Struggles

There are a lot of promises made by unscrupulous and dishonest golf teachers and club manufacturers. If you were to believe the hype, you could find yourself very disappointed by the fact that the new club didn't have you hitting it thirty yards farther off the tee, or dead straight every time; or buying that video didn't make you capable of never slicing. Golf isn't like that. If it sounds too good to be true, it's because it is.

Bobby Jones was the greatest player of his generation--and perhaps of all time. And he had some really valuable observations and advice for all golfers. He saw no virtue in trying to develop the mythical repeating golf swing because he knew it didn't exist. He didn't believe in golfers trying to break the golf swing down, or trying to swing the club according to Hoyle because he knew the secret was in the strike--not the swing.

Bobby Jones understood that golf was a game of struggles. He understood that champions were champions because of their ability to deal with the inevitable struggles that every round brought. He believed in being determined, and resourceful, in dealing with troubles, and said he won championships because he tried harder and was wiling to take more punishment than his opponents--not because he had managed to groove the perfect swing.

Bobby finally learned, still as a young man, that perfection simply wasn't attainable in golf. You simply will never hit it dead solid perfect every time no matter what equipment you buy, or how long you labour on the practice tee. He said that he played his best no more than six times a year; and in those best rounds he would hit no more than six shots--other than putts--exactly as planned. And he was the greatest player of his time. 

If we believe Bobby Jones--and we should--we should accept and be prepared for trouble in every round; and we should not be disappointed on the days when we have more trouble than normal. With that mindset, coupled with the resolve to never give up, we can be the best golfer we can be. Or, we can buy the latest club, or video, that promises us the world. It's really up to us.