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29
Summer 2012
Escarpment Magaz ine
Golf
takes time to learn, and learn properly. Tour players practice
4-5 hours a day. It’s all they do – it’s their job! Whether you are taking
up the game as a beginner, or a seasoned veteran, it is important to un-
derstand the goals you have set for yourself. Being realistic about what
you want out of the game is a great starting point in realizing your ex-
pectations and setting goals.
When I ask students what their expectations are, I hear quite often “to
enjoy myself more.” Having an appreciation of what it means to enjoy
your self, especially when golf can be incredibly frustrating, is the hard
part. Golfers beat themselves up way too often on the golf course.
They lose sight as to why they play the game, or why they started play-
ing the game to begin with.
Ask your self why you play or
why you want to start playing.
Is it the social aspect? Is it being outside? Is it the exercise? Is it the sur-
roundings? Is it the personal challenge? Is it to play with your partner?
Is it the discipline of the game? Is it learning something new???
An individual needs to establish why they play golf, or why they want
to start playing golf, before the ability to enjoy the game more can be
recognized. This is a good way to keep expectations in perspective of
what a person is actually capable of and why.
Time can play an important part in establishing and attaining golf goals.
If the expectation is to play even Par golf, well the time commitment and
dedication to attain that goal is quite overwhelming. The amount of
time an individual has to offer to the game will reflect what, realistically,
they get out of the game.
Golf is many things to many different people.
To understand what golf is to you, and why it
is you like to play the game, is based on the
perspective of the individual. We have the
ability to create our own environment, so
keep things in check and golf will become
more enjoyable the more you play.
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Expectations...
Goals
&
golf
Sarah Jane Hornes - LPGA Member T & CP / Big Sky Golf Academy, Pemberton
BY SARAH JANE HORNES
