A couple of weeks ago I was standing in the fairway of the 16th hole at Horse Creek Golf Course. I was playing a match for the club championship and was losing by a hole with three left to play. While there's no major prize money or glory that comes with winning the tournament, it was something that mattered to me. The pride of knowing I had beaten some of the best golfers in this area is something to be proud of.
I had hit a rather poor shot into the green that came up short. While I was standing there I had a chance to reflect on some of the things my Dad and other mentors of the game had taught me. "The game of golf owes you nothing and it sure won't give you anything." That statement rang loud and true in that particular moment. I had heard the week leading up to the match that I could "stroll into the semis" or "It won't be easy, but you should be able to handle it." Outside influences led me to believe it would be a cake walk, therefore I got it in my head that the match was already won.
One hole later, I'm standing on the green, staring at a pond in defeat. Everything I heard wasn't true, except for the fact golf owes you nothing. It's just like life owes you nothing. You have to work and put a true sense of effort into everything you do. Despite golf being something I've worked at, I let my ego get ahead of me and was humbled. People have things handed to them all of their life, but there comes a time where you will be humbled.
Although that match had humbled me, it was two weeks later that I really had to step back and check myself. When my brother and me play golf together, we have the intentions on beating the other in dominating fashion. It's always been that way, the usual sibling rivalry. I had given up a 6 or 7 shot lead to him on the back nine. I was steaming mad. But, remembered the game owes me nothing. Allow me to quote a passage from one of my favorite books and movie, "Seven Days In Utopia". "How can a game have such an effect on a man's soul? The way I see it is 'How can it not?' You don't choose the game, it chooses you. And, when it does, life and golf are forever connected." Golf has taught me many lessons in life through out the past fifteen years. But, the one that just now has started clicking is how to be humble. I don't expect this to he the last lesson either.
