The Odyssey
The Odyssey
Greetings Golfers,
I love Summertime … from July 4 to Labor Day seems to go by in a minute. I even love hot weather.
Helps my golf game … helps my old body loosen-up. Though I need to be warm … I don’t need help from dark-colored clothes. I wear a white shirt if it’s in the 90s. And a loose shirt. Seems like common-sense.
Have you seen the Odyssey? I haven’t … but I love the Greek Myths … and their philosophers - especially Aristotle.
So the Odyssey is about “going home." Along the way, Odysseus has to fight off monsters, storms, temptation, comfort … just a series of non-stop challenges.
Of course I think this relates to golf. You tee-it-up on hole #1 … and then you head out on your adventure to “come back home."
Will you have to deal with Odysseus’ same challenges of monsters, storms, temptation, and comfort? Of course - that’s why golf is 18 holes. It’s a journey … it’s an adventure.
But are we ready to deal with the journey?
The Ancient Greeks admired being well-rounded. Of course they also admired expertise. But you can still be an expert and be well-rounded. In fact, being well-rounded will increase your understanding in your focused area.
We’ve all seen people who get too specialized and get out of balance. I recently read an article on philosophy that used Tiger Woods as an example of being out of balance.
Wisdom consists not in knowing more facts than anyone else, but in understanding the causes and principles that connect them.
That’s why I like Aristotle. Though he seemed to know everything … he always seemed grounded … he always made sense. He literally invented the term “common sense." He used it to describe a biological power that combined the five senses - sight, touch, smell, taste, hearing - into one single experience.
So I started this rant about how I wear light clothes in the Summer. The other day, I was walking around Excelsior in mid-afternoon … it was 95 degrees. Every girl/woman I saw was wearing black. And usually not loose-fitting stuff.
Have we gotten so far removed from nature that we can’t see the simple wisdom in wearing clothes that match the seasons?
Here’s another example of a lack of common sense while on the "journey." Not just the journey of life … but the journey of a round of golf.
A few Saturdays ago … the Pro Shop received a call “You need to send someone out here RIGHT NOW!” Our staff was worried that someone was hurt and needed help. Nope. The caller had been "waiting." Looking at the screen, our desk person replied that they were playing at 10 minutes ahead of pace. Their response, “I don’t care - I’m WAITING!”
So … I went to see this caller … they were on the #12 tee box. I asked this golfer if they understood that the course is a one-lane road … and that everyone was playing at a 4-hour pace. And … I asked if they thought they had the right to make everyone on the course play faster than 4 hours to accommodate them?
Well … I got no reply. They just drove off.
Most people enjoy the journey of a round of golf. Especially at a 4-hour pace. Especially on a sold-out course on a Saturday afternoon.
I think the point of “The Odyssey” is about how we deal with what life throws at us. Can we face it with courage and creativity? Or do we avoid the real problems and just make unnecessary problems along the way?
Common-sense is a good thing.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com