The Unexamined Golf Game




 

 

Socrates said “An unexamined life isn’t worth living” and with a touch of wisdom let’s apply it to your golf game. An unexamined golf game isn’t worth playing.

Why examine our games? Because without some insight we might never improve or worse yet, never get the full enjoyment the game can provide. Golf is one of the only sports where people over 70 and 80 years old can conceivably improve their skills. It’s wonderful for me to see my older members whip our young 30 and 40 year old members with shortgame skills and course management.

All examination doesn’t have to be looking for the faults in our swings. We can and should try to discover what emotional states bring out our best golf or our most enjoyable golf experiences. Honest appraisal is what we are seeking. The path to better golf reveals itself to us in every swing. We just need to be in tune to what the ball flight and our bodies are showing us and keep an open and curious mind in our process of enjoyable improvement.

 

 

I challenge you to answer these questions with a little introspection in an effort to get to the inner source of your joy or discontent.

1. Do you average over 32 putts per round? Your putting and chipping need improvement.

2. Do you get up and down over half the time around the greens?

3. Do you make sand saves over 50 percent of the time?

4. How long does it take you to forgive yourself and let go of disappointment after a bad round?

5. Do you feel your shortgame is getting better of worse? Love your shortgame, embrace your shortgame and take full responsibility for your shortgame.

6. Would you bet someone $10 that you could make a straight four- foot putt?

7. Does playing with strangers or better golfers make you nervous and tense? Let go of your ego and play to your true handicap and the pressure will lift.

8. Is there a particular shot that gives you fear and trepidation? Take a lesson, practice and overcome the challenge.

9. Do tight lies make you crazy? Learn to pinch the ball in the air with your hands in front of the ball at impact.

10. Is there a shot or a club that you try to avoid like the plague? Identify it, then take steps to improve with instruction, practice and confidence.

Remember, better golf is a journey, not a destination. Mike Dero is Director of Golf, Quail Creek Country Club. He can be reached at mike@swspotlight.com


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