Lessons from the Fairway: Golf, Life, and the Power of Perspective
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Recently, I had the privilege of playing in the Mission Zero Classic, a charity golf tournament hosted by the North Texas Warrior Golf Association. Their mission is to use the game of golf to help veterans navigate mental health challenges. What struck me most wasn't just the pristine greens or the camaraderie—it was the sign that proudly proclaimed zero suicides since 2011. On World Suicide Prevention Day, that message hit differently.
Golf, like life, offers countless lessons if you’re willing to pay attention. As I reflected on the day, three core insights stuck with me—lessons about being a good person, understanding the seasons of opportunity, and learning to tune out life's hecklers.
1. The Power of Genuine Goodness
I played alongside my friend Randy, who, I swear, knows everybody on the planet. As we moved from breakfast to lunch and across the fairways, I watched him work his magic—not in a self-promotional way, but with genuine interest in others. He wasn't networking; he was connecting. He introduced people, shared ideas, and found ways to help others without expecting anything in return.
It made me wonder: How often do we intentionally sharpen our "good person" skills?
Being a good person isn't about grand gestures. It's about consistently looking for ways to serve others without an agenda. Randy’s success isn’t just because he’s great at what he does; it's because he’s mastered the skill of being genuinely helpful. Imagine if we all committed to connecting others to opportunities, lending a hand when possible, and leaving people better than we found them.
Action Step:
Ask yourself daily, "Who can I help today without expecting anything in return?" Small acts of kindness compound over time and build the kind of reputation that opens doors.
2. Seasons Change—Stay the Course
Early in the morning, the greens were damp, making putts slower and the ball harder to control. By the afternoon, the sun dried the course, and suddenly putts rolled faster with less effort. Same course. Same swing. Different results.
Life operates the same way.
Sometimes, you’re doing everything right—following the game plan, putting in the work—but the results just aren’t coming. It’s easy to get frustrated and start questioning your abilities. But just like the golf course, seasons in life change too. The conditions may not be right for your breakthrough yet, but if you stay consistent, the environment will shift. The sun will come out, and suddenly, the work you've been putting in will start to pay off.
Action Step:
Instead of abandoning your dreams when things feel slow, remind yourself that hard work, like the morning dew, eventually evaporates to reveal the progress you've been making all along.
3. Learning to Tune Out the Hecklers
One of the most memorable holes was the "heckle hole." Professional hecklers were stationed there to distract us while we swung. They yelled, joked, and did everything possible to throw us off. And it worked. My first shot went straight into the water.
In life, hecklers exist too. They just don't come with a warning sign like at the tournament.
They're the critics who downplay your efforts, the skeptics who question your dreams, and sometimes even the voice inside your own head that whispers doubt. But here's the thing: hecklers only have power if you listen. If you lock in on your mission and block out the noise, you’ll find that distractions lose their grip.
Action Step:
Practice mindfulness. When external criticism hits, pause and ask yourself, "Does this feedback come from someone I respect? Is this critique constructive or just noise?" Adjust accordingly.
Remember Why You’re Here
As the event wrapped up, the tournament director gave a closing speech, reminding us that the money raised goes directly to helping veterans overcome mental health struggles. Behind him, a sign read: Zero Suicides Since 2011.
That moment underscored the importance of remembering why we do what we do.
Yes, golf is a game, but yesterday, it was also a bridge to hope for countless veterans. In life, we can get caught up in the motions—chasing success, handling obstacles, dealing with hecklers—but if we stay anchored to our purpose, we’ll always find our way.