Golf Trip in English (골프영어회화)

Today, a gentle spring rain is falling again. I’m sitting with soft pop music in the background, organizing my students’ midterm materials. And suddenly, I notice something. Why do I feel this happy? Nothing extraordinary is happening. Just a warm cup of lemon tea, my two dogs resting peacefully after a short walk in the rain, and me simply doing what I need to do. 그런데 이상하게도, 마음은 아주 차분하면서도 짜릿하다. I think I’m starting to understand why. In the past, I used to put too much effort into everything. Trying to control outcomes, trying to make things perfect— both in life and in golf. But these days, something has shifted. I let go of unnecessary tension, and only hold on to the key points that truly matter. 골프를 하다 보면 이 감각을 더 분명히 느낀다. 스윙 전체에 힘이 들어가면 오히려 흐름이 깨지지만, 힘을 빼고 리듬을 타면 임팩트 순간은 더 정확해진다. Life feels the same. When I try to control everything, things tend to get stuck. But when I do what I need to do without delay, and allow the rest to unfold naturally, things often move more smoothly than...

There was a time when I practiced golf almost every day. Five times a week at the driving range, always trying to fix something. Grip. Angle. Timing. Impact. I believed that if I worked hard enough, I could control my swing — and maybe even control my game. But strangely, the more I tried to control it, the more complicated it became. — 요즘은 많이 다르다. I don’t go to the driving range as often anymore. Maybe once a week. Sometimes less. Instead of pushing myself, I let my swing come out naturally. And something unexpected happened. My swing became more comfortable. My impact feels lighter. And my distance… is still there. 드라이버와 우드도 여전히 잘 맞는다. — It made me realize something simple. Maybe golf was never about forcing improvement. Maybe it was about removing what was unnecessary. 힘을 빼는 것이 아니라, 쓸데없는 개입을 줄이는 것. — These days, my goal is different. I don’t want to practice more. I don’t want to hit longer. I just want to maintain this condition for as long as possible. 80대를 안정적으로 유지하고, 기회가 오면 숏게임으...

Spring rain is falling quietly in my small yard today. The sound is soft, but the energy is strong. Every plant seems to be waking up, stretching itself after a long winter sleep. 나는 사계절 중에서 봄이 가장 좋다. 겨울을 견뎌낸 식물들이 하나둘씩 올라오는 그 생동감, 그것을 바라보는 순간 마음도 같이 깨어나는 느낌이다. This is why I love spring golf . After a cold winter, stepping onto the course again feels different. Not rushed, not forced—just naturally ready. Winter golf has its limits. Heavy clothes restrict the swing, and the body doesn’t move as freely as it should. Sometimes, trying too hard in winter can even break your natural rhythm. 제주에서도 겨울 골프는 가능하지만, 바람이 불면 체감온도가 확 떨어진다. 그래서 나는 12월 중순부터 2월까지는 골프를 잠시 쉬는 편이다. Instead, I focus on golf fitness and recovery . Swimming indoors, relaxing the muscles, and giving my body time to reset. It’s not a break—it’s preparation. 3월이 되면, 다시 골프의 계절이 시작된다. 일주일에 한 번 나가는 필드가 더 소중하게 느껴진다. 아껴두었다가 하는 골프는 그 즐거움이 배가 된다. There’s something powerful about waiting . When you don’t overpla...

I’ve been thinking about how my definition of happiness has changed over time. When I was younger, happiness was excitement. Something new, something different, something better. I was always chasing it — new experiences, new techniques, new ways to improve. It felt like happiness had to be dynamic, almost loud. But somewhere along the way, that changed. Now, happiness feels much quieter. It lives inside my daily routine. The same familiar rhythm, repeated without pressure, without urgency. And strangely, that feels deeper than any excitement I used to chase. I’ve come to believe this change is not something special— it’s something very natural. And when I look at my golf swing, I see the same story. In the past, I was interested in many different techniques. I tried adjusting this, fixing that, searching for the “perfect” swing. Every new idea felt like it might be the answer. But now, I don’t look for those things anymore. I return to my basic swing. Simple, repeatable, and steady. T...

There’s a quiet truth we don’t always notice. If life were always heaven, if every day tasted like something sweet, would we still call it happiness? Probably not. Because when sweetness never ends, it stops feeling special. It becomes normal… then boring. Eventually, we start craving something else — something spicy, sour, even a little uncomfortable. That’s how humans are built. 인생이 항상 달콤하기만 하다면, 우리는 그 달콤함을 더 이상 느끼지 못하게 된다. 오히려 권태로움 속에서 다른 자극을 찾게 된다. 매콤한 것, 새콤한 것, 심지어는 약간의 고통까지도. And life works the same way. The deeper the struggle, the more meaningful even a small moment of peace becomes. A quiet morning. A simple smile. A calm breath after chaos. Those moments only shine because we’ve known something harder. 골프도 참 비슷하다. 어떤 날은 모든 것이 완벽하다. 드라이버는 페어웨이를 지키고, 아이언은 핀 근처에 붙고, 퍼팅은 빨려 들어가듯 들어간다. 그날은 마치 “나는 이미 싱글 골퍼인가?” 라는 착각이 들 정도다. But then… the next round comes. Nothing works. Shots scatter. Confidence fades. Scores climb over 90. And you’re left ...

오늘 라운드는 참 좋았다. 스코어가 특별히 잘 나온 것도 아니고, 샷이 완벽했던 것도 아니었다. 그런데 이상하게, 계속 기분이 좋았다. 왜일까 생각해보니 이유는 아주 단순했다. 같이 친 사람들이었다. 티샷을 할 때마다 들리는 한마디. “Nice shot!” (좋은 샷!) 공이 예쁘게 날아가면 누군가는 웃으면서 말했다. “Beauty!” (와, 끝내준다!) 그리고 실수가 나와도 “It’s okay, you’re getting better.” (괜찮아, 점점 좋아지고 있어) 그 말들이 쌓이면서 오늘 라운드의 분위기를 만들고 있었다. ⛳ One Moment 라운드 중간쯤, 같이 친 여자 후배가 내 팔장을 끼면서 말했다. “언니와 같이 치니 너무 좋아!!” 그 말이 너무 자연스럽고, 그 순간이 너무 따뜻해서 나도 바로 웃으면서 대답했다. “나도 그래, 너무 행복하고 좋아 😊” That was it. No great shot. No amazing score. Just… a simple moment. 🌱 A Thought Sometimes in golf, the best part is not how well you play, but who you play with. “Nice shot.” “Beauty.” “You’re getting better.” 작은 말들이 모여서 하루를 만든다. And today, it really did.                     ** Photo: The Great Finish of My Friendly Friend in Lotte Sky Hills CC in Jeju "Find golf English phrases and conversation tips here—click around and enjoy learning!"