The Card and Pencil Spirit

The Card and Pencil Spirit

 

Golf ultimately is about the score. The object of the game is to get the ball in the hole in the least number of strokes. But is focusing on the score alone good for your game?

 

 

 

Some clubs run a competition every day, Monday is seniors, Tuesday ladies, Wednesday, fourball, Thursday Lady seniors, Friday singles, Saturday fourball, Sunday singles. You could be marking a card every time you play.

 

What can this do to the nature of how the game is played? It promotes score over everything else, the success of your day out is determined by your final score, anything that gets in the way of a score is seen to be detrimental, golf becomes only an 18 hole game.

 

But golf is much more then this.

 

Golf is the strike of a ball, the roll of a putt, the challenge, the sights, sounds, smells, the memories of late evening and early morning rounds, the camaraderie, the solitude of hitting balls, the excitement of watching great players, the smile when a golfer hits their best shot, the traditions, history and the intricacies of great golf course designs.

 

Everyone needs in their life a place where time disappears, where it's the only place in the world where they'd want to be. Imagine a place with firm links turf, a gentle breeze and the warmth of a Summer's evening sun. Imagine a pure strike, the arc of a golf ball flying into the azure sky, the anticipation of the ball landing on the green and rolling towards the hole. A place where memories are created, stories are told and friendships forged.

 

Golf gives us this.

 

The scorecard and pencil mentality means no going out just to play 4,6 or 11 holes. It means no experimentation with shots on the course. Poor lies and quirky golf course features are impediments to good scores and not situations to test and exhibit your skills. Good shots are forgotten when a bad score is posted. Courses are judged on whether the player had a good score or not. Foursomes and other formats are frowned upon as the player doesn't record an individual score. Getting and maintaining a handicap becomes paramount. Holes are seen as too easy or too difficult and not just holes. Courses must be toughened to test the player. Fairness on the course is foremost in player's minds.

 

Yes, there are times when a score is important but the scorecard and pencil mentality should be eschewed. Play for the sake of playing. Play to hit good shots. Ignore the bad shots. Smell the roses. Create memories and stories to tell.