Golf: a Metaphor of Life
I just watched a fellow drop a putt for a sudden death win in the Canadian Open. I suppose I could say something about golf before I sign off.
You know, I spent most of my life abiding by the rules of golf. One of my favorite rules was that you never improved your lie. You played it as it lay---no matter how bad the lie was, or you took a penalty stroke and dropped the ball in a more advantageous location.
I played with a friend who regularly improved his lie. I'm sure his reasoning was that the courses he played on were not as finely manicured as the courses the pros play on. He was and is an excellent golfer and I suppose he believes he deserves the same manicured fairways the pros have. Well, when you're a pro, it won't be a problem. He talked me into improving my lie a couple of times. I've always considered these weak moments were some of my greatest sins.
Golf is similar to life. Everyone plays on the same field. There are moments when you take a mighty whack at the ball and other times you gently chip. Putting, when you’re in a safe place where you use your fine skills to judge distance and line. You stay out of the other golfer’s way and when on the green, never step on his line to the cup. You always play in your turn which you must earn by winning the preceding hole or hitting the ball closer to the hole. And…it's best that you don't throw clubs when things don't go well.
I like and admire this metaphor for life.
You can learn a lot about a fellow by watching him play golf. I once played in a club tournament. My opponent was a guy who was a principal of a nearby school. Before I left the clubhouse, the manager warned me that the fellow cheated. Indeed he did.
I think we were tied going into the last hole. I think he was blaming his lack of success on his new set of clubs. Neither of us got off to a very good start on number 18, but his was worse---high grass in the right rough. After helping him find his ball, I began to drive away but glanced back: the fellow was building a tee from grass. Just a little improvement to his lie. He won the hole and the match. I wasn't upset. It was not the end of my world. My conscience was clear. I felt sorry for the fellow.
A young person can learn a lot from golf if he or she plays by the rules and takes note of those who don't. Golf is a good mentor for life.
enough