(Since she is getting married again in two weeks, her “choice” this time took more soul-searching”. As for me, who require plenty of freedom and fun, should keep that in mind when selecting partners, jobs, living arrangements, friends, clothes, cars- especially cars, etc. if “freedom and fun” lovers find themselves dating “station wagon” owners, there may be a choice-dilemma.(I wish I had all this information before I married my ex-husband- he drove a huge “gas guzzler” and I, of course drive a two-seater convertible that goes forever on a tank of gas-now that’s freedom and fun!…that “choice” inconsistency should have been a no-brainer!) the choices we make in life, if we want harmony, happiness, comfort, need to be compatible with our core personality. If our decisions are inconsistent with whom we are, the relationship, job, car, etc., may become like driving with a flat tire, or pushing that “gas guzzler” uphill.

The fairways are full of golfers that have made “choices”, too. Equipment, instruction, playing partners, practice plans, all need to be consistent with the player. If I see a student dragging her golf bag to her lesson, shoes untied, all out of breath, a couple minutes late, driving a mini van with four car seats in it, her lesson, practice plan, and equipment will not include putting “iron covers” on and off her golf clubs. In her case, I would be sure her lessons were more in-depth for less intervals of time. Practice time would be limited, so we would devise drills which could be done at home just swinging the club, working on the grip, and doing mirror work on her set-up. Most importantly, I would encourage a swing, a game, and equipment that had simplicity, ease and a “no nonsense” attitude. (actually, the very first thing I would do would be to lighten her bag- take out the 10,000 golf balls, the two or three putters, the driver that John Daly couldn’t get airborne, and talk her into a golf bag with a bag stand instead of the 50 lb. vinyl one grandpa gave her that he bought a at garage sale.)

On the flip-side, the student who does show up for a lesson with “iron covers” on his clubs, shoes shined, and a notepad, driving a Volvo, would possibly require more frequent lessons of shorter duration, with a definite practice plan of two or three days a week of a more technical nature.

So do the choices we make as golfers fit us? Be sure to hire a competent coach who reflects your best interests, fit the equipment you use to fit you and your lifestyle, choose playing partners that complement your golf game, and select a practice plan that flows with your schedule.

The “fairways” will surely offer more fun if we recognize who we are as people. Be sure of your “fit”, and make the choices to complete your game. Then drive that golf ball or that “Porsche Boxter”
down your “freedom road”.
As always…happy golfing!!!

Janie C. Farina
LPGA Teaching & Club Pro
LPGA -USGA Girls Golf Club of Pinehurst

After a lesson with a student of mine last week, he confessed that he had a game this weekend with three fellow clients that were worth several thousand dollars in dealings with his company. Because he was playing so badly, he dreaded the day he had to tee it up. Explaining to me how simple it was to close million dollar contracts with fellow businessmen as opposed to holding it together on the golf course, he admitted that it was more agonizing to get up to hit the first tee shot in front of these people. How to love golf all of the time, now that is the question!
Loving the game of golf (most of the time) may be a fantasy. Learning to deal with these emotions of fear, embarrassment, anxiety, anger, and frustration is all part of learning the “game”.

Let’s start with the first tee shot. Typically, between the sweaty palms, the heartbeat racing like a jackhammer and the knees knocking so loud it sounds like maracas, what we saying to ourselves may be something like this
: “please, just don’t hit that house on the right”, or “don’t miss it”, or “I hope no one is paying attention in case I shank”, while mumbling” it’s a good thing this is good thing for business”. Doesn’t sound like we are “lovin it”, does it?

Can we fall back into love with golf even if we are not playing as well as we want?

The “potion” for falling back in “love” with your game is as easy as closing that million dollar deal on the course. Why not treat golf the same way that we work that deal with our clients? When we entertain a client, we have a specific purpose, or goal. Why not treat our “game day” the same way, with the same purpose-to enjoy the round, to have all one or two putts, to play it safe and have no penalties for the day, or whatever the “job” we want to accomplish on the links. As with a contract, a relationship, a golf game, sometimes that goal may take a few times to be consummated. The minute we try to force “the deal”, in business or in golf, we stand the risk of pushing it away. When we get angry or impatient with our “game”, it can act like a fickle lover, and run from us. Best we let the “game” come to us, through practice, good coaching, and patience. Not much different than that “deal” we may be working on while we are out there playing.

So the next time you get up on the tee box, and the “big bosses” are behind you watching, put all that “heartache” away, and say to yourself “HELLO LOVER!” and let it happen! Golf, like business, and love, has to come like fine wine-“in its own time”.

Meanwhile, enjoy the journey on the links, in business, or in life. After all, what’s the worst that can happen? A bad day of golf, is better than a good day at the office, right?

“I’m loving’ it”-happy golfing!

Janie C. Farina
LPGA Teaching & Club Pro
LPGA -USGA Girls Golf Club of Pinehurst

The stress of being on the first tee in a college golf tournament may not compare to being on the first tee during a practice round, and having a small case of the jitters. Sometimes the only difference between the two rounds is how long the player stays in this heightened state. Depending on the degree of pressure that a person experiences, this state can cause meltdown or, in some cases, be the catalyst for a miracle on the links.
Take the player who walks on to the golf course with absolutely no anticipation of possible problems, nor does she ever practice dealing with any. Totally unprepared and indifferent to pressure, she gets up to the first tee with only one sleeve of balls in her bag. She thinks to herself” this conference match is going to be a cake-walk”. She proceeds to hit the first two tee shots out of bounds (which leaves her with one golf ball for the next 18 holes), and realizes that she is out of the round if she loses one more golf ball. As she wishes for a miracle, apathy sets in when the next shot yanks into the next fairway. So goes the rest of the round, while she waits for the last ball to mercifully get lost, so she can quit. This good-time-charley can only play good golf under the best conditions or it is meltdown. Pressure and preparation to perform under any circumstances is what makes good-time-charley should be practicing, rather than assuming her one sleeve of balls, or her game, would never leave her “in left field and over the fence (not a good thing in golf- only in baseball).
As opposed to Good-Time-Charley, we have Crash and Burn. Before she ever gets to the second hole, she has a panic attack going on. This gal may shuffle onto the first tee with 20 water balls in her bag, sweaty palms, and the “rosary” in her pocket. Besides lugging 10 lbs. of golf balls around , she defeats herself by becoming so tensed up, crowds her swing, shanks it dead right, and hates the game for how it makes her feel. This person cracks under the pressure of the one bad shot, and lets that stress lead to another duff, then another, and so on.
How can we avoid Chernobyl on the course, and keep the radiation of embarrassing penalties, whiffs, and duffs, from burning us out?
Stress, as the article implied that we discussed earlier, can be like dragging around those 20 golf balls. The weight and the expectation of needing those 20 balls can only leave us tired. Likewise, only carrying a sleeve of balls for the round is being unrealistic and unprepared.
So the next time you swagger up to the first tee, feeling abit nervous, yet prepared to play, remember to smile, breath, and swing. Most great players and people that I know take the pressure of a possible meltdown and use that pressure to excel. Miracles on the golf course and in life usually arise from the rubble during the aftermath of a difficult time. So set that burden, or golf bag down awhile, and then carry-on! You just never know what the next 17 holes, job or date will bring!

P.S.
Formula for Happy Golfing: keep the flow and let the swing go!

Janie C. Farina
LPGA Teaching & Club Pro
LPGA -USGA Girls Golf Club of Pinehurst