The Courage to Rest Lightens the Stroke on the 18th

"Those who know how to rest well are the ones who remain at the end"

Resting is not the same as cutting corners.
I believe it is an essential skill for playing like yourself until the very end.

Sunday afternoon, the 18th hole where shadows grow long

A little past 4:00 PM on a Sunday.

The sun has tilted slightly, and my shadow stretches long and thin across the fairway.
On the 18th hole, as I measure the remaining distance to the green with my eyes, I feel a dull ache of fatigue deep in my calves.

The "shhh" sound of spikes gripping the turf.
The sound of carts passing in the distance.
The sensation of the grip slipping slightly in my sweaty palms.

A slightly damp evening breeze brushes against my sun-tanned neck.

"Just one more hole"

This phrase has a strange, magical power.
Even though I should be tired, for some reason, I think, "I'll give it one last push for the finish."

The assumption that "trying hard is the right answer"

When playing golf, many people unconsciously believe that "trying hard is the right answer."

Even when their legs are heavy or their concentration is fading, a voice somewhere in their head keeps ringing, saying, "You can't cut corners here."
The more serious a person is, the more they follow that voice.

But in reality, many of those who lose their score in the second half have already used up their physical strength and concentration in the first half.

When I first started playing golf, I also believed that I should "give it my all until the end, even if I'm tired."

I would push too hard from the start, and my legs would stop moving in the second half.
My swing would become sloppy.
I couldn't even focus on short putts.

And then I would fall apart on the 18th, feeling depressed and wondering, "Why does it always end like this?"

After repeating that many times, I finally realized.

That physical strength once used up is hard to recover within the same day.

I, too, am the worst at resting

To be honest, even now, I am not very good at "resting".

Between lessons, even when I intend to act energetic in front of my students, I sometimes find myself enduring fatigue in my legs and lower back.

If I say, "I'm tired," it might make the other person feel concerned. I think that, and end up pretending to be energetic.

However, there have been days when I entered my evening lessons with my energy completely drained, and I couldn't find the right words.

There have also been times when a student noticed and asked, "Are you okay, teacher?" which took me by surprise.

Just because I am in a position to instruct does not mean I don't get tired. It also doesn't mean I don't have weaknesses.

Perhaps I am the one who needs to learn most that resting is not a weakness, but a skill.

The decision to conserve energy that M-san showed me

M-san, who I played a round with last weekend, also said quietly on the 16th hole of the back nine.

"I'm completely exhausted."

Usually, he is the type of person who would swing with all his might even there. But at that moment, I told him this.

"For the remaining three holes, let's try playing conservatively with 70% of your power."

At first, he looked a bit dissatisfied. He had a look on his face that said, "You want me to play conservatively after coming this far?"

But as he kept hitting the fairway with a relaxed swing, his expression gradually changed.

The 18th hole.

The ball M-san hit didn't have a flashy trajectory. But it flew straight at a comfortable height and moved quietly toward the green.

After his follow-through, I could see the tension leave M-san's shoulders.

The result was a par.

After the round, M-san tilted his head and smiled, looking a little happy.

"I relaxed my power, so why did this turn out to be the best hole of the day?"

What today's words teach us

When I heard those words, today's message clicked into place for me.

“Those who know how to rest well are the ones who remain at the end.”

In the long span of 18 holes, you cannot fight at full power the entire time.

There are places to exert your strength, and places to conserve it.
There are shots to attack with, and shots to protect your momentum.

Resting is not running away; I believe it is preparation to enjoy the game until the very end.

One thing you can try starting today

When you feel tired, before your next shot, ask yourself, “How much energy do I have left right now?”

If you feel you have little left, try swinging at 70 percent power for just that one shot.

You don't have to try to hit it far.
You don't have to try to make up for lost ground.

Feel the grass under your feet, exhale a little, and swing smaller than usual.

Just doing that can sometimes change the scenery that follows.

At the clubhouse at dusk

By the time you finish your round and return to the clubhouse, the sky is gradually changing from orange to purple.

The evening breeze feels pleasant on your cooled-down skin.
I didn't push myself too hard today, and I walked all the way to the 18th.

There are days when that fact alone makes you feel quietly proud.

Perhaps giving it your all isn't the only kind of strength in golf.

To enjoy the game until the end, keep a little bit of strength in reserve.

I think that, too, is part of the flavor of adult golf.

For what kind of situation do you want to save your 'strength' today?