Even at my age, I believe that I can get better – that by turning more, I can get 10 more yards off the tee; that by staying behind the ball, my irons will fly straighter; that by practicing more, I can turn three shots into two.
“It is nonsense to talk about who was the greatest golfer in the world. All you can say is that there have been none greater than Bobby Jones.” – Tommy Armour
The truth is that even the best of us are “country-club golfers” who would simply like to lower our handicaps a bit – or at least not take a step backwards.
Before I knew it, I began flipping through my stack of instruction books and putting Post-It Notes by worth-remembering quotes.
It’s that time of the year again. The time to select my 10 Go-To Swing Thoughts for the upcoming golf season. This has been a serious and involved process that required a number of considerations, including my talent level, age, commitment to practice time and my mental state.
After much thought, I have come up with my New Year’s golf resolutions: 1. NEVER START A ROUND WITHOUT SETTLING ON THE BET. 2. DON’T TRY STUPID SHOTS!
I recorded 71 rounds in 2020 with my low being a legitimate 79 and my high a head-scratching 96. Going through so many ups and downs is no way to live. I am motivated to find a more reliable me.
Playing golf this weekend for many of us is out of the question due such things as cold, wind, rain, drizzle, sleet and snow. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t think about golf. And since it is time to get in the Christmas spirit, I am focusing only on The Joys of Golf.
While I am not a trivia nut, I did remember that Dec. 1 is the birthday of one of my all-time favorite golfers, Lee Trevino. Is it really possible that SuperMex is 81 today?!
“Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art ... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.”
Even the best golfers in the world have days when their drives go wayward and their putts have obedience issues. Why is that?
Debates with friends are always fun. Well, let me take that back. Political debates? Not so much these days. Golf debates, however, don’t appear to be on the endangered list. Thank goodness!
The grounds of Augusta National may not be April colorful, but I have no doubt that the golf will be brilliant. And it is just as much fun trying to figure out who to put a nickel or two on in November as it is in April.
My wonderful non-playing wife, Nancy, says I am “obsessed with an addiction.” My counter to her diagnosis is, “At least you always know where I am.” That response always makes her smile.
While I realize golf can certainly be a frustrating, infuriating and perplexing endeavor, I have come to realize that each and every shot requires a series of intricate and complex mental calculations that must coordinate with your physical self.