Levels of Golf
I’m practicing about once a week at a local driving range. My swing is gradually picking up speed again but the lines aren’t quite there yet. My friend who is learning golf videos my swing for me once in a while. I’m traveling overseas on a golf trip in a few months, and I’d like to play at an enjoyable level. An “enjoyable level” for me nowadays means the golf ball is traveling in the direction of the intended target line, somewhat. What a departure from my younger self’s performance standards…“Enjoyable” then meant that 75% or above confidence level as I stood over shots translated to my golf ball flying towards the target often. It meant the machinery was well oiled and getting the job done. Better yet, the machinery was firing shots on all cylinders all the time.
When I was little and starting out in golf, it was hard to imagine how good I would become one day. I wasn’t born with the best physique for athletic pursuits. My twin and I shared space in the womb but I guess my feet got smooshed and I had to wear metal braces for a while to straighten things out. Unlike my twin who was naturally stronger and had a dynamic swing ever since she picked up the game, my original golf swing was technically weak. A wicked over the top move was an early signature move. I know, pretty awful. Good news is I received help from experts along the way, and discovered that I was a fast learner. I practiced with intention in each practice session, but if you told me then that I would hold the no. 1 spot in the U.S junior golf rankings one day, I would have told you that was too kind of a prediction. There was a point in my junior career where I remember smiling in a tournament as I had exceeded my own expectations. This event was the 1999 AJGA Ashworth Junior Classic at Windsor Parke, where I shot 68-69-66, good enough for the win, a new course record, and a new AJGA Girls 54-hole scoring record at the time. Shout out to my brother Chan too, who won the boys division with scores of 71-69-68. I was in total control of my game all week. Every part of my game — putting, chipping, irons, driver, and bunker game — were firing on all cylinders. Not bad for being a first generation athlete, I thought.
I had two important takeaways after this event. One is I had exceeded my expectations of how good I could be at this game, and I was both pleasantly surprised, and proud of myself. There is great satisfaction in seeing your hard work pay off, and memorable achievements are something you will remember and have forever. Another takeaway was how a good training approach can help you accomplish more than one ever imagined. You can become excellent if you apply the right training approach. The experience informs how I think about natural abilities and training nowadays.
My first love is competitive golf, or becoming the best golfer I can be. Physical injuries led me to change course and eventually, I discovered my second love, helping others pursue their best golf. Whether your goal is to be a top junior, amateur, college, or professional golfer, or if you simply want to be a respectable weekend golfer, there is a way to practice and train that would make your journey much more fun and enjoyable. It will be fun to be your guide.
