Time

Time

Greetings Golfers,

Managing time well is one of life’s greatest skills.

I hate wasting time. But I hate being rushed.

I want to be efficient … but I don’t want efficiency to run my life.

I love driving a car … but I hate getting stuck in traffic.

I enjoy a relatively fast round of golf … but I don’t want it to feel like a racetrack.

Though I’m busy - probably too busy … I like being a little early for things.

Do you remember that song “Time” by Pink Floyd:

“Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day

You fritter and waste the hours in an off-hand way

And then one day you find that ten years have got behind you

No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun.”

That song hit me pretty hard when I was in college. I was just goofing around … not taking much seriously … I thought I was going to live forever.

Most sports have a clock … a time limit … except for golf and baseball. 18 holes or 9 innings.

That feels more like life … we don’t have a preset time for our life. It’s more like playing one hole at a time. Maybe we won’t play 18 holes … but life isn’t a game … our final “score” isn’t really the point.

Years ago … I had a former in-law who announced “He who ends with the most toys … wins!” I thought he was joking … but he was serious. He spent his life - his time … in pursuit of toys/stuff. He had a sad life … actually very sad … though he did end with a lot of toys.

I guess the point goes back to priorities. And everyone has a right to have different priorities.

And I think what we want as we get older changes. When I was young - I wanted everything! Now … I know what I like … and my desires are pretty simple. For me now … less is more.

And I think for a healthy society … it’s important that older people are settled and not on a “bender”.

If everyone is on some mad chase for “more” … society has to be crazy and out of balance … and younger people have no examples of what taking control of life looks like.

It can all be summed-up in a nice round of golf. 18 holes … played at a relaxed pace … swinging with a nice tempo … playing with enjoyable people … at a nice place.

What a great way to spend your time.

Golf always has the answer.

Cheers!

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com