The Dark Side… and the Light…
Remember the scene in Star Wars Episode I, when Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn are battling the evil Darth Maul? If you’re like me, EVEN THOUGH you KNOW the good guys should win, you think Darth Maul is pretty awesome. I mean, look at that guy… he has a double-sided red light saber, he flips and spins and jumps around like a mad man, and he was taking on not one, but TWO Jedi’s. And holding his own, until Obi-Wan cut him in half…
So, if he was so awesome, what was his downfall? I would say a few things: arrogance, anger, and lack of control.
Our golf games aren’t so much different are they? We want the fancy clubs, the flashy clothes, and we want to hit the extraordinary shot. All those things are great, but I believe always hitting the crazy shot leads to inconsistent results… and A LOT of big numbers.
My advice? Stick to what works. Stay in control of your emotions and your decision-making on the golf course. If you’re faced with a shot that you can’t successfully pull off 5/10 times…don’t even try it. And when you hit a TERRIBLE shot… just take a deep breath, gather your self, and forget about it. Start a whole new shot process. Don’t dwell on the past.
Remember how Qui Gon was able to stay in control of his emotions during his battle with Darth Maul… he sat down and meditated and focused on what he was about to face, while his future assassin paced back and forth, almost stalking him. And after Qui Gon was defeated, Obi Wan didn’t rage and break his light saber over his knee, curse, and throw it in the lake next to the green. He again, refocused on the task at hand and got the job done.
So, on the golf course…don’t be a sith. Be a jedi. Stay focused on the task at hand. Don’t get caught up in what just happened, good shot or bad shot. Move on to the next shot and give it 100% of your focus.
May the force be with you.
