The scores will still be there when the round is over
What I learned … if you are thinking about not jinxing yourself, you just jinxed yourself. So rule out all possible cases of jinxes – in golf and in life – and focus on what must be done next.
Golf Wife / Golf Life is part of a series of short stories about observations my wife has made on the golf course. At first, they seem simplistic and obvious. But each holds a deeper insight to the truth about golf. And, sometimes life, too.
“What do you see, Judy?”
What I learned … those voices in your head would really scare other people, so keep ‘em quiet.
The cart is a faster, lazier and less appreciated way to play golf
What I learned … it’s hard to enjoy life if you are always in the fast lane.
Your mood affects others
What I learned … The driving range is a great date for an unmarried couple, but it’s a potential expository on poor communication skills for married couples.
The terms don’t mean anything
Who doesn’t understand “three-quarter backswing?”
I’m guessing about three-quarters of all people, if not golfers.
Sometimes tweaks aren’t enough
Sometimes all you can do is suggest changes to people. It’s their life (or their golf swing) and they’ll figure it out when they want.
Know thyself more than thy golf ball
What I learned … If amateurs want to believe that certain balls fly farther and stop faster than others, then the joke’s on me (ahem, I mean us).
This hole looks tough
What I learned from my wife … you can’t ignore the problems; in fact, if there were no problems, you would never have to think of solutions in life. Don’t be intimidated by obstacles.
A very painful watch, or a great idea for a new golf show
What I learned from my wife … your playing partners – married to them or not – don’t want your swing tips.
All putts are close in their own way
What I learned from my wife … when you are really frustrated, there are a few things you shouldn’t do …
Warning: Over-thinking golfers nearby
As the leader of over-thinkers everywhere, I ask that you keep your post-putt remarks to yourself.
The good shots even out the bad ones
Here’s what my wife taught me … a bad golf shot gives you an immediate opportunity to practice forgetting what you can no longer control. What more enjoyable way is there to learn on the fly?
A different club can matter
The optimism of a different club can be just the pick-me-up a golfer sometimes needs. A change of scenery for that normal meeting, or that family time, can put a new, fresh twist to our mindset.
Chicks, my wife included, don’t dig the 7-iron off the tee
So what did I learn? Your strategy is yours alone. Don’t do it to impress anyone else. Own it, then execute it.
It’s OK, in fact, necessary, to celebrate making a putt, even if it was for triple bogey
The fist-pump among guys is a macho statement, right? A Tiger-wanna-be move. But when my wife does it out of spontaneous joy, it’s super cute!
Husbands weren’t necessarily made to teach wives
I’ve been the primary tuner of my wife’s golf game. Yeah, I feel bad for her, too, but what about my feelings?!
No one swing tip works for more than one hole
Sometimes it’s ok to just say, ‘Nice work,’ and let them figure out why that shot felt different than the others.
Choosing the 7 or 9 iron makes a difference, but not the difference you think
My wife will ask me if she should hit the 7 iron or 9 iron when she’s considering her approach shot to the green. Does her club selection matter in terms of distance? Not consistently,
Some good shots end up in the lake
After her swing, I asked my wife, “Where did your second shot go?” I had been off finding my ball behind a hill on the right side of the fairway; she was on the left