Life 'n' Golf

Life is a lot like golf.

It involves playing on courses with obstacles. It requires taking shot after shot after shot.

Sometimes, those shots land in the hole (which is where you want them to be), at other times they land on the green (from where, whether close or far, you aim for the hole). At other times, they end up in the bunker (demanding some expertise to get them back on the green or in the hole) or they may drop in the water (causing you to lose a stroke).

Regardless of what happens (whether it is pouring or sunny, you are happy or gloomy or your ball is at the bottom of the lake) you are expected to step up, sight your target and swing. Why? That is what professionals do. They know that the next shot is an opportunity to improve on the last. They know that you have no choice but to play better and drive the balls in to the hole under par (that is with a number of strokes less than the par rating for that hole). That is the way to move up, and win the trophy.

In any tourney, golfers are never ranked equally. The best hands play last. The others start for them. Life is the same way. There are days when you will open the stage for others, serve, be the unsung minion but there will also come a time you will be the guy whose arrival everyone is waiting for.

The thing is you do not get there by chance or by praying (only). You work on your game. You make sure your shots count. And you keep playing: invitational and tournament after the other. And surely and steadily your ranking increases and before long you are playing with the big boys.

But it all begins with picking up your club and attacking that ball.

Oh so, you are unable to play the game at this moment?

Then be a caddy. Carry somebody’s clubs. Learn the ropes, see how ‘they’ roll. And once you have mastered it, get in there and take your place.

Realize that you are either on the green, playing, or you are behind the lines watching, and cheering some person(s) on. And we both know being in the game is where the thrill and prize money are.

So, whether you are caddying for yourself or someone is pushing your Golf Cart is immaterial. What counts is that you have taken the big, big, step of getting in the game. The pleasures and pains of which some persons may not know until they die. They might experience it in virtual-real time over there (not sure what D, that will be; 20D, may be?)

Anyway, there you are, golfer, on the green, ready to tee off. Before you do, there are a few things you should know… Even if you have already started, they are useful.

First off, as in life, the shots available to you, in golf, vary.

There is PAR: this, as the name suggests, is taking the same number of shots to complete a hole (put the ball in the hole) as the rating of that hole. For instance, if a hole is rated 4, par means you succeed in putting the ball in the hole with four shots.

To play at par means you are still a strong contender: you may not have gained any grounds but you lost none either. Par is good!

Next is BIRDIE: A Birdie is a shot less than (under) par. This translates to completing the hole with one shot less than the rating of that hole. Birdie is great!

Then there is EAGLE. This is scoring two under par. In other words, you put the ball in the hole with two shots left (of the handicap or rating of the hole). Eagle is celebrated!

And then ALBATROSS. As the name implies, it is a big deal. It is three shots under par or getting the ball in the hole with three shots to boot. Also called Double Eagle, Albatross is a rarity.

Not leaving out CONDOR. This is the unofficial name for a score of four under par. That is, you have the ball in the hole with four strokes unused. For instance, this is a hole-in-one on a par five, or a hole-in-two on a par six.  Referred to as Double Albatross or Triple Eagle, Condor is extraordinary.

What makes all these, from Birdie on, beautiful, is that you set out with a timeline and resource target to achieve a given objective but somehow, you contrive to attain same with less.

Beyond that, look at the bottom line: the objective was achieved. And that dear friend, should be your all-consuming desire. Even in a par, you have every cause to rejoice.

Secondly and conversely are the other types of shots that are played in golf and real life. They are called BOGEYS.

Bogey: 1 shot above par. This means you played one stroke more than the hole rating before getting the ball in (the hole).

Double Bogey: 2 shots above par. Here, two shots more than handicap are played before completing a hole.

Triple Bogey: 3 shots above par. Playing three shots more than par to complete a hole.

The Bogey list can go on and on, depending on how many more shots you take to complete the hole.

Unlike the earlier class, Bogeys, mean you spend more time, energy and resource than you planned to in the achievement of the stated objective. Hence, Bogeys are negative, while the others are positive.

Spend your time on the green playing Pars or better, reduce your Bogeys.

BUT do not be so afraid of Bogeys you never golf at all. Grab a Club, Get out there and Give life your best shot. Play.

Welcome to your future!

*images from Google

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