Swing Boldly: Lessons from the Course

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Over the past five weeks, I’ve covered the 5 Ball Flight Laws: Clubhead Speed, Centeredness of Contact, Face Angle, Club Path, and Attack Angle. These are the only things that dictate how your ball flies—not your elbow, not your head, not even your legs. Yes, when your body moves correctly, it’s easier and more efficient to apply these laws, but if you’ve ever watched golf on TV, you know every swing is different—yours included.

I’ll admit, those articles weren’t the easiest to write, and they might have been tough to read too. Let’s face it, they were a little dry at times. But they were important. Improving your golf game can feel the same way—hard, frustrating, and sometimes boring. But the skills you practice and the knowledge you gain will pay off in the long run. If you haven’t read them yet, I recommend taking the time to “suffer” through them. Trust me, it’ll be worth it. You can find them HERE.

This week, I took a bit of a creative detour. Maybe you’ll enjoy it, maybe you won’t, but that uncertainty ties into the story itself. Either way, I hope it resonates.

Oh, and one more thing—this Friday, a new episode of the podcast drops! Check out the sound bite below.

Mindset Motivation

Swing Boldly: Lessons from the Course

The wind howled through the pines, whipping the branches into a frenzy. My ball, a defiant white speck, lay trapped amongst them, a casualty of my overzealous drive. Disappointment gnawed at me. Par was slipping away, and with it, the rhythm of my round.

Play it safe, the voice of reason urged. Punch out, minimize the damage, and move on. But another voice, bolder and more mischievous, whispered a different tune: Thread the needle. Go for the fade. The odds were long, the margin for error slim. Fear gripped my chest. What if I shanked it? What if I made things worse?

And yet, beneath the fear, exhilaration bubbled. The audacity of the shot—the sheer challenge—lit a fire within me. It wasn’t about the score anymore. It was about testing myself, about answering a deeper question: Am I someone who plays it safe? Or someone who dares to chase the extraordinary?

I closed my eyes and visualized the shot—the arc, the feel, the finish. I felt doubt clawing at me but chose instead to trust. The years of practice, the joy of the game—they would guide me.

The wind howled louder as I stepped up to the ball. My grip tightened, and my focus sharpened. I swung. The ball launched, a missile cutting through the gale. And then…silence. The pines swallowed it whole, leaving me to wonder.

In that moment, I realized something crucial. The score matters—always. It’s the reason we keep playing, striving, and pushing ourselves. But the score doesn’t come from playing safe. Playing safe might seem logical when something is on the line, but safety doesn’t guarantee success.

The better path? Don’t play safe. Play aggressive. Be bold in your approach, but smart in your targets. Find the safer line if you must, but never abandon the mindset of chasing what’s possible. Because in golf, as in life, the real victories come not from avoiding failure, but from trusting yourself to rise to the challenge.

PODCAST

🎙️ Coming This Friday: A Must-Listen Episode of The Approach Podcast!

This week, I sit down with Vince Pulizzano, Head Golf Professional at Westmoor Country Club, to explore his journey in the golf industry and his insights on leadership, mentorship, and creating a winning culture. Vince shares how he balances tradition with innovation, inspires his team, and adapts to the changing demands of private clubs.

Don’t miss this inspiring conversation! Subscribe now to The Approach Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. You can also watch the full episode on YouTube starting Friday. Stay tuned—this is one you won’t want to miss!