O.B., thank you for your thoughtful and considered reply. You gave me a lot to think about, a lot to "feel" about.
Moe's "healthy indifference" was what metaphysician Jane Roberts called "divine nonchalance". I like both. My problem is while I can understand these concepts intellectually, and those you postulated, it is very difficult for me to inculcate them emotionally, or mindfully.
I dance much better when no one is watching. I suspect tournament golf could take that to the next level if I let it. The dance becomes difficult when we allow ourselves to externalize our steps and not allow the internalization to work its magic. And, make no mistake, golf is magical. More often than not I suppress the magic and get caught up in the "trivia".
As you alluded to a golf shot is just that, a golf shot. It's our reaction to that shot that determines what happens next. I can very much relate to your reaction of the 7-iron you hit over the green. That's where my golf game is right now: getting upset and allowing the negativity to intrude. And when I try too hard, and the results do not match my expectations, I feel like a failure.
To be honest, having fun has not been in my golf lexicon, unless it was preceded by a good shot or a good round. Golf just IS. Like the energy that surrounds us it is neither good or bad. Our responses to this wonderful game determine what kind of mistress she will be.
A true golf handicap index is not measured by a number but by an attitude. In that regard I'm just a neophyte...learning to navigate anew the hazards, fairways and greens. Fear in golf is borne on an expectation rather than a result. When the two don't mesh we begin to put unhealthy labels on ourselves. I know, I'm an expert.
My goal is not only to play good golf, but to play with healthy indifference, with divine nonchalance. This is proving to be quite a challenge for me. I have to let go of expectations and surrender to the process, trusting that it will "work".
Sean, if all that have fun stuff doesnt work, I can become a miserable S.O.B. Which works sometimes too. In this circumstance I recommend you inflict pain upon yourself in a self hating but motivating and attitude readjusting manner. Its very cathartic and gratifying.
If you're really, really pissed with your self and you dont want anyone to notice what's going......... you can go behind a tree and slam a wedge into your shin. If there isnt a tree around, like say your in Ireland or something.......you can reach into your pocket and squeeze the crap out of those t'ings dat hurt the most when squeezed.
Im considering writing a book about self motivational attitude readjustment for the golfer. The handbook for the golfer, self flagalizer. Its working title "4 freakin shots from 20 freakin yards", or "this is gonna hurt me more than this is gonna hurt me". I cant decide.
This is such a great game, this golf is. Such a metaphor to life and life is suffering as you know.
Sean, if all that have fun stuff doesnt work, I can become a miserable S.O.B. Which works sometimes too. In this circumstance I recommend you inflict pain upon yourself in a self hating but motivating and attitude readjusting manner. Its very cathartic and gratifying.
If you're really, really pissed with your self and you dont want anyone to notice what's going......... you can go behind a tree and slam a wedge into your shin. If there isnt a tree around, like say your in Ireland or something.......you can reach into your pocket and squeeze the crap out of those t'ings dat hurt the most when squeezed.
Im considering writing a book about self motivational attitude readjustment for the golfer. The handbook for the golfer, self flagalizer. Its working title "4 freakin shots from 20 freakin yards", or "this is gonna hurt me more than this is gonna hurt me". I cant decide.
This is such a great game, this golf is. Such a metaphor to life and life is suffering as you know.
Guess you can tell I played like crap today.
Along with the book, and I think both working titles have merit so you have a sequel ready to go, you can perhaps introduce a clothing line modeled after hair shirts that flagellants used to wear as they wandered aimlessly from town to town...like we wander aimlessly from hole to hole in stunned disbelief.
I'm sorry you didn't play well today. But I think you have good karma and brighter days are ahead for you.
Tomorrow is another day! Bet your bottom dolla........ Got a friday tee off at 12;44, Sarasota National. Hope they have some grass to put under my balls unlike where I played today. Yes Sir, things are looking up.
Tomorrow is another day! Bet your bottom dolla........ Got a friday tee off at 12;44, Sarasota National. Hope they have some grass to put under my balls unlike where I played today. Yes Sir, things are looking up.
Thank you Sean, Ill release the hounds, dogs of hell upon that course on friday as I am my only witness. (thats an easy witness I know). But so be it. And may the gods of golf have mercy upon its poor pathetic soul. For it shall feel my wrath, my stick and my balls.
Thank you Sean, Ill release the hounds, dogs of hell upon that course on friday as I am my only witness. (thats an easy witness I know). But so be it. And may the gods of golf have mercy upon its poor pathetic soul. For it shall feel my wrath, my stick and my balls.
No Tiger jokes please.
Actually I was thinking in more biblical terms: You shall smote them hip and thigh until they weep and nash their teeth.
Let your attitude be the victor no matter the score. Relish your good shots, forgive your bad shots, and leave the golf pantheon behind.
Sean, there has been a lot of good advice, I'll throw in my couple of cents.
Firstly, the round is still a long ways off and yet it has already reached monumental proportions in your mind. That means you are placing a lot of expectation upon yourself already.
All the advice is increasing your expectations, you may find yourself saying 'I have prepared so well, why aren't I winning?'
Ideally you want to have a very neutral mindset when you are starting off. This is your first medal so you should have low expectations. Shooting your handicap will be a hell of an effort, especially if you've never played the course previously.
Accept that you will have some very bad shots on the day and when (if) they arrive you can deal with it better.
Good luck with the game!
__________________ The student senses his teacher’s steadfast belief and quiet resolve: “This is doable. It is doable by you. The pathway is there. All you need is determination and time.” And together, they make it happen.
That good advice Styles. Great advice. Reasonable expectations.
Id me remiss to not mention the all important Three Stations 12-3 ( you'll note that impact does not rank, which is critical).
The Star System Triad of the Preface is a long term pursuit, a holly grail type quest but the Three Stations (12-3), #3 pp sustainment (#3 pp has no release point, its release being associated with a loss of power and therein unlike the power accumulators and the other pressure points) and knowledge of Homer's encounter with the fabled dandelion, can get you through some tough tournament times.
Playing by feel can be illusive for even the best of golfers. We all lose "it", feel, lag pressure at times. Such is golf. Whether you're world class or just beginning to translate proper mechanics into feel, the struggle against Steering 3-F-7-A is ongoing and waged on every practice tee, at every tournament, world wide. I think its best to know your enemy as well as possible. He'll show up for sure, probably when he is least welcome too. He's like that. But we can prepare ourselves for his arrival. Read his book know his traits and wait. If he doenst show then great.
I loved that story Lynn told about Patton's outmaneuvering of Romel in the desert. "You glorious bastard, I read your book, 10 years ago".
For we golfers Steering is the enemy. Homer wrote the book on it after his battle with the dandelion. His revelation being that extracting a weed from the lawn with a golf club produces a superior golf swing. Basically, you dont Steer a dandelion. The gods of golf have a cruel sense of humour dont they? And we're talking about the guy who knew the mechanical essentials of impact alignments, defined them even. If his intentions can go awry despite his knowledge of requirements to the contrary, we are all in for big trouble with this thing.
12-5-0's first few paragraphs are fantastic. Lynn tells a story about a pro golfer , one you'd know of most likely that had fallen so far that he needed to start with the procedure listed in the first paragraph. Without a ball at first and then with one that Lynn snuck in there by hand. Its a story with a very happy ending though. From clanked chips to soaring long irons off the deck.
Address, Top , Finish can get you through some troubling times. Let the Motion make the Shot.
Hybrid Mode
