One Swing Philosophy — What Golf Taught Me About Life

I’ve come to believe something simple: What we hold clearly in our minds often finds its way into our lives. This feels especially true in golf. Whether someone is just discovering the game, learning their first swing, or competing as a professional, every golfer carries a quiet dream. A perfect shot. A more consistent swing. A round played with confidence. A course they hope to play someday. Long before any of those things happen, they begin as thoughts. A picture in the mind. A small plan. A quiet promise to oneself. And somehow, over time, many of those thoughts become real. I’ve seen this in my own life. When I first moved to Jeju Island , many things didn’t seem to align. The timing wasn’t perfect. The circumstances weren’t ideal. Even financially, there were moments when it didn’t seem easy. But quietly, I kept one thought in my mind: One day, I will play every golf course in Jeju. I never said it loudly. I simply kept carrying that thought with me. And now,...

Today was one of those days I will never forget. I finished my round with 89 . The score wasn't bad. But during the front nine, I wasn't enjoying golf at all. For a moment, I even felt like golf had become work instead of joy. That feeling made me stop and think. At first, I believed I had simply lost some of my golf muscles. Over the past eight months, I had gone to the driving range only about 15 times . Looking back, I should actually be grateful that my swing hadn't disappeared even more. Then something happened that changed my perspective. On one par-4 hole, I had about 170 meters left to the green. I chose my 5-wood . Without hesitation, I trusted my swing. The ball flew exactly as I imagined and landed safely on the green. That single shot reminded me of an important truth. My swing was still there. My ability was still there. What had become weaker wasn't only my golf muscles. It was my confidence. Lately, I had been making careful swings instead of committed s...

Life seems simple, but it is not easy. From a young age, I wanted to become a wise person. I realized early that life could be difficult, and I believed that wisdom was what helped people live with more peace, happiness, and understanding. That is why I spent so much time studying and reading books. I was not simply searching for knowledge. I was searching for wisdom. Whenever I struggled with a problem, I wanted to know how a wise person would think about it. How would they respond? How would they overcome it? Through that process, I slowly built my own standards and principles. There were so many mysteries around me, and I wanted to understand them one by one. Looking back, I realize that my journey in golf was very similar. When I was younger, I worked for a golf company. Golf was almost free for me, so I hit countless balls and played many rounds. At the time, I believed that improvement came mostly from practice and repetition. Later, I began attending golf learning programs and s...

Tomorrow, I'll play another round of golf with my friends. This morning, I went to the driving range to prepare for the game. As usual, I focused on my own practice. The driving range is my quiet place, where I listen to my swing more than to conversations. One of my golf friends was there. She is seven years younger than I am and has a real passion for improving her game. We played together on Monday, and I knew she wasn't happy with her round. Today, she was struggling with her swing again. Normally, I don't give golf advice. Every golfer needs to discover their own swing. But this time, I wanted her to enjoy tomorrow's round. So I shared a few simple ideas that have helped me over the years. Slowly, her swing became smoother. More importantly, her smile came back. Seeing her smile made me happy, too. She always calls me "Unni" with warmth. Recently, I've noticed that her words have become even kinder. Perhaps she can feel that I sincerely want her to be...

Yesterday, I played golf at Phantom Golf Club, only ten minutes from my house. To be honest, it has always been my toughest golf course. The fairways are narrow, the greens are difficult to read, and I have probably lost more golf balls there than at any other course. A week ago, I shot 91 at Lotte Sky-Hill CC. My swing had fallen apart, and although I figured out the problem after practicing twice, my confidence wasn't completely back. Before leaving home, I told myself, "If I can't avoid it, I'll enjoy it." When I arrived at the first tee, I laughed and said, "Today, I'm going to tame this golf course!" Everyone laughed with me. I had watched The Open Championship, imagined my swing again and again, and reviewed the basics in my mind. I even thought about going to the practice range one more time before the round, but it was simply too hot. So I decided to trust my preparation. The course looked much better than I expected. Earlier t...

While watching the final round of The Open , one player stayed in my mind long after the tournament ended. It wasn't the champion. It was Adam Scott . At 46 years old, he was competing against players nearly twenty years younger, yet he still finished in the Top 10 on one of the toughest stages in golf. His ball striking was incredibly accurate, and every swing looked smooth, balanced, and effortless. What impressed me even more was his physical condition. He looked remarkably fit—strong, athletic, and healthy. It was hard to believe he was 46. Then I started thinking about his career. Adam Scott became the first Australian to win the Masters Tournament in 2013, earning the famous Green Jacket and making history for his country. In 2014, he reached World No. 1, following another Australian legend, Greg Norman. He has won more than 30 professional tournaments around the world, including 14 PGA Tour titles. Even more impressive, he has played in over 100 consecutive major championsh...

I woke up early to watch the final round of The Open . The winner was Ryan Fox , 39 years old and ranked No. 56 in the world. Many people expected one of the biggest stars to win. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler was there. Rory McIlroy was there. Every player who made the cut had the ability to win. But golf doesn't always follow the rankings. Ryan Fox has a swing that is a little different from most players. He isn't the most famous golfer, either. Yet on one of the toughest links courses in the world, he stayed calm until the very end. The most exciting moment came on the 18th hole. He needed a birdie to avoid a playoff. One swing. One putt. One chance. He made it. He finished at 10 under par , just one shot ahead of the field. Watching that moment made me think about life. Sometimes we believe only the most famous or the highest-ranked people will succeed. But life doesn't always work that way. Preparation, patience, courage, and believing in yourself at the most important...

There was a time when I cared more about my score. Like many golfers, I used to believe that a better number meant a better day. But over time, something changed. I realized that I am not a professional golfer. I do not need to chase every stroke or prove anything to anyone. If I play well, that is enough. If I break 90, that is enough too. What matters more to me now is something different: How I feel. How others feel. And whether we can share a happy day together. Sometimes, playing too well can make others uncomfortable. Sometimes, proving too much can quietly change the mood. And I have learned that not every success needs to be displayed. Sometimes, quiet confidence is enough. Sometimes, protecting the joy of the group matters more than showing your best score. Golf has taught me this. And life keeps teaching me the same lesson. There is no need to prove your strength when you already know it. There is no need to chase recognition when you are already at peace. ...

I didn’t always think golf was fun. There was a time when golf felt more like pressure than joy. While living in the United States, I played almost every day and spent a lot of time on the course. At one point, I decided to challenge myself and take the USGTF certification test . To pass the playing test, I needed to shoot 82 from the white tees in San Diego . I shot 86. Technically, passing the written exam would still have allowed me to receive the certification, but I felt disappointed. So I decided to try one more time. I told myself I would make one more light attempt—and if it didn’t work, I would simply let it go. But strangely, that second attempt became much heavier than I expected. I practiced seriously. I played several preparation rounds. And when the actual test day came, my mental game completely fell apart. I was too nervous. I wanted to do well too much. And suddenly, all the hidden weight inside golf came rushing toward me. I played terribly. It wasn’t as...

Some rounds stay with you long after the final putt. Today was one of them. I played golf with a gentleman who is 74 years old. For nearly three years, he has kindly invited me to play at a beautiful golf course about once a month. Every invitation still feels like a gift. He loves golf, and it shows.  Throughout the round, he kept everyone smiling. Whenever one of us hit a good shot, he would joke with the caddie, "Have you ever seen ladies who play this well?" Then he would laugh and say, "They play so well that even at my age, I have to fight for every shot today!" That was who he is—competitive, but never intimidating. Encouraging, generous, and always making the people around him smile. During the round, he shared something much deeper. He quietly mentioned that about 30% of his friends from school have already passed away. Then he added, "I think I'll be able to enjoy golf until I'm about 80." For a moment, I felt a little sad. I replied, ...

The Best Score Was Consideration. Many people think golf is all about good shots and low scores. Of course, I enjoy making a birdie or hitting a great drive. But after many years of playing golf, I have realized something. The shots slowly fade from my memory. The laughter doesn't. One day, my friend hit a wedge shot behind the ball near the green. He looked a little disappointed. I smiled and said, "That was just a practice swing. Now hit the real one." Everyone laughed, including him. Another day, a friend needed two shots to get out of a bunker. As soon as the ball came out, I clapped and said, "Nice out! I didn't see the first one." We all laughed again. On another round, we decided that everyone could use one mulligan on the front nine and one on the back nine. One friend used both of his early. Later, he wished he still had one. I hadn't used mine, so I said, "You can use mine." Another friend immediately laughed and said, "Then buy...

People often say that success means beating someone else. Many believe that to move up, someone else must move down. I have heard that idea many times throughout my life. But I have never truly believed it. During my career, I always tried to follow one simple principle. Win-Win. Not because I had read it in a business book. Not because someone taught me. It simply felt natural to me. I believed that my success was never mine alone. It was built together with the people around me. When my team succeeded, I succeeded. When my students grew, I grew as a teacher. When my friends enjoyed a round of golf, I enjoyed it even more. Of course, life is not always easy. There were difficult moments when I briefly wondered, "If I want to survive, do others have to lose?" But those thoughts never stayed with me for long. Deep inside, they never felt like me. Yesterday reminded me of that once again. We played a friendly golf game with a small prize on each hole. I str...

Last Monday, I played one of my better rounds. My shots had been solid for several weeks, and I quietly started believing something. "Maybe I don't need to practice at the driving range anymore." Last week was busy. The weather was very hot. Rain was expected. I had planned to practice, but I kept finding reasons not to go. So today, I picked up my golf clubs for the first time in a week. Golf gave me an immediate answer. The front nine was one of my worst rounds this year. Nothing felt natural. My swing had lost its rhythm. My confidence disappeared with every hole. For a while, I wondered if I had forgotten how to play golf. Even on the back nine, I started with two double bogeys. I honestly thought, "My swing is broken." But golf is a funny game. Instead of giving up, I slowed down. I trusted my swing again. Little by little, my rhythm returned. I finished with a 91 . It wasn't a great score. But today was never really about the sco...

There was a time when I went to the driving range with only one purpose: To focus completely on my own swing. I barely looked around. If someone nearby had a strange swing, I almost tried not to watch. Maybe deep down, my own swing still wasn’t fully stable yet. I worried that if I watched too much, I might lose my rhythm, my confidence, or become confused again. So I kept my eyes mostly on myself. But recently, something has changed. Now, between shots, I stretch quietly and sometimes look around at other golfers. And interestingly, I’ve started learning from them too. Many people swing with so much tension. Too much force. Too much effort. Too much trying. You can almost feel the frustration in the movement. Then once in a while, there is one person. Not flashy. Not violent. Just calm. The ball sound is different. The tempo looks easy. The swing feels effortless. And without realizing it, I quietly learn something again. Not only from the good swings, ...

There is a certain feeling people can sense  before results are even visible. Sometimes, before a golfer swings, others already say, “You look like you play really well.” It always makes me smile a little. Because honestly, I am not especially tall. Not especially athletic. Nothing outwardly extraordinary. And there were even periods when my swing was not good at all. But looking back now, I think people were not reacting to my golf technique alone. They were reacting to concentration. And sincerity. When I play golf, I enjoy the round. I laugh. I say “Nice shot!” sincerely to others. But somewhere inside, I am always paying attention to my own rhythm. My golf. My swing. My direction. Not in a selfish way. Just… carefully. Because golf, to me, was never only about hitting a ball. It became a way of showing how I live. Even when nobody notices, I still try to make an honest swing. Even after bad shots, I still walk back to the ball with respect. Even ...

There are moments in golf when a single shot does more than shape your score—it shifts the entire atmosphere of the round. I once played with someone who had a solid swing and impressive distance. She was more than capable. But at some point, something changed. Comparison quietly entered. “Why am I not hitting it that far?” “Why is she more consistent?” Those thoughts don’t stay small for long. They disrupt rhythm, shake emotions, and eventually show up in the short game. Ironically, someone who is already playing well ends up breaking their own game. That day reminded me of something simple: Golf is not about who hits it farther. It’s about what kind of game you are playing. When my direction is solid, and my putting distance feels right, I am already a good player that day. No comparison needed. The score tends to follow naturally. Golf is honest. When emotions shake, results follow. When comparison begins, rhythm disappears. That’s why the real skill is not just technique— it’s self...