The game of Golf sometimes reflects larger themes, just as it does in life. It would seem strange to discuss golf with someone who isn’t familiar with the sport. In a game of trying to keep a tiny white ball in play, what possible relevance can there possibly be? Here are some greats of the game to illustrate my point.
Golf reflects the life cycle in a fascinating way. You must start over at the first tee the following day, regardless of how well or poorly you played. A quote from Peter Jacobsen
“Life is like golf. You play the ball where it falls because you get good breaks from excellent shots and terrible breaks from good shots.” Bobby Jones
The thrill of whaling the ball so hard and landing it on the button gives me just as much pleasure as the next guy. However, I learned through bitter experience not to try this in a game that really matters. “Bobby Jones”
Swing ferociously while pleading:
The only way I thought to play golf was to hit the ball hard and hope for contact when I started. For the ball to travel far, I must exert considerable force. When swinging forcefully, I rarely made solid contact, and firm contact created distance. As I studied my game, I realized that there was an inverse relationship between the force with which I struck the ball and its distance. Once I slowed down and focused on making firm contact, good things started to happen. I experienced exactly the same thing in the life simulation game. There is rarely much to be gained by simply swinging hard. Despite pure force being capable of spurring action, it is often countered by a lack of planning. Like in golf, I’ve learned to step back, focus, and work toward specific goals.
“Misses rule this game. The best misser will emerge victorious. B. Hogan
Accepting Failure:
Failure is inevitable. When it does, you must make a decision. You may feel demoralized and anxious as a result. It might also seem commonplace and essential to you. I used to fall firmly into the first category when it came to my golf swing. After two consecutive poor shots and a high score, I used to want to leave the course. For the subsequent shot, I would stand up and consider all the negative outcomes. My learning curve has been accepting failure, reflecting, picking myself up, and moving forward. I might also fail my next shot, but not for the same reason. In the event that you make a poor shot, what do you do?
The more I practice, I seem to become more fortunate. Arnie Palmer
A thin line of separation:
Both in golf and in life, a few feet can mean the difference between a perfect shot and a lost ball. The term “luck” is often used to describe it. There is no doubt that it is not. Successful people are aware of this. In order to achieve consistency in success, practice is crucial. There will be times when your luck swings in your favor, and there will be times when your bounce is not as good as you hoped. Make adjustments, try again, and try again. The bunkers become smaller, the cup becomes larger, and the mistake margin narrows.
Don’t be unwilling to learn a lesson. I’m not.” (Jack Nicklaus)
The Value of Mentorship:
It won’t matter how much you practice if you’re practicing improper form. In order to improve their form, top athletes rely on others to point out their mistakes. Rather than being immature, asking for guidance shows strength. It is impossible to find out what you don’t know if you don’t inquire.
“I never participated in a game where I didn’t pick up fresh information about it.” B. Hogan
Learning Continuum:
Throughout my life, I have come to believe that lifelong learning is the key to happiness. There isn’t a day that goes by that I’m not fascinated by something new. It is impossible for me to imagine not wishing to learn or experience new things. Playing a round is the only way to learn. Take on new challenges and challenge new people.
“Fear is the deadliest danger of all.” Snead, Sam
An awareness of one’s own fears:
Fear ensures negative outcomes among all possible outcomes. Fear is built on assuming the worst and calculating the consequences. Even though it cannot change the future, it certainly affects the present. Fear impairs judgment, paralyzes, and weakens people, in my experience. As you prepare to hit the tee, several things could go wrong, but if you focus on making your shot, they are unlikely.
Many golfers are either unaware of their flaws or careless about the consequences of their actions. Robert Jones
If I could only have one quality, it would be self-awareness. Through self-reflection, we gain a better understanding of our own motivations and feelings as well as how others perceive us. A humble game like golf can only be played successfully when we know our flaws and habits.
Golf and life are both complex games. The smart play is key.
