It’s Harder Than It Looks
It’s an understatement to say that this golf season has been a challenge. As someone who has been playing the game since I was 11 years old, I know how difficult it can be and perfection is never attained.
When you begin to play the game of golf, the first goal – after simply learning how to make consistent contact – is to shoot a score lower than triple digits. Most golfers can remember the days when they used to sit by the 16th or 17th tee quietly adding up their score to see if they still had a chance to keep their score in the double digits.
Then it was a huge jump to break 90. It’s amazing how much better it sounds to say you shot 89 instead of 90. Scoring in the 70’s is magical and very satisfying for most casual golfers, and shooting a round of even par might happen occasionally, but is very rare. For an amateur golfer, going below par just doesn’t happen very often and a score in the 60’s is one of the most memorable things that can happen on a golf course other than a hole-in-one. I should know because I’ve done both twice.
A Game for a Lifetime
As many of you know, a big part of my life has been based around golf. I worked as a caddy as a teenager at the course in Columbus where the greatest golfer to ever play the game, Jack Nicklaus, learned to play. I went to the same high school as Nicklaus. After college, I worked in the golf business, even earning my PGA Apprentice designation. I introduced my daughter and son to the game and love watching their excitement as they progress through the levels described above. Now I’m just a typical 50-year-old hack that plays 2-3 times a week with my brother and fellow members at the golf course where Nicklaus played his collegiate golf.
The game is challenging but it’s also fun. A chance to get out on a beautifully manicured course, enjoying the fresh air and camaraderie of your fellow players and simply battling the course is supposed to leave you energized and anxious to come back for another test the next time you play. Except this year has been frustrating as I’ve been hitting is every way but the way I wanted to hit it. I make poor decisions, I swing too fast hoping to keep up with my limber 16-year-old son, and I still miss too many easy putts.
I know what to do but I simply cannot connect my thoughts and ideas with the physical execution of the swing. I know how to play, I am just struggling to make the actions match the results I am seeing in my head before the shot.
The game is challenging but it’s also supposed to be fun.
I set aside my ego and took a golf lesson last night. It was the first lesson I have taken in over 30 years. Sure, I’ve had the general tip from the local pro here or there. I’ve watched The Golf Channel and read Golf Digest when it hits my mailbox. But those aren’t the same as a golf professional taking the time to help me with my set up, swing and success.
It was an awesome lesson, not just because I saw some immediate results but more importantly, I left with confidence, excitement, and belief that I do not need to sell my golf clubs and take up bowling.
That experience reinforces to me the importance of teaching with passion and enthusiasm and simply helping my students see things from all angles while focusing on activity and not results. Just remember, success isn’t easy…but it’s supposed to be fun.
Now, it’s time to practice, practice, and practice until the lessons become second nature.