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GREEN SPEAK: A Game for Life
So, why do you play golf? It’s a fair question isn’t it? According to the National Golf Foundation, there are roughly 30 million Americans out there walking (or riding) the links. What’s their motivation?
I’m sure that the majority enjoy the social aspects of the game. Where else can you laugh at your buddies as they slice it into the woods, keep score for a mechanic just as well as a CEO and occasionally gawk at the Hollywood celebrities on the next fairway over in their picture perfect attire. I tell ya, it takes all kinds!
Some believe that golf will help them advance in business. I guess that depends on whether or not you actually beat your boss, now doesn’t it? However, some organizations have sprung up based on this theory. For instance, the Executive Women’s Golf Association promotes women using golf for fun and business networking. The closest chapter is in Denver and can be found by going through ewga.com.
I have heard it said that many deals are done on the golf course. I, for one, have never seen a deal done out there on the course in my 30 years of playing the game. What I have seen though is the “true you” coming out as you execute a horrendous tee shot, endure poor etiquette from another player or give a fake name to the homeowner who’s picture window you just shattered. Golf is a litmus test of your character.
Maybe exercise is your reason to golf. Some would say that golf being exercise is a debatable point of view. If you are the one who has his brat and beer on the way to the first tee and drives the cart close enough to every shot so that a polo player would be envious, then your calorie burn rate is probably in negative territory.
God blesses the fortitude and attitude of the scarce-to-be-seen walker. The blessings come from enjoying the effort it takes to get from here to there, the feel of the soft turf under the golfer’s feet and the chance to see a beaver building a dam (as I did in Breckenridge this summer) in an area way past the “No Cart” signs.
For me, the first thing I liked about playing golf was the fact that I could make the ball go high into the air. Getting that one great shot in 50 was enough to bring me back for more junior lessons! I also liked the fact that I didn’t need to always find a partner like in tennis or gather a whole team as in so many other sports our youth are offered.
By determining your motivation and long term goal, you can best choose the level of effort and money you need to put into the game. Those who are simply out for a scenic walk and who choose to play alone, should be content with higher scores.
Social players, on the other hand, would be advised to hit the range once a month during the season and read at least one golf instruction book in their lifetime; better sooner than later. This isn’t so much for an increase in their ability, as much as it is for a decrease in their playing partners’ frustration.
A golfer wanting to impress the boss has a bit more effort to exert. In addition to getting some good basics from print and video, this golfer needs to find a local pro who will mold his or her swing. Finding an instructor who acts like a teacher and not a paid employee is essential. No questions are too silly to ask and friendly encouragement abounds.
For those who have the time and desire to become excellent at golf, you will need to lay it all on the line. Your free time will now be labeled “golf time”; and maybe even some time that is not so free. You will have to be willing to submit to major swing changes, if necessary, and not simply “quick fixes.” You would be wise to thoroughly vet potential instructors for a proven track record of producing successful students. Yes, you need an instructor. PGA Tour players receive more instruction than anyone, don’t they?
Being realistic about your resources (time, money, motivation) will help you set attainable goals and allow you to have a life-long love of the greatest game.
(John Krause is a professional golf instructor and a member of Corpus Christi Parish in Colorado Springs.)
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