About being in doubt
During a recent round, we came to talk about what it is like to play golf in Japan.
Out of nothing, the end of a movie I had seen starring Clint Eastwood popped up. It was about two Japanese gangs that were at war with each other. A war waged with guns and automatic rifles. Finally, Eastwood’s gang fights the others and you see 6-7 members of the gang walking toward a bridge with the sunset in their faces. A beautiful scenery, everything is quiet and the whole scene gives the impression that now the movie is at its end. But suddenly, Eastwood pulls his gunshots to the right and left and more people fall screaming from the bridge. The enemy had made an ambush. When the silence settled again, one of the gang members asked Eastwood: Man, how did you know? Eastwood replied, “If there is a doubt there is no doubt.“
The teaching is; If you are unsure whether to use the driver, or to try to get out of the hazards without taking relief, or if in doubt if you can get over the lake to the green, then there is no doubt. Don’t use the driver, take relief and accept the one penalty stroke, or do not try to get over – lay up!
With this in mind, I come to think of Jack Nicklaus who is spot on with probably some of the most important advice for achieving a better score and greater enjoyment of golf. Here is his advice. Ask yourself how many strokes you could save if you:
- Always develop a clear strategy before you strike the ball
- Always choose a solution you are reasonably competent to execute
- Never let your temper gets the better of you
- Never be negative towards yourself
Wish you a good round.
