Before we play or practice golf, there are a few questions that need to be asked! Why on earth are you playing golf? What are you getting out of each round? What is the point?
- Pride – It’s almost like a proud parent raising a child successfully. You start out hardly knowing anything about the game. Your scores are usually high, and your swing mechanics are usually underdeveloped. Your shot making is non-existent and your drives are short and very unimpressive. And then, round after round (and after many nights and $’s spent at the practice range) you slowly start to improve. When you set your goals on the golf course and achieve them… few feelings in the world come close.
- Fun – When I play golf, I have a great time. Fellowship with friends or being paired up with someone I don’t know and making new friendships are awesome benefits golf has to offer. And there is nothing more exciting than dropping and approach shot next to the pin, sinking a monster putt, or smashing a long drive-in front of your playing partners.
- Health – Even though health is listed as number 4, this is one of the main reasons to pick up a golf club. One will soon find out that golf has a sneaky way of adding a little bit of exercise to your life. And that’s great for those of us that hate to take the time out to exercise. On a side note, I would encourage everyone to walk the course once in a while.
- Focus – Even though focus is not necessarily why a person would pick up the game of golf, after playing for a little while you will realize the game can improve your mental toughness, your mental awareness, and eventually your outlook in life. Now I know that may sound a little deep and possibly a tad cheesy, but it’s the honest truth. If you have been playing golf (even for just one season) you know there are many ups and downs associated with the sport. Those ups and downs can be found between years of playing golf, between rounds, between holes, and sometimes (but hopefully not) between shots. Through all these good times and bad times, you learn perseverance. You develop goal setting skills. If you stick with the sport (I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard “I’m going to sell my sticks in the paper tomorrow!”) you will build a “stick to it” type of attitude. Your mind will become sharp! No wonder those that have mastered this sport are generally known as over-achievers.
- Status – Let’s face it, golf is rich in tradition. And whether right or wrong, those that have mastered the sport are generally stuck at the top of the social ladder in the clubhouse locker rooms and sometimes even in the workplace. Let’s say that you’re talking to your buddies about a local golfer and then somebody in your group mentions this person is a scratch golfer, no matter what you thought beforehand you hold that person in a higher regard for some reason.
These are some of the reasons individuals play, but I think it is very important to figure out why you are out slapping balls around too. Figuring out the purpose of golf in your life can only make you a better golfer. What I would like you to do before the next time you go play a round of golf is to ask yourself “Why am I going out today?” If you keep your focus through your round that: I am out here to have fun or I am out here to hang out with my friends or I am out here to get healthy and be physically active or I am out here to feel like I accomplished something today… then you will have the reason and not let your mind run aimlessly with emotion. Let the poor shots go away, let the good shots not get you too emotionally high… just learn from each swing!
Thank you for your interest in Shooting Stars Golf.
We look forward to helping make all your golf experiences more enjoyable!
