The Most Difficult Four Letter Word G-O-L-F

 

If you are truly doing it right, golf is a grind.  There are no days off during the season, and Miles takes it about as serious as a player can.  He practices, he works out, he practices, he works out, over, and over, and over again.  Lessons, rounds, practice, it's non-stop.  The message is clear - it all leads up to the post-season round, the rest are practice rounds.  That's an "easier said than done comment" because each round matters to a golfer.  

During the summer, Miles was playing very well, but soon after the season started, he developed a bad habit which truly hurt his game.  Last year it was the pull-hook, this year it was the left hook - his arms and swing path progressively got worse and worse.  Although he was continuing to post decent scores, the effort needed to produce them was incredibly difficult.  Hitting a fairway seemed impossible. 

As professional golfer Lee Trevino put it...

 Left usually means trouble.

Despite lessons and practice, improvement was not noticeable.  Matt knows SO much about the game of golf and knew if Miles had a shot at making it through the region tournament, he needed a serious swing change which is risky during the season.  It was necessary.

We sought the help of Olde Stone's golf professional Atticus Bellen (whose wife works at SWHS and all students adore).  Our coach, Jim, went to the first lesson which was incredibly kind because he believes in Miles and wanted to help him as best he could.  Making this adjustment, although small, would not be easy because it felt super unnatural.  

 

Two lessons and two rounds - the first one at Mineral Mounds where I'm fairly certain he started on the hardest hole EVER in the state of Kentucky.  Not the best day but manageable and he powered through with an 84.  The second tournament was on our home course, Franklin Country Club.  It was literally the worst round he's shot, probably since elementary school, posting a 91.  He was in tears and barely functioning when the round ended.  It was all I could do to keep it together as passionate as he is and as much time as he has put into this sport he hates loves.

Was the swing change a mistake?  Would he be able to bounce back?  He was destroyed mentally.  Region - four weeks away.  We had a long discussion that night with him and about all of these matches being practice to get better, despite the score.  Coach Jim called him after the round and told him he is his biggest cheerleader and didn't care about his score at all.  He wanted Miles to know he was working through a significant swing change, and he totally supported him ❤️.

We played at Maywood the next day in Bardstown.  Karson joined us and always brings him good luck.  Coach wanted Miles to come a little earlier so they could spend more time on the range working out his swing.

He played an incredible round of golf, even got an eagle on the hole above.  It lifted his spirits.  A few more lessons and practice rounds at Indian Hills Country Club, two tournaments at Bowling Green Country Club, and he was feeling good about his game again.  Thank goodness!

 

Tournaments at BGCC, we have a love/hate relationship with this course.  It was nice to him at the Van Meter Cup and BGIT. 

 

I'm honestly not sure that Miles has a bigger fan or more supportive teammate than Connor Baer.  This kid is genuine to the core.  I can say that about our entire team, but I have noticed it a lot this season with these two.  No matter how Connor or Miles are doing, they manage to keep each other motivated and focused.  Connor has the ability to relax and keep his composure, despite how great or discouraging his round is going, while also lifting his teammate up (which is an extra special skill in golf, in my opinion). Thanks CB!!!

 

I cannot wait to see this group compete next year as SENIORS!

The team likes to fuel up at Cane's.  They ate here after their last practice round at Indian Hills.  We had a team pasta party at our house on Monday night.  To spice things up a little bit, I had a three-part competition for the boys (a quiz, a chipping, and putting contest) with the winner receiving a gift card from Cane's!  

Focused on the quiz - the last part of the competition to win the gift card!  Brady Patterson took the prize by one point!

Every 10 years, the college that I work for goes through an accreditation process through SACSCOC.  As luck would have it, the visit landed during the same week at the Region tournament meaning that I could not attend the biggest tournament of the year and here in BG at Indian Hills CC (ugh!!!).  Fortunately, he had a huge support system there - Matt, his Uncle Ben, his Aunt Shannon and both sets of grandparents.  The best fan club around.

I was sick to my stomach all day yesterday.  The tournament had live scoring which allowed me to follow along.  Miles's tee time was set for 10AM.  Nervous wreck me was pacing all over my campus.  I could not calm my nerves at all.  For me the hardest part of yesterday was knowing how hard Miles has worked all season long.  I know this is true for many of the golfers out there competing.  In the end, all of us parents want to see our kids hard work pay off when it counts.

Miles played his best, had some tough shots, breaks, and putts but powered through.  My boss was kind enough to let me leave a little early and actually encouraged it so I took off to IHCC around 2:30PM.  I didn't see any of the round but was able to be there when he got finished.  Matt had told me that the course was playing super hard, and that the pin placement was extra difficult.  He'd told me initially that he thought a 77 and under would make the cut.  However, the way the course was playing, it took an 81 to make it to Semi-State at Calvert City Country Club.

 

We have a busy weekend ahead.  First stop on Saturday will be to Richmond for Family Weekend at Eastern with our favorite Colonel, Isaac.  Sunday Miles has a tee-time scheduled for 12:15 at Calvert City playing with a four-some.  Tee times were filling up so we're glad he was able to get one and a practice in.

Please send us all the good vibes you can next Tuesday as he competes at Semi-State!

Another bird flies away - Roll Kerns!!!

There's something joyful about having your children close together in age.  For us, it was two year age gaps.  What you tend to forget though is that they all leave the house in the order as well.  Karson left us for Louisville, and Isaac has left us for Richmond.

Isaac has (and always will be) our FULL OF LIFE child.  He was a happy baby from day one!  Toddler Karson would speed around his bouncy seat putting toys in his lap, singing and talking to him.  She would push him in his baby swing and bring him toys and snacks.  We'd prop him up in her bed for nighttime stories.  He'd watch movies with her absorbing it all.  You could tell his mind was active, and he was processing everything start to finish.  It's no wonder that when he could draw and learned to write - books, pictures and songs poured out of him.  He started making Youtube videos and had his own channel by age 7.  Writing scripts, detailed stories, wearing costumes, playing games....these were all part of his BIG imagination and excitement for life. He reminded me so much of ME at that age.  Fast-forward 18 years later, and I come home from work to giggles upstairs as he, Karson, Elizabeth, and Evan are working on filming a Goosebumps sequence.  Some things never change, and I like that. 

Doing a little jam session with his Uncle Ben at 231 Bar & Grill a few nights before he left for EKU.

I left my son, the child most like me, in Richmond Kentucky last Thursday.  Classes began today at Eastern Kentucky University where he plans on working towards a degree in Business.  My heart hurts.  Our house is quieter than usual.  He breathes so much life into our home.  I went to collect his last Waterworks paycheck the other day, and the young man who gave it to me said we really miss him.  When I texted him about it, he said "I'm a likeable guy."  What a character!!!

 

  

Earlier in the summer, we were able to get away and go to his student orientation at EKU.  It was my first time in Richmond, and I could see why he loved the campus almost immediately.  It felt like home in a lot of ways.  He'd already been to the campus two other times visiting a friend from South who started there a semester early in the Aviation program.  It got Isaac thinking/considering EKU as an option for him.

 

The day of orientation was full for both students and their parents.  There were breakout sessions, dorm tours, and tours of the students actual college division.  At this time, they also met with their assigned advisors to work on their schedules and answer any questions.  

I've barely heard from him until just now as I am typing this sentence when he Facetime calls me.  He tells me how he washed his bath and hand towels and they got fuzz all over everything.  Oh new towels and their dander!!!!  I also got a little tour of his dorm setup.  We could tell he was over the move-in and ready for us to leave.  We've tried to not to bug him, but he's reached out to Matt a few times and me a handful as well.  It really is good to leave them alone and let them figure things out (as hard as it is).  He did tell me he plans to come home for Labor Day.  I'm excited to see his sweet face!

Barbies, Blisters, and Back to SCHOOL

 

I love everything Barbie!  I was still quietly playing with Barbie dolls in my room during my middle school years as not embarrass myself.  The whole world of make believe was fascinating to me.  We had the mansions, the airplane, the camper, the pool, vacation house, the Ferrari - outfits, shoes, accessories.  I could sit in my room and play for hours.  Karson liked Barbie's okay but not nearly to the extent that I did.  When I saw the Barbie movie trailer, I got extra excited.  I mean who can play Barbie better than Margot Robbie.  She is perfect.  Ryan Gosling as Ken, that's a YES!

We ordered our Barbie shirts and fun sunglasses and made a girls day out of it.  I feel like the movie has gotten a lot of mixed reviews, but I enjoyed it.  It was exactly what I expected it to be - not anything spectacular but still entertaining. 

 

 

How in the world is the summer already over?!?  People always ask the traditional questions when summer break starts...are you all going anywhere?  do you all take a summer vacation?  For us, summer generally means golf season.  High school golf consumes much of the summer.  Since Matt has some time off, he gets to enjoy a few tournaments.  However, most of my work vacation days are spent traveling to and from high school golf tournaments.  It isn't a complaint, it's just how it is, and I wouldn't trade a minute of it because I've only got one more year after this one.

The start of the season was sort of a whirlwind.  Many of the tryout dates were cancelled due to rain/weather. In that one tryout round (which wasn't the greatest), Miles pulled out a top 5 spot. We had a kick off pool party at the Baer house before the start of the season.  Of course, the boys were not fond of a group picture, but we forced them.

 

 

First Eagle of the season Henderson Country Club

 It's been a roller coaster of a season for him.  There is lots of adversity in golf, and you have to learn to roll with the punches.

 

We got play a course close to Kentucky Dam Village so enjoyed a night at Patti's.  I knew we were going to eat there, so I'd taken Miles some nicer clothes. By nicer, not gym shorts and a t-shirt.  Since the restaurant requires reservations, I felt he needed to look a little more dressy.  He was bummed when everyone else was dressed more casual with NO button up shirts/shorts, hah.  

 

Karson got to join in some of the fun when we played in Shepherdsville.  It was overnight trip to Heritage Hill and AJ Jolly.  It worked out perfectly for her because she had to run up to Louisville and get some shots for compliance to start nursing.  It sort of snuck up on her so she was able to take care of it and get back to the course rather quickly.

She captured this gorgeous photo of Miles at AJ Jolly golf course on the practice green.  LOVE IT!!!

 

I think Miles enjoyed having her tag along.  He played some of his best rounds last week despite lots of early mornings and blister covered feet.  Golf can be grueling!

 

Ready for battle on the course and through the rain!!!

Back to work for me on Thursday and had to skip out on two more rounds - one at Kenny Perry where is was pouring down rain, but he managed to pull out five )5) birdies.  That course always seems to have his back.  The breaks work in his favor, and KP is always smiling on him, it seems.

My parents took him to the tournament in Christian County on Friday.  Again, pretty yucky weather, but the team did fairly well considering. I got to reunite with all of my work besties who returned to Sky after their summer break.  It always a treat catching up and seeing everyone.

While back to school hours are always a tough transition, for golfers, it almost seems like getting up "late."  We've had some mornings as early as 3:30/AM leave times.  Most tournaments range times start during the 6 o'clock morning hour.  He handled this morning beautifully and has a decent schedule (not the lunch he wanted).  This semester he'll take Driver's Ed and also picked up an online dual credit class which means he'll be able to leave school one block early.

This year, we'll have two Juniors and one Freshman.  Pray for us as we move Isaac into Eastern Kentucky University tomorrow.  Another Deaton bird is flying away......stay tuned.