I started golfing nine years ago. Keith and I had quit smoking. Our weight went up and our energy went down. Even though Keith had golfed a little before, he didn't think it would be a good idea to teach me. (Probably a very smart move -- I still don't take direction very well from him.) Anyway, we both took golf lessons and started golfing once a week. Three years later, we were still golfing every Thursday. I ended up having to have surgery on my elbow five years ago which meant I was not able to golf for about 18 months. What I was reminded of today is the little life lessons that I apply every day but I personally learned from playing golf.1. You must control your temper while golfing. You don't want to affect those around you with your negativity.
2. You have to be honest in keeping count of how many strokes you take. Others are busy counting their own so it would be very easy to cheat. Sometimes you may break a rule and nobody sees. You have to admit it and take whatever penalty goes along with it.
3. Golfing takes concentration. There's a lot to think about when you're swinging a club. It's important to stay (4) focused.
5. Show some integrity when you golf. Remember your morals and ethics.
6. Golf takes discipline. You have to practice to be any good at it.
7. You can't be late for a tee time so it's very important to be punctual.
8. Be kind to your fellow golfers. Compliment your partner, and others in your group, on their shots or their swing. Even if it's not a perfect shot, you tell them it was a good try. Never say they hit a bad shot, even if it was REALLY bad. They know and they don't need to hear it from you.
9. Respect the golf course and those who will be playing behind you by repairing divots in the fairway and ball marks on the green. Rake the bunkers when you are done.
And, 10. Sometimes patience can be the name of the game. This is my biggest obstacle. I pray for patience daily. Patience is usually required when someone in front of you or in your group has not learned (or is not practicing) the lessons highlighted above.
4 comments:
Ahem. We will now enumerate the reasons I can and cannot be a golfer.
1) Not happening. I cannot cotton to a sport where my irritation ends up with me playing worse, not running harder.
2) No problem- honesty is pretty important to me.
3) Yeah. This one is a bit tricky. Sometimes I can concentrate and sometime I'm have a flea attention span.
4) See above.
5) See #2.
6) Eh-- this means I'd have to go to the golf course regularly? The only thing I can manage on a regular basis is running.
7) Could do this fine.
8) No problem
9) See #8
10) Ha! Ha! Ha ha ha! Patience? What's that??
You see-- no golf for me. I do, however, have a good idea of the game and could give a few pointers on someone's swing if necessary. (My father however, is convinced that since I'm the only one in my family who doesn't golf, that I will eventually end up marrying a golfer. Perfect.)
Well, at least you're honest about it! ;)
Damn I miss golfing. I got a new push cart for my birthday in August and I haven't used it since. Well at least we can golf all winter in California.
Hey Mike,
Even though we CAN golf all winter, doesn't mean I DO. Once it gets cold and rainy, I'm outta there. I can run in the cold and rain but not golf. It doesn't get the heart pumping enough to keep me warm. Brrrrrrr is not for me.
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