Lessons on Gravity at the 2019 Waste Management Phoenix Open

Rickie Fowler is the 2019 Waste Management Phoenix Open Champion! In the final round, he hit many bumps in the road, including an unfortunate tangle with gravity. On hole #11, after chipping it into the water (yes, more on that in a moment), he dropped his ball on the bank, and went up to survey his next chip. While up on the green, gravity sucked his ball back into the water. Another penalty shot. Unreal! This hole and Rickie’s entire round were seemingly spiraling out of control.

Rickie has some demons on this golf course. In 2016, he lost in a playoff to Hideki Matsuyama. Again, his ball found the water at a critical time. Once in regulation on #17, then again on the same hole, seven holes into a thrilling playoff. Rickie was emotional after the playoff loss but more so for sentimental reasons, rather than losing. His Dad and Grandpa were there in person to watch Rickie play. Neither have seen him win on the PGA Tour firsthand.

Knowing Rickie’s history at the Phoenix Open makes his epic showcase of grit and patience absolutely awe inspiring. His guts were on display when experiencing such misfortune, he turned around and made a 15 foot putt to save triple bogey on #11.

Watch this 3 1/2 minute video of his hole -- crazy!

In the final round of the 2019 Waste Management Phoenix Open, Rickie Fowler chipped his third shot into the water on the par-4 11th hole. After his penalty drop, his ball rolled back into the water resulting in another penalty stroke. He would go on to sink a 16-footer for a triple-bogey 7.

LESSONS FROM RICKIE….

1. Did you see what the water did to his ball?????  One, it had no spin because of all the water between the club face and ball (CLEAN YOUR GROOVES!!! The same science applies with dirt in the grooves). And two, the ball also hydroplaned across the water on the green.

2. Watch Rickie’s BODY LANGUAGE after the really unfortunate bad luck with his ball falling back into the water. Rickie was assessed another penalty shot for his ball falling back into the water. Note, this is not a new 2019 USGA Rules of Golf. He stayed in COMPLETE control of his emotions. He did the best he could with the cards dealt to him. There was no COMPLAINING and no BLAMING -- he moved onto the next shot, and put it behind him -- QUICKLY! High performers in any realm find a way to adjust, without much disruption. They identify experiences that are in and out of their control. Gravity in this instance, was uncontrollable for Rickie, and he kept his emotions in check because of this uncontrollable twist of fate.

3. Change your thought process if you think a round has to be PERFECT to win golf tournaments! Things often don't go as planned, and it really comes down to staying competitive with your B or even C game. How quickly one is able to bounce back from adversity is a sure sign of a true champion.

Note -- the last two PGA TOUR winners (Justin Rose at Torrey Pines & Rickie Fowler) were 2 over par after 5 holes in the final round. Read that sentence again!! They found a way to reset after some bad breaks/adversity and stayed in their process and game plan.  

In both cases, Justin and Rickie used the words PATIENCE, STICK TO THE GAME PLAN and PROCESS when describing to reporters how they handled  the adversity.  The best players in the world are working on patience all the time -- and it's why we as coaches are always preaching this skill.  In Rickie’s post round interview when asked how he handled the extremely bad luck, he stated the following:

“I put it behind me.” — (he can’t control what just happened, and he can’t change it).

“I focused on  picking small targets with my caddie.” — (focused on what he can control moving forward).

“I told myself that if on Thursday someone would have told me that I would have a chance to win with 7 holes to play, I'd be pretty darn excited -- so make the best of these 7 holes".” — (he RE-FRAMED the entire situation — instead of dwelling on the past, he made the most of his current situation).

If you’d like to hear the interview in it’s entirety, click HERE.

How about that for moving on!!??!!

And the best part of it all? Rickie’s family was back at the Waste Management Phoenix Open to witness firsthand his 5th PGA Tour win. And you better believe Dad and Grandpa were there too.

**PGA Tour App has complete post round press conference coverage of the weekly winner. If you are interested in hearing insight from the best players in the world, this is a wonderful (free!) resource.  

Collegiate Golf in the Community

Guest column in the Michigan Golf Journal, January 2019.

What College Golf Brings to the Community

Jan Dowling, University of Michigan Women's Golf Coach

This question was posed to me the other day; what exactly does collegiate golf bring to a community? It’s an important and interesting question to answer considering the direct and indirect impact a collegiate golf program has throughout Michigan as well as the entire country.

There are almost 300 men’s and 270 women’s collegiate golf programs in the United States at the Division I level, alone. With an average roster of 10 athletes per team, that’s approximately 5,700 students currently competing around the country for their respected university.

To begin, many schools have a campus golf course affiliated with their university. Besides being a great training ground for the golf teams, they provide an assortment of benefits to the entire community. We have two separate facilities at the University of Michigan that are open to faculty, staff, students and the general public. The U-M Golf Course and Radrick Farms Golf Course were designed by world renowned architects -- Alister MacKenzie and Pete Dye, respectfully -- that has significant historical relevance to the game.

Hole #13 at the University of Michigan Golf Course.

Hole #13 at the University of Michigan Golf Course.

Our golf courses provide cost effective access to the University community and assist in the introduction and growth of a lifelong sport. Additionally, the property is utilized for environmental research and projects in diverse academic programs. These include the Ross School of Business, School of Environment and Sustainability, and the School of Kinesiology, to name a few. Lastly, students are often hired within the clubhouse and maintenance facilities which provide flexible hands on work experience.

Another instance of community impact is the introduction to and development of golf to juniors and adults. Throughout the year, our coaching staff and student athletes conduct camps and clinics that promote lasting technique improvements and practice strategies that help with long term development.  These camps and clinics vary from one or two hour sessions, half day clinics, and even multiple days of teaching and coaching. For anyone interested in improving, these are wonderful avenues to learn about the game of golf from high level players and knowledgeable coaches competing at the highest level in amateur golf.

2018 Michigan Girls Golf Camp.

2018 Michigan Girls Golf Camp.

Giving back to the community in a more direct way is something student-athletes and their athletic department spend a significant amount of time on. Events such as KidSport, Ronald McDonald House, Els for Autism, Magic of Christmas and visiting the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital are just a few of the ways our team gives back to the community. Giving back to people in need is a great way to show gratitude, define purpose and keep life and athletics in perspective.

Another avenue our collegiate players inspire is throughout our home tournaments. The effort to seek out local collegiate events rewards you with a front row seat to an extremely high level of golf and the future of the professional game. Most programs host at least one home tournament annually or biannually. The roster of players’ own impressive resumes at the national and international level. Many athletes have represented their home countries in the World Amateur Championship, competed in numerous USGA Championships, won state championships and other collegiate events. The level of competition is extremely high and seeing teams compete together in a historically individual sport is quite inspiring.

University of Michigan Women’s golf team member competing at our home tournament, the East & West Match Play Championship. Radrick Farms, Hole #6.

University of Michigan Women’s golf team member competing at our home tournament, the East & West Match Play Championship. Radrick Farms, Hole #6.

Concluding, college golf provides opportunities for young people to compete at a high level while representing their respected university. Golf teaches discipline, resilience, hard work and gives young adults a purpose that is much bigger than themselves. While engrossing themselves in a sport they love, the students and coaches give back to each other, and assist in creating a prosperous community. The intended and unintended consequence of collegiate programs in communities are worthy of the effort and support.

One Hand on The Trophy

ARIYA JUTANUGARN AND HER US OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP (July, 2018)

Three Lessons from her Near Collapse at Shoal Creek

1. BOUNCE BACK MENTALITY

Ariya Jutanugarn went into the back 9 on Sunday at the 2018 Women's US Open with a SEVEN shot lead. She tripled #10 (!!), and ended up shooting 41 on the back 9, putting herself in a tie with Hyo-Joo Kim. She survived a 4 hole playoff, getting up and down from the back right bunker on 18, under immense pressure!

This win took a lot of emotional resilience, toughness, patience and self awareness to fight through the playoff and eventually win despite the near collapse.  It was really impressive to have such a crazy swing in the final round (she definitely had at least one hand on the trophy after 63 holes!), and then to capitalize with a difficult up & down under such pressure in the playoff is so impressive!

Here is a great video interview talking about her mindset through the back nine and how she battled through the difficult stretch of holes:

  Bounce Back Mentality - Interview via the Golf Channel

A statement that stands out to me:  "Keep moving onto the next shot, and then you can be proud of yourself" -- Ariya

I'm assuming she means, no matter the outcome, if you can focus on the shot at hand, you can be proud. I love this -- it wasn't the outcome (hoisting that trophy!) that will create pride for her, but staying focused on the process of hitting each shot at hand, that would. And, it's not about making someone else proud  -- it's about making herself proud.

2. KNOWING YOUR "WHY"

This is a great article on Ariya's WHY. You should explore and know your WHY when you play competitive golf at a high level, or aspire to do so.  Many assume it's for the trophies, money, recognition -- but that can be very superficial and short lived.  For Ariya (who worked very hard to discover this about herself),  it's about inspiring a younger generation in Thailand to have a better life. Perhaps this is why she was able to dig so deep on Sunday afternoon. Thanks so Pia Nilsson and Lynn Marriot at Vision54 for inspiring this perpective!

Ariya's WHY (Golfweek Article)

3. COMPETITION

And finally -- a neat story on competition! The announcers were giving Ariya a really hard time for clapping if Hyo Joo hit a really good shot in the playoff. They were shocked and dismayed! Paul Azinger went so far as to say that she's conceded the trophy! I actually have a very different take on this -- Ariya just loves competition.

As Brett Ledbetter in his book, What Drives Winning states, compete comes from the Latin word, competere. Competere is defined as: To strive together. Which means, performance increases when others challenge us. We NEED people to push us to a level that we couldn't get to on our own. Ariya respects her competitors, because they push her to the level of play shown during the US Open. What a great way to re-frame competition to really drive success! So, thank those competitors, win or lose because with out them, we likely aren't as good. 

 

How to Best Play a Practice Round

As our team conducts a final week of preparation before our first tournament of the spring season, my mind is focused on how we can best utilize our practice rounds.  We get one chance to view a golf course before teeing up against the other teams. In most cases, we are playing different grasses and conditions from one week to the next. So, we must learn and adapt as quickly as possible. Additionally, we must create a game plan that is effective and easy to execute. Below is a rundown of our focus and attention throughout our practice round day. Success is in the details, and these details may not be what you think!

General Conditions Before you Start:

We pay close attention to upcoming weather and general conditions of the course we are preparing to play. An example, Puerto Rico is close to sea level and is typically very windy. Additionally, there is plenty of humidity in the air on this Caribbean Island. With these factors in mind, we know we should practice knock-down shots to control the ball in the wind, and  pay close attention to carry distances once on the golf course. Each player knows the ball may fly 5-8 yards less in the heavy air.

Tee Shots on ALL holes:

There are three things you must note on each tee box. First, you should know what tee box and distance you played your tee ball from and make note of this in your yardage book.  Many tournament directors/rules officials change the tee box to provide variety on how a hole is played. Conditions, like heavy winds, will also force a tournament director to change tee boxes. You should have an initial reference point noted from your practice round so you know if a tee block has been moved. It's not always obvious! Second, you should know your ideal start and finish target, along with your club choice off the tee.  This club choice can change based on situations (leading the tournament) and weather. However, you should set parameters for making a club choice change ahead of time. Lastly, you should know the wind direction from the tee box. Many yardage books include a compass. But if they don't, most smart phones have a compass readily available. Knowing wind direction and strength of wind will give you an important frame of reference for the tournament days.

Par 5's:

No matter the length of each par 5 you play, you should take note of where the layup yardage is. S&*^ happens! Most par 5's are designed with an ideal layup that gives you a great approach shot into the green. This is usually the widest part of the fairway from approximately 120-70 yards away. You should also consider which side of the fairway will give you the best angle for your wedge shot to get close to the pin. And, this may change depending on the pin position! For longer  players who plan to go for certain par 5's in two shots, find the place around the green which will provide you with the easiest chip, pitch, or putt (likely dependent on where the pin is positioned). You should also note the risk to reward ratio in going for a green in two. Things to consider would be out of bounds, hazards, pin positions and severity of the green for chip shots within 20 yards. 

Par 3's:

A great way to reference how each par 3 is playing is to hit shots to the middle of the green. Forget where the current pin position is during the practice round!! Take note of the club you play to the middle, and how the ball releases.  Remember that the middle of the green on par 3's is always good:)

Around Every Green:

As a collegiate coach, I see many players spend too much time hitting 10-15 foot putts to the hole, then making a note in their yardage book on where the putt broke.  Yes, knowing breaks on the green is important. However, because your time is limited on the putting greens, you must be effective with those minutes. What are the odds that the pin will actually be where you are putting to? Furthermore, what are the odds that your ball finishes up right where you putted from in the practice round? Very small. Quit wasting time! Instead, look AROUND the green!  Use your minutes more effectively by doing the following:

  1. Note where your approach shot landed, and how far it released. Or, in some cases, how far it spun backwards. This will give you a great indication on how firm the greens are playing.
  2. Make educated guessing on where the pin positions may be located and use tees or some other object to mark these places. You can chip and putt to these locations, completely avoiding the current pin position (news flash....it won't be in the practice round position for the tournament)!
  3. Look around each pin (including OFF the green). Decipher the risk to reward ratio of aiming directly at each of the pins.  Also, notice if there are any super difficult up & downs around each flag. If not - that pin has become a green light - take an aggressive line if you are comfortable with your approach shot club. If there are some trouble spots, note this in your book. These include hazards, deep bunkers, O.B., deep grass and super tight lies with little room to work with. Be forewarned that it's extremely likely that each green will have at least one pin position where there is a difficult up & down. Your course management decisions will improve greatly if you identify that place and then play modestly into that flag stick. I see many players identify that "bad" place. Then,  go hit shots from that position! Instead, you should be taking notes on how to avoid that place, then hit shots from the wide side of that bad position. Because, isn't that where you'd rather be?
  4. Spend most of your putting time working on speed control (putts longer than 25 feet). A great tip is to use just one ball on the putting green. This accomplishes two things. One, you think more effectively about where your approach shot will likely end up and therefore hitting putts that are probable. And two, you hold yourself accountable for controlling your speed, which improves touch.  There are no second chance putts in the tournament!
  5.  You should spend MORE time chipping on difficult par 3's and 4's. When you chip, hit a variety of shots from tight lies, to deep grass, high and low shots. More time should be spent putting and focusing on speed control on short par 4's, short par 3's and reachable par 5's, where you will likely be on the green in regulation.
  6.  Hit one or two short putts from inside 5 feet on each green, going through your entire routine (include reading the putt). Green reading from this distance gets your eyes tuned. What speed is correct? How much does grain play a role with shorter putts on this course? And, it's always nice to see the ball go into the hole! Going through your routine builds strong habits. When a player haphazardly hits short putts, then misses, what is their first reaction? "What's wrong with my putting stroke"!?!  This is not the most ideal thought a day before the tournament begins. So, eliminate doubt by going through your routine as you would in a tournament. Get lined up correctly and work on your green reading skills.
  7. Hit a few different bunker shots on 2-3 different holes. Chose your bunker shots wisely! Is it a long par 4, where I may be hitting a long club, meaning I'll be less accurate? Or, is it a short par 5 where a great bailout position IS the bunker? Sand plays differently from course to course, and you will serve yourself well by getting accustomed to the bunkers.

General Notes:

Make note of the wind direction before you go out to play each day. Many weather apps will accurately provide this information. Remember that compass you drew on each tee shot? This gives you a  clear idea of wind direction from day to day. Also, if the wind is blocked by trees, you can refer to the compass to get a general idea of where the wind should be.

As you play your competitive rounds, you should be making a note on each shot of what yardage you had, what club you played, and where it ended up. Over time, these will become great reference points for you to make quicker adjustments while competing.  

It would be impossible to know every nook and cranny of a golf course after playing it just one time. However, if you can gain more knowledge on places to be, and more importantly, where NOT to be, you could save yourself a shot or two each day.

In order to save shots with effective course management, you must treat each practice round like you are studying for a final exam. Knowledge of the important details of the course, each hole, and pin positions can be very powerful. In our game, every shot matters, and those who spend practice rounds picking up this valuable information will make the best decisions. When great decisions are made, we can swing freely and with confidence. I like that!

Geno, A Dynasty and College Golf

You may have heard, but Michigan Athletics has a new AD in town. His name is Warde Manuel and his ties to the Maize and Blue run deep. As a football player on the defensive side, Manuel learned what it takes to be a Michigan Man from Coach Bo Schembechler. After swiftly moving up the chain of command within sport administration, he became an Athletic Director at SUNY (University at Buffalo) and then onto the University of Connecticut for four years, before landing his dream job in March at his beloved alma mater.

And here lies our connection to today's post. In my initial meeting with our new leader, I couldn't resist asking Warde about his experiences working with Geno Auriemma.  What makes Geno one of the best coaches of all time?

Coach Auriemma just completed another undefeated season as the Head Coach for the UCONN Women's Basketball program.  Their senior class just accomplished a feat hard to fathom in any sport; winning four NCAA National Championships in a row. The 2016 National Championship is Geno's 11th, and his sixth undefeated season.

The answer Warde gave me wasn't profound. Geno's attention to detail with the simplest  fundamentals whether it's a layup in practice, or the footwork on the defensive end was relentless. Simple details, executed to perfection equals domination and a dynasty. Thank you very much.

If you were to pay precise attention to the fundamentals of golf, what would a practice session look like for the best golfers? Here is my proposed practice plan:

MIRROR WORK

  • Two minutes of precise mirror work: GRIP, POSTURE, BALL POSITION with full swing, stock chipping, wedges and putting.

 FULL SWING

  • Three to five minutes of hitting full shots to a target with perfect alignment sticks.
  • 3 Balls in a row that stay left of your target (mid iron).
  • 3 Balls in a row that stay right of your target (mid iron).
  • 3 Balls in a row through 25 yard poles (mimicking a narrow fairway) with your Driver.

CHIPPING

  • Play the game 21  (*see below).
  • Make one to three easy chips (10 yards and in).

WEDGES

  • Hit 30 wedge shots from varying distances between 30-100 yards.  Have intent with your routine, and watch closely where the ball lands. Vary the distances (3 balls at 10 different yardages or 10 balls at 3 different yardages, etc).

PUTTING

  • Make 30 three footers in a row (around the world - 6 tees X 5 loops=30 putts).
  • Play the fringe circle game (place 10-15 balls in the middle of a practice green. While looking at the fringe, putt the balls to the fringe with the goal of stopping the ball right on the edge. By eliminating putting to a hole, you are truly focused on the speed the ball is moving. Do this drill 2-3 times, putting to different spots on the fringe. NEVER hit the same putt twice, which helps to improve touch.
  • Make five different 10-15 foot putts, going through your routine every single time.

 One reason that golf practices aren't run like most sports is because there are so many areas of the game to work on and everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses. Plus, there are millions of more drills, gadgets and theories to improve as a golfer.  However, the above practice routine would take care of a majority of the fundamentals. Which, may be what many competitive golfers are missing. It's easy to think your grip feels good. It's easy to think you are aligned correctly. It's easy to say you can make every three footer. But what if you actually did this with precision each and every time you practiced? What if you paid the closest attention to every chip you hit in the game of 21? I think you would improve faster. Much faster. Even if this was all you ever did, besides, going out on the golf course to play. Additionally, there is a nice mix of block (technical and repeating) and simulation (game like situations that include pressure) practice. 

When creating this practice plan it reminded me of one of the best female collegiate players of all time; Amanda Blumenherst. I had the distinct pleasure of watching her practice every day throughout her senior year at Duke University. As a four time All-American and three time Player of the Year (oh, and two NCAA Championships),  her practice routine was down to a science. It started with short putts followed by long putts for speed. Then, off to chip, where she worked her way around the green hitting a wide variety of shots. Wedges were always next. Buckets were set out at pre-determined distances (every 10 yards)  and she hit over 80 balls to these targets. Finally, she hit two more large buckets of balls completely focused and determined to get the ball flying beautifully to her intended target.  She went through her entire bag with this full swing practice. Amanda was methodical, but it was nothing fancy. And she repeated this routine day in and day out. The fundamentals, executed to perfection each and every day. Sound familiar? If Auremiema was a golf coach, he would have loved Amanda. Not just for her killer instinct as a competitor, but for her relentless approach in executing the simple fundamentals to perfection.

Funny how they both have dynasties connected to their names, isn't it?!

 

*21

Choose 3 easy, 3 medium, and 3 hard chips all within 30 yards of the green.  Hole out each ball, keeping track of your score.  Your goal is to score 21 or lower, which is 6 up and ins and 3 down in threes, or a 66% up and down percentage.  The reason I love this game is because you are forced to judge your lie, imagine how each shot will react, and then execute the shot.  Which is exactly how the actual game of golf is played. You can also keep track of your progress, by knowing your personal best scores, etc. It's also a great way to learn the feel of the rough and how the ball reacts on a green when you play a different golf course.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why I Love Match Play & A Case for Suzann Pettersen

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Match play has this uncanny ability to bring out the competitor in us all.  For the good and the bad.

The Women's NCAA Golf Championship has moved to a match play format, with much controversy. It's better for TV because it's easier to follow for fans and television crews.  It creates drama. Mono e mono, as they say.  But there are flaws; rankings are skewed throughout the season with a combination of stroke and match play tournaments, and a good round of golf can produce a loss of point for your team.  Solid golf doesn't mean a win in this format. And, bad shots and bad holes can be inconsequential. Herein lies the problem....the best team doesn't always win.  But should the best team always win?

Here is why I love match play:

  • BIRDIES. Players truly get into a "one-shot-at-a-time" mentality, without being consciously aware.  If your opponent makes a birdie, you know you have to do the same. What happened on the last hole, and what could happen in the future seems pointless to ponder. The present moment is all that matters, and the mindset competitive golfers thrive to achieve each time they tee it up.
  • TEAM. In collegiate golf, the first team to three points wins.  It doesn't matter who gets the point, it just matters that you earn three of them. In stroke play, the focus can easily become about each player and their performance, which undermines the team aspect of college golf. In match play, the team is inevitably playing for something bigger than themselves because there is no individual competition embedded within the tournament.  The team gets the credit, not the players.  Furthermore, the match could come down to any one a team, whether it's the number one or number five player.
  • STRATEGY. Coaches set the pairings based on a teams' seeding. The higher seeded team can either throw out a player first, or control three matches by waiting on the lower seeded coach to unveil their lineup.  This requires a coach to know the opponents lineup.  Do you want your best player against theirs, or mix up your lineup to keep the opposing coach guessing? The strategies vary, and so many scenarios can be played out.

THE PERFECT STORM........

What happened to Suzann Pettersen and Alison Lee at the 2015 Solheim Cup is such a shame. It's an example of the competitive nature of match play, in conjunction with representing your country/continent at the highest level, on the biggest stage in women's golf. It was the perfect storm.  Pettersen is a fiery competitor, with or without match play. And, emotions were running high with a close match all week between team USA and team Europe. 

Here is the story on Golfweek:

http://golfweek.com/news/2015/sep/30/lpga-solheim-cup-suzann-pettersen-controversy-apol/

And Suzann's apology later (click on the photo to see the exclusive interview with Tim Rosaforte & Suzann Pettersen on the Golf Channel):

My question for the many competitors out there; what would you have done in Suzann's shoes?!? Really, what would you have done? Many say they would have given the putt. Many also say they would have conceded the 18th hole, to halve the match. Knowing you didn't give the putt, AND you really wanted your competitor to earn the halve on the hole for your continent; what would you have done?!

From the literature I've read post-controversy, nobody seems to be talking about the rules official involved. Perhaps he could have slowed down the train by asking a few more questions? Perhaps he didn't need to start announcing the score before the putt was verbally given to Alison? Perhaps he jumped the gun and declared a loss of hole once it was determined the Europeans hadn't conceded the putt?

Would you really have been able to see the "big picture" in the heat of the battle? I'd like to think we all would, but Suzann is like so many of us. She wanted to win, and winning for Team Europe meant the world to her, in that moment.  I'm guessing it's what was preached in the locker room before heading out to battle (like all sports, at most levels). Win, win, win!  Rip their heads off! Fight with heart! Never give up!  

When the dust settled, Suzann and Alison were put in an extremely unfortunate situation. The golf world sincerely hurts for them both; me included. From one competitor to another, I solute you Suzann. Of course, the right thing didn't happen in that particular moment. And, I believe your apology is sincere. You do see the big picture and what is best for the game of golf as a whole. And, I also question if any other competitor would have done the same thing, in the same ugly situation. Match play is a beautiful thing, and for that we love it, and the game of golf.

Choices are Everywhere

Last month, the subject of ALS has come up on several occasions.  Notably, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. The husband of a Michigan Athletics staff member has been diagnosed with this terrible disease.  Our Wolverine family conducted an Ice Bucket Challenge to help raise money for a cure this past August.  Within the same week, I heard a Ted Talk Radio Hour segment on NPR. The subject was the rise of the Ice Bucket Challenge and the family who made it famous. 

You can listen to the story here:

What I love about this story and the cultural phenomenon that followed, was the choice both the diagnosed patient (Pete Frates) and his family made.  It was an attitude shift that impacts the rest of their life, and the many families affected by this disease. As you probably know, there is no cure. What most people don't know is that there is no treatment either.  It's been 75 years since Lou Gerhig, and seemingly no progress has been made. A healthy and athletic young man,  (and former Division I baseball player), is fighting ALS.  It's not pretty, and the future is grim.  

Luckily for us, Pete is a natural born leader, just like in his college days. Here was a statement to his family shortly after being officially diagnosed :

"...there will be no wallowing, people. We're not looking back, we're looking forward. What an amazing opportunity we have to change the world. I'm going to change the face of this unacceptable situation of ALS. We're going to move the needle, and I'm going to get it in front of philanthropists like Bill Gates'. 

It was a gut wrenching choice, yet also a beautifully simple on.  Pete chose to make the most of a really terrible situation. With Pete's lead, his entire family pulled together their resources to create "Team Frate Train". They marketed, they branded, they utilized social media and put ALS in the forefront using the Ice Bucket Challenge as their vehicle. In other words, the Frates family put the pedal to the metal and never stepped off the gas. As a result, the likes of Justin Timberlake, George W. Bush, Ryan Seacrest, Bill Gates (yes - Pete's vision was realized!) and likely your next door neighbor, posted a video of dousing themselves with ice water to raise money and awareness.  In 2014 alone, the Ice Bucket Challenge estimated to have raised over 160 million dollars for ALS research.

Team Frate Train put their best foot forward by creating one of the most popular and effective fundraising campaigns of our time. When this team initially got together, Pete's mom didn't even have a Facebook account.  A challenge was thrown rudely in the face of Pete and his family and they CHOSE to make a difference.  This is the power of passion, people!! 

Greatness is truly a choice.  It's an attitude. It's enthusiasm. It's passion. I love it! Does it always mean you will be successful? Nope. But it does mean you will be most prepared for the situation right in front of you. Above our team locker room door, we have a sign that reads:

Michigan Women's Golf Locker Room

Michigan Women's Golf Locker Room

If our players leave Michigan with only one lesson learned, I hope this is it. We are the lucky ones; most people don't have to face the difficult choices that Pete and his family have been rudely thrown.

At this time, Pete Frates is paralyzed and uses eye gazer technology to communicate.  He's 29.  Pete's greatest choice was to do something positive with really terrible news. He sure did. And for that, he and his family will continue to inspire many people who face ALS or know someone who has. Just as important, the entire Frates family inspire people to make great choices, whether its an attitude or changing the whole world. 

If you would like to learn more about the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, you can visit:

www.alsa.org