Golf and Men

So, you ask, “What is the appeal of golf to men?” Here is a possible answer.

Most men are competitive. Most men take other men’s measure to see where they stand.
Golf is an excellent medium in which the measurement occurs. Here’s how:

1. Golf requires a degree of skill in both strategy and execution. In 3.5 to 4.0 hours on a golf course a man will be able to measure another man’s ability to make correct decisions about club selection, confidence in same and shot placement/execution. Where else can you see strategy, choice and execution in a matter of moments? In a meeting? On a conference call? Sitting in a lecture? Watching TV? Flirting with women?
2. Golf is played according to a well established, well tested and pretty well understood set of rules. So, when measuring another player, after the determination of strategy and execution, comes the measure of knowing and playing by the rules. Does he know the rules? Does he play by the rules? Does he stretch the rules? Does he cheat? Does he shave strokes or do any one of many little things to help improve his lie; his shot execution; his putt? Does he shave strokes to keep his handicap down and thereby think he looks better to others? Or does he add strokes at unneeded moments to keep his handicap up? And here’s the good part. Everyone knows even though the cheater doesn’t think everyone knows! Messing around on the course is transparent because everyone is watching!
3. Courtesy. Knowing what to do next. Keeping the pace of play going. All of these are unwritten rules of golf. How does a man respect the game through his respect of the others with whom he is playing? Does he stand still, out of the way, keep quiet?
4. Then comes the big one. Competitiveness. You can take the measure of a man’s competitiveness in a short time on a golf course. What does he do when his opponent has hit a good shot? How does he respond? What does he do when he makes a mistake? Do the clubs go sailing through the air? Does he blame the wind? The lie? The grass? The clouds? The sun? The beer cart girl? TheFundamentals once witnessed a male golfer mess up a tee shot and blame the spectacular breasts of the beer cart girl. So there.
5. And maybe, more than anything, golf brings a man face to face with his greatest competitor, his biggest critic, his most constant supporter, himself. Golf mostly works between the ears of the golfer. When it’s cookin’ it’s just plain divine. When it’s sputtering it’s just plain horrible. Golf is life.

Competition, execution, strategy, playing by the rules, temperament, compatibility, friendliness, supportiveness, fair play, sportsmanship and meeting your best friend/worst enemy face to face. Holy cow!

Keep your head down. Slow down. Plant your feet.

Golf. It is one of TheFundamentals.