BLOGGER TEMPLATES AND TWITTER BACKGROUNDS »

Friday, May 18, 2007

Boot Camp

In some ways golf lessons are like boot camp. Instead of a Drill Sergeant and Private, however, there is instructor and student.

At first, the instructor strips the student down leaving him feeling beaten, fatigued and crestfallen. All dignity and pride and ideas of accomplishment are dashed in the flicker of a video and a pointed voice. The bad is accentuated so that student is left wondering why he even bothers at all since he's shown all the things he should not be doing. It is all so negative.

As a result, quietness befalls him. Nothing can be said from this now cowering puppy eyeing the dark figure holding the rolled newspaper.

Questions arise in his mind: Why the buckets of balls 3 or 4 days a week at $7 a pop? Why the 4:30 a.m. alarms to practice chipping and putting before a big match? Why the love affair with a game fraught with frustration and sporadic reward. Why even bother? For this? Is it worth it?

Then some light cracks through. The instructor has expertly played the recently humiliated and now downtrodden student. He is offered some encouragement and enlightened to some of the good he is doing. The side-by-side view of the video shows he has, in fact, grown as a player even if the scores don't necessarily reflect it. The instructor guides the student to certain things he does better than others. It is positive.

The student's chin raises and his eyes brighten a little. A timely compliment and a gentle word renew him. Invigorate him. The bond between instructor and student, recently strained, is now deeper. Yes, student decides, this can be done. It will be done. Together they can reach their goals.

A hearty handshake sends the student off on his own. Armed with new found knowledge, he effortlessly slings his black and silver back over his shoulder and walks off with a purpose.

To the range. There is work to be done.

It is worth it.

8 kind commenters:

Katie said...

I have never golfed before. My office just had a golf fund raiser thing but they wouldn't even let me drive around in the golf carts!

NouveauBlogger said...

aww man! what good is it if you can't at least play around in the cart? lol

Constance Burris said...

Good luck with your game.

NouveauBlogger said...

Thanks :)

Katie said...

haven't stopped by in awhile and thought I would wander over this way. I see you've been busy too! Looking forward to your next post. :)

NouveauBlogger said...

Yeah, I've been pretty hammered at work with a lot of travel outside the office.

Plus I have no post ideas? Anyone have any for me? lol

ZZZZZZZ said...

My boyfriend taught me how to golf. Talk about sergeant jackass! haha What a day that was!

NouveauBlogger said...

lol @ sergeant jackass....they say spouses should never teach each other cards or golf.