If you are reading these blogs, you already know the secret of golf

Kiel Christianson gives a great perspective on this topic, and Ron Mon’s comments about Christianson’s blog are right on as well. This is something I wrote last summer when Golf Digest addressed “the secret of golf.”

The word “secret” implies that there is one idea or method that will help every person who picks up a club, and that is just not true. It is safe to say that anyone who plays golf regularly has read pages upon pages of confusing swing thoughts and has most likely only played more disgusting golf as a result. Similarly, a high percentage of us have fallen for one of the miracle swing “aids”, and ended up in even worse shape. (I’m currently in an anonymous program to recover from the damage that the Momentus did to my game and my life).

The fact is that most of us just aren’t, and won’t ever be any good at golf. It’s a reality as ominous as that dark cloud that lurks in the horizon when you’re standing on the first tee. If you don’t believe me, go out to the closest golf course you can find and watch for an hour. Chances are you’ll see very few picturesque swings, and even fewer beautiful shots. So why not avoid the misery? Why even come back out and play?

The answer is simple: anyone who continues to play this fickle game, regardless of how picturesque a swing he or she has, already has found the true secret that non-golfers will never understand- there is nothing better than hitting that perfect shot. The shot that you visualize before you swing. The shot that feels so good there are no words that can even describe the experience. For me, it is a solidly hit two iron that has a nice little draw on a long par three. It is probably very different for every person who plays golf, but even if it only happens once a year, that’s what keeps us all coming back. It’s the only “secret” that has not, and will not ever change about the game.