Wally Armstrong’s Blog

To say that golf is an addictive sport is a monumental understatement.  There is perhaps no other game on earth that so completely captivates the hearts and minds of those who play it.  It is a game that both frustrates and fascinates us, crushing our dreams and lifting our hopes, all at the same time.  What other sport can have a man walking on clouds at the turn, feeling invincible after a picture perfect birdie on the 9^th, well on his way to a personal best round, with visions of the senior tour dancing in his head, and then four holes later have him on his knees, demoralized, ready to give up golf entirely?  No man would live with a woman so fickle and obstinate, yet when it comes to this torturous game, we all but embrace the agony.

            The uninitiated see golf as an enormous waste of time and energy.  And they make no bones about sharing this view openly.  “If the game frustrates you so much, why do you play it?” they ask, somewhat condescendingly.  So far no one has come up with a good answer—at least not one that can be articulated easily.  You simply have to play it to understand.

            The truth is, golf is more than a game; it is a journey—an exploration into the deepest parts of ourselves.  And the lessons we learn along the way not only make us stronger but help shape the very core of our character.  The game teaches us virtues that are as timeless as they are important—honesty, sportsmanship, persistence, patience, tenacity, and above all, courage.  It brings us face to face with our true nature, then works to break it down and shape it into something much more noble and constructive.  In short, we golf, because golfing not only makes us better players, but better people.

            If that weren’t enough, golf also connects us with the past in a way that no other sport can boast.  Every time we step onto the links we become a small part of a very large and rich heritage.  You don’t have to play the old course at St. Andrews to feel its history, to share in its wonder and grace.  Just standing in a fairway on any part of the globe has a way of transporting us back, placing us right at the feet of legends long past.  Simply playing the game makes us part of its myth and legacy.