[Self-Introduction] Tomoty, a Golf Instructor in his 50s | How I learned to enjoy 'a lifetime of golf' after taking the long way around

Nice to meet you, I'm Tomoty (Tomoaki Tanaka).

As a golf instructor in my 50s, I have spent 15 years teaching, primarily focusing on beginners.

In this note, I share tips to gently unravel feelings like:

'The anxiety of not hitting the ball well',
'The impatience of not seeing progress',
'The doubt of whether I should keep going with my self-taught methods'

I deliver hints to help ease those feelings.

Golf is not a test of talent.
It is a lifelong sport where those who keep at it can enjoy their own unique perspective.

I am someone who took the long way around aiming to be a pro,
and even walked away from golf once.

But because of that, there are things I have come to understand.

Those who give up because it's too difficult.
Those who haven't yet found an interest in golf.
Those who have been working hard on their own but are feeling a bit lost.

It is for those very people that I want to share content
that makes them feel,
'Golf is actually this warm and inviting.'

Let's enjoy both golf and life together. ⛳

Ages 18-28: Days spent aiming for the pros with my own self-taught style

I started golf at 18,
and from age 20, I seriously aimed to become a tour pro.

Every day was practice.
Competitions, results, numbers.

It was a time when I believed that aiming for the top was the only right way.

At that time, I was almost entirely self-taught.

While learning from pros and seniors around me,
I watched books and videos of top domestic and international pros like David Leadbetter, Butch Harmon, and Jumbo Ozaki over and over, learning, trying, and getting lost again.

Looking back now, I think I was always searching for the answer.

And to be honest,
I still don't think that being self-taught is inherently bad.

In fact, even with a style close to self-taught,
I have experienced shooting under par.

That is precisely why I understand the fun of improving through trial and error on your own,
as well as the joy of learning from books and videos.

However, on the other hand,
when I tried to go further,
I also learned that there are walls you cannot see when you are on your own.

From the age of 18 to 26, I continued playing in a way that was quite close to my own style.

Even if I could shoot under par at my home course,
I could barely break into the 70s at other courses.

I couldn't reach the level required to pass the professional test.
Stuck in that reality,
I consulted a senior professional golfer,
and took lessons from their coach.

If only I had known sooner.
If only I had received that perspective sooner.

I still think that sometimes.

The unexpected 'sense of relief' I felt the moment I got injured

A turning point came when I was 28.

I injured the ligaments in my shoulder,
and my body reached a point where my shoulder would dislocate if I raised my elbow above it.

I was even afraid to swing a club.
I had to let go of the golf I had been so obsessed with.

But I cannot sugarcoat this part.

To be honest,
what I felt strongly at that time was not just regret.

Rather,

'Now I have a reason to quit'
'I will be freed from those painful days'

That sense of relief was stronger.

That is how much I was,
rather than enjoying golf at the time,
being chased by golf, I think.

The golf I started because I loved it,
had somehow become something that was cornering me.

If you are currently feeling,
'Maybe I'm not cut out for this because I'm not getting better,'
then the old me surely understands that feeling.

I gave up my dream and changed jobs to real estate sales.
Life doesn't always move in a straight line, does it?

The 10 years I spent away from golf

From there, I moved into real estate sales, and then corporate sales.

Every day was spent chasing numbers in a suit.
Before I knew it, golf had become a "thing of the past."

However, at the age of 38,
I faced a golf tournament that was impossible to avoid in the world of corporate sales.

Honestly, I wanted to decline.
But I couldn't.

I gripped the club with trepidation.

And then—I was able to swing it.

The passing years had quietly healed my tendency for dislocation.

The moment that swing returned,
I felt a warmth deep in my chest.

Age 38: What I learned upon reuniting, which is more important than the score

What I felt during that first round in a long time
was not the obsession with scores I had in my 20s.

Of course, I couldn't swing like I used to.
But I made a discovery even greater than that.

The blueness of the sky.
The scent of the grass.
The laughter of my companions.

"It's fun."

Just that, nothing more.

Having only known competitive golf,
by stepping away once,
I learned the warmth of golf for the first time.

It's not just about winning.
It's not just about getting better.

Golf is something that
lets you savor the scenery,
connects you with people,
and makes life a little richer.

That's what I came to realize.

The version of me that felt "liberated" back then,
now feels, "I really do love golf after all."

That was the biggest change for me.

What I can share because I took the long way around

From there, my second golf life began.

I wanted to share this joy,
and I wanted to help those who give up on golf because they find it too difficult.

With that in mind, I became a golf instructor.

Including my two years as a trainee,
I have 15 years of teaching experience.

At my current golf school,
I have focused on lessons for beginners, especially those playing golf for the first time.

There are things I often hear in lessons.

Can I really do this?
It's embarrassing that I can't hit the ball.
I'm afraid I'll be a nuisance.
I've been doing it my own way, but is this okay?

I understand those feelings very well.

I myself improved by figuring things out on my own.
So, I don't want to deny the idea of doing things your own way.

But at the same time,
I also know there are struggles you don't have to go through.

That is why I,

while respecting the feelings of those who want to enjoy it their own way,
want to be someone who can provide a proper guide when it is needed.

That is what I think.

In my current note,
while incorporating manga,
I continue to provide free content that gently supports the mental side of golf.

I would be happy if this note could become
a 'partner for your own style'
and a 'trigger for your next step'.

My future dream

My dream is to
travel around golf courses all over the world without being tied to one place,
and share the joy of golf.

⛳ St Andrews
⛳ Overseas links courses
⛳ Golf courses with breathtaking views I have never seen before

While playing in such places,
I want to share the scenery, the people I meet,
and the charm of golf through this note as well.

And, for those who read this,

“Maybe I’ll go to the driving range for a bit”
“Maybe I’ll try picking up a club again”
“It looks difficult, but I’m starting to get a little interested”

I would be happy if this could be the spark that makes you think that way.

What I will share in this note

In this note,
based on my 15 years of field experience and
my own experiences of doing things my own way, hitting walls, and recovering,

“Tips to enjoy golf in the shortest time possible”

is what I will be sharing.

For example,

・Points where beginners stumble at first
・Mindsets to ease the anxiety of not hitting the ball
・The “subtraction” thinking method to break through the 100-stroke barrier
・How to prepare your mental state to remove tension
・Hints to avoid taking the long way around even if you are self-taught
・Commonalities between golf and life
・Mental support that is easy to read through manga

Whether you are just starting,
struggling to improve,
or not even that interested in golf yet,

“Golf might actually be kind of fun”

I want to share content that makes you think that.

In the future, for those who want to learn more deeply,
I intend to gradually prepare content and online formats.

But first,
through this note,

“Golf is great”
“Maybe I’ll keep at it a little longer”

I will value having you think that above all else.

Finally

It’s okay to take the long way around.
It doesn’t have to be perfect.

The important thing,
I believe, is to keep playing without coming to hate golf.

If right now,

"Maybe I can't do this,"
"I wonder if it's okay to keep doing it my own way,"
"I want to start, but it seems difficult,"

if you are feeling that way,
that might just be the gateway to a new kind of enjoyment.

Whether it's golf or life,
let's enjoy it together.

Tomoty

💬 Please let me know in the comments

Which of these feelings is closest to where you are right now?

1. Anxious because I can't hit the ball
2. Worried about it curving to the right
3. Getting tense and tired
4. Scared of my first time on the course
5. Have been doing it my own way, but wondering if I should continue like this
6. Haven't started yet, but I'm a little interested

Just the number is fine.
Please let me use your feedback to help me write future articles 😊