduating from college, my focus (when not forced to attend to life’s other obligations) has been improving my game and the results are there. That’s why I truly believe I’ve got the chance to do something special during this journey.

Of course, I can’t do this on my own – so I’m looking to my fellow golf lovers for help along the way.

If you have any recipes, exercises or information that have helped you and might help me, I’m open to it – this is a community project for all you golf nerds like me, I just happen to be (and am honored to be) the lab rat. You can message me on Twitter @HacktoHero27 or via email at hacktohero27@gmail.com.

Come back Thursday for more, and a detailed look at my week and progress.

As always, thanks again for following along!

-Matt 

P.S. Follow my exploits on Instagram.com, @HacktoHero27 

Hack to Hero: Join Me on My Journey

For as long as there has been golf, there have been horrible, pitifully bad golfers with swings that looked more like a new born giraffe taking its first steps than a human being trying to swat a tiny white pill down a fairway. There’s also been the 1% of the 1% of golfers who make this painfully difficult game we all love so much look as easy and natural as inhaling and exhaling.

With such a disparity, the question of whether or not the folks who make up the minuscule amount of touring professional golfers on the planet are flat-born with the ability to be great, or if their skills are learned, developed over what can be an excruciatingly long process, extensive hours on and off the course and more work than most of us can ever imagine, is one that comes up often. Is Rory McIlroy a result of passion, work ethic and sacrifice colliding or was he, at birth, a chosen being touched by the hands of a superior golfing deity, declared to be the next big thing?

Or is it a little of both?

I apologize in advance – this is a little long-winded. Stick with me, though.

As a golf junkie who has been blessed to write about the game I love, play much more of it than most my age and even caddie at two of the North East’s most prestigious private clubs, I’ve had the opportunity to meet and speak with hundreds of people about the game at length. One of the most common quandaries is aforementioned: Can anyone be a pro under the right circumstances or must you be born with it?

I’ve always believed that human beings can do anything they put their minds to – and that’s what I plan to do. My whole life, I’ve always been “pretty good” at every athletic endeavor I've undertook without really trying. For a long time, I was quite proud of that. It was nice being able to skip workouts and still get hits during the game. It was fun being one of the first picks in pick-up football despite never playing a down in junior leagues or high school.

Now, at 27, I’m realizing the folly of my ways. I can barely make it up the stairs without being tired some days. My ankles sound like a tiny tin drumroll as I walk up them. I’ll go to throw a snow ball at my car for ha-ha’s and the shoulder that used to routinely throw 100 baseballs a day in the upper 70’s and lower 80’s now feels like I tried to bench press a Honda Civic after just one toss. It’s disheartening.

Genetically, we aren’t that different, Jason Day and Me -- comparing his DNA to mine wouldn’t look too terribly different under microscope – But Day at 27 is a major championship winner, a physical specimen who, when not plagued with bouts of vertigo (and hell, sometimes when he is) is one of the finest athletes in one of the toughest games on the planet. He constantly works to be the best and feeds his body right.

As for me, at 27, I’m a former high school athlete who treats every whiffle ball game, every round of golf, every pick up football game as if it were the World Series, the Masters on Sunday or the Super Bowl – and I usually end up paying the price for it the next morning. I rest on my laurels, eat SweetTarts and Doritos almost competitively and drink more Coca-Cola than your average monkey eats bananas.

That being said, over the last five years I’ve buried myself in the game of golf – and have built a swing that I am quite proud of. It’s not as aesthetically pleasing as that of say, Louis Oosthuizen or as powerful, long and athletic as Dustin Johnson – but it has produced dozens of rounds in the mid-to-high 70’s in the last 24 months – feats that would’ve been deemed impossible by 23-year-old me who was content with a round of 89 and no hangover the following morning.

Since then, I’ve caddied at Vineyard Golf Club and the Hartford Golf Club, played with Division 1 All-Americans, dozens of aspiring club pros, gotten impromptu lessons from a local legend, and bounced swing ideas off players who I would literally commit murder to one day be as good as. For lack of a better phrase, I have been truly blessed in my golf life.

Because of this, I've decided to see just how far I can go; to finally find an answer to the born with it/work for it debate.

Over the next 14-16 months, I will attempt to transition my mind, body and game from their current states (cluttered, over weight and inconsistent) to that of a championship golfer. I will be overhauling my diet, beginning a stringent exercise routine, adopting rigorous practice regiments, play in local and state tournaments in Massachusetts and Connecticut to collect valuable competitive rounds and basically do everything else your average touring pro might -- all while working a full-time job and keeping my new bride from leaving me.

All of this is in an effort to take my self from a 3.7 handicap to the 1.4 necessary to attempt to qualify for the U.S. Open in 2017 at Erin Hills.

Now, I'm not talking about going all Roy McAvoy on everybody -- just getting to the qualifying stages would be huge and, honestly, a position that most average golfers on the planet would be content to reach. I'm here to prove that it's possible for anyone.

Along the way, I'll be asking for help, taking questions and keeping you posted on my progress. Hopefully, whether you believe I will or I won't, you'll come along for the ride, learn some things on the way and perhaps realize that your potential is fully in your hands.

-Matt