Persevere
“…never give in, never give in, never, never, never – in nothing, great or small, large or petty – never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense.”
What do you say to a graduating class of very privileged school boys knowing that they would almost certainly soon be drafted into military service to face the enemy in battle? Everyone present knew the gravity of the situation. And so, the speaker that day, Sir Winston Churchill, chose and spoke his words carefully. Read them again. Slowly. Aloud. Let each one land on the ears of those in the very back row of your audience before moving on. Let the powerful words echo back to your own ears. These same words that inspired the young English boys and millions down through the seven decades hence can speak to us.
Whether you are working through a difficult situation, standing up to public criticism, or trying to regain control of what the day may bring… persevere. But, what’s that got to do with learning the game of golf. LOTS!! Playing golf can be hard. Playing a grand piano or ski down a double-diamond slope are both difficult as well. However, seeing someone who has learned and practiced looks like beautiful music. So, how does one go from wanna be to expert?
Play First. The first time you sit down to a piano you don’t attempt Mozart; rather you pick out a familiar tune for fun. Novice skiers head down an easy slope. In golf, we recommend beginners begin play by taking easy swings, with easy clubs, on easier courses with the goal to make each experience loads of fun. Playing mini-golf or chip and putt are great ways to get a taste of the game while minimizing the frustrating areas.
Learn Second. Once you’ve picked out your first song on the keyboard, fallen two dozen times on the easy slope, or hacked your way around the first hole, you say to yourself, “There has to be an easier way” and find a pro who can help you build a golf swing that will serve you for the rest of your life. She or he will use a step-by-step approach to teach each swing and allow your brain and body to learn to swing the golf club freely without reservation. Then go back and Play First.
Grow Third. As you repeat the “play-then-learn” cycle, your fingers will begin to forget looking at the notes and swiftly glide over the keys allowing you to play from the heart. With perseverance your skills will become second nature and you will stop counting out beats, move with the rhythm of the music, and waltz down challenging slopes, or dance your way around difficult golf courses.
A good golf swing begins with PERSEVERANCE.
