The stupid golfer

Most golfers are process oriented: They turn up, go through their normal routine and hope for the best. Typically they don’t change – they’re locked in and aren’t aware of any new opportunities. There’s also little fear because they rarely step outside their comfort zone.

Some golfers play a different game: They’re prepared to step it up, challenge themselves and even appear stupid.

Playing from the back tee, joining three low markers on medal day, learning to play a high and soft bunker shot, making all the three-footers on practice days, playing a different course once in a while (even if it’s a public course and a step down from your normal). What makes this hard is you can fail. You can stuff up and feel like you’ve taken a backward step.

It’s my contention that you’ve got to be prepared to fail (look stupid) to experience everything golf has got to offer. Ego and score hold most back – are you willing to look stupid if it meant you’d have a real breakthrough?

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6 Comments

  • Grayden Provis

    Reply Reply July 30, 2011

    Yep. You can’t truly succeed until you don’t care if you fail. Of course there is no “fail” really – just “learning”. Good post. Its encouraged me to go ahead and try something next time I play that I’ve been toying with for a while now.

    • Cameron

      Reply Reply July 30, 2011

      Let us know how you get on Grayden.

  • Andrew

    Reply Reply July 30, 2011

    Learning requires a environment where outcomes are observed without judging.

    I’ve been meaning for years now to play a competition round with just 4 Iron through to 7 iron and putter, but something stops me from doing it. Theoretically I can still reach most holes in regulation. After reading this post I think I will give a go and see what I uncover about my game.

    • Cameron

      Reply Reply July 30, 2011

      Andrew: this was exactly what I had in mind when I wrote this. Go for it and report back here with your results.

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