On June 17, 1962, at the U.S. Open Men’s Golf Championship, Jack Nicklaus won his first major title by three strokes in an 18-hole playoff with Arnold Palmer. He would go on to become one of the greatest golfers of all time, winning 117 professional tournaments in his career, and a record eighteen major championships.
I’m in a complicated love/hate relationship with the game of golf. When I am hitting my drives straight and long and making all my putts, I absolutely love the game. I cannot wait to get back on the course after an outing like that. Then, there are the days when you would give your left arm for a shot which does not end up in the water, on another fairway or in a sand trap so deep it is like quicksand. The type of day when you are ready to toss your clubs into the water and give up the game for good.
What I think about during those times is a quote by Jack Nicklaus. “Success depends almost entirely on how effectively you learn to manage the game’s two ultimate adversaries: the course and yourself.”
I then remind myself to manage myself. It is just a game Lisa, games are supposed to be fun, so stop be a jackass and have some fun. Who cares if you are having a horrible time on the course? I am not a professional golfer going head-to-head against the best with millions of dollars on the line, I am just someone who enjoys laughing about their game with their friends and family and enjoying the fresh air and freedom of the outdoors.
When it comes to managing the second adversary; the course, I will leave that to Jack. I’ll just try to not hit someone with an errant drive or lose any more balls in the woods.
This upcoming Sunday is Father’s Day, so treat your dad to a round of golf. Have some laughs, get some golf tips and drink a beer after a round of eighteen. If you start to struggle, take a deep breath, and remember; Don’t be a jackass.
Time Out With Jenn & Lisa 