One Swing Philosophy — What Golf Taught Me About Life

Today was a special day for me. I shot 81, which is 9 over par. Yes, I finally had a single-digit over-par round! But here is the interesting part. I think my golf swing has only recovered about 80%. My swing is still not perfect. I still have things to work on, and I am still trying to find the swing that feels right for my body. So, how did I shoot 81 today? 😊 My 4-Hybrid Was Fantastic! I had been practicing hard with my 4-hybrid, and today it worked beautifully on the course. My 5-wood was also great. I lost a little distance, but I made every shot without a mistake. That made me very happy. Sometimes, hitting the ball farther is not the most important thing. Hitting it well and keeping it in play can make a big difference. I am learning to trust my clubs and my own swing. My Driver Was Terrible Yesterday! Here is a funny story. Yesterday, I went to the driving range, and my driver was a complete mess. My younger golf friend, whom I am close to, saw me struggling. She laughed and s...

Today, I practiced golf like a golfer in my twenties. Why? (smile) Let me tell you what happened. Am I Living Like a Little Old Lady? For a while, my fingers had been hurting, so I became very careful with my golf practice. If I hit a few good shots, I would stop. Even when I felt like practicing a little longer, I would tell myself to take it easy. Of course, taking care of my body is important. But little by little, I started getting bored with this careful way of living. Then one day, I suddenly realized something. Wait a minute! Am I living like a little old lady already? I'm only 60! I still consider myself young! (smile) When did I become so careful about everything? I was acting as if I had to save every bit of energy for some distant future. But that's not really me. I love golf. I love swinging freely and watching the ball fly. I want to keep improving my swing and enjoy the game for as long as I can. I don't want to spend so much time protecting myself that I forg...

Until yesterday, my golf swing was a complete mess. I had a really frustrating time at the driving range. But today, I went to Raon Country Club for a round of golf. On my way there, I decided to let everything go. “Don’t think about distance today. Just make a light swing and get the ball up in the air.” That was my entire strategy. I didn’t say much before my first tee shot. I don’t like making excuses or giving a long explanation before I even hit a ball. Let’s just play first and see what happens. And strangely enough, my driver was flying beautifully today. I also didn’t lose a single ball. Yesterday, I had put two extra balls in my little golf ball pouch, just in case I lost some today. Both came home with me. 😍😂 Then, on the third hole, I made par. That was when I finally started telling my younger playing partner everything about yesterday. I had been extremely busy last week with interpreting work and my students’ midterm exams, which ended today. And yesterday, I had anothe...