3 Invaluable Life Lessons I Learned From Golf

I was only recently introduced to the game of golf. Golf did not interest me when I was younger because I could not afford it. It was instilled in my young mind that golf is only for the wealthy, and I had no right to even consider playing it. I thought I wasn’t allowed to fantasize about playing the game. Fortunately, I came across kind folks who gave me the go-ahead. To get me started playing golf, a friend even handed me a set of clubs. When I was on the golf course, I observed that many people in the legal community were already addicted to the sport.

When outdoor activities were resumed following the peak of the pandemic, the local golf course in my city saw a surge of new players. This, I believe, is also the case in other parts of the world. According to Golf Digest, prior to the pandemic, golf was on the decline. However, during the pandemic, there is a significant increase in both participation and rounds played. One of the cited reasons is that the pandemic allowed people to rediscover the joy of walking.

Aside from the obvious health benefits of getting outside and breathing in some fresh air, here are some lessons I’ve learned and hope to live by.

Live in the Present Moment

I couldn’t understand the logic of hitting a small ball and chasing it before I started playing golf. But I realized why golfers play the game the moment I hit my first ball. The motion of hitting the ball appears to have been frozen in time. The busyness, the stress, and the fear of the future all vanished. I became more focused and mindful of my environment. My only concern is hitting the ball and ensuring that it lands on the intended target. Of course, I’m not quite there yet in terms of having complete control over where the ball lands. But I made the decision early on not to obsess over control. The goal is not perfection, but rather to capture the joy that each shot brings.

A Bad shot is not necessarily Bad

We all make bad decisions in life that cause us a lot of pain. We blame ourselves and are unable to move forward. It is only when we change our perspective and look at the big picture that we realize we are where we are now because of those poor decisions.

In my few months of golfing, I’ve noticed that many golfers, including myself, have a proclivity for negative self-talk. I get frustrated and blame myself every time I miss a shot. And my irritation has a knock-on effect. I only pay attention to the bad shots. But just like in real life, I learned to change my perspective. I realized that many of my poor shots weren’t all that bad. After all, it’s shots like these that keep the game interesting. What is the point of playing golf if everyone’s shot is perfect? What’s the point of having 18 hole in ones?

It’s not over until it’s over

Unlike other sports, golf is played on uneven ground. There are no two courses that are identical. And, just as no two courses are alike, I discovered that my swings vary from one to the next. A good starting score does not guarantee a good round. Similarly, a low starting score does not guarantee failure. My strokes may be beautiful on the front nine, but they may turn ugly on the back nine. Or my strokes may be hideous in the front nine but I may hit a birdie in the back nine making the round my best round yet.

This is exactly what happens in real life. If I am fortunate enough to get off to a good start, I must stay alert to avoid a negative turn of events. If I get off to a bad start, I must persevere because not all is lost. And, like a professional golfer, I must learn from my mistakes, restart, refocus, and hit that ball with everything I got.