~~Mastery of golf, as in life, is dependent on the cultivating a healthy mind. This clarity comes from leading the right kind of life.There once was a monastery that was very strict. Following a vow of silence, no one was allowed to speak at all. But there was one exception to this rule. Every ten years, the monks were permitted to speak just two words. After spending his first ten years at the monastery, one monk went to the head monk. “It has been ten years,” said the head monk. “What are the two words you would like to speak?”
“Bed… hard…” said the monk. “I see,” replied the head monk.
Ten years later, the monk returned to the head monk’s office. “It has been ten more years,” said the head monk. “What are the two words you would like to speak?”
“Food… stinks…” said the monk. “I see,” replied the head monk.Yet another ten years passed and the monk once again met with the head monk who asked, “What are your two words now, after these ten years?” “I… quit!” said the monk.
“Well, I can see why,” replied the head monk. “All you ever do is complain.”
What you're supposed to do when you don't like a thing is change it. If you can't change it, change the way you think about it. Don't complain. If you can quit, quit. If you can't quit, stop complaining - this is what you chose. This applies very much to golf; I was hitting the ball really well today at golf practice. My swing felt smooth and natural because I wasn’t thinking about any mechanics. I had no swing key or thought. I just swung.
I could compare the feeling to writing my signature: natural and careless. I didn’t think about the swing and therefore it was pretty much consistent every time.
I am almost done with Zen Golf, and I want to share a little parable from it that helps with golf but also helps create a more positive outlook on all things in life. It goes like this:
It’s like hitting a bad shot in golf. Just because you sliced it into the woods a couple times doesn’t mean you’ll continue to slice it. But we tend to think like that. We give the negative thought fuel and then what we do is keep on slicing.
I should finish Zen golf very soon. What I am suggesting is that each of us turn from the negativism that penetrate our society and look for the remarkable good among those with whom we associate, When I was a young man and was prone to speak critically, I realized that cynics do not contribute, skeptics do not create, doubters do not achieve.Here is a story about Geoff Ogilvy getting with a sports psychologist and seeing his game improve. He was the U.S. Open champion in 2006 (pretty big deal) but has not done much since.We had a talk about it over a couple of beers at Volvo World Match Play at Thracian Cliffs and he told me that, after meeting a couple times with the sports psychologist Julie Elion, his world ranking has jumped from 79th to 47th (an 8 year low). Geoff is seeing an improvement to his game.He told me that; ”This is really more general psychology that’s helping me, I would say. It’s less golf-specific and more sensible life thinking.”I loved finding this tidbit because it connects well with Zen golf. All the little stories and metaphors and lessons are applicable to life in general and promote a better outlook on things. Geoff seems to have taken a more holistic approach and therefore is getting back to where he once was.
I also want to share something else; do you remember Rory McIlroy’s Master’s meltdown in 2011?. If you do not know, Rory had a 4 shot lead going into his last round and ended up shooting 43 on the back 9 to finish T-15. Rory says, “I was trying to be too focused, too perfect. I was very insular instead of embracing the situation.” Rory was trying too hard to control things.As for me, I've missed more than 9000 second shots into the greens in my career. I've lost almost 300 golf tournaments. 26 times, I missed by one putt on the last green to win by one shot the golf tournament. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.
When people ask me; why do I want to play professional tournaments again???, I tell them, there's not really a reason, it's just the adrenalin when you start, and the feeling when you are on the 18th hole green finishing the game, and know that you are a winner no matter what place you got.
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