Wading the Internet in search of better golf

By Rahul Banerji

The Internet is a monster, sometimes benign, often overpowering. Traversing the electronic universe can be an overwhelming experience. Very rarely, it can also be an enriching one.

For amateur golfers in particular, the Internet is a source of instant answers. It’s a different matter that such solutions more often than not create further questions, but then that’s the nature of the beast.

So for example, you have a problem with your stance, or most commonly, your swing. Turn to the Internet which has experts giving you all the advice and suggestions you may need. You watch video, listen to the accompanying patter and wow, problem solved!

On the course the next morning though, that beautifully crafted solution usually turns out to be shorter-lived than the morning mist. You were not just back where you started, but probably a few steps further back.

Laugh if you will, but I’ll lay a zillion bucks on the fact that you’ve probably cursed the fact that you turned to the Internet in the first place. And another zillion that you will be back there, pretty soon, haha!!!

The Whatsapp trawl

Of this vast and ever-enticing experience, Whatsapp is probably the most ubiquitous If you are on line, it is with you morning, noon, day and night. Informing, nagging, exasperating, suggesting, whispering, nudging. And very rarely coming up with what you need.

Yet, once in a long while, Whatsapp does throw something your way that makes you go Hmm. A few days ago a message popped up on one of my golf groups that stopped the almost automatic trawl through the reams of rubbish.

It caught the eye, soothed the tortured nerves and whispered, never mind, it happens. Life goes on.

Thanks go to Ashwini Negi for posting this and though we have been on the hunt, the origin of the post that follows is as yet unclear. If someone knows of it, do let us know so that it can be properly attributed.

The post has been miminally edited, just to ensure the narrative flow. Read and enjoy.

“Like faith, golf requires us to lose our “old nature.” We first must learn the proper grip. Our nature tells us to grip the club tightly, so we have total control. In golf, though, a tight grip keeps us from meeting the ball squarely and sends it off in a wayward direction.

“Human nature tells us the harder we swing, the farther the ball will fly. But this doesn’t work in golf. Using strength to muscle the ball will only advance it a short distance. Golf requires a light touch and an easy swing.

‘Don’t look too far’

“The most common mistake golfers make is to look up during their swing to see where the ball is headed. This causes them to top the ball, or completely miss it. We have the same problem in life. We’re so busy looking ahead, we don’t focus on the present.

“Our urge to look up is especially strong when facing a hazard, like water or sand. We’re constantly looking ahead for trouble. But if we keep our head down and focus on the present, we’re less likely to lose a ball in the water.

“When we get close to the green, we’re also likely to peek during the swing. Sometimes, we’re so blinded by things we want, we don’t pay attention to doing what it takes to get them. 

‘Have faith’

“On chip shots, our nature tells us to stop the club when it hits the ball, so it won’t go over the green. Faith requires us to follow through with our swing, or the ball will come up short. It reminds us to follow through with decisions, rather than being afraid of the consequences.

“Golf is a frustrating game, but we can’t give in to these frustrations. Golfers must calmly accept adversity. They must humble themselves and nothing is more humbling than raking a sand trap after wasting three shots to get out of it.

Our nature is to blame others for our problems, but in golf there’s no one else to blame.

“Golf also demands honesty. It goes against our nature to count every stroke and finish every putt. But we can’t improve until we face what we’re shooting now. Fudging our score is like cheating on a test. It’s the reason golf pencils don’t have erasers. Golf gives us many opportunities to cheat, but we’re only cheating ourselves.

‘Finding grace’

“As in faith, there are elements of grace in golf: the fortunate bounce, the ball that skips across the water, the line drive that is stopped by the pin. We need grace on the golf course because it’s so difficult, and contrary to human nature.

“Golfers have devised their own form of grace — they’re called “mulligans.” God wants us to use only one of these do-overs per round, lest we cheapen grace.”

There is much to be found in these few words. Useful or not, I don’t know but it summed up rather well what makes many of us tick.

Happy golfing.

Also read: A brief look at golf’s new rules that may change your game