The best day of golf is the one where you can say 'that was fun' even with a bad score

On the way home, the mistakes from the first half still linger in the sunset.

I load my golf bag into the trunk in the parking lot, illuminated by the setting sun.
The sky is beautiful, but my heart feels a little cloudy.

The first nine holes.
My tee shot went into the woods on the right, my approach was a little short, and my putt stopped just grazing the edge of the cup.

'Not again...'
I don't know how many times I muttered those words in my heart.

It wasn't that bad at the driving range.
There are days when you step onto the course and suddenly lose track of your own swing, aren't there?

For 15 years, as an instructor, I have told many people,
'The basics are important.'

But even I, after a round is over,
while gripping the steering wheel of my car,
have days where I feel down, thinking, 'Why did I tense up so much there?'

Even with over 30 years of golf experience,
I am still just a golfer with an unfinished heart.

The frustration is only because I love golf that much.

When I make a mistake, I feel frustrated.
I feel sorry for my playing partners.
I feel disappointed in myself.

That feeling is painful, isn't it?

But I believe that frustration
is never a bad thing.

Because people don't get that emotionally moved
by things that don't matter.

'I wanted to do better.'
'I wanted to hit it properly.'
Thinking that way is proof of how much you value golf.

Frustration is proof that you love golf.

So first of all,
you don't have to blame yourself too much for feeling down.

The feeling of looking back on your mistakes,
and the feeling of being dejected because things didn't go well,
are all natural things.

Even in lessons, everyone has the same look on their face.

After a lesson, some people will say quietly,
'I feel like I don't have any talent.'

At times like that, I say,
'I had a three-putt the other day and it really dragged me down too.'

Then, the other person's shoulders relax just a little.

Golf is a mysterious sport.
The tee ground covered in morning mist.
The sound of birds. The smell of the grass. The sound of carts running in the distance.

Even though we are in such pleasant scenery,
our minds
can sometimes be filled with thoughts of 'what if I fail again?'

The more you try not to tense up, the more tension enters your shoulders.
The more you try to calm down, the shallower your breathing becomes.

But that is not because you are weak,
it is because you truly value that one shot, isn't it?

The thousands of golfers I have seen,
and I myself as well,
are all playing golf amidst that wavering.

You don't have to define your day by your score alone.

Once, after a round, a student
said this to me.

'My score was bad, but I had fun today.'

That one sentence took me by surprise.

Golf has
too many precious moments to be defined by score alone.

How delicious the cold drink at the tea house tasted.
The voice of a friend who laughed and said 'let's move on' after a mistake.
That one sensation of hitting the sweet spot and watching the ball soar into the sky.

The moments that truly move our hearts
might often exist outside of the numbers.

When you try to make everything perfect,
golf suddenly becomes painful.

But you don't have to change everything.
Just by deciding one thing,
'I will not grade today based on my score alone,'
the scenery of golf becomes a little softer.

Today's words

There are words I want to remember on the way home like that.
For me today, these words felt the most fitting.

'If you pay with joy, the other party will be happy too'

I believe these words are not just about money.

In golf, there are various kinds of 'payments'.
Not just play fees and meal costs,
but also time, physical strength, and frustration.

On days when things don't go well,
you might feel like, "Today was an expensive day."
Honestly, I feel that way too sometimes.

But if you can accept that day thinking,
"It was a fun time,"
"I spent a good time with my friends,"
then even the atmosphere of the place changes a little.

Furthermore, I believe that
applause and smiles are also a form of "payment."

Rejoice in your friends' nice shots.
Say out loud, "Today was fun."
Offer your thanks with a pleasant feeling.

When you do that, surprisingly,
the other person's expression softens as well.

Pay with joy.
Receive with joy.

I feel that this gentle cycle
makes the day of golf
richer than the score itself.

Something I want you to try for just 3 seconds on your next round

When the round is over, just 3 seconds before you get in the car.

Look up at the sky,
and in your heart,
try whispering, "Thank you for today."

It's fine whether you played well
or had a terrible day.

Just by doing that,
the way your day ends changes a little.

If you have the capacity,
try saying one thing to the friends you played with:
"I had fun today."

Just by doing that,
the atmosphere of your next round might even become gentler.

Accumulating days that make you want to go golfing again

Golf is a little like life.

There are days when things don't go as planned.
There are moments when you think things are going well, only for them to fall apart.
Even so, you keep walking toward the next shot.

It doesn't have to be perfect.
It's okay to make mistakes.
Even if the first half was gloomy, if you can laugh on the way home, that's a wonderful day too.

I am still unfinished myself.
I reflect after a round, and
there are days when I dwell on, "That shot was such a waste."

Even so, I pick up my club again,
wanting to meet the smell of the morning grass,
the pleasantness of the wind,
and the laughter of my friends.

I'm sure you feel the same way, don't you?

There are things that don't remain on the scorecard, but
remain firmly in your heart.

Because we have those treasures,
I think that's why we want to go golfing again. ⛳️

Finally, please tell me

When you are playing golf,
what are the moments when you feel happy, other than your score?

It could be casual conversation with friends,
an unforgettable view,
or even just the feeling of one perfect shot.

If you'd like, please share a day that remains in your heart in the comments.