The old second chance.  Many people deserve it.  Few get it.  But what about golf?  How many people do you think quit the game and leave it behind for good?  I’ll bet it’s a much higher number than the people who quit the game and come back.  But I recently read an article about a man who plans on doing just that. 

This particular gentleman gave up the game back in high school.  Now that in itself is kind of strange, being that it seems to be the time when many are being introduced to the game.  It was for me.  I didn’t start playing in high school, but I had a part-time job at a local golf course, which is where I first discovered the driving range.  But that’s about as deep into golf as I got until my mid-20’s. 

But as we’ve mentioned before, sometimes life gets in the way of golf.  It does for most of us.  There’s always something to do that keeps us away from this great game.  And once we get pulled away from the course for a significant amount of time, many of us never go back.  But thankfully, some of us do.  Our writer realized after several failed home improvement projects, that he needed something else to do with his free time.  So, looking for something more social, enter…or…re-enter golf.

So now, he’s faced with some of the the decisions with which many of us were faced when we first took up the game – taking lessons and purchasing clubs.  So if I could inject a bit of my own advice, I would like to say just a couple of things.

1.  Enjoy the game for what it is – a game.  If you take your game or your lessons too seriously, you’ll be missing out on some of the fun. 

2.  Use the time on the course for something more than just playing golf.  Make a day of it with your buddies.  Relax, talk, hang out, have a couple beers…make it a good social experience with your friends. 

3.  Understand that you will never be a pro.  And if you’re taking up the game later in life, understand that you will likely never even approach the point you think you will reach.  If you hit more bad shots than good…who gives a crap?!  Is it your job?  Are you blowing a million dollar purse?  Are you losing your chance at making the PGA Tour?  No!  You’re just out there having a good time.  Continue to do that.     

4.  As for your clubs, before you go out and dump an obscene amount of money into a driver and a set of irons, make sure you’re going to stick with the game first.  I bought a cheap set of clubs to start with and used them for a good twelve years before I got custom-fitted for a set.  And though they feel like they’re helping, my scores certainly don’t reflect it.

Point is, I’m glad to see someone returning to the game.  But I’d be happier if they were to stick with it.  And a few simple ideas with which to approach the game can make the experience all the better. 

Swing ’til you’re happy!