Thoughts on Golf 1

Back in the late 60's and early 70's I used to watch golf on the television with my dad. I guess that's what first got me hooked. If dad liked it, I liked it. He would occasionally go and play golf on weekends with his work-friends. I was always intrigued with his brown vinyl golf bag, with all its special pockets and zippers. One pocket held a green "golf ball" looking thing that, when unscrewed, revealed its true nature: a brush for the irons.

Dad's clubs were Macgregor Jack Burke Celebrity Colokrom's. The face of each iron was copper. When they were shined up they looked magical to me. He sold the set to a used sports store, but I snagged the 5-iron and I have it stashed away... I learned how to play golf with that set.



Now, golf has always been big business, but not at the price-points we see today. Drivers were not $600 back then, nor did anyone pay thousands of dollars for a set of irons. Shafts were all steel, woods were made of wood and the head on the putter was not larger than any of your irons.

Look at the pictures of golf's legends. Do you see any swooshes or brand names on their clothing and caps? Nope. I understand that every sport has become an ad revenue source. Other than possibly NASCAR, you will be hard pressed to find a sport where there are more ads per square inch of celebrity real estate.

...and away we go!

But it's not all about the changes in equipment and clothing. That happens regularly in every part of life. What I find compelling about golf is that it has been around for hundreds of years and the rules have hardly changed. It is still a game where there is no offense or defense. There is, for the most part, no team play-no assists-and no referees. You call rule infractions on yourself. In a word golf is --TRADITION.

Fathers have passed the game down to their sons (and now their daughters as well). Female golfers are closing in on the superstar status they deserve. Annika Sorrentam is still playing, and is in the LPGA Hall of Fame. If Michelle Wie can tighten up her game, the 300 yard-driving teenager can become a tour winner. Even without winning a tournament she has influenced young girls and turned them onto golf. Much like Nicklaus, Miller, Trevino and Palmer did it for me, and Tiger, Phil, Daly, and Duval have done for the generation after me.

Golf is an activity that the young and old enjoy. It's one that teaches you patience, honesty, perseverance, courtesy, and discipline.

There are so many nuances in how the game is played, and so many outside environmental influences that can impact your play moment by moment, that if you don't employ patience, discipline and practice--you will fail. Like life, huh?