A person's character shows in the waiting time. The kindness in golf that is more important than the score

"A person's character shows in the waiting time"

Being kept waiting makes one's heart a little restless.
But perhaps it is in that very time that a person's true nature quietly emerges.

The air of impatience that drifts across the course

When you head out onto the course in the morning, the air feels a little different.

Morning dew still remains on the grass, and every time you step down with your spikes, the softness of the wet soil is transmitted to your feet.

The sound of small birds heard from afar.
The dry sound of a club catching the ball.
The boundary between the green and the sky shines clearly in the morning light.

Even on such a pleasant morning, there are times when the group ahead does not move forward easily.

You stand still in the teeing area and find yourself glancing at your watch.

"I wonder if they're still not moving"
You mutter that in your heart and look at your watch again.

I understand that impatience well.

It is a precious day off.
You want to enjoy golf pleasantly in nature, but when the waiting time continues, you feel a little bit like you are being pulled back into reality, don't you?

To be honest, I was also bad at waiting

I was playing with a good rhythm, but the course started to get crowded after passing the tea house.

Wait and hit.
Wait again.
And then, hit again.

When it becomes a repetition of that, the rhythm gradually falls apart.
Especially when I was young, I used that loss of rhythm as the reason for my score getting worse.

"My condition was ruined because I was made to wait"
"The flow became bad"
"I can't concentrate at this pace"

I think I was making excuses like that somewhere in my heart.

Golf is a sport that deals with nature.

Depending on the start time, the wind is different.
The direction of the light is also different.
The temperature and the condition of the grass also change.

When waiting time is added to that, I truly understand the feeling of getting irritated.

What I learned from a student

It happened a while ago when I was playing a round lesson with a female student.

The group ahead of us was backed up, and there was a moment where we had to wait for nearly 10 minutes at the teeing area.

Inside, I was feeling a bit anxious.

I wondered if our rhythm would be ruined. I wondered if our bodies would get cold. I wondered if our next shots would be okay.

Just as I was thinking about those things, the student smiled and took out a Thermos.

"Would you like some coffee?"

That is what she asked me.

And then, while looking at a tree in the distance,

"That tree is beautiful, isn't it?"

she said in a relaxed voice.

When someone laughs, you laugh with them. You look up at the sky. You enjoy the scenery.

The situation of being kept waiting was the same for all of us.

But she didn't let that time become something unpleasant.

The drive she hit after that was the most satisfying shot of the day.

"I've started to actually look forward to the wait times a little bit."

When she said that, I thought she was truly amazing.

I, who was in the position of teaching, was actually the one being taught.

How to spend wait times to make the atmosphere comfortable. How to lighten not just your own mood, but the feelings of those around you as well.

I was quietly moved by her demeanor.

Your character shows in the waiting time

That quiet time that has nothing to do with your score.
No matter how tense you get or how many times you check your watch, the pace of the group ahead won't change.

But a person who can say a word to their companions or soften the atmosphere at such times truly looks wonderful.

Instead of anxiously checking your watch,

How have you been lately?
That last shot was great.
The wind feels nice today, doesn't it?

Just by saying a word like that, the atmosphere eases up a little.

And strangely enough, it calms not only the other person but your own feelings as well.
I don't think being good at golf is just about your score.

When playing with someone,
I want to go golfing with this person again.
Being thought of that way.

A person's behavior and warmth can create the atmosphere for the entire course. Your true self seeps out during waiting times.

Your character shows in the waiting time
This phrase has become one of the important lessons in golf for me.

Please try just one thing starting today

In your next round, if the group ahead gets backed up and you have to wait.
Try saying a word to someone you are playing with, anything at all.

About the weather.
About that last shot.
About the feel of the grass.
About your recent golf.

The content doesn't matter at all.

Just a single word can soften the situation and help release the excess tension from your own body.

Prepare your mind before your technique.
That is a step anyone can take starting today.

People who can wait are kind

Orange light shines onto the course at dusk.

As you quietly exchange words with your companions, the wind gently crosses the fairway. Your steps toward the next hole feel just a little lighter.

Waiting time is also a part of golf.

When you start to think that way, the course will feel wider and kinder.

You begin to see, little by little, the scenery that was invisible when you were only chasing scores.

Perhaps those who can wait are the ones who can make the time spent on the golf course kinder.
Surely, somewhere on a course today, someone is softening the atmosphere.

Have you ever had an experience where your heart felt at ease while waiting during a round of golf?

It could be a conversation at a tea house or a beautiful view.
If you'd like, please share your memories in the comments.