One Swing Philosophy — What Golf Taught Me About Life

It’s a question I sometimes ask myself. After all, I am Korean. Korean is my first language. It should feel more natural to write in Korean. But strangely, it doesn’t. The more I write, the more I realize something simple: English seems to remove some emotional heaviness. When I speak and write in English, I feel freer—lighter, and somehow brighter. It’s not that English means more to me than Korean. Not at all. But Korean carries many layers for me— emotion, history, expectations, and unspoken nuances. English feels different. A second language can feel lighter. Not less meaningful—just less crowded. It gives me enough distance to be honest. Through English, I can express thoughts that I don’t think I could write in Korean quite the same way. Not because my Korean is lacking. But because English gives me space. Space to reflect. Space to breathe. Space to share without feeling like I am teaching anyone. I don’t write to judge. I don’t write to tell others what i...

"The Aura I Saw at Harding Park CC, SF" There was a time when I was studying in the United States, just before graduation, when I had the chance to do an internship with a golf company. During that period, I volunteered at a PGA event held at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco. It became one of those memories that will stay with me for the rest of my life. At the tournament, both Tiger Woods and K. J. Choi were competing. I still remember seeing Tiger Woods walking from far away across the course. He was not dressed in any flashy way. He simply looked like an athlete. But even from a distance, there was a kind of presence around him that was impossible to ignore. For the first time, I understood what people mean when they talk about “aura.” Some people are simply born with a different kind of energy. When someone has extraordinary talent and has reached the very top of their field, you can sometimes feel it before they even speak. Volunteering there was also a va...

I’ve always thought of myself as an open-minded person. I get along with people easily, and I can adapt to different situations without much effort. But when I look at myself these days, I realize I’ve become more introverted than I expected. It wasn’t always like this. When I was younger, I was completely extroverted. I didn’t hesitate to start things. Maybe because I didn’t know much, I was simply brave. But as time passed, and as I began to understand more about life and people, I became quieter. The reason is simple. When I start something, I feel responsible for seeing it through. Because of that, I don’t initiate things as often as I used to. Golf is a good example. When I suggest a round, most people say yes right away. But sometimes, the day before, I can sense a slight hesitation in their voice or attitude. And in that moment, I realize maybe this wasn’t something they fully wanted. After that, I tend not to ask them again. In Korea, golf isn’t just a sport. It’s more like a s...

For a long time, I believed something simple. If I try hard enough, things will work out. In work, it was true. In study, it was also true. The more effort I put in, the more results I got. So I thought this rule applied to everything. But I was wrong among people. 특히 인간관계에서는 그 공식이 잘 맞지 않았다. The more I tried to make things work, the heavier they became. The more I pushed, the less natural it felt. And sometimes, the more I cared, the further things slipped away. That’s when I started to see the difference. Effort works in some areas of life. Ease works in others. The problem is — we often use effort where ease is needed. 인간관계는 노력으로 “만들어지는 것”이 아니라, 자연스럽게 “흐르는 것”에 가깝다. 억지로 이어가려 할수록 오히려 멀어지는 이유다. Golf taught me the same lesson. Of course, effort matters. We practice. We build our swing. We repeat, again and again. But during the swing, too much effort ruins everything. Timing disappears. Balance breaks. The shot loses its power. 진짜 중요한 것은 언제 힘을 써야 하고...

Lately, something has been changing inside me. Not loudly, not dramatically—just quietly, steadily. I’ve noticed that I’m getting happier. Not because everything is perfect , but because I’ve started to enjoy both golf and life as they are. Before, both made me happy… but also desperate. I wanted to control everything— my swing, my results, my plans, my life. And when things didn’t go the way I expected, that frustration stayed longer than the joy. 나는 태생이 극하게^^ 긍정적인 사람이다. 😍 그래서 더 답답했던 것 같다. 잘하고 싶은 마음이 강할수록, 내가 컨트롤하지 못하는 상황이 더 크게 느껴졌으니까. But now, something feels different. I’ve started to follow the stream instead of fighting it . To let things happen, while still doing my best in each moment. 골프도 마찬가지다. 스윙 하나하나에 집착하기보다, 흐름 속에서 자연스럽게 이어가려고 한다. Of course, I still practice. I still care. I still want to improve. But I don’t push myself the same way anymore. Not greedy. Not overly ambitious. Just… present. 어제보다 조금 더 나아지면 충분하다. 결과에 집착하기보다, 지금 내가 할 수 있는 것에 집중한다. And i...

These days, I feel life a little differently. There was a time when I tried harder— to improve my golf swing more,  to find the right people,  to fill something that felt missing. But now, strangely, as I let go, everything feels lighter. Golf has been teaching me the same lesson. When I tried to control my swing, it became tense. But when I let it flow—trusting my body, my rhythm— the shots became more natural, and often, better. Life feels similar. The more I try to force things, the more they resist. The more I allow, the more they align. On the course, we play as four. But in truth, each of us plays our own game. There’s no need for constant conversation. Each player quietly chooses their club, trusts their own distance, and steps into their shot in silence. When someone hits a good shot, we simply say, “Nice shot,” “Nice on,” “Nice putt.” Nothing more is needed. And when someone makes a mistake, we don’t point it out. We don’t analyze it. We simply turn back to our own sh...

Key words:golf mindset, asset management, financial freedom, golf life, wealth reality Have you ever watched a single handicap golfer and thought, “Wow… that looks so easy”? Or looked at someone with multiple properties and thought, “They must be living a comfortable life.” Sounds true… but only on the surface. Let’s start with golf life . A single handicap golfer is smooth. Fairway, green, one-putt… almost like a routine. But here’s the hidden truth: They don’t arrive there. They maintain it. At least 2 rounds a week. Constant swing checks. Body conditioning, mental focus, repetition. Miss a few weeks? That “perfect swing” quietly disappears. Golf skill is not a result. It’s a lifestyle. 이제 자산관리 이야기. People often dream about financial freedom through owning properties or building wealth. But once you actually have assets… they start talking back to you. Maintenance fees. Taxes. Unexpected repairs. Endless small decisions. It’s not passive. It’s active responsibility. Wealth is not j...