The mysteries of golf, and its parallels to life, are astonishing. There is a depth and power within the game of golf, lying just under its surface that, while not readily evident to the untrained eye, separates this extraordinary game from all others. Once aware and respectful of the powerful undercurrents of this majestic game, everything changes. Ultimately, whether it’s a journey you enjoy or one you merely survive can be directly linked to your appreciation and reverence for the hidden power and potential of this game. Once enlightened to the transformative potential of this wonderful game, the undeniable parallels between both golf and life are undeniable.
Apparent co-conspirators, golf and life seem to share at least one common objective – to break down our fortresses of invulnerability. One seems hell bent on stripping us down to our underwear whether we like it or not (that would be golf), while the other (life) seems far easier played naked (emotionally speaking) – whether we like it or not. Our natural tendencies are to resist these realities, because rooted in both is a level of vulnerability – nakedness – none of us are inclined to voluntarily sign up for. And therein lies the complimentary connection between these two compadres, golf and life – a connection that becomes more apparent with every round played, and with every day lived. They almost seem to work in concert with each other toward the same inevitable intended outcome – to strip us of our pretenses and encourage us to shed our protective suits of armor and play the game, whether life or golf, unencumbered. Knowing this and rolling with it rather than fighting it is a life-changing proposition. Allowing golf to do its work on you and carrying that growth into your personal life is a gift for those that love this game. Said simply, if tapped for its transformative potential, golf can change your life. For many, it’s probably felt more like a reason to end it. It’s that powerful a game. Golf can indeed be life changing, if you allow it to be. A bold claim, indeed, but what if it’s true? What if millions who play the game are missing a gift offered them that truly can change the way they see themselves, others and the world around them? What if rather than being obsessed and possessed by the outcome, the journey became the focal point. And yes, I’m talking about both golf and life, because I’m convinced that golf, that most mysterious of games, is a microcosm of life. Parallel universes. Kindred spirits. Games of joy. Games of adversity. Journeys often overshadowed by the “score”. Games meant to be played openly. Honestly. Transparently. Naked. To this point, whether talking about golf or life, I believe the extent to which we learn to play them vulnerably – naked, figuratively speaking – we play them the way they were meant to be played. And as a result, we find the hidden treasures buried in both the journey of life and the game of golf. Anything short of that and we are missing out on the richness that both have to offer. Getting there, however, can be a lot harder than it sounds. It doesn’t have to be, but like many things that are simple, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re easy. Whether you buy into this world-view or not, it’s fair to ask – what if life (and golf) are in fact hell bent on getting you “naked” – with or without your cooperation? Understand it and roll with it, and you begin to find the real joy in the journeys. Dig in and fight it, and you find yourself beating your head against the wall, trying to beat a game you can’t win, to no avail, and missing the opportunity to experience the joy of the journey before you. It’s a bit like a rip current. You have to fight your inclination to swim against it in order to overcome it. Otherwise, you will exhaust yourself and get nowhere. I’m reminded of a beautiful, tranquil beach in a remote area on Kauai called Hanakapi’ai Beach. To the naïve, it looks peaceful and calm enough, but beneath the alluring tranquility on the surface lurks one of the most powerful and dangerous currents in the South Pacific. What looks to be an enticing and enjoyable dip in the ocean to the unsuspecting becomes a fight for your life against a current far more powerful than can be seen from above the water line. Once in its grip, you’re in for a journey you aren’t in control of, at risk of being swept out to sea by something far stronger than you are. So goes the game of golf. Dive in unaware to the deceptively benign and tranquil game of golf, and you will likely fall prey to its mighty power, unaware of its ability to take you places you never intended to go. Ultimately, learning to accept and even embrace the rip currents that come with both life and golf – adversity intended to jar our perspective and drop our pretenses – can result in tremendous personal growth. Adversity, it seems, is an inevitable ingredient embedded in the game and can be used for good, not evil, if we begin to accept its place in our lives and allow it to do its work on us. While it’s encouraging to know that adversity can become a blessing, I’m not suggesting it’s something to be proactively pursued. Adversity is the aggressor in this relationship. We don’t need to pursue it – it has a way of finding us. I am suggesting, however, that there may be an opportunity for us to catalyze and accelerate personal growth by accepting and embracing already-present benign forms of adversity – adversity that otherwise goes wasted. For those of us who golf, this is that opportunity. Embedded in the game of golf are all the trials and tribulations that can bring the same insights, perspectives and revelations about ourselves and life that are encoded in far more grave experiences. The lens through which we see the world – our paradigms – are shifted through adversity, and therefore through the game of golf.