Have you ever golfed with that guy who hits a terrible shot, or several terrible shots, and gets absolutely furious at himself?  Worse yet, is that same guy a terrible golfer?  I play with that guy all the time.  Stinky Golfer Tom, seems to have a mental breakdown just about every round.

Now Tom has a few versions of a mental breakdown.  First, there’s the profanity-laced tirade that goes something like this – Tom hammers a ball with his driver.  Then, almost like it’s on a string, the ball slices into the neighboring fairway.  “F***!!  F***!!  F***!!  Always right!!  Always F***ing right!!”

Then there’s the club slam.  That normally comes from the rough.  It’s exactly as it sounds.  He hits the ball, something bad happens, and it’s followed by an almost earth-shaking thud, thud, thud…like Godzilla is bounding his way down the fairway.  He never throws the club, just slams it into the ground like he’s hammering a railroad spike.

But third, and maybe the funniest, is the silent anger.  A point comes along where he just gives up on himself.  He’s playing so terrible, that he just picks the ball up and wanders to the next hole.  It’s especially comical when, like two rounds ago, he does it on the first hole!

As funny as these episodes are for the the rest of us, I wonder if they’re justified.  What I mean is, ever since I’ve been golfing, Tom, for the most-part, has been a triple-digit golfer with the occasional round in the 90’s.  So does he, or golfers like him, have the “right” to do this?  Should they get this angry?  Are they good enough that they should be angry for screwing up?

Me, I don’t get angry on the course.  Sure, I’ll let out a little reminder to myself such as “I stink” or “I suck at this game.”  But that’s about it.  See, I’m not a good golfer to begin with.  I know I’m not and I don’t expect that, all of a sudden, I’m going to somehow become a scratch golfer.  So why would I get so angry when I hit a bad shot?  I have accepted the mentality that I’m not good enough to get mad.  And better yet, I’m not sure I want to get better for that reason.  If I get mad at myself for playing poorly, then I’ve begun taking it too serious…and I don’t want that to happen.

Someone once mentioned to me that they have a buddy that gets angry at himself at every mistake he makes.  But he doesn’t take lessons, has never taken a lesson and just isn’t a very good player.  So what is he so mad about?  On the other hand, the guy who told me this story isn’t much better.  However, he takes lessons and is trying to get better.  But if he doesn’t…then he has something to be angry about.  Now, is that good or bad for him?

The problem for them, in my opinion, is something I have learned to accept.  I am perfectly comfortable with my level of play.  I know I’m playing simply for the fun of it.  Nothing more, nothing less.  I’m not trying to become a scratch golfer.  So I have no reason to get angry when I play poorly.  If I hit a great shot, fantastic!  If I hit a terrible shot, who cares?!  It’s absolute golfing bliss!  And to me, that’s the way it should be.

Swing ’til you’re happy!