Of Golf and Excellence in North Carolina

Even as the plane lifted-off the tarmac, through the scratches in the window, I could identify the pine-lined course that had been my little piece of golfing paradise for the previous day. Delighted to have the chance to see it again from the air, my mind immediately began recalling the one almost perfect shot, the wasted chances while I adjusted to the different grass conditions, the unexplainable hook on the 11th hole, the breaks that didn't break...you know, the usual, engaging after-round reflections.

Within a few minutes, the sky view of my course faded past the tail wing. But, before turning to my morning paper, I spied what looked like another course. Being easily fascinated by flyovers of golf courses, I spent the next half hour fascinated by the particulars of the many courses still visible from my seat. For all the pine forests covering the landscape, every few minutes offered yet another course to view; sculpted fairways cutting through the pine, lakes and swamps highlighting layouts and sand - white sand bunkers everywhere, in every shape. Golf must be very popular in North Carolina.

How many people are there in North Carolina? And, do they all play these beautiful courses? My trip to this area was for business, but I did manage to schedule a day to play at one of the many courses in the "Research Triangle", the Finley Course of UNC. Not surprisingly, it was a tough choice, mostly because of the strong inter-school rivalries and passions of the Duke/UNC crowd boosting the greater appeal of their school's course.

I will play the Duke course on the next trip, just to maintain the health of my local friendships. And, I know when I do, I'll need to consider all the other options that are the "not to miss" favorites of anyone else (seemingly everyone!) who has played golf in this area. I have even spoken to some folks here in the Bay Area who have their own lists of their favorite places to play in North Carolina. What is with this passion for golf in North Carolina?

Granted, I spent only one week and only played one round, but here is why I'll go back. The abundance of good-to-great public or semi-private courses is amazing. The price to play ranges from cheap($25) to expensive($300) but, mostly affordable ($30-$60.) And, there aren't that many people that actually live here! Get out of the city or corporate park sprawl and you are in the woods! Except for the high-end tourist resorts, the courses are easy to book tee times.

The natural appeal of this area plays well beyond the endless forests of pine trees. Whether on the coast or in the mountains of the west, North Carolina offers a variety of tracts that tempts any mood for landscapes or difficulty. But, one element of the course you play will most certainly be sand. Sand is a natural and integral aspect of course design out here, as are the swamps and sand grasses. The pine trees grow straight and tall, with branches only on the upper heights of the tree so any off-line shots often have chances to be rescued, albeit on piles of soft pine needles.

In these parts, course maintenance is an art and highly respected. You can see the signs of that professional attentiveness with the quality of the surfaces and the care taken with the landscaping. Course superintendents often come from long held family traditions, breeding a network of professionals and staff that see their work as part art, part science, but always a source of pride. For example, after chatting with the course superintendent, I was not surprised to find a detailed grass description in my mail upon arriving back home. He sent the above picture as well, with an explanation and a schedule for when the colors turn. That is dedication!

What does this all have to do with the mental game of golf? Everything! The environment of golf in North Carolina clearly reflects some of the fundamentals of a sound mental game of golf. Here are two essential points of mastery that were demonstrated at the UNC course; 1)a clear and genuine sense of purpose and 2)a rigorous dedication to upholding standards of excellence.

Apply a purposefulness to your practice, to your every shot, even to the cleaning of your equipment and you will start to see that attitude emerge into new results out on the golf course. Attitude is everything. Of course, talent, skills and practice are necessary, but, you must practice standards of excellence with a discipline and rigor in order to earn the pride of a champion. To "be" masterful at anything, you must "act" masterful. "Being" and "acting" are are essential co-dependents.

Beautiful courses like they have in North Carolina don't happen by accident. Nor, do champions excel by DNA or luck alone. They are made. They are nurtured. And, they are coached. Inspired by a passionate caring for creating something truly remarkable, it is easy to see why courses and champions are made to be shared with the many of us and to be cherished by all of us.

Put an Obama in Your Golf Game

Try putting a little Obama in your golf game and I'd bet, you'll end up lowering your scores. Whether or not Barack Obama is elected to the Presidency of the United States of America, we will all have benefited from his example during his campaign. He may be especially instructional for those of us who play golf.

I don't mean "watch his swing mechanics." I don't know whether he even plays the game. but, rather, watch how he plays the game of campaigning. What could you learn about playing under pressure? Imagine your game enhanced by some of the qualities of temperament and character you have seen him display in the last several months of intense scrutiny. Put yourself on the putting green with millions watching you stand over a 15 ft putt to win. What would you be feeling? What would you be thinking? What would your body look like on the outside and what would it be experiencing inside?

These questions refer to states of emotion, the clarity of mental focus and the fitness of the physical body to perform in stressful situations. You may not like him. You may not vote for him, but you've got to acknowledge his extraordinary confidence and calm under pressure. He is emotionally balanced, intellectually disciplined, physically alert, calm and relaxed. Now, imagine a description of your golfing demeanor with those words.

The Jesus Shot - Tiger at His Best!

What more can we say about Tiger? He's got it all! Great talent, great story, great smile, great wife, baby, foundation...the list goes on. Now, he even walks on water to produce miracle shots. What will be next, President?

The above YouTube clip is a funny and very clever use of pop culture to capitalize on Tiger's celebrity and market his brand. It seems that everyone wants a piece of his greatness and marketability. Myself included! I am personally very grateful to Tiger, all his marketing genius aside, for he offers the world such a clear picture of greatness, as an athlete and as a man.

With the simple caveat that I don't personally know him or anyone that does know him, I am still unabashed in my admiration of what I see and read of him. I realize that many are weary of the constant adulation given his person, but I cannot dismiss the extraordinary talent and dedication that he has shown us in the way he plays this game, not to mention, lives his life.

Let me point to just a couple of the traits that I see that stand out for example. Most notably is his passion and dedication for what he does. Tiger's commitment for excellence is revealed not just in how hard and long he works, but in the intensity of his passion. His enthusiasm for what he does is real. When he is amped-up for sinking a putt, he is electrifying. In his disappointment for pull-hooking a drive, you watch and feel the pain in which he takes it out on his golf bag. I hear that even at the ping-pong table, his drive to win is remarkable.

Yet, the second point I will offer stands in dramatic contrast to this fierce determination, his humor. Tiger is well know for his 90 million dollar smile. But, his contagious smile only hints at a depth of joy in which his life must dwell. As I have said, I am not privy to his personal life, so I can only assume based on how he acts and behaves in public. He loves to laugh. He laughs at himself or he'll laugh at some stroke of outrageous fortune or turn of luck. He laughs with his caddy and often with his fans. But, the people who really see the sparkle of his joy are the numbers of youngsters who get to spend mornings with him at a special clinic or at one of the innumerable charity functions in which he gives his time. He loves kids, that is obvious. But, what is special is the way he cherishes the smiles of kids who are beginning to see the world in a new and exciting way. As they become more confident and hopeful, his smile gets bigger.

In another blog entry, I spoke of balance. It might appear that Tiger's life is a whirlwind of dedications and that he lives for golf, at the expense of all else. But, nothing could be farther from the truth. He is a master at living in balance with the elements of his life that are so true for him. He is extraordinary not just for what he does, but for "who he is." And as a result , we are all better-off to have him as our teacher.