| GOLF INSTRUCTION From Winter 2008 Florida Golf Magazine ©Copyright 2008, All Rights Reserved. | |
 Dr. Gary Wiren, Ph.D. Are You Having
Fun? Golf is a simple game: knock a ball from here to there with a stick and hole it out. Simple, yes; but it’s not easy. It just looks easy, particularly on television when one watches the greatest players in the world hit incredible shots in routine fashion. When the show leaves the air what happens? The golfing viewers flock to the course immediately after switching off the set. They have spent two hours watching professionals who have practiced exhaustively since the were in grade school, who have had the best teachers in the world, play with the best equipment, compete three out of e very four weeks during |
the year, and for whom par is a
bad round. In comparison the TV viewer is lucky to squeeze in
two games a week, practices infrequently, takes too much of his
instruction from magazines and used clubs that are not matched
to his swing. Yet somehow this golfer expects to perform like what he saw on TV. How much healthier and enjoyable it is to have a sensible level of expectation. The other perspective is totally unrealistic and puts too much pressure on what should be a more relaxed experience. You aren’t going to be perfect, so heed the words of Tommy Armour who said, “Missing simple shots is part of being human.” You are going to err. Okay, let’s put things in perspective. You don’t play for a living-you play golf for enjoyment. So how are going to get the most enjoyment from your golf? Don’t put all your eggs in the basket of scoring. Sure you want to play well, and when you do you’ll enjoy it more. But if you only have fun when you’re playing well you are going to have fun about 10 percent of the time. Look for some of the other elements of the game from which you can derive satisfaction and pleasure other than a low number on a score card. Playing with people you enjoy is worth a lot; so is a beautiful day; or a break between the trees (even in them); a bird, a flower, a butterfly; appreciating a good shot by an opponent, a laugh, a challenge, a long putt of yours that drops, even if it’s for a seven. Don’t let the beautiful setting disappear because you happen to make a double bogey. If you aren’t getting what you want from your golf, then change it. Don’t get stuck in a tedious golfing rut. Play with people you truly enjoy. Try various forms of competitive play-best ball, scramble, Scotch foursome (alternate shot), match rather than medal, mixed foursomes rather than always for medal score. Notice and appreciate the beauty of your surroundings and contrast the relaxed atmosphere to what most have for a working environment. If playing in the middle of the day, riding a cart in a competitive event with a group you don’t really like at a course that plays too long to score decently isn’t enjoyable, then change. Next time tee off at 7:30 am, walk with one or two friends, or play for fun from the senior tees. If that’s not it, try something else, but do something. It’s you golf life. Live it the way you want to and have fun! |
| From Winter 2008 Florida Golf Magazine ©Copyright 2008, All Rights Reserved. Subscribe at www.floridagolfmagazine.com/subscribe | |
