My father taught all five of his sons to play golf. Ed was a fine player in his own right – in spite of his very bad back. The boys, with the exception of the youngest who had his own passion, all played the game and were still involved later in life. All of the boys were accomplished players and we have passed that on to our children. I grew up watching golfers compete on television. I still love the sport and even after all of the awful moments I’ve experienced it still captivates my attention and my competitive passion. I keep coming back after I swear I will never play again because every once in a while I exceed my best expectations. In golf your primary opponent is yourself – seems like an adversary that should be easily managed. This week I shot a one under par, 35 on the front nine at Crane Creek and it could have been a bit lower. Ready for the back nine after a par on 10 – still one under – I proceeded to shoot 45 without losing a ball and posted a good round for me. 80-a snowman as we used to call it. I could not escape the “fear of success” that haunts the sport. I too often remark during my rounds – “I snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.” I know next time I will have the benefit of my experience and finish with a flourish. I played with a gentlemen a few years ago on a difficult golf course and after 14 holes he declared he was finished for the day. Sitting in the 19th hole he said, “I know I can play better than I did today-I just never have.” A sense of optimism with a dose of reality, seems like a good proxy for life!
I am thinking about golf because I watched the par three tournament at the Masters on Wednesday. The crowds were overflowing to watch today’s great players and past champions compete with a hole in one anticipated on every shot. One of the final groups was 82 year old Gary Player, 78 year old Jack Nicklaus, and at 68 the youngster Tom Watson. The three had family caddies enjoying the stroll through the azaleas. Watson had captured the par three event in 1982 and using just 8 putts his 6 under score won it again. Nicklaus’s 4 under was good for a tie for third and Gary Player had a nifty 2 under round. The fans loved it and the obvious respect held for each other and by the fans made each shot important and memorable. The three seniors have captured 35 Majors and over 300 professional event victories over their illustrious careers. It would have been even more fun if the King, Arnie had been alive to participate. The par three event is family focused with Nicklaus having two of his grandchildren carrying the bag, on the 9th over a pond to a sloping green all three players were on putting for birdie. Jack handed his 15 year old grandson GT a ball and said take a swing. GT loosened up took aim and hit a shot that flew past the pin and spun back toward the hole- the fans went wild as the Golden Bear ball fell into the cup for the young golfer’s first hole in one. On one of the largest venues in golf with thousands of cheering fans GT remarked, “I just focused on hitting the best shot I could.” As my friend Charlie Wilson says, “no crabgrass in your mental garden.” Jack Nicklaus, perhaps the best golfer in the history of the game when asked about memories of the game “that’s #1 for me.”
As I grow a bit older, living vicariously is practical. I still want to play golf for that one great shot or ski through the powder but it’s more enjoyable to watch the grandkids at play. Brad Griffin’s poster makes the point. The six words require a bit of very worthwhile inquiry. “I love to watch you play.”
Enjoy the week end as I leave you with Yogi Berra- “there are some people who, if they don’t already know, you can’t tell them.”
Mike