I have been an active sportsman for the last 35 years, having played a wide variety of sports as football, hockey, cricket, athletics, swimming, tennis, squash and golf. Of all the sports I have played the one that actually mimics true life is golf. Team sports like hockey, cricket, football have strong linkages to other members of the team as well as opposition. Therefore to gauge one's performance it would have to be in the context of the team and opposition. For individual sports like tennis, squash and even athletics though individual performances take precedence it is highly impacted by the quality of opposition to determine the quality of one's performance. In golf however an individual plays solely against himself to determine his performance. Though in competitive golf opposition's play does impact one's performance but it can be very well limited if one only plays the 'best game that in himself' and distances oneself from opposition play. However, golf mimcs life no other sport in the following manner
1. Etiquette: First and foremost it teaches you how to deal with others. In a course you have to play along one or more partners as well as groups behind and ahead of your group. This definitely creates pressure as there is only a limited time to complete your stroke. However, the true measure of a man is keep one composure and dignity in the face of such pressure. There would be laggards within the playing group and the preceeding group that could frustrate play. However, golf etiquette requires laggards to play ahead of leaders. This is so much true in life - as a team captain in a corporate world, sports world or in public service, leadership requires that all are carried along with dignity. This requires strength of character. In golf it is also unbecoming to swear or curse in case of a bad stroke or stroke of bad luck, but to carry on without too much emotion. This etiquette helps people in real life situations.
2. Patience: As golf requires perfect body, eye and hand co-ordination, there is a huge mental element in every stroke. In other sports the action itself focuses the mind. Here one has to refocus at every stroke. The mind can play queer tricks when one addresses the ball - last time's duff may play up as well as poor finish in the preceding hole. A continued run of bad shots may disturb the mind or even problems at the home and office. However, to play at one's best each hole has to be considered a fresh challenge and only past successes need to be considered. This requires patience and self confidence. Such is life, where the future may not be dependant on past failures and one has to look at each day afresh like a new challenge without dwelling too much in the past or if one does so only at successes. Patience really means being able to tide through difficult situations with aplomb and to get back to a normal situation.
3. Decision Making: The element of decision making is very critical in golf. A bag full of 14 clubs with a hole around 300 to 500 yards away with all kinds hazards in between calls for smart decision making. Decision making has a lot to do with challenge ahead and one's ability. The challenge may call for using a certain set of clubs but one's ability may not equal the use of the most effective tool. Then one must decide what to do under the circumstances. A lot of people get carried away by the decisions of playing partners but the best decision makers delve into themselves to know what is best for them under the circumstances. Golf like life has a fine balance between risk and reward. The more risk one takes the opportunity for reward is higher but the downsides of such risk need to factored in too. Circumstances also play a role in the decision making process. Therefore such fine decision making requires a fine, matured mind which can also be used in real life circumstances.
4. Creativity: If creativity baffles you in the context of golf ask Tiger Woods. The world's best player by a margin is also very creative when it comes to shot making. Creativity definitely is a product of ability. However, creativity must be used selectively and appropriately. Without appropriate use of creativity it may backfire on you. In real life too creativity is most essential but must not be overused or used in the wrong circumstances
5. Use of power and touch: Golf requires a combination of power and touch - power off the tee and touch on the greens, both are essential. In life too being hard and decisive as well as soft and endearing are two opposing qualities one must possess. Bill Gates is a good example - a ruthless entreprenuer who left no stone unturned to demolish competition was a soft, kind man when it came to the underprivileged. He has spent vast sums of his fortune to do good - a Robin Hood of modern times.
6. Integrity: This game truly exposes one's integrity. In a game of four players playing competitively there is ample opportunity for deceit. Caddies are known to kick the ball (obviously on the players' instructions!) from an unplayable lie to a playable one. There is a saying that "one can always trust a gentleman who plays the ball from where it lies on all occasions even when the only person watching him is God". To judge the integrity of a person take him to play a round of golf and have him closely watched - you should get your answer very quickly. In life integrity is key to a person's character, and golf builds integrity through its very essence. Deceitful players generally lose out in the long run as they get exposed and then no one wants to do anything with them, let alone play with them.
There would be further examples of comparisons but the key ones are illustrated. Having said the above one virtue that golf also promotes is Team Spirit. Ask the Ryder Cup members who illustrate team spirit like other team sports. Ryder Cup is major tournament where USA and Europe compete against each other as teams every two years. However, qualities illustrated above can also be demonstrated in team sports and other sports to varying degrees but in golf it is very much evident.
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