25/10/2023
The journey of a 10yo golfer started with only a 7-iron.
For a child with a very short attention span and limited patience, she has taken to the training process remarkably well. She has a consistent swing and what she didn't achieve with distance, she made up for with accuracy.
From the very first lesson she was taught, a samurai is only as good as the condition of his sword, and therefore she has to take very good care of her clubs, washing them after every play. She learned respect for the game and other players by coming to class on time, with clean shoes and proper golfing attire. To nurture independence and build strength, she has to carry her own golf bag and the basket of balls all by herself.
Heavy learning started out at the golf course. Courtesy and respect are important elements of the game; filling up divots, taking extra care of the greens, respecting other players and co-existing with the golf course's natural dwellers, eg. monkeys, lizards and warthogs. For a 10yo, she learned geography early, analysing terrain and estimating wind direction and strength.
Unintendedly, she has picked up a lot from golf. Much like in life, she can only play every shot once, and the most important shot is the next one. She also realised that a good swing is nothing more than a collection of many corrected mistakes, and no player is as lucky as the one who practices the most.
The first thing golf teaches is humility. The second is empathy. And the thirdd is patience. - Kris Wilson
