“Gowf is a way o’ makin’ a man naked. I would say tha’ nowhere does a man go so naked as he does before a discernin’ eye dressed for gowf. So I ask ye, why does gowf bring out so much in a man, so many sides o’ his personality? Why is the game such an X-ray o’ the soul?”

-Golf in the Kingdom, Michael Murphy

I struggled to regain my composure, reeling from the sudden turn of events. How could something so good turn so bad so quickly? I raced through my options in my mind, but in my heart, I knew it was too late. I’d been here before, and the outcome was predestined, as it had been so many times prior. This was familiar territory. My world was about to collapse, and my dreams were on the precipice of being shattered and smashed. Again. Devastating, but particularly in light of how hard I’d worked to get here. As I gaze out over the Pacific, searching for some understanding or explanation about the deeper meaning of life, I fight the feelings of despair and disappointment, reflecting on who I am and the stark contrast when compared against who I want to be. The gap between these two polar extremes is ominous and disheartening. Life suddenly seemed so futile, hardly worth living. Thoughts of walking away from it all flash through my mind. But there is no walking away. I have no choice but to finish what I started. There’s no quitting. I have to pick myself up off the floor and press on, one step at a time, lost in my thoughts. Alone. Vulnerable. Naked. Dejected yet determined, I return my 4 iron to the bag a little less tenderly than usual, hoping not to meet its acquaintance again on this dark day. After holding ground for 11 holes, I have just managed to yank one into the drink. Visions of grandeur have been replaced with nightmares of doom and despair. I walk down the fairway, desperately searching for even the slightest hope of redemption in the midst of this tribulation, one I am all too familiar with. I remind myself “it’s only a game”. But there is no solace in this fact - because it is not just a game. It is something far more profound, far deeper, far more revealing. It is golf. This project started off as a book. A book about the mysteries of both golf and life, and how remarkably parallel they are. About how one seems hell bent on stripping you down to your chonies whether you like it or not (that would be golf), and the other is far easier played naked (emotionally speaking), whether we like it or not. This relationship – this odd connection between the game of golf and the game of life intrigues me, and becomes more apparent with every round I play, and every day I live. For that reason, there was no way to finish the book, because the story really never ends. And for that reason, the book became a blog - a living platform for me and others to share our stories, our experiences, our insights and our revelations gained about ourselves, others, golf, and life itself. There are 18 different themes ("holes") to explore - each an exploration of my personal experiences on the course and the corresponding revelations about life. My hope is that you will find the courage to jump in and do the same - share your stories and your life lessons with the rest of us - and as a result, you will experience the same laughter, tears and joy that i have through my reflections.