It was after I turned 30 when I began playing golf. I had always been athletic, mostly an avid tennis player. What was golf? To me, it was just a sport for older people. My in-laws played all the time at the club. All their friends played. In my mind, they were all old, at least in their 50s and 60s
So when I began playing, I creamed the ball. I creamed it into the woods. I creamed it into the water. I creamed it all over the place, but not in the center of the fairway and on the green. My final score reflected my abilities. Counting every stroke, my first round was 164. Par, after all, is 72.
Lessons soon followed. I began to play more, even was involved in a women’s league. I was determined to improve. While on the course, my husband finally said to me, “Dee, what are you trying to achieve.” I replied, “I am trying to get a par.”
He reminded me that pars were for really good players, and if I tried for a six on each hole, I would shoot 108. Wow! That sounded good – and doable. Once I focused, my score drastically improved. It was a realistic and achievable goal.
But as in life, my goal to improve dimmed over the years. Now I just try not to get worse. Yes, I hit it down the middle of the fairway, and I have more control. As for the score, which is somewhat better (average 100 for the past 20 years), I am pretty consistent and not the least bit interested in taking lessons to shave a stroke or two off the total. I am just happy to be out there.
Golf and life are very similar.
Golf: Go out on the practice range and hit ball after ball. Then play on the course, and get yourself into trouble – draw deep down to remember what you were doing on the range and try to get it back before the 18th hole
Life: Learn lessons from parents, teachers, therapists, specialists, in an office, a classroom, a warm kitchen cooking – draw deep down within yourself to remember what you learned while you are out there in the real world when you are put to the test. Then, get home as quickly as possible.
Golf: It’s a full round made of up single swings.
Life: It’s a complete life made up of single actions.
Golf: In order to be successful, you have to play a complete game – long shots, approach shots, chips, sand shots and putts.
Life: To be successful, you have to work at every aspect of your life – family, spouse, children, job, friends, spirituality, health, fitness…all of it.
Golf: One day the drives are perfect, but you are unable to make a putt. Your score suffers. The next day, you can putt, but the drives are a disaster. You have to manage your mistakes and still try to have fun.
Life: One day everything is going great at work, but the kids or your spouse is having a difficult time. You have to manage the good with the bad and be happy at the end of the day.
Golf: The golf swing consists of multiple parts – the take away, pause at the top, the follow thru and finishing with a high ending. Experts claim they can break the golf swing into 26 separate parts. It is easy to focus on one part of the swing and forget that the swing’s purpose is to hit the ball. So instead of enjoying game, the focus becomes technical.
Life: How many times do we focus on the little things and forget the big picture and everything we are thankful for. There is a reason why we say, “stop and smell the roses.”
Golf: I had a tough time on that hole, but now it is over, and I have a whole new opportunity to score well on the next hole. Or, wow that was a great hole! I am ready to doing it again!
Life: My life is perfect. Everything is going great. Then, I have a flat tire. I am issued a ticket. A tree falls in the pool. Not so great. Then again, “tomorrow is another day.”
Golf: If only I had a different putter. I would have more fun and score much better.
Life: if only I had a different – partner, job, house, car, doctor, left knee, (fill in blank) – I would have more fun, be more successful, be happier.
Golf: I have seen the most miserable golfers who do not enjoy one minute on the course. They slam the club with a missed shot and are never able to get over it. Also, I have witnessed golfers who are so happy just to be playing and enjoying the atmosphere. Enjoy the good shots. Don’t fret over the missed ones.
Life: My theory – a grumpy young person becomes a grumpier old person. A sweet young individual develops into the sweetest, little old grandma in the world.
Golf: A hole-in-one doesn’t happen to everyone
Life: See previous comment.
When he was 12 years old, my son said it perfectly as he was walking off the 18th green. “I think I figured it out.” He was ready to play again. That’s what life is about - figuring it out and keep playing the game. That is what makes it so fun!
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