You hear it all the time...Golf is like life. OK, in what way?
I do believe that you can learn a lot about a person by playing a round of golf with them. You also hear that a lot. But that does hold true I believe. You're able to get a pretty good look at how they handle certain situations and reflect back on how they may relate that to their daily life.
There are a couple of people that I golf with on various occasions and for the most part they are pretty even tempered. But if their game starts going the wrong way watch out! I'm not saying that I haven't been upset on certain days but I've always pretty much accepted the shot I hit and moved on. I may not have liked the shot but once I've struck the ball there's no way to get it back. You go get it and make a better stroke the next time.
In trying to relate it to life I guess there could be a couple of ways you would do that;
First - Financially....in life you can run a surplus or a deficit vs. in golf you are over par or under par. All of us at some point are on both sides of that equation, that's life right?
Second - Emotionally....in life you are pretty happy, consistent, and can have a good attitude about most things, or you can believe that everyone is against you and that you'll never succeed because "they" won't let you vs. in golf you're either playing great and having fun or your game sucks and you're really angry and playing poorly because the other players are making too much noise, they're talking too loud, or their poor game is bringing yours down (been out with a few of those types).
A third comparison and probably the most telling of all is how you handle all of this around other people. What I mean when I say that is...Are you able to control your emotions when things aren't quite going the way you want them to? Do your expectations of your game exceed your actual level of playing ability? Do you make excuses for a poor shot when in reality you don't have the ability to produce a better shot?
On the flip side, if you're a good player do you throw your great game in your playing partner’s faces? Even in jest? Or do you simply play the game you're capable of and provide positive remarks when your partners hit a good shot?
Within this third area of comparison lies a very telling way of exposing a bad side of yourself and the people that do this aren't aware they're doing it because this is how they truly are on the inside; Are you constantly telling someone what they're doing wrong, whether or not you're able to do it right? That is a BIG error in personal exposure.
I love playing golf and the group dynamics associated with the game, especially when I'm introduced as a single joining another group. I usually keep to myself and stick to my game, which is usually pretty good (low single digit handicap), I acknowledge when someone does well, rake the bunkers, fix the ball marks, and do the things that a good golfer and a good person would normally do when being conscientious of myself, my surroundings, and the people that I'm with.
So yes, Golf is like life I suppose. You just need to know what type of life you're projecting when you're on the golf course.
We can't all be happy all the time, but we can all be courteous, cordial, and polite, both emotionally and vocally.
So be a good person, you'll play better and enjoy the game more. And most of all...have fun!