In a seminar several days ago, I was asked how golf has affected my life.
I was somewhat taken aback, as I had never been asked this question before and I had to hesitate for a while — longer than it takes me to make a downhill breaking putt on a fast green – before I could answer.
This delay was important, especially because the audience was made up of youngsters visiting from overseas, in the process of finding their way in life through golf by becoming familiar with the entire golfing scene, not just playing golf – an activity with which they were already very familiar and accomplished.
To me the answer seemed obvious because golf has been a very personal and influential part of my life for many, many years and has given me the opportunity to use my talents to make a positive contribution to this wonderful game in return. To this effect, I answered the question.
Please share your thoughts with us and other Frankly Friends about how golf has affected your life by replying below.
franklygolf 
Golf was my family’s business. For 14 years I had the opportunity to ply one of the great golf courses of the world, St. Georges Toronto. I have provided legal advice to the Canadian Golf Tour (now Mackenzie Tour). I currently represent the Canadian Junior Golf Tour. My life has been many things but golf has been a big part of it.
I have played this wonderful game for nearly over 50 years, and have been fortunate to play at a highly competitive skill level during my younger years. Four years ago I was stricken with cancer, and after three arduous years of fighting this heinous disease, I can happily report that I am a cancer survivor. Thanks to the support from my family I have regained much of my strength, sufficient to resume playing golf. During my fight for survival, there were times when I didn’t think it would ever be possible for me to get back onto a golf course, let alone swing a club to hit a ball. Golf gave me an added incentive to fight, and although my game is not even remotely near what it used to be, now that I can once again walk 18 holes and enjoy the beautiful nuances of a good shot once in a while, it is a source of pride and satisfaction. Score is only a number and I don’t always keep a score. That’s how much I appreciate being able to play the game we all love.
Golf has been an important part of my life for many years. There are so many things that golf has given me. The people I have met while participating in the many aspects of golf have created a lasting memory, influence or friendship that is priceless. The great experiences while on the golf course have created a lasting slot in my memory that allows daily reflection. Golf is also a life teaching experience in patience, control, focus, goal achievement, and so many other aspects that make us the people we strive to be. What a great personal feeling to walk and carry your bag in the late afternoon having said “I’ll be home at 0 dark 30”.
Having been an only child from a dysfunctional family, I was socially awkward from an early age. As the years have past, I have slowly learned that relationships, which I have had difficulties with, are more important to lasting happiness than I previously realized. Scheduling myself into 2 golf leagues per week in the late afternoon for 9 holes each has been a method of getting out of my own little hermetic world at home and interacting with the “real” world. Doing this has enabled me to meet some great people, which enhances the enjoyment of the game, if not always the score on my card. It helps when there are more than just my eyes available to watch where my ball goes while I focus on “staying down through the shot”. I have also been blessed with opportunities to volunteer at charity events at beautiful venues I otherwise would not have been able to enjoy due to my budget, which again put me in contact with other wonderful people, if only for a few days.
Golf has affected my life in a way that I never imagined. I played golf in high school on a team then as I went to college and went on through life I still played but enjoyed it more because I was playing for fun not for competition. Now It has changed that its a way to get the message and awareness out about COPD I am holding a fundraiser for research donations for COPD. I found out 3 years ago that I had the disease and I still play as much as I can but now it gives me a new way to make a difference in peoples lives.Knowing that there is no cure for COPD I think that I enjoy the time on the golf course more now than I did when I was younger.