I have to count my blessings. Today, I got to play the gloriously beautiful Edgewood-Tahoe Golf Course, near Stateline in South Lake Tahoe. To give you taste of this golfing pleasure, here’s my old friend Robert and new friend Gary walking down #16 toward the Lake:
We played early and watched a coyote run across the 2nd fairway. This is a special place. Edgewood is a first class track and the scenery couldn’t be better. It was a beautiful morning with the wind picking up on our back nine. I shot a respectable 91 from the white tees, had a great time and we played in four hours.
The best part was sharing another part of what Fred Shoemaker talked about at the Shivas Irons-Pasatiempo event with my friend Robert, who has also done Extraordinary Golf schools with Fred. At one point, Fred talked about having it all “be OK” wherever the ball goes… fairway, O.B., rough, trap, whatever. Ultimately, you have to accept it wherever the ball goes anyway, right? But thinking about anywhere it goes being OK before you hit it seems to enable more freedom.
In addition, I’ve extended the concept and I’ve been using this idea successfully recently with putting. It helps me “just hit” my putts (when I remember). I shared this with Robert on the back nine and he instantly made a couple of putts and putted with more freedom. The difference was obvious. Yay!
I hope this helps you play with more freedom and to make more birdies and pars. Here’s the view of a foursome on the first tee that I took from right next to where we ate lunch. Happy Labor Day to you all!
13 users commented in " Wherever You Hit It, That’s OK "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackI would love to take out my new custom golf clubs and test them out on this course.
Thanks for the post!
Hi, I found your blog on this new directory of WordPress Blogs at blackhatbootcamp.com/listofwordpressblogs. I dont know how your blog came up, must have been a typo, i duno. Anyways, I just clicked it and here I am. Your blog looks good. Have a nice day. James.
There are some great tips on this website. I personally love to improve with each game and when I’m at work and have some free time i just browse around the net for free advice, and I found this site. Great stuff!
Thanks Jon for sharing your experiences. Helps that you’ve got access, to what look llike, some great courses.
If only I had some courses like that in my local area!
Thanks for visiting, Ben. Come back any time and come visit in person!
Play like nobody is watching, even that arch-enemy, Me. Very few people know how to play. They focus and anticipate future outcomes and performance. This blocks being able to Play. Play is standing over and thinking, no matter where this ball goes is OK. No judgement, no evaluation, no diagnosis. Play.
Be very careful as you play. Once you find out that play leads to favorable outcomes, stop and get back to where you need to be. Playing.
I like your attitude, Fred. I agree, but it’s so easy to get caught up in scoring or trying to score. It seems to take some practice to really stay connected to pure Play. Ironic to say that that’s what I’m ‘working’ on
Thanks for your comment, sir.
You are right, Jon. Here is a tip. Just before you start your backswing, say to yourself, “Go Play.” And if you have a nickname that you had as a boy use that. My mantra is “Go play, Fredzu.” Remember, the feeling of Play, the freedom is inside of you. One more thing, no more shoulds or coulds. These words block Play.
Awesome. I love your commitment to PLAY, Fred. I’m going to give that playful trick of the mind a try. Can’t hurt.
I’ll let you know.
Atta Boy, Jon. You playful critter. You are now free from evaluations, wrong/right, improvement, “work” and will have reserved your lofty perch as a Player.
I salute you.
What a blessing, you are, Fred. I want to make time to do full new blog post and will. Your words also remind me of one of Steve Cohen of the Shivas Irons society favorite quotes from the Michael Murphy book, which goes something like, “F**k our ever gettin’ better.”
But, as for an update, yesterday I played with your suggestion in mind and really appreciated the fun aspect of just connecting with the playful spirit that telling my youthful, fun self to “Go Play” produced. Like any new learning, my focus was not rock solid, but over all, fun was enhanced and I played pretty well too. My experience is that good results take care of themselves when you’re having fun and staying with what I call a “process target.”
I will continue with this kind of game. It’s really what I’m all about. Thanks again for the reminders and suggestions as well as these latest affirmations. More soon. Much appreciation!
Yes, Jon, it takes practice to activate the play response. Two tips are 1) soft playful hands throughout the swing, and 2) calm, relaxed breathing throughout the swing. You will see immediate and increased performance so be careful. Play and Performance are oxymorons.
Play on, Jon.
Hi Jon;
The game is called Golf and it is set up for failure. Par 4′s measuring at 450 yards, doglegs, dead into the wind, guarded by fairway and green-side bunkers, undulating greens with stimpmeters in double-digits, and this is on a sunny day.
If so, why get upset when we fail?
The only recourse is to do what we do with all of these kind of games. We Play.
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