Jun
12
Well, not quite passed. More like conditionally passed. The condition being that before I graduate the PGA's Professional Golf Management program, I have to return to the PAT battlefield and pass again, for real next time.But in the mean time, it's true. I went down to WV and played on the good ol' track at the Pines CC. I forgot how short that course really is. Coming down the stretch I knew I could triple bogey the 18th in order to pass, and what do I do? I make it a closer call than necessary and make double bogey to shoot 82.
Man oh man. I could have kicked myself, too. I got off to such a bad start on the second round that I shot myself right out of the event and forfeited any chance at shooting 75 and passing for real. I never felt such focus on the golf course. I never realized just how micro you have to think out there. And now, looking back, I realize just how right Russell (Reid) was when he said "It's cumulative." He meant that the game, or any round in particular, is cumulative. You don't shoot a 79 on the first tee. Nor do you do it with a chip shot on the 8th hole. Nor do you do it with your last holed putt on 18. You shoot 79 (or any number for that matter) by narrowing your focus to each individual shot-each target and the method by which you will advance your ball in the direction of that target-and adding up those shots-ONCE THE ROUND IS OVER!
You don't even so much as determine the score on a par 3 with your tee shot (well, aside from the rare instance of a hole in one). And even when the ball is holed for a 1,2, or 3, or more, what good is it? It's 3 (if it's a par), that's it! You might as well not even think of it as par, or birdie, or good or bad. It's just a group of 3 shots that can't be taken away. They've been recorded just the same as the middle 3 shots of a par 5 are recorded. And you know what? Once you sink the putt for par, you just have to go tee it up and hit another shot, and another shot, and another shot...until you've holed it 18 glorious times.
I learned the other day that golf really does happen one shot at a time. And if you can focus on that one shot that lies before you, and really focus on your ability to swing the club and strike the ball in a certain way, and do it consistently, AND be willing to accept the outcome each time...THEN you are on your way to scoring. You can't be results oriented on the golf course. You have to be process oriented. You only have control over so very few variables in the game of golf. Take advantage of the few opportunities to influence the outcome that you have. Pick your targets, convince yourself of your intended outcome, and for goodness sake, keep your clubface dry! ;)
I passed my PAT, not by hitting 82 beautiful shots, but by relying on the preparation I had done, being smart on the golf course, and using the tools my body brought to the course to get the job done. In fact, I'd say the shots I hit that day...a lot of them...were far from pleasing to my eye, but you know what? Most of the time they worked.
I could get used to this golf thing...and I better, because I'm in the PGA now. Woo hoo!
Goodnight.
-T.J.
-T.J.
