One Swing Philosophy — What Golf Taught Me About Life

My Journey Between Two Languages and Two Perspectives I am Korean. I was born in Korea, and I have spent most of my life here. However, English has always been a big part of my life. I started learning English seriously after graduating from college. Since then, I have used English for communication, work, writing, and connecting with people from English-speaking countries. I also lived in the United States for three years. Sometimes, people told me, “You seem different when you speak English.” At first, I wondered why. But now I understand. When I speak Korean, my thoughts come naturally and quickly. Korean is my first language, so I don't need to carefully choose every word. However, when I speak English, I have to slow down. I have to think more carefully about what I really want to say. Because of that process, I discover another side of myself. English did not change who I am. Instead, it helped me discover a different part of me. I often describe myself as “half Korea...

People often think golf is about improving technique. Better swing. Better rhythm. Better scores. Of course, those things matter. But the longer I play, the more I realize that golf has been teaching me something much deeper. It’s teaching me where to use my strength, and when to save my energy. Not every shot needs full power. Sometimes, a softer swing leads to a better result. Not every mistake needs frustration. Sometimes, acceptance helps me recover faster. Not every round needs to be perfect. Sometimes, simply enjoying the walk is enough. I am learning that golf is not just a game of control. It is a quiet lesson in balance. Balance between effort and patience. Between ambition and peace. Between pushing forward and letting go. And maybe life is not so different. Not every person needs all of our energy. Not every situation deserves our full reaction. Not every challenge needs to be fought with force. Sometimes wisdom means knowing when to step back, breathe, and save our...

There is an old saying: "God helps those who help themselves." Whether or not we think about it in a religious way, there is a simple truth behind these words. Life seems to reward people who keep moving forward. Not always immediately. Not always in the way they expect. But effort has a way of creating opportunities. Golf has taught me this lesson again and again. The Miracle We Secretly Hope For Many golfers dream of improvement. We hope that one day our swing will suddenly feel effortless. We hope that confidence will magically appear. We hope that the scorecard will finally reflect the golfer we believe we can become. Life is often the same. We wish for better circumstances. We wish for more happiness. We wish for peace of mind. There is nothing wrong with hope. But golf has shown me that hope alone is not enough. What Golf Quietly Teaches Every golfer knows the feeling. You hit hundreds of practice shots. You work on small adjustments. You strugg...

Somewhere along the way, I began to trust myself more. Not just in golf— but especially in golf. For many years, I thought improvement came mostly from correction. Fix the swing. Adjust the timing. Practice harder. Think more carefully. And of course, those things matter. But lately, I’ve been learning something different. Golf becomes easier when the mind becomes lighter. The more relaxed I feel, the better I play. That may sound simple, but it took me a long time to truly understand it. Now, when I stand on the tee box, I sometimes joke out loud. “ I need to hit a good one here, or they may not invite me back.” Everyone laughs. And then, strangely, I often hit one of my best drives. It still surprises me. But maybe it shouldn’t. Maybe that little joke is doing more than I realized. Maybe it softens the pressure. Maybe it reminds me not to take the moment too seriously. Maybe it allows my body to move freely. Confidence, when softened by humor, feels differen...

When I was younger, I believed the winners in life were those who achieved success— business, money, status, and recognition. But over time, my answer has changed. Now, I believe the true winner is simply the person who lives healthily, happily enough, and eventually leaves this world with peace. Of course, having money is better than not having it. But when wealth becomes excessive, it often begins to demand something in return— your time, your attention, and sometimes even your peace. The idea of “enough” is not always easy to define. But one thing I have learned with certainty is this: My happiness is not created by my surroundings or external conditions. It is decided quietly, somewhere inside my own heart. Even when I was younger, I was never particularly ambitious. During nearly twenty years at a global company— what many people considered one of the best careers, especially for a woman at that time, where I was promoted to a Senior Manager role— I always bel...

Recently, I could not play golf for almost two weeks. There was rain. Ruby was recovering. Life simply required my attention elsewhere. I missed golf, of course. Instead of practicing on the range, I spent time watching golf broadcasts. Without realizing it, I was still practicing. I watched the rhythm of good swings. I imagined the balance. I followed the tempo. When I finally returned to the driving range, I was surprised. The swing was still there. That experience reminded me of something important. Training does not always happen physically. In golf, many players believe in mental image training. The mind rehearses movements even when the body is resting. Life may work the same way. When I write, I often reflect on my experiences. I revisit events, emotions, mistakes, and lessons. Sometimes I also write about my plans for the future. At first glance, writing may seem very different from golf practice. But I no longer think so. Writing is a form of mental training. Reflection helps ...

Many people tell me how beautiful Ruby and Rich are. Some ask me, "How old are they?" When I answer, "They are ten years old," they are often surprised. They say, "They look healthy." Some even compliment their strong muscles. That always makes me smile. But I usually don't answer, "Thank you." Instead, I quietly think about everything that happened during the last ten years. People often see the result. They don't always see the responsibility behind it. Raising a dog is not simply feeding them every day. It means waking up early, even when you are tired. It means going for walks in the rain, the wind, or the cold. It means cleaning, brushing, visiting the veterinarian, and worrying when they become sick. Most of all, it means making a promise that lasts for many years. That is why I don't easily recommend raising a dog. Love is important. But love alone is not enough. Responsibility must walk beside it. Durin...

Yesterday's round wasn't just another day of golf. It gave me three unexpected gifts. The first made me laugh. The second made me think. The third completely surprised me. Gift #1 – The Ball Gag Everything became quiet on the tee box. My friend had already finished the setup and was just about to start the swing. Then, at the very last second... the ball quietly slipped off the tee and dropped straight below it. It was one of those little things that happens to almost every golfer sooner or later. But because everyone was watching so seriously, the timing made it absolutely hilarious. Even our caddie couldn't stop laughing. I laughed first and shouted, "Last time we had the Grip Gag... today we've invented the Ball Gag!" 😂 Everyone laughed even harder. After a few seconds, I told my friend, "Don't rush. Step back. Take one practice swing. Then trust your normal routine." My friend smiled, reset, and hit a beautiful drive. ...

One thing I have realized over the years is that I do not care too much about the result. What I care about is whether I am clear about my decision. This lesson appears everywhere in my life, but I notice it most clearly on a Par 3 golf hole. Sometimes I choose a club, and then I notice that another golfer has selected a different one. Many players like to wait and see what others do before making their final decision. They gather information, compare, and adjust. There is nothing wrong with that. But I have always preferred something different. I do not mind hitting first. In fact, I often prefer it. On a Par 3, I do not need to know what club everyone else is using. On the tee box, I do not need to see everyone else's shot before I hit mine. I simply want to make my own decision and commit to it. Over many years of playing golf, I learned that uncertainty creates tension. When I stand over the ball holding a 7-iron while secretly wondering if I should have chosen an 8-iron, my sw...

Today, I woke up at 5:00 as usual. I took my two dogs for a walk and decided to try a different route. I have always loved exploring new paths, but walking with my dogs makes me more careful. I never know if a new route will be safe. There could be dogs guarding their homes, stray dogs wandering around, or other unexpected surprises. So we usually follow the same familiar path. This morning, however, I trusted my curiosity. We discovered a quiet stream hidden above Jeongbang Waterfall. My two dogs immediately forgot about the familiar route. They happily wandered from one patch of grass to another, stopping every few steps to sniff new scents. Watching them explore reminded me that the joy isn't only in reaching a destination—it's in discovering something we didn't know was there. And that's exactly why I love golf. Every round feels like walking a new path. Even on the same course, nothing is ever quite the same. The wind changes. The lie changes. My swing changes...

Today, my golf bag stayed home. Instead, a 20-liter sprayer rode in the back of my car. I drove to my Hwangchil tree field, where I have been taking care of my trees for the past seven years. I spent about two hours spraying weeds and cleaning around the trees. To many people, two hours may not sound like much. But during Korea's rainy season, those two hours feel much longer. The weather is hot, humid, and exhausting. Before I even leave home, I already know how hard the work will be. Interestingly, winter and spring are different. Working in the field during those seasons is actually enjoyable. The air is cool, and the trees seem to grow quietly with me. Summer tells a different story. The weeds grow incredibly fast. If I ignore them for just a few weeks, they quickly take over the field. Nature never takes a vacation. So neither can the person who cares for it. Fortunately, experience has helped me. Handling a 20-liter sprayer no longer feels difficult. But it ...

There is a common belief that money allows us to do what we want. But in reality, money often works in the opposite way. It gives us the freedom not to do what we don’t want. Not to go where we don’t belong. Not to stay where we feel uncomfortable. Not to compromise our values just to survive. That alone changes everything. Money is not just a tool for consumption. It quietly becomes a sponsor of our mental state. When your financial ground is stable, your mind is no longer pulled in ten different directions. You can focus. You can stay present. You can choose. And that is where real performance begins. Think about a single golf shot. To stay committed to one swing, your mind needs to be calm, steady, and undistracted. But if your life outside the course is unstable— if money is constantly pulling at your thoughts— that calm doesn’t exist. The swing may look the same, but the mind behind it is completely different. Yes, sometimes golf or small moments of hap...

Some mornings feel like an entire day. Today was one of them. I started the morning by walking my two dogs. It was a peaceful way to begin the day. Then I met a friend at the driving range. As we had planned, we practiced together before brunch. The best part was that I rediscovered the rhythm of my full swing. That alone made me happy. Later, I met another close friend at Tomorrow Café. We enjoyed a delicious brunch with a beautiful ocean view and agreed that it has the best view and the nicest interior among the cafés we've visited. Our conversation wasn't about shopping or travel. Instead, we laughed while talking about weeds, grass trimmers, and taking care of our tree lands. Since we both manage our own small fields, we understood each other perfectly. Sometimes, the most ordinary conversations become the most enjoyable ones. Then came the funniest moment of the day. One of my golf friends called me. She said, "I think the putter inside my putter cover i...