Free life lesson on the golf course

Monday I had the day off from work and I went golfing with my son Adam.

I haven't been able to play much golf since I hurt my shoulder in a pratfall on my bike. I think this is the first full round of golf I have played in 3 years or so.

I have decided that 18 holes is too many holes for me. I just don't seem to be able to concentrate for an entire round any more. I think 12 holes is about my limit.

I got to the 16th hole, hit the ball on the wrong side of the fairway and was basically left with just trying to advance the ball over to the right side of the fairway and maybe be able to pitch the ball on the green and make a putt for a par.

I took a couple of practice swings. They didn't feel right. I backed away from the ball, tried again to take a couple of swings. It still didn't feel right.

I thought, oh well and just went ahead and hit the ball. Surprisingly or really not so much, I hit a terrible shot. I ended up hitting it further to the left and into some thick weeds. I had to take a drop as the ball was unplayable. Now I was even in worse shape than before and now I had no choice but to repeat the first shot that I didn't execute. Now I am about to hit my 4th shot on a Par 4 hole.

I made an even worse swing than the prior one, got the ball up in the air, hit a tree branch and splash, now the ball landed in a big pond. Another penalty stroke, I am still in the same predicament and have to somehow hit the ball to the right side of the fairway which was my original plan. Now I am about to hit my 6th shot after a couple of penalty strokes and I have advanced the ball all of about 20 yards.

I eventually hacked the ball onto the green, managed to 3 putt and ended up carding a nifty 10 on a par 4 hole.

This all started with a poor tee shot. That was okay as it was a physical mistake, bad swing off the tee. That happens in golf.

I made other physical errors as I imploded on this hole, but they were the direct result of mental miscues. I couldn't commit to my plan , didn't prepare, and when you couple those together the end result is usually disastrous. I was hitting and hoping...

I always have thought that golf teaches you a lot about life. I see other areas in my life where I don't commit and, or, I don't prepare and then I am surprised when the outcome isn't what I had hoped for.

I am going to ride a metric century in 10 days and my preparation isn't even close to where it needs to be. I know I am going to suffer that day as I haven't committed to my plan. I am not even sure I have a plan. Hitting and hoping on the bike. Gee, I wonder how that is going to turn out.

Commit to your golf shots, your family, your job. Otherwise be prepared to yell "FORE"...

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