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The Fairway Of Life
Simple Secrets To Playing Better Golf By Going With The Flow ~
Rand Scott Marquardt
Life & Mental Golf Performance Coach 
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FacebookBehavior & Demeanor on the Golf Course
Unedited expression from Jack Zlotow
I’ve been able to incorporate into my golf thought process a couple of the principles in Rand’s book “The Fairway of Life.” I’m not playing a lot of golf this year. In fact, I’ve been on the course a total of six times. So - using his techniques in an effort to lower my handicap by a few strokes in one year wasn’t in the cards for me. I don’t know anybody who could pull that feat off by playing, on average, once a month or so. There are a couple of principles I’ve taken to heart that have increased my enjoyment of the game - and probably caused my golfing partners to enjoy playing with me more than they otherwise would have.
Let me back up a little. I’ve had a volcanic temper on the golf course since at least high school, when Rand and I would regularly play together - and regularly witness each other coughing up some titanic tantrums. I’d not only throw clubs - if I really lost it, I was famous for throwing my whole golf bag, clubs, balls, tees all flying. My playing partners were either disgusted by my behavior, or they’d try to stifle laughing at me behind my back. God help them if I actually saw them laughing at me . . .
That type of behavior on the course, unfortunately, stayed with me well into my adult life, finally moderating somewhat in the last couple of years. But - I’ve still had those moments that made me feel quite silly after I calmed down - if I calmed down - and made my playing partners uneasy being around me.
I finished reading “The Fairway of Life” early this summer. Shortly thereafter, I had occasion to play golf with three old friends I graduated high school with. Two of the three don’t play a lot of golf and aren’t accomplished golfers, but they’re a lot of fun to play with. The other plays a game close to mine, though I’ve played a lot more golf than him over the years and should beat head to head seven out of 10 times. The old Jack Zlotow would’ve been all keyed up on the first hole, intent on showing all three that I can still play like “the old days,” even though that was my third time on the course in 2010. I would’ve wound up, tried to smack it hard, and probably snap hooked it 160 or so yards - and maybe out of bounds. The day would likely have slid downhill from there. But this time something was different. On the way to the course, I was thinking over and over about one of Rand’s core principles -”Golf is Supposed to be Fun!” Here I was, on a picture perfect day, playing with three guys I’ve known for more than 35 years, and there was no way I was going to ruin it by trying to impress them that I could still play like I did in my 20s and 30s when I was playing four, five times a week. My plan was simple - I was going to enjoy the day, no matter how I played. “Golf is Supposed to be Fun.” And I enjoyed the round immensely, even though I shot 91, which is 10 - 15 shots worse than the scores I shot on that same course when I played it often and was at the top of my game.
The other principle I’ve embraced, and certainly embraced that day, is accepting the shot - great shots, good shots, lousy shots. It takes a while to learn to embrace bad golf shots, but you can do it. You let your mind wander a little, you’re not focused on the present, and you bungle a shot - skull it out of the bunker, push it 30 yards right of target. I certainly make those kind of shots, but instead of steaming on my way to the ball to make the next shot, I accept the result and do my best to recover. I’ve been able to calm myself down, and it’s helped me stay in the moment. It’s helped me stay on track and not ruin my whole round because I’ve made one or two bad shots.
Maybe next year I’ll be in position to play a lot of golf again, and if I am, I’ll apply Rand’s principles in a different fashion. For this year, these principles have allowed me to enjoy the game and keep from being uptight, and that’s more than enough for me.
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Most of my rounds of golf growing up as a youngster and into adulthood where met with the same pattern of circumstances as Jack so eloquently describes. If I was playing good golf I was up. If I was playing so so golf I was ho hum. If I was playing shi**y golf I was pi**ed! Usually each round had a little of each.
Now, I have found an inner peace as my golf world paradigm has shifted to one of awareness and understanding and I am responsible for exactly what and how I am being and what I am doing. Golf is supposed to be fun and life is an amazing adventure along the fairway.