According to the USGA, handicaps of recreational golfers have remained unchanged in the last 25 years. Maybe that doesn't surprise you, but consider the changes in the golf industry in recent decades. Equipment is so high-tech now; golf clubs practically swing themselves! Witness the Big Bertha, Tight Lies, and Purespin Diamond Face Wedges. Quality golf instruction is booming, with computer analysis and a golf school around every corner. Plus we have the Golf Channel, a superabundance of gadgets and gizmos, and an endless stream of books and videos by Touring and Teaching Pros. Oh, and don't forget that flying technological wonder the golf ball. Remember the Club Special? Now we have the Strata! The game has gone from the Stone Age to the Space Age, yet handicaps are not dropping.

What an amazing testimonial to the mystery and allure of golf. In spite of evidence to the contrary, we continue to immerse ourselves in the hope of beating this marvelous and crazy game. So it stands to reason there must be something more to getting the ball around the golf course than fancy equipment and perfect swings. Being a playing and teaching professional, I can say without a doubt there ARE a variety of common sense things we can do to boost our efforts to play a more satisfying game. Since I want everyone to have a great time while they are on the golf course, I've made it a personal quest to show people how to raise their level of Play and have Fun in spite of their lack of time, or physical (and fiscal) limitations.

Here's the crucial part. Whatever your goals are; to be more consistent, break 80, or just have fun, you still have to do something in order to reach those goals. You can't just snap your fingers and be there. That could mean change of some kind, a notion that automatically gives us sweaty palms and cold feet! So I have devised a formula to help combat the natural hesitancy we experience when faced with change. It goes like this: Vision + passion + action = getting what you want.

Let me explain. In order to get what you want you must first have a clear vision for what it is that you want. Second, you must fuel that desire with excitement, passion, energy, and enthusiasm. Third, you must take action and preoccupy yourself by physically and mentally remaining focused on what it is that you want. The vision, passion, and action are the lifeblood - and life force - and life preserver that carry you along to getting what you want.

If that sounds a little too esoteric for your tastes, it's really very simple. Whether its golf or something else, you have to really want it in order to get it. Be clear about what you want, be passionate about your desire to have it, and above all, put one foot in front of the other and take action. You will get there before you know it. Next issue we will learn how to apply this to our golf games. In the meantime, have a great spring and don't forget to Play and have Fun!

© Melissa Whitmire and Triad Golf Today - March/April 1999