So it goes a little bit like this; Tommy Cooper was invited to play in a Celebrity Am in the Seventies. He had never played the game before but had always wanted to start playing, so he accepted. It was in a couple of months’ time and he had been assured by a friend that that was plenty of time to cover the basics so he wouldn’t look like a fool on the course. The event was going to be at Sunningdale, just a couple of minutes’ drive away from his home. It was also, coincidentally, the course which he was going to join. So he went to the resident Professional, booked a course of lessons and he was on his way.
The story goes that he practiced diligently on the course and range. He wanted to make a good impression and the golf bug had bitten him. The day had arrived; the nerves were rising, he was wondering what he had done committing his name to play with complete strangers but more importantly, that morning, nothing felt normal. His tee time was upon him and the very person who could capture the attention of a full theatre was not comfortable in front of a handful of spectators. He resorted to a little bit of comedy to relax the crowd as much as himself with the “ball – hole, hole – ball” routine, but the time had come to hit his first tee shot.
His first swing missed the ball. The crowd watching were unsure whether it had been intentional. The second attempt was no better although it was accompanied with a timid chuckle. The third attempt found the club perfectly on the ball, with the ball smashed down the centre of the fairway. With visible relief the legendary comedian turned to the crowd and said “It’s a tough course this, isn’t it.”
I have no idea whether you now have tears in your eyes or whether that punch line completely missed you. What I do hope will happen, by the time you have finished reading this, is that you will be able to put some perspective on each golf shot you hit.
The key to the story is; what did Tommy Cooper take away from his first tee experience? It’s really a glass half full or half empty scenario. As the story goes will he remember; the shot which flew straight and true down the middle of the fairway or the two previous attempts?
Some people are naturally glass half empties or half fulls. For some it’s a transient state between the two depending on the day you are having. I have always generally been a glass half full kind of guy. Of course there is no correct answer, it’s always going to be a matter of perspective. Are you looking at the world with an optimistic or pessimistic slant?
The pessimistic/negative mind set is so much more limiting than the optimistic/positive view of the world. Remember the successes and learn from the mistakes.
A few articles ago I talked about the ideal shot routine where you go through four specific stages for every shot; observe and visualise the shot ahead, rehearse the shot ahead, execute the shot and then review what happened. During the review stage you should be asking yourself was the shot you just played the same as how you visualised it? If not, why? What happened, did you hit it with 100% commitment? How was your balance? Did you tactically hit the right club? Did you choose the right target? If you answer positively to all of these questions, chances are you hit a good shot.
If you walk up to each shot, positive in stride and mind, there is a very real chance that a full round of golf will be played, enjoyed and executed to your highest level of performance.
Through excellent processes come excellent results. No shortcuts I’m afraid.
Next time you’re on the course go through the four stages of a great shot routine, for every shot. I know it will help lower your blood pressure along with your scores.
If it doesn’t, at least I hope you have a humorous story to make you smile, “Just like that.”