Top 10 Life Lessons from Golf
Golf is an amazing mirror of life.
Yes, other sports provide life lessons as well, but golf
happens to be my favorite sport and the one I understand the
best. It is an addiction, a mystical experience, a test of
character, an escape, a source of rare joy and excruciating
pain. No psychological test will tell you as much about a
person's character as a round of golf. With the arrival of
spring, here are some of my observations about golf and the
game of life:
 1. Expectations & Flexibility.
Golf, like life, is not mastered in a season, and it is
particularly frustrating if we approach it with stiff and
inflexible expectations. Great golf begins with
stretching, bending, loosening up, and matching my desired
outcomes with the realities of a body grown lazy over the
winter. A sense of humor, and a sprinkling of humility go
a long way!
2. Clarity of Purpose. Many golfers never stop
to think about why they play the game. To win? To have fun? For
social reasons, or for the challenge? For the exercise? Just as
striving to become rich and famous often creates frustration
and disappointment, few will ever play professionally, and
striving for perfection is a setup for "failure". Know why you
play the game and where you find your satisfaction and joy in
it.
3. Equipment. Most golfers play with clubs
that don’t fit them, or that no longer suit their games.
Graphite shafts and new club designs have revolutionized golf.
Active golfers should have their clubs checked for loft, lie,
and length, and have them re-gripped every season. Almost any
job is easier with the right tools.
4. Solid Foundations. Golfers go to extremes.
Some take lesson after lesson, trying to fix the tiniest flaw
in their quest for the perfect swing. Others, ignore the
classic foundations of grip, stance and swing in their
eagerness to "do it my way." Success is usually found in a
healthy balance of learning from the wisdom and experience of
others, while celebrating your unique style and approach to the
game.
5. Profitable Practice. On the day of a big
tournament, I often go to the practice green and watch skilled,
dedicated golfers practice missing putts. With a small crowd
milling about, they quickly hit putt after putt, destroying
their rhythm, timing and confidence. Then, in frustration, they
wonder what ever happened to their carefully honed putting
stroke! In golf, and in life, practice smart. Practice for
success!
6. Smart Preparation. Tour players always play
practice rounds. Ben Hogan used to walk the course at twilight
before a tournament to learn all it’s hidden tricks and traps.
Top players rehearse every shot in their imagination before
going to the course. They prepare in advance so they are ready
when the moment of truth arrives. It pays off.
7. Show up. The biggest challenge for many
Nike Tour and other young players is to play their best golf
without a nickel in their pocket, often lonely and far from
home. They have reasons to be distracted. What are your
excuses? Ram Das said, "Be here now." In golf, and in life,
it’s hard to win if you don’t show up, or only show up for
every-other swing!
8. Warm up. Every great athlete, the ones in
the best physical and mental shape, respect their bodies enough
to loosen up, stretch and rehearse before competition.
Unfortunately, most amateurs don’t go to all that trouble. We
jump out of the car, grab the clubs, and head for the first
tee. Before any important event, arrive early, walk around,
relax, and warm up to the task at hand.
9. Focus on Results. Every golf stroke creates
a result. Sometimes the ball goes in the hole; sometimes it
goes out of bounds. Golfers tend to focus (1) on the result
they would have preferred, which is merely wishful thinking, or
(2) on beating themselves up for being so "stupid", which is
painful. Learn from every swing. Observe the results you
actually get. Life never lies!
10. Review and Adjust. If you aren’t getting
the results you want, find the reason. You can trust the ball;
it goes where you hit it. If you want a different outcome,
change your setup, routine, or other actions until you get the
result you prefer. Someone said, "Doing the same thing over and
over and expecting a different result is a mark of insanity."
Successful people learn quickly; others learn eventually.
Have a marvelous day and a wonderFULL week,
and I'll see you on the links!
© Copyright 2003 by Philip E. Humbert. All Rights Reserved.
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