I have added a movie to my favorites list. My wife made me sit down with her and watch a movie called August Rush. I was truly ambivilant about watching the movie, but there was nothing else on TV and my wife was pretty firm about watching it. Of course, when the wife wants something it generally comes together. We watched it together and I am truly glad I did. It is truly an inspiring movie. The movie got me thinking about how sometimes we get wrapped up in the technicalities of what we do and we fail to see the art. What does that have to do with golf. Stay with me here for a bit.
I won't go into the story of the movie. I highly recommend it and you can follow along with the story when you see it. What I will say is the August, and that wasn't his real name, was a musical prodigy/genius. He would go out into the world and just listen, picking up on the rhythms of the world around him. He heard the music of life which only he could hear and put them into a musical piece. He wrote the musical piece down and it was performed by an orchestra. His focus though was not on the technicality of the piece and writing it down in musical form, but on the piece itself. That is what gave him great joy, not the ability to be able to write it down technically on a musical score. The art was more important to him than the technique. What does that have to do with golf?
It think that many times we get caught up in the technicalities of golf. There are a lot of them, believe me. They are there in all aspects of the game, from playing the game to bringing the game to the public. We break the game down into strategies, such as do I want to hit the ball short of the water and lay up for a great approach, or can I fly the water to save a stroke? Where does my club head have to be in order to hit the ball straighter? How can I hit the ball farther? I need to change the plane of my swing. How do I do that? What ball do I use. What putter will help my game? What shafts do I need in order to hit the ball farther? How far did I hit that club? Those are just some of the technical things a golfer can get hung up in, and that is just a few of the things golfers concern themselves with. They clutter their minds with the technical and lose the beauty of that great shot and the course they are playing on.
I have to say something from the point of view of the golf pro as well. I have heard many pros say that if you want to not play a lot of golf, or quench a person's love for the game--become a golf pro. There are many reasons for this such as you are around the game so much that you just want to get away from it and go fishing or bowling. I understand that, but this is not true of all pros. However, what happens is that the business aspect of the game gets in the way of the enjoyment of the game. When do we aerate the greens? How do I deal with irate customers who are angry about the greens being aerated? Why can't I get Titlists at a lower price and charge what I want for them. How come people don't buy equipment from my pro shop? How can I get members and players to take better care of the golf course? How do I make more money for the course so that I don't get fired? Should I have a special rate for walkers and not include a cart in my green fees? I think you kind of see the point that I am making here. It is easy to lose sight of the enjoyment of the game both as a pro and as a serious player.
Our game is a game of beauty and grace. Just stop and look at how beautiful the course is, be it located on a picturesque bay overlooking the Pacific Ocean or in a housing development in the middle of a big city. Think about how much fun the game is to play, although you may not think it after your wonderfully struck shot falls into the middle of a lake. Stop a minute and take it all in, the grace and beauty of it all as well as the enjoyment. There is a lot to be found in this game if you just let yourself see, hear and feel it. Stop, smell the roses and enjoy the game.
