The Top 10 Life Lessons Your Child Can Learn from Playing
Golf
During the last seven years, I have watched my son and his
friends grow up in the world of Junior Golf. This amazing
sport has brought out the best in these young men, and has
taught them so many valuable life lessons. I am forever
impressed, in particular to the following ten qualities that
I have observed my son develop as a bi-product of the great
game of golf.
1. Humility and Respect
Golf requires that you show courtesy to others and that you
communicate with respect. In the Junior Golf tournaments
across the country, it is well stated that good
sportsmanship must be exhibited at all times and that all
play is ended with an exchange of a hand shake.
2. Punctuality
When the tournament schedule states "Tee time is at 9:00,"
this means that you are to be on the tee box at 8:55. If you
are late to the tee box, you are automatically disqualified,
no questions asked. While this can be a tough lesson to
learn, it is one that works brilliantly and has instilled in
my son the importance of being on time for not only every
tournament but every event in life.
3. Confession
Golf is a game of honor, and recognizing that a
transgression has occurred and taking responsibility for the
transgression is a part of the game. This one act instills
integrity and fairness to all concerned.
4. Safety
Golf balls and clubs are very hard and dangerous
instruments, and one of the first and foremost rules of golf
is safety. My son has been instructed again and again to not
take practice swings in the direction of another person, not
to swing clubs when someone else is walking by, and never to
hit into a group playing in front of him. These rules of
safety have filtered into other aspects of his life,
including biking, swimming, and safety in the home.
5. Quiet
Golf requires an amazing amount of concentration, and quiet
is required at all times on the golf course. While this
takes practice for young kids, it is a life skill that
teaches constraint and respect for others.
6. Visioning
The night before and the morning of a tournament, my son
sits quietly and mentally and visually plays the course.
This skill is teaching him how to "see the end in mind,"
which is key to goal achievement.
7. Problem Solving
Rain, wind, trees, multiple sand traps, and deep rough can
make for a challenging day of tournament play. These are a
normal part of golf and can be an amazing opportunity for
clever problem solving and personal growth.
8. Focus
Golf is a tough sport. It requires that you not only know
the physics of hitting the ball (and what club to use when)
but requires intense mental and emotional concentration.
Silencing the inner critic after a "bad shot" is crucial to
regaining clear focus, which is an advanced skill to learn
but one that can take you very far in life.
9. Practice, Persistence, and Listening
In golf, instant success is very rare. My son has become a
great golfer through daily practice, persistence, and
through being open to listening to his mentors. In life, it
is important to know that we rarely reach our goal in one
"stroke." By practicing, making corrections along the way,
being open to coaching, and being persistent, we can tackle
most of life's tough challenges.
10. Graciousness
One of the most important life lessons my son has learned
from golf is to be gracious and respectful to adults. At the
end of each tournament, he and his competitors thank and
shake the hands of the tournament chairmen and follow this
up with a handwritten note of thanks
About The Author
Bea Fields, Southern Pines, NC, USA
bea@fivestarleader.com
http://www.fivestarleader.com
Bea Fields is an Executive Coach and a Certified Guerrilla
Marketing Coach. She is also a Consultant, Trainer, Public
Speaker and author of the Five Star Leader e-course. Her
area of expertise is that of Leadership Development and
Marketing for Executives, Managers, Small Business Owners,
and Political Leaders.
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