This was an article I wrote after attending a seminar by Pia Nilssen and Lynn Marriot, co-createors of: “Vision54: Bring Possibility to Life”
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Fifty four. It would be the ultimate round of golf, and it is possible. A birdie on every hole. Some players have come close to it. Annika shot 59 in competition. And interestingly enough, the founders of Vision54 are Annika’s coaches and mentors. Vision54 is a way of thinking that helps people “play better golf on the golf course”. 

There is no question: Golf has become very complex. What other sport has a Cable Channel dedicated to it? How many gadgets are advertised on that channel? How many conflicting opinions are there with regard to golf swing mechanics?

Tiger once said, in an interview, “There are many ways to do it. Some guys think about their turn, some guys think about their legs, some guys think about their hands…. There’s no right or wrong way.”
Annika once said in an interview, “Golf is a simple game that has been made complicated.”

Tiger was talking about technique, which is a small piece of “it.” Annika was talking about the whole thing. I really like her summary.
Vision 54 is a system created by coaches Pia Nilsson and Lynn Marriot. They have taken the best ideas, the simplest ideas, the positive ones, and put them together into a package that allows every golfer to play their best golf now. 

Pia and Lynn have divided “the reality of golf” into six categories: Physical, Mental, Emotional, Technical, Social and Spirit of the Game. And they have discovered that, “If there is a break-down in any area, it will show up in the technical.” Epiphany. So, the putting stroke that decelerates out of the blue, was that a technical error? Well, yes, but it was caused by an indecisive thought in the middle of the stroke, such as, “Oh, that looks a little downhill, I’m going to ease off a bit ‘cause I don’t want to hit it too hard.” 

We’ve all done it, had wrong-thoughts as we are playing our shots. We may do it most of the time. The Vision 54 System allows you to play your game without thinking. Well, without any of that type of thinking that hinders us. I know that once you start to get better at it, you can play shots “like you used to” (when you actually knew less about the game!).

Think Box/Play Box

Pia and Lynn have packaged a simple but effective idea: Keep your thoughts about the upcoming shot separate from the act of playing the shot. In the “Think Box” you want to gather the info you need, club selection, lie, wind, target, and perhaps a swing-feel that relates to the mechanics for “you.” When you then step into the “Play Box” take a look at your target, settle into your stance, and “GO.” Pull the trigger within four to nine seconds. That is the range of professional tour players. Annika is at four, Tiger is at eight seconds (when he is playing his best, and not thinking mechanics).

The play box is where the joy of the game is. It is where golf is like other sports: look and react. My first time on the course after attending the recent Vision54 seminar was quite interesting. I teed off on the first hole at Q, hit an okay drive. My Playbox was really good on my second shot, and so I hit a really solid three-wood. I remember my inner reaction, “Wow, haven’t hit one like that for years.” My third shot had a lot of factors in the Thinkbox, “88 to the centre, pin’s up front, so, 75, into the wind, so I’ll feel 78 yards. That’s my number.” I then stepped into my Play Box, looked at the flag, and swung. The ball landed, bounced twice and went into the hole. I was so present-tense focused, that my initial reaction was not one of surprise. Only as I was walking to the green, and thinking about what just happened was I a bit amazed.

Vision 54 allows you to get out of your way to play your best golf.

Knock it in. 

Wow, is it cold. I'm feeling my certain spots, aches and pains. 
I taught two lessons today, and although it is cold, there is always something to learn. 
I don't see a lot of notebooks being used during lessons, but a small percentage of my students tell me that they write things down as soon as they get home, or in their car, so they remember the lesson.

FANTASTIC IDEA.  You never know, down the road, months from now, what you will be thinking, doing, working on, and sometimes the old information means something new later on. Keep it all. Keep a notebook in your golf bag. That way you can jot down anything that works during practice sessions or while you are playing or during/after a round of golf. Maybe it's good that it's safely tucked away in your golf bag while you're watching the golf channel... :-)  

http://www.cncanadianwomensopen.com/innerpage.aspx?x=6z7M%2bsp34oPYgkm8bD4mWXqASlrRXdvccbzQqF54
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Lots of helpers needed to run a great event! See the LPGA Stars up close. Vancouver Club, August 20 to 26, 2012