Category: Life Lessons

A Golfer’s Creed Revisited

 

This week I played at one of my favorite courses in NC, Old Town GC. It is a Perry Maxwell gem that few have had the opportunity to enjoy. In the clubhouse this time, I stumbled across something I haven’t seen in a while. It is “A Golfer’s Creed”, by David Forgan. This prose is as true today for the golfer as it was then. If you love golf and respect the game, I hope you take this creed to heart and enjoy every shot you take in the great game of golf.

GOLF is a science, the study of a lifetime in which you may exhaust yourself but never your subject. It is a contest, a duel or a melee, calling for courage, skill, strategy and self-control. It is a test of temper, a trial of honor, and a revealer of character. It affords a chance to play the man and act the gentleman. It means going into God’s out-of-door, getting close to nature, fresh air, exercise, a sweeping away of mental cobwebs, genuine recreation of tired tissues. It is a cure for care, an antidote to worry. It includes companionship with friends, social intercourse, opportunities for courtesy, kindliness and generosity to an opponent. It promotes not only physical health but moral force.  — David R. Forgan, 1899, SCOTLAND

 

 

Coming of Age in Golf

Precision Golf SchoolLast night I was invited to the Precision Junior Golf Awards reception. It was great to see some of the junior golfers get recognized that I taught. It is hard to believe that these kids who were learning how to grip the club nine or ten years ago have developed into collegiate caliber players and fine young men and women.

Another highlight of the evening was hearing from Terrance Stewart, the men’s golf coach at UNCG. He has coached college golf for fifteen years. Terrance talked about finding players who can post a low number even if the consistency isn’t there yet. He also said he looks for recruits that have great attitudes and interact well with others. Terrance emphasized the importance of good character in creating a healthy and successful team.

This is why I love golf. It is the best personal development sport in the world. Some people say everything we need to learn we learn in Kindergarten. I say everything I needed to learn, I learned walking the fairways, spending time on the range and putting green, and competing in golf tournaments. I learned generosity, integrity, and responsibility spending time with my grandfather and dad on Sunday afternoons on the front nine at MCCC. I learned discipline and how to win (with grace) talking with Jim, Duncan, Henry Bryan, Ron Anderson, Randy Fuquay, and Robert Linville.

At View from the Fringe, we believe golf is more than a game. It is a lifestyle. Congratulations Precision Junior Golf Award winners. You are just getting started.

photo credit: precision instruction

One time at Golf Camp

Duke UA couple of weeks ago I played in a Scramble Golf Tournament at Duke University Golf Club. This was the first time I had played the course since I attended golf camp there in 1991.

The most vivid memory I have from that week has nothing to do with the golf camp. In fact, I almost quit golf after this incident. You see, golf wasn’t cool back then. Tiger didn’t break onto the national scene until 1996-1997. We had guys like, Craig Stadler, Tome Kite, and Duffy Waldorf. They weren’t exactly chick magnets or icons of cool. Sure, guys like Fred Couples and Davis Love III were smooth and athletic but the golf apparel designers seemed destined to give golfers a backseat in the sports department.

So there we were, me and Aaron Smith (my best friend at the time), at Duke Golf Camp. I remember we met up with a couple of cousins from NY. I had never known anyone from the BIG APPLE before so we all had a blast laughing at how different we all talked. Their names were Andrew and Michael. Michael was the smooth talker with a big smile. He was fearless and talked a big game. He probably ended up a Senator or something.  Andrew on the other hand was the oldest (15) of our foursome and the most likely of us to challenge Bill Gates or Frank Ellison. He was a super nice guy but not great in the social skills department.

The camp was held on Duke’s campus along with other sports camps. In addition to golf was girls field hockey, boys and girls soccer, basketball, tennis, and baseball. Our favorite camp was girls soccer. For three days we worked up our plan (and courage) to speak to some of those girls in shin guards and Umbro shorts. We decided to say we were there for soccer camp too. Under NO circumstances were we to mention golf camp to anyone with two X chromosomes.

Day Four

I remember it like yesterday. We came out of the bookstore headed back to our dorm. We walked across the commons area and there they were. Four girls walking our way. In a flash, our chatter went from casual to game on. Michael was calling the shots and broke the ice. His Manhattan smile and charming words caught their attention. WE WERE IN. The conversation was getting good. We had names, we talked about hometowns, and interests. I could see that this was going to be the best week ever, hanging out and enjoying the company of the prettiest girls our 6th-7th grade eyes had ever seen.

Then the horrendous happened. One of the girls asked “What camp are you here for?” In our infatuated state, we didn’t respond soon enough before Andrew blurted “GOLF camp.” Immediately we jumped in “Soccer! No Soccer!…Soccer!” Too late. The next moment was like the movies when the orchestra stops playing and the strings, horns, and percussion come to a screeching halt. It felt like the whole campus stopped and all the oxygen was vacuumed out of the air. An eruption of laughter from the soccer girls jarred us from our shock. We stood there motionless and lifeless with our hearts in a puddle around our feet. What happened next is unknown. I only remember hearing their giggles fade in the distance as they walked into the void with my self-confidence and dignity.

I never saw or heard from Andrew and Michael after that week. Aaron and I have remained friends through the years. It only took a decade or so, but the scars did heal. Golf has become cool and mainstream thanks to guys like Adam Scott and Camileo Villegas. Wear your golf lifestyle badge proud. No longer do you need to be ashamed of wearing a Ping hat or knowing who’s leading the FedEx Cup.

photo credit: Matt Phillips

Golf is a bridge

old course bridgeGolf is a bridge. I was reminded this week how special golf is. People from different worlds, classes, and creeds that seemingly have nothing in common can come together because of a little white ball. Here are two examples from my trip to Chicago this week:

I met Rob, from Sandbox8, while attending New Marketing Experience Chicago. We formed a quick friendship. The golfing lifestyle is a bridge to building relationships. Chris has some great things going on at Sandbox8. He provides golfers with insightful reviews and a behind the scenes look at equipment. I encourage you to check out his site if you want to follow the buzz on the hottest golf clubs and accessaries.

On my way to the airport yesterday I met Song. He was the cab driver who gave me a lift. As I put my bag in his trunk I spotted a Golfsmith shopping bag. This prompted a natural ice breaker, “Do you play golf?” He did. We talked. In fact, we passed the thirty minute commute, weaving through windy city traffic, by exchanging golf stories. He told me all about golf in his native Korea and how he can’t seem to straighten out his drive (some things are universal). It was one of the more enjoyable taxi rides I’ve had.

This is the reason I started View from the Fringe. Golf is special. Handicap doesn’t matter, but the relationships we can develop do.

Thank you for being a part of VFTF. We appreciate all of you.

photo credit: tiarescott

Lessons in teamwork from the President’s Cup

Last week’s President’s cup is further proof of the Tiger and the Dip theory. Here are 3 other observations that will help you in building teams.

1. Everyone needs a Wingman. Phil Mickelson proved to be the ultimate wingman. Like Iceman to Maverick, Phil’s partnerships with rookies, Anthony Kim and Sean O’ Hair were close to perfect. Phil’s talent and experience helped the young guns to stay in the present. It was also apparent that he was able to transfer confidence when his team needed it most. Successful teams from every arena have an experienced veteran that brings out the best in his teammates.

2. Create a “have fun and win atmosphere”. Fred Couples’  decision to bring in Michael Jordan as “assistant-assistant” captain seemed odd to many. I believe it was a stroke of brilliance.  Anytime a team can draw from an advisor (s) with a thought process of success there will be benefit. A person like Jordan helps create the atmosphere of a winning team. If the atmosphere is right a team will achieve peak perform.

3. Unity. Steve Stricker and Tiger Woods gel better than Danny Ocean and Rusty, than JB and KG, than Tango and Cash, than Milo and Otis, than..well, you get the idea. My main point here is that two or more teammates who work that well together will inspire a whole team. Their unity was energizing and helped set the example for the whole team. A team acting as one is always powerful.

photo credit: woodleywonderworks