Two years ago I started playing golf.
My 1st year was full of lots of firsts... First set of clubs, the first round of 18 holes and first par. It was fun and I wanted to get better, so I began to work on my game, and the rest is history.
Now that my second season is completed, I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on what I’ve learned this season. Here are just a few of my takeaways...
1.) Golf is hard. It doesn’t matter how much you work- sometimes it just doesn’t all come together. One day you can putt, but your driver doesn’t show up. Or your chipping is good, but then you can’t hit your irons. I think if you ask any golfer they will tell you the amount of rounds you have a year where everything comes together is few and far between. We’re all rejection junkies. We just keep coming back for more- waiting for “that” day.
2.) You have to practice more than you play. Like most of us- I love to play, but if I don’t take time to consistently work on my game it gets “stuck” and doesn’t grow. I used to say that if I was a bogey golfer I’d be thrilled, now I am and I’m still not satisfied.
3.) If you’re struggling, take a lesson. We’ve all been there and it’s brutal... But why? No one knows, It just happens. Bad habits die hard. Thankfully there are professionals available who actually know what they’re doing. It’s usually something small that throws us off. Get some professional advice, there’s no sense grinding on bad habits. And remember, golf is a journey, not a destination.
4.) Play with people who are better golfers than you. I’m a believer that if you want to be successful, you have to do what successful people do. How is their game different than yours? What are your misses in comparison to them? There’s a reason they are a better player than you. Pay attention, I promise you’ll learn something. And when you know they are good, you feel the need to elevate your own game.
5.) Don’t forget to always have fun. Golf is such an incredible sport. No matter how your game is going, take time to enjoy your round. Celebrate your victories, big or small. If you hit a bad shot out of nowhere, laugh at yourself. After all, a bad day on the course with a good foursome beats any day at work, right?
-Melody Hirata
