It doesn't have to be perfect. Your own unique "accumulation of swings" will make golf a lifelong treasure.

That "day" when you should be excited, but feel a bit anxious

Tomorrow is finally the day of your golf outing.
You've prepared your new outfit and should be excited, but
don't you ever feel a small sense of anxiety creeping into your heart?

"What if I don't hit the ball like I do at the driving range?"
"What if I swing and miss, and make the group behind us wait..."
"I hope I don't annoy the people I'm playing with and have them dislike me."

Thinking about things like that in bed makes your stomach tighten just a little.
Or, the moment you stand on the tee ground (the place where you hit first) at the starting hole, your hands suddenly start to shake.

This is actually a "common golfer experience" that not only beginners, but even veterans who have been playing for years,
feel from time to time.
Please, first of all, feel a little relieved knowing that
"Oh, I'm not the only one."

That anxiety is proof that you are a "kind person"

"Yeah, that's it. I just keep thinking about what if I don't hit the ball well."
I can almost hear you saying that, but
actually, you who feel that anxiety are
a truly wonderful person.

The reason you think "I don't want to be a nuisance" is because
you are a thoughtful person who cares about the people around you.
And the reason you wish to "hit well" is because
you are trying to face the sport of golf head-on.

Feeling anxious or lost does not mean you are "not cut out for it."
Rather, it is proof that you are ready to enjoy golf from the heart.
That nervous excitement is also the flip side of the "anticipation" you feel because you care about golf.

The "time" that stopped on the course

When I accompany people to lessons or rounds, I often see scenes like this.

A figure standing with slumped shoulders after making a big mistake on the previous hole, thinking, "I might fail again" on the next hole.
Once you stop hitting the ball well,
"I'm no good..." your mind goes blank, and your swing gets faster and faster.

When that happens, you stop noticing the beautiful scenery,
and what should be an enjoyable game of golf turns into a "time of self-reproach."
I imagine many of you are thinking, "Oh, that's me."

But one beginner shared this experience with me.
"I was panicking because of the constant mistakes, but I decided, 'At least for the next shot, I'll set up and swing properly,' and when I hit it, it flew straight, surprisingly.
In that moment, I felt a little happy and was able to smile."

In such small moments, the joy of golf flickers to life.

Golf isn't just about "competing for skill"

"I see... I don't have to do everything perfectly." When you change your perspective like that, golf suddenly becomes much kinder.

Let me propose a new way of thinking here.
Try thinking, "Golf is not a competition to hit nice shots."

The true nature of golf is a dialogue with yourself, accumulating the "best swing you can" that you are capable of right now.
It's okay if you can't hit it as far as a pro, or if you swing and miss.
The important thing is to focus on yourself right now,
asking, "How should I hit this next shot?"

You don't need to fix your swing perfectly.
Just do one thing carefully that you can do today, in this moment.
With just that, golf will surprisingly become your ally.

The shot right in front of you builds tomorrow.

I would like to gift you these important words that form the core of today's article.

This is a maxim for life, but there are no words more reassuring than these in golf.

Regretting a 'previous mistake' means your heart is bound to the 'past.'
Fearing the 'next mistake' means your heart is escaping to the 'future.'

In golf, all we can do is feel the ball at our feet, the club we are holding, and the scenery 'here.'
Swing the ball 'here and now' with all your heart.
That accumulation of doing your best will, before you know it, lead you to the ultimate goal of thinking, 'Ah, golf is incredibly fun!'

The 'magic' of breathing

Please try just one 'magic' trick that you can do without anyone noticing during your next practice or round.

'Once you enter your address (stance), take one deep breath, whisper 'only here and now' in your heart, and then swing.'

This is all you need to do.
The trick is to imagine that you are exhaling the 'previous mistake' along with the air.
With just this, your heart will return to the 'here and now.'
Your body will relax, and your natural, supple movement should be drawn out.

Back to that grass again

Golf is an 'adult game' that you can enjoy for a lifetime.
Regardless of your score, you who swung your club to the fullest today are a wonderful golfer just for that.

It doesn't have to be perfect. Your own unique 'accumulation of swings' will
someday become a lifelong treasure.

What kind of 'now' is waiting for you next?
I look forward to seeing you taking a deep breath on that green grass again. ⛳️✨