The Game of Golf:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Golf is a game played outdoors on some of the most spectacular landscapes all over the world. People of both genders and of all ages and abilities enjoy the game. Golf can be addictive, but it is always refreshing for those of us with the right attitude.

Throughout my years if giving lessons to beginners, I have often been amused by the reason so many take up the game. The number one reason is curiosity. Many people want to know why their friends and family who play are so fascinated with the game. They want to know what it is about golf that brings such enjoyment and frustration at the same time.

Golf is not just a sport or a recreational game; for some of us it is a way of life. Golf is our social connection, our education when traveling enticement often comes from the difficulty of the game itself. A few years ago a popular sport magazine did a survey to find out which sports are the most difficult to become proficient in. The study rated all of the skills required for participation in various sports. Golf was found to be second most difficult sports to become proficient in; why try to learn one of the most difficult sports? Golf is the game of a lifetime. The high when you are playing well is worth laboring the game. It is my belief that everyone can learn this game with the right instruction, attention to habit formation, and willingness to stay patient during the learning process. Grantland Rice once said, “Golf is twenty percent mechanics and technique. The other eighty percent is philosophy, humor, tragedy, romance, melodrama, companionship, camaraderie, cussedness, and conversation.”

Deciding to take up the game of golf or improve the golf skills you already have is the start of a great adventure. The road to mastery will be strewn with moment of connection and moments of desperation. If you can embrace the time if desperation and love the process despite the difficulty, you are on your way to a very satisfying relationship with the sport.

The Golf world is filled with instructional resources to help you learn and improve your game. Many of your well-intending golf friends may give advice that is inappropriate for you. You need to decide what is best for you. A professional instructor that you can communicate with and trust is your best avenue. Ultimately, you are responsible for going after what you want. If learning golf is what you want, proceed at your own pace, take up one skill at a time, and practice for the love of it!

Golf is a unique sport in that each course presents difficult challenges. No two golf courses are alike. The experience of playing the game is created less by your fellow player and more by how the course challenges your skills. This may be one reason for golf’s popularity.

Players can vary in ages from 3 to 103. Size, strength, and body type do not matter. The game provides something for everyone. According to Arnold Daly, “Golf is like a love affair. If you don’t take it seriously, it’s no fun. If you do take it seriously, it breaks your heart.”

_Golf Fundamentals