It’s been said before that “golf is a good walk spoiled.” While this quote is likely meant as a joke alluding to the difficulty of the game, if the words were taken literally, nothing could be further from the truth. The game of golf is beloved by millions of people worldwide, with more and more people discovering their enjoyment of the game each year. Legendary professional golfer Arnold Palmer sums it up best: “Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated; it satisfies the soul and frustrates the intellect. It is at the same time rewarding and maddening – and it is without a doubt the greatest game mankind has ever invented.”
The object of golf is to hit a little ball into a small hole hundreds of yards away in as few shots as possible. Simple, right? Wrong. Golf is hard, but there’s nothing quite like hitting a perfectly executed golf shot. One pure golf shot in a round of mishits is enough to get most people coming back for more to get that feeling again (like a drug). Stringing together multiple good shots to shoot low scores is incredibly satisfying and instills a feeling of great accomplishment. As Jimmy Dugan (Tom Hanks) says in the movie ‘A League of Their Own’: “It’s supposed to be hard…The hard is what makes it great.” Dugan was speaking about baseball, but the words are applicable to golf as well. Here are some of the reasons why golf is a phenomenal game.
Life Lessons
- Integrity and Honesty. There’s no referee in golf. It’s up to each player to know the rules, play within those rules, and keep their own score. You must play your ball where it lies, creating consistent temptation to improve the ball’s position, but refraining from doing so on your honor. Golf instills personal responsibility and ethical behavior. It’s you against the course, and being honest when nobody is watching is a trait applicable to all areas of life. A poor reputation for honesty in golf leads to a poor reputation in your personal and professional relationships.
- Patience and Focus. Golf requires a great deal of patience. Average rounds last 4-5 hours and you spend a good amount of time waiting for others to hit their shots, so maintaining your focus over long stretches of time is key. You also have to be patient with yourself and the game’s learning curve. It takes time to become decent and significant time and effort to become really good (if not great). Golf also teaches you to stay calm and keep your composure as playing rushed and frustrated will only make things worse. It’s a game of focus and blocking out distraction.
- Resilience and Persistence. No single shot defines your round and every shot is a chance to change the trajectory of the round. You will hit many bad shots, often many bad shots in each round. The trick is not to compound your mistakes. Golf requires consistent practice and you have to continue working on your craft, honing your game over a long period of time. Setbacks are inevitable in golf and in life. It’s how you respond that defines your ultimate outcome.
- Humility and Temperament. Plainly stated, golf is hard. No matter how skilled you are (or think you are), you are guaranteed to hit some terrible, embarrassing shots. The golf gods consistently remind you that your game is never a finished product and there will always be room for improvement. If you’re not humble, golf will put you in your place. It’s important to have a sense of humor about it and a self-deprecating attitude. Your playing partners will thank you. Nobody likes to play with someone who is visibly angry, frequently cursing, or acting out by slamming clubs. Humility allows you to know your limits, but learn and grow from your experiences to continuously expand those limits.
- Decorum. Golf has an unwritten code. Golf also has a certain learned etiquette that gives it a reputation as a “gentlemen’s (or gentlewomen’s)” game. Etiquette applies to things like pace of play, care for the course, respect for other players while they are hitting, being aware of where you’re standing in relation to others, knowing when to hit, sight lines, phone and noise etiquette, proper attire, etc. Adhering to the proper etiquette demonstrates respect for the game and respect for the other players. Knowing how to behave in different situations is an important life skill.
- Strategy. Golf rewards strategy and foresight. Yes, your skill in hitting shots is paramount, but golf course design also requires you to think your way around the course. It’s important to try and place your shots in such a way to improve your chances on the following shot, thus improving your chances at low scores. Factors like club selection, accounting for wind, ground conditions, and slope (to name a few) play a major role in your success. Paying attention to nuance to make thoughtful, well-reasoned decisions is a skill transferable to many areas of life.
Additional Benefits
- Exercise and Physical Health. Walking is considered one of the best forms of exercise, so golf not only provides hours of walking (bonus points for carrying your clubs), but also walking outdoors. Spending time in nature improves your mood, reduces stress, and provides a great source of ever-important Vitamin D. Golf is also a low impact sport, so it delivers the physical benefits without the injury risk.
- Family Time. Golf is a wonderful sport to play with your family. It creates distraction-free bonding time with your children and provides an opportunity for you to teach valuable lessons and just talk away from phones, television, and the stresses of daily life. Plus, it’s something you can play and enjoy well into your later years, so it’s an activity you can do together all your life. Maybe your kids will even pick up the greens fees once they’re older!
- Networking. Golf is usually played in groups and provides an excellent opportunity for camaraderie and relationship building (personal and professional). You can play with your family and friends or join one of the countless leagues undoubtedly available near you. Golf is often the go-to sport of choice for professional networking and can serve you well in expanding and strengthening your professional circle of contacts, opening doors to new opportunities, and generally boosting your career. Many business relationships are built and maintained on the golf course.
- Lifelong Activity. Importantly, golf is a sport you can start at a young age and play well into your twilight years. Unlike more physically demanding, high-impact sports and activities, you can continue to get all the benefits of golf – mental, physical, and social – your whole life.
So, all in all, is golf a “good walk spoiled?” Absolutely not.
Golf Quotes
“Golf is the closest game to the game we call life. You get bad breaks from good shots; you get good breaks from bad shots–but you have you have to play the ball where it lies.” – Bobby Jones
“I learn something new about the game almost every time I step on the course.” – Ben Hogan
“A kid grows up a lot faster on the golf course. Golf teaches you how to behave.” – Jack Nicklaus
“Keep your sense of humor. There’s enough stress in the rest of your life not to let bad shots ruin a game you’re supposed to enjoy.” – Amy Alcott
“If you’re caught on a golf course during a storm and are afraid of lightning, hold up a 1-iron. Not even God can hit a 1-iron.” – Lee Trevino
“Be patient with yourself, improvement takes time and repetition.” – Ben Hogan
“It’s a funny thing. The more I practice, the luckier I get.” – Arnold Palmer
“One reason golf is such an exasperating game is that a thing we learned is so easily forgotten, and we find ourselves struggling year after year with faults we had discovered and corrected time and again.” -Bobby Jones
“The most important shot in golf is the next one.” – Ben Hogan
“One of the most fascinating things about golf is how it reflects the cycle of life. No matter what you shoot – the next day you have to go back to the first tee and begin all over again and make yourself into something.” – Peter Jacobsen
“You don’t know what pressure is until you play for five bucks with only two bucks in your pocket.” – Lee Trevino
Best Golf Books
“Ben Hogan’s Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf” – by Ben Hogan
“Harvey Penick’s Little Red Book: Lessons And Teachings From A Lifetime In Golf” – by Harvey Penick
“And if You Play Golf, You’re My Friend: Further Reflections of a Grown Caddie” – by Harvey Penick and Bud Shrake
“Miracle at St. Andrews: A Novel” – by James Patterson and Peter de Jonge
“Miracle at Augusta” – by James Patterson and Peter de Jonge
For additional information, quotes, and books on relevant famous individuals, please visit the SAGE PROFILES page on the site. Please also visit the SAGE BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS page for many other great reads sure to add to your worldly wisdom. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
