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Life Lessons Learned on the Golf Course
Author: Alex Weidmann  | Posted: 16-07-2008 | Comments: 0 | Views: 7 | Rating: (107)  (?) 
Appreciate the Beauty - Golf courses are typically beautiful places. Manicured grass, stately trees, pristine lakes - on the course I always take a moment to appreciate just how beautiful it is. I need to do this in my everyday life as well. We are surrounded by wonders everyday - I need to take a moment to appreciate the beauty in my life.
Be In the Now - I've always played "athletic" sports - football, baseball, basketball. Sometimes I could "get in a zone" and couldn't miss a shot, or could hit anything that came near the plate. But in golf - with that little ball just sitting there, and no stimulation from direct competition - I have a hard time finding that zone. Everyday life can get that way, too. I need to find ways to be in the now - to slip into "the zone".
Play the Ball As it Lies - In golf, the rules state that you must play the ball as it lies. Life is like that. I need to accept my situation whatever circumstances may bring - and take my best shot to be successful.
Be Honest - In golf, everybody keeps their own score. I read somewhere that Bobby Jones once penalized himself a stroke because his ball "shuttered" as he was taking a practice swing. Both the tournament official, and his opponent, said that they did not see the ball move and that he need not take the stroke. But Bobby said that it had moved, and took the penalty - and lost the tournament by one stroke. What an inspired life I would lead if I could hold myself to the same level of integrity!
Plan ahead - Good golfers don't just grab a club and hit the ball as hard as they can! They "work the hole backwards" - they decide where they need to put the ball on the green to have a makeable putt, what approach shot will put it there, and where their tee shot needs to land to give them that approach. I need to look at my life like that and ask, "Are the actions I'm taking now putting me in the best position to take my next shot?"
Narrow Your Focus - To make a great shot you have to narrow your focus to the point that you can see the exact point of impact where the clubhead meets the ball. I need to apply that same level of attention and narrowness of focus to my everyday activities.
Let Go - No matter how great or how lousy your last shot was, let it go! A guaranteed recipe for a bad shot is to be dwelling on the last one. I need to let go in everyday life as well. Let go of my insecurities, past grievances, past successes and failures. I need to give myself a clean slate every day so that I have the opportunity to make something spectacular!
Be Aware of Your Emotions (so they don't get the best of you) - Part of letting go is to approach each shot objectively and with purpose. I need to approach both my failures and successes with same level of objectivity. This isn't to say that I should become an unemotional machine. It means to be aware of my emotions - the ups and the downs - and to make sure that I take action with intention rather than reacting based on emotion.
Keep Your Eye On the Ball - To make a great golf shot, you have to keep your eye on the ball all the way through the point of impact. It's the same in life. If I find that I'm not making the progress I want toward my goals, it is usually because I've let myself get "busy", but with activities that don’t really help me achieve my goals.
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Too many life changes to handle, what do I do?
By: grandebold0 | 02-09-2008
I'm a recent college graduate (2000-2004) who went straight into a full-time career and then enrolled in grad school at the same time. My "after-college" experience started 3 yrs ago (2004-2007) and during this time I kept a long-term relationship with my girlfriend who I am still dating now. During the 3 years I spent working/going to grad school, my friends who did or did not go to school after high school started getting married one at a time. It wasn't until after I finished grad school (2007) that all this change hit me like a brick wall. All of a sudden I had excess money, free-time, and an urge to start up that party-like social atmosphere that was put off for 3 years. However, my friends were missing from the scene or they'd bring out their significant others/spouses and would act like someone else than the person I remembered. My social life went on pause for things that took priority in my life, education & career, but for those around me they kept changing. All this change is too much for me and it feels like I lost all that was important and that it's time to play catch up. My best friend is getting married next year and we rarely hang out like we used to. He asked me to be the best man at his wedding, but sometimes I feel like his brother should be in that role or maybe someone who relates to him better. He hangs out with a different group of people that he works with who have a few married couples in the mix and I do the same but with almost all single people. I've always put my best friends on a pedestal, like family, did I make a mistake doing this?This is happening while I am still in an almost 4 year relationship with my girlfriend which has been a rollercoaster ride. We only see each other one or two days a week because of work and geography, and those days are precious. It's the days we're apart that are difficult with the phone arguments and sometimes it just seems that we aren't as compatible as the couples we see getting married. My fear is that I'm dragging her along and that once we do get the opportunity to spend a week or two at a time together that we just won't work out. (this will happen soon, read on)If my social turmoil weren't enough, my current job is up in the air as well. I work for a company that filed bankruptcy and it looks like I'll have to be getting a new job soon, by the end of the year actually. My education and skills will keep me employed so the money isn't a worry, but that's once again another change to deal with. Oh, did I mention... I just bought a house and am closing in a week. Yikes! Ok, I'm officially stressed to the max with everything that's going on and it's starting to show in my behavior at work, with friends, with my girlfriend, and just in general..... I don't know what to do and I feel like crying. I haven't cried since I was 12 and got hit in the back with a baseball while playing little league!!!
Child Support Dodger
By: Tulip | 01-09-2008
How does one go about finding out a local pro golfers past and current year tournament wins?
Where's SCOTT?
By: MommyOfWho? | 01-09-2008
I'd like to find an old friend of mine....
Scott Bakos, went to Fairview High School and Polaris Vocational School... around the age of 36. Has a sister named Amy. His mother passed away while he was at boot camp. Last I heard his father and sister moved to Colorado.
Any help would be GREAT!
Can having bad credit affect whether i can get a new job?
By: HarrisF | 29-08-2008
can having bad credit affect whether i can get a new job?
What golfer won a regular pga tour event without ...
By: lmbb1 | 29-08-2008
what golfer won a regular pga tour event without shooting a round in the 60
Free download for pin high country club golf
By: Howard | 28-08-2008
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