Game of Opposites
30 Apr
Black Mountain Golf Course in Asheville, NC
This past Monday I met Mr. Hicks Anderson, an 83 year old golfer at the Black Mountain Golf Course in Asheville, NC.
Hicks was a warm gentleman, filled with life and shared with me some incredible stories and golf was the central theme. One story included strolling the fairways with his good friend Billy, that would be Dr. Billy Graham to you and I.
As Hicks shared his stories with me he ended the conversation with “You know Scott, golf and life have amazing parallels and one of those I would like to share with you is that Golf and Life are Games of Opposites.” Here you go:
Golf Lesson #1
If you want the ball to go up you have to hit down on it. Many golfers try to help the ball get airborne and lift up on it. The good golfers actually hit down on it and compress the ball against the turf and the divot is after the golf ball vs. seeing a divot before the golf ball like some of your golfing buddies.
Golf Lesson #2
If you want to hit it further…swing easier!! Wow! How true is that? I like to refer to the 80/100 principle which means swing your driver at 80% to hit 100% of the sweet spot. Most of your golfing buddies swing their drivers at 100% of their power to hit only 80% of the sweet spot at best.
Golf Lesson #3
If you want to hit the ball to the right you must aim left and if you want to hit it left you must aim right. You will start to see a pattern with your buddies that have a tendency of slicing. They will always be aiming to the left. Players, like myself that play a slight draw will always be aimed slightly to the right and swing from the inside to see that right to left trajectory.
LIFE LESSON
Hicks then shared with me that most people try to work hard to make it to heaven but we need to let go and allow God to take hold of our lives. There is a great scripture in Ephesians that helps cement this for us. Ephesians 2:8-9
“8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.”
It is truly amazing to see all of the parallels between golf and life. I would love to hear what your favorite one is. Please feel free to comment.
I look forward to seeing you on the course!
In His grip,
Scott
Great reminder, question if i want to hit it straight with no spin do i put it. Have a great day Scott, wish i was in the area would love to tee it up again. And i have really slowed down my swing. hit 7 of nine in regulation the other day both misses were in the 1st cut. now to start putting again.
Yes indeed, it would be great to stroll the fairways with you.