FORE!!!

The DPL wants to applaud all golfers. That’s right. If you are reading this and you are a golfer-stand and take your bow. It doesn’t matter if you’re a pro, an amateur, middle of the roader, hacker, bottom feeder, week day(er), weekend(er), first (and next) timer…all golfers. Keep playing. We commend you for the sacrifice of your time, energy and money.

Although GOLF can be both challenging and fun; there is one word that golfers hate to hear or yell themselves and that’s the dreaded word “FORE.” In case you’re reading this and you’re not familiar with the word; the wikipedia definition relates it to be “an exclamation called out as a warning to people in the path of a golf ball.” As much as I care to admit, an exclamation which I have yelled out a few times over the years.

FORE!!!  WHAT!!!  Have you ever wondered, why?  Why did you even bother to come out to play.  Well, so have I.   And no one wants to hear you deflect how bad you’re playing by mentioning how great you played a few days ago. They don’t want to hear it. They don’t care. What matters is how you’re playing now.

So, a bit of advice… if you ever golf by yourself and you make all those fantastic shots; 30 or 40 foot putts for a birdie, 40 yard chip shots that land 2-3inches from the hole and drives that launch straight as an arrow, into infinity, you might want to just enjoy and appreciate the round yourself.  I know you’re proud of your unwitnessed accomplishments but why bother telling any of your friends? Their not going to believe you anyway.

So. I’m still wondering ‘WHY’?  Why am I out here? Why did I bother to show up? Nothing is going right. I’m all over the place. I’m playing military golf, hitting the ball left then right then left then right. I know how to march. I was in the Marines. I just don’t want to do it on a golf course.

” I suck at this game! ” I say in frustration. ” Take it easy my man. You have to trust your swing. It’s a process. You have to take the good with the bad. See the positive. Even a broke clock is right twice a day. ” My friend Shawn said cool yet reassuringly. We both laughed. True words of wisdom.

I realized he’s right. If you start beating yourself up, you’ll dig yourself an even deeper hole. RELAX, STAY POSITIVE, TRUST,  BELIEVE.  I now know that when I remember those words and absorb them into my mind and heart it will lead to better outcomes.

Since, as I heard it put, ‘Repetition is the Mother of Mastery’,  so it is with patience and practice (and a swing coach) my swing and confidence is improving and my clock is back moving. I know that I have to continually invest the time it takes to keep it MOV…ING  in the right direction.

As we have said, the DPL applauds golfers of all ages.  KEEP EMBRACING THE CHALLENGE.  

Until next time…PEACE, LOVE AND KEEP LIVING YOUR BEST LIFE!