How I Play Golf

If I had a dollar for every time someone told me that I should work on my attitude regarding golf I'd probably be a millionaire...Its a funny reference, because if there's anything in the world I love more than money, it's golf!

Three years ago this Saturday I arrived in Austin, TX with all of my earthly belongings packed tight in my car. Some of the things I left back in New Hampshire included my parents, the rest of my distant family, a job as an insurance professional, my health insurance, many friends, and most importantly, hundreds of people who believed in me. All of these sacrifices were made for a single love of mine, and believe me, I love my job, but it's not money...

I started a new job, my first at a golf course outside the pro shop, making minimum wage. A 30 minute drive each way on a toll road left me quickly overwhelmed and I found myself wondering whether or not I could sustain any sort of lifestyle. However, I never questioned the goal, just the circumstances leading to it. In order to adjust, I moved closer to my job, I traded my car for a far more economic one, and eliminated a few things in my life in order to free up some funds for neccessities. Do I have any regrets? Zero.

This morning, while sharing a round that could only be described as "casual" with a friend of mine, Steve, he reminded me that I am very hard on myself, even during a "fun round". Steve is a pupil of mine, and I desperately want him to improve his golf game because I can see that he loves it in a similar manner that I do. However, this comment fell on deaf ears, as I have heard it enough times that I don't allow it to hold water anymore...I tried explaining to Steve, that no matter what I may have called myself, or said outloud, that I arrive over the next shot thinking ONLY of that shot. The fact that I got upset in the first place is only evidence of my desire to succeed. I can't tell you whether Steve believed me, or whether he can fathom the concept, but I promise you it's true.

The bottom line is, telling me that I'm too hard on myself, or too negative, or hot headed, etc. is easy. It's the easiest thing you could ever say to somebody. Nobody would ever say "Craig, stop getting upset, you're just not that good..." so it's an easy out to suggest an attitude adjustment.

I admire the players out there that can maintain a calm, cool, collected demeanor on the golf course all the time, no matter what the situation. Hunter Mahan, Rickie Fowler, The Late Payne Stewart to name a few. However, those guys are not me, and they approach the mental portion of the game as differently as they do the physical. Imagine if Rickie Fowler listened to someone that told him "The other guys don't swing like that..." and that he needed to change. Rickie Fowler has a horrific swing. If anyone else tried to hit a proper golf shot from his poisition at the top it would result in a sure shank...But, as fate would have it this swing belongs to nobody else but Rickie. It's how HE does it. He owns it.

I fully understand that my words may be choice after a bogey, a three-putt, a botched up & down, or a poor tee shot. I may refer to myself by a name I would never consider calling my biggest adversary. However, that's just how I do it. I have to release that bad energy in my body created from adversity. It's as big a flaw as Rickie's laid off backswing, but it's how I do it...If I don't, then it will affect the next shot I hit.

So how do I play golf? With passion. I play this game hard. I play it true, and I love it to death. Even if it's not always good to me...