HOLDING ON AND LETTING GO (in) Golf & Life

By Michael J. Young and John L. Perri

Golf is one of the most unique sports in the world. The game is structured by a rigid set of rules and has equipment standards more detailed and specific than anything else played. Importantly, golf is experienced on a very personal level as players face a bewild

• Language: English
• Publisher: Franklin Publishers
• Release date: Jun 21, 2024
• ISBN: 9798893242485

Book preview

HOLDING ON AND LETTING GO

(IN) GOlf& lIfE

Michael J. Young, M.D. and John L. Perri, M.D.

Dedicated to everyone who plays in the game—of life.

Also, by Michael J. Young, M.D.

The Illness of Medicine (non-fiction)

Consequence of Murder

Net of Deception

To Cure or Kill

Introduction

There are bookshelves in libraries and bookstores lined with thousands upon thousands of titles describing how to. These are publications whose authors are attempting to give the reader guidance and instruction on topics that vary from how to make do with what you have to how to perform (fill-in-theblank) at the highest level. These books share the pearls of wisdom experienced by experts who try to help you with their vast knowledge and understanding. Whatever topic you are investigating, there is most likely a how-to book on those shelves–including many on the game of golf. There are also tens if not hundreds-of-thousands of additional magazine and journal articles written over many years by professional golfers and instructors about the game of golf. These, too, are written with the intent of helping the aspiring golfer learn techniques to practice the game and, hopefully, play better.

Perhaps it’s best to provide you with a disclaimer about what you are about to read: this is not one of those books. We are not golf instructors, nor do we claim to have even a modicum of golf-teaching expertise–that will be left up to the true professionals who have a thorough understanding of golf swing mechanics. We are not physicists, aeronautical engineers, or mathematicians who can explain the nuances of golf ball flight, rotational spin, and motion. Indeed, in this book, neither one of us professes to understand how to teach the game most effectively. But that is not the point. We are obviously not golf professionals, and like so many others who love the game, westruggle with the game of golf–both the physical and mental aspects of the game.

Perhaps the question you should ask yourself is what in theworld does a urologist and a psychiatrist know about the gameof golf, and, secondly, how can reading this treatise help me? The answer is quite simple: we know little about teaching golf, but reading what we have to say might enlighten or facilitate your realization of certain aspects of the game.

You see, acquiring knowledge and having an understanding of that knowledge are intimately related, yet they represent totally separate proficiencies. As noted, we have a limited amount of knowledge about the mechanics of the golf swing. We know the things we have gleaned from years of taking lessons, watching television and videos, and reading publications. And, we understand a great deal about the game. However, knowledge offacts versus understanding how, when, and why to apply thosefacts to perform a particular activity is vastly different. We intend to extrapolate those understandings to a broader level of application.Mostimportantly,wehopetodemonstratethatwe understand a great deal about those who play the game.

It has been stated that golf is a microcosm of life. It is a frustration, and it is a joy. The game of golf can be your nemesis or your friend. On some days, you love it; on others, you wantabsolutely nothing to do with it. But golf is so much more than just a game to be played as a pastime or even as a professionalsport. And, as we hope to demonstrate in this book, the game is not just a challenging activity to occupy the time. Rather, golfis a revealer. The game of golf reveals who the player is, who he or she aspires to be, and how they plan to achieve their goals. The question you need to now ask is, which game are we talking about? Is this a book about the game of golf, or is it aboutthe game of life? In many ways, we hope to show you they are one and the same.

The modern game of golf has been around for a very long time. To our best understanding, it evolved in Scotland sometime in the 15thcentury. Over the centuries of playing this game, its rules and equipment have changed. A game that used to beplayed with a carved wooden club is now performed using scientifically designed steel and graphite shafts–the details of which are proprietary secrets and are, undoubtedly, incredibly complicated.Golfclubheadsarenowdesignedandmanufactured out of titanium and forged steel with the precision of a surgical instrument. Golf balls were originally made of wood. Later they were created by stuffing wet feathers into pockets formed from sewn leather strips (Feathery balls). Later, the dried sap of theSapodilla tree was formed into ball shapes (Gutty balls). Rubber was the next material used. Today, golf balls are made by incorporating laboratory-produced, synthetic polymers that are extraordinarily consistent in how they play. The only significantvariable in the game that hasn’t changed since golf was invented is the human being holding the newfangled stick, striking the newly constructed ball with the titanium-headed club. Theemotions, expectations, and behavior of the modern player areno different than those of his or her medieval counterpart.

We were all born some 600 years after the original golfersstarted smacking a ball around in a field with a simple club–but we behave similarly. And even though golfers through the years have witnessed countless societal, technological, and industrial advancements, we are still made up of the same DNA as thefellows who played with wooden balls and clubs. We have thesame cognitive abilities and physical attributes as golfers fromthe Middle Ages. And, unfortunately, we share the same flaws— both mentally and physically, as our long-passed ancestors.

The authors are not golf experts. We are, however, keen observers of what motivates people to perform the way they do. We invite you to read our observations as we describe not how thegame of golf is played but rather how we–players of golf, think about playing the game.

This is not a self-help book about golf. This is a self-reflective book about the game of golf and, importantly, the more significant games we play in our lives. We have learned the former is reflective of the latter. We are hopeful our insights andobservations will enlighten you to perspectives that will assist you in both.

Part I

The Fundamentals: History and Basic Components of the Game

Chapter 1

The Game

The objective of this book is not to instruct anyone how to play the game of golf. As described, we are not qualified to do so. However, by using golf as a metaphor, we seek to analyze the game and its players as a means of examining how individuals navigate their worlds–their successes, failures, and the underlying motivations driving their behavior. We also wish to explore possible reasons a person accomplishes their goals–or fails in this task, by getting in their own way. Golf as an activity, as a game, and as a form of competition, appears perfect for this analysis. The game of golf simply doesn’t deceive; rather, it reveals truths about the players and their approach to challenges.

Golf is one of the most intriguing activities to study. The ancient game started somewhere between Cro-Magnon Man roaming the earth with a real club and the advent of people riding bicycles. It is a ripe venue to discuss and review how we accomplish our goals–or don’t. It is also a perfect study of how we interact (or play) with others and deal with adversity or good fortune.

For those unfamiliar with the game, watching televised tournaments provides a glimpse into its dynamics. The game’s prime objective is for a player, using a club, to hit a small ball into a small cup at the end of a long stretch of grass using the fewest number of ball strikes (also called strokes). We will go into a more detailed description of the game and its rules for the non-golfers who may be reading this. But what you need to understand upfront is that the game is truly much more than just that.

For the uninitiated, golf is one of the few sporting endeavors played by an individual who is really competing against him or herself. Yes, there are competitors out on the course at the same time, but each player is really trying to play their best against the course. In other words, how I hit my golf shot does not impacthow another player hits his or hers. We each play using our own ball and try to get the ball into the hole with the fewest number of strokes. How well I manage myself in performing this task on the course impacts only my score–not my playing companion. That is unless my playing companion (or competitor in a tournament) changes their game in response to my scoring. Asyou can see, it’s an individual sport, but one’s playing abilities or fortune can influence anyone else playing at the same time– quite an interesting dynamic. Similar to the ‘real’ world whereour actions impact others, golf reflects this interconnectedness, highlightinghowourindividualchoicesreverberatewithinthe broader context of the game–intended or not.

Let’s start our exploration of golf by describing the game, its rules, and the objectives players aim to achieve. We understand that many readers may not have a complete grasp of golf’s intricacies–from its rules and equipment to its playing etiquette and procedures. All of us know someone who plays the game;that individual is typically someone that, perhaps, we marvel at their dedication or, more commonly, we pity their addiction. We listen to their stories of glory, and we frown and do our best to console them when their day on the links isn’t very kind. So, what’s behind the enduring appeal of a 600-year-old game that can reduce a grown man to his knees over hitting a small ball into a hole? What is it about this game that exerts such controlover its players? Why do otherwise rational individuals willinglyendure adverse conditions like rain, mud, and strong winds – even snow – all in the name of golf? To play before dawn andwell into the darkness–what is this game all about anyway?

In essence, golf is straightforward: Use a club – consisting of a grip, shaft, and head – to strike a ball as few times as possible into a predetermined hole in the ground. The modern game is played on a course (sometimes referred to as ‘links’) with the golferattemptingtogettheballintodifferentdesignatedholes–18 times. *At the conclusion of the 18 holes played, the player who has the fewest strokes is the winner. Golf holes can stretch longer than 700 yards in length, with some modern courses exceeding lengths of 8000 yards. Over centuries of play, every possible outcome of a golf shot has been meticulously accounted for. All possible results of striking a round object that flies then lands and rolls on an undulating, living surface have been defined by a multitude of rules adopted to play the game of golf. There are no deviations from the rules. We must be absolutely clear onthis point: There are no deviations. Period. Full Stop. Well, noofficial deviations are permitted. We will discuss various playerinterpretations of the rules later.

Each hole is located on a specified area known as the ‘green.’Perhaps this name was acquired because most of an ancient golf ‘course’ was un-watered fescue and dirt, and the ‘green’ was agardened and tendered area. The area from where play begins(the tee box) to the green is called the fairway. As one begins to play from the tee box towards the green, the selection of clubsused will vary from those designed for maximum distance to those with maximum accuracy. (We will go into more golf club descriptions and details later). Once upon the green, the golfer will use what is referred to as a putter–because he or she is putting (or rather, rolling the ball) towards the hole. This club hasaflatfaceandisoccasionallyreferredtoastheflatstick(because it is flat).

Sometimes, there are particularly challenging areas to playthe ball between the tee box and the green. These areas may be hardened dirt, sand, tall grass, etc. The ball may still be playable,but to advance it towards the green will require additional skills. There are also areas where a player may hit his or her ball, so theball may be lost or unable to be played. Areas where a player incurs penalties for hitting into are marked by specific lines and known as penalty areas. Examples of penalty areas may include ponds, lakes, or even the ocean. Hitting one’s golf ball into the water may result in an impossible shot to get it out. Instead of trying to hit the ball from under the water, the player can accept a penalty stroke (an additional stroke added to his or her score) to allow the continuation of play. There are subcategories of rules for each of these circumstances. As stated earlier, the game is comprised of rules for the rules. The online version ofthe USGA Rules of Golf