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Hackers... each Friday I am going to bring a lesson from the golf course that will hopefully help your enjoyment of the game and maybe help you off the course, as well. These are just little lessons that I have picked up over the past 12 years I have been playing the game.
Golf is one of the few sports that can be enjoyed from the ages of 3 to 90. It doesn't matter whether you play by yourself or with a group of friends in the Sunday scramble. It is meant to be challenging and enjoyable. One of my favorite things to do when I was a kid was to get out on that green landscape of Chockoyotte CC and shank it around for 4 hours while thinking about my grades, girls, and just life in general. It was my escape, no one could touch me. Each shot was one to win a Major and each time I missed the next shot was just as important. Gosh, life was good... NO WORK! However, this walk can easily be disrupted when playing with others.
Let me tell you about my late Grandfather, Sam Homewood Sr (Great). Great was a man who had more passion for the game then anyone else I have ever met. He is the one to which I credit my passion. Every Sunday, golf was on, it didn't matter whether it was the PGA, the Seniors, or LPGA. He enjoyed telling me old stories about his playing days and I enjoyed listening. Almost every story had a lesson that he wanted me to learn. He once told me the story of a younger man he played with at the club. He said this guy could par the course with a 5 iron and putter. UNREAL! Great said he was playing with this guy one weekend and the man got all bend out of shape on one of the holes and broke one of his clubs. Great took his bag off the back of the cart and walked back to the clubhouse. "There is no use for something so bad, in a game as beautiful as golf.", he told me. There is no need for an amatuer to get so upset.
Your not Eldrick, you don't practice everyday like Eldrick, so there is no need to think you are going to play like Eldrick.
My brother actually struggled with this concept. My brother, Hill, has one of the most natural swings; with practice, he could shoot in the mid to low 80s. When we were younger, he was a natural athlete in every sport that we played. He was drafted to the upper leagues and All-Star games before me and I was a grade older. I am still a little bitter to this day. Anyways, when he first started playing, it took a few years for him to realize this game just doesn't come to you. He would get upset with himself and it really affected his performance. Once you let the "demons" enter your head, you add at least 5 strokes to your game. This is true for everyone, even the pros! Look at what happened to Rory at Augusta. The "demons" got him. As Hill has "matured" (the jury is still out on this), so has his game. He has learned to enjoy the game as he has aged, and it has had a direct affect on his scores. Still no 80's, but he is working on it.
Don't get me wrong, just because I enjoy playing, doesn't mean I don't like to compete. I enjoy getting out there and competing on the golf course and throwing a little money around. However, I know I am not Eldrick, so there is no point for me to throwing clubs. I don't practice enough to expect anything more out of my game. I have buddies that can go out there, look at the white ball for the first time in 6 months and shoot their average... this is amazing to me. If I haven't played in 6 months, I come down with a terrible and contagious illness called the "Shanks". If you have ever had them, they are worse then the flew.
The first day of Hilton Head, I didn't have a single ball get over 3 feet off the ground. Was it enjoyable to hit the ball that way? Nope, but what is the point in going out there, making an ass out of myself, and ruining everyone elses rounds. I mean, I was on vacation... NO WORK! You know what? I remained patient and finally my game came around by my 3rd round and was on my way shooting the round of my life, with a couple of tweeters thrown in there for good measure.
Hackers... each Friday I am going to bring a lesson from the golf course that will hopefully help your enjoyment of the game and maybe help you off the course, as well. These are just little lessons that I have picked up over the past 12 years I have been playing the game.
Golf is one of the few sports that can be enjoyed from the ages of 3 to 90. It doesn't matter whether you play by yourself or with a group of friends in the Sunday scramble. It is meant to be challenging and enjoyable. One of my favorite things to do when I was a kid was to get out on that green landscape of Chockoyotte CC and shank it around for 4 hours while thinking about my grades, girls, and just life in general. It was my escape, no one could touch me. Each shot was one to win a Major and each time I missed the next shot was just as important. Gosh, life was good... NO WORK! However, this walk can easily be disrupted when playing with others.
Let me tell you about my late Grandfather, Sam Homewood Sr (Great). Great was a man who had more passion for the game then anyone else I have ever met. He is the one to which I credit my passion. Every Sunday, golf was on, it didn't matter whether it was the PGA, the Seniors, or LPGA. He enjoyed telling me old stories about his playing days and I enjoyed listening. Almost every story had a lesson that he wanted me to learn. He once told me the story of a younger man he played with at the club. He said this guy could par the course with a 5 iron and putter. UNREAL! Great said he was playing with this guy one weekend and the man got all bend out of shape on one of the holes and broke one of his clubs. Great took his bag off the back of the cart and walked back to the clubhouse. "There is no use for something so bad, in a game as beautiful as golf.", he told me. There is no need for an amatuer to get so upset.
Your not Eldrick, you don't practice everyday like Eldrick, so there is no need to think you are going to play like Eldrick.
My brother actually struggled with this concept. My brother, Hill, has one of the most natural swings; with practice, he could shoot in the mid to low 80s. When we were younger, he was a natural athlete in every sport that we played. He was drafted to the upper leagues and All-Star games before me and I was a grade older. I am still a little bitter to this day. Anyways, when he first started playing, it took a few years for him to realize this game just doesn't come to you. He would get upset with himself and it really affected his performance. Once you let the "demons" enter your head, you add at least 5 strokes to your game. This is true for everyone, even the pros! Look at what happened to Rory at Augusta. The "demons" got him. As Hill has "matured" (the jury is still out on this), so has his game. He has learned to enjoy the game as he has aged, and it has had a direct affect on his scores. Still no 80's, but he is working on it.
Don't get me wrong, just because I enjoy playing, doesn't mean I don't like to compete. I enjoy getting out there and competing on the golf course and throwing a little money around. However, I know I am not Eldrick, so there is no point for me to throwing clubs. I don't practice enough to expect anything more out of my game. I have buddies that can go out there, look at the white ball for the first time in 6 months and shoot their average... this is amazing to me. If I haven't played in 6 months, I come down with a terrible and contagious illness called the "Shanks". If you have ever had them, they are worse then the flew.
The first day of Hilton Head, I didn't have a single ball get over 3 feet off the ground. Was it enjoyable to hit the ball that way? Nope, but what is the point in going out there, making an ass out of myself, and ruining everyone elses rounds. I mean, I was on vacation... NO WORK! You know what? I remained patient and finally my game came around by my 3rd round and was on my way shooting the round of my life, with a couple of tweeters thrown in there for good measure.
There was no girl next door.
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