“An 18-Hole Lesson in Acceptance”

Marc and I are on an incredible mission to play golf in all 50 states, and if there is one thing this hobby has taught us, it is that the golf course is where perfect plans go to die.

And if my years of traveling the world with my clubs have taught me anything, it’s that the golf course rarely reads my script.

Let me elaborate!

Before I even step up to the first tee box, I usually have each hole, as well as the entire round, mapped out in my mind.

In my head:

• Every drive finds the center of the fairway,
• Every chip checks up beautifully next to the pin, and
• The scorecard looks like a work of art.

I believe that to achieve a great round, there must be a plan that is manageable and sustainable.

I line up my shot, calculate the wind, trust my routine, and execute what I think is the perfect swing. Then, a sudden gust or an unforeseen slope sends the ball directly into a deep bunker.

It is a beautiful but frustrating reminder that control is often just a mirage.

I become frustrated and find myself standing in the rough, wondering where my strategy went wrong.

And just like Robert Burns wrote and John Steinbeck popularized, my beautifully constructed plans have turned completely ugly.

Golf has a funny way of checking my ego at the first tee box. I can stand there with all the confidence in the world, only to realize that my swing decided not to show up today.

Suddenly, my grand plan of breaking 90 turns into a desperate survival mission. I am no longer managing a golf hole; I am navigating an absolute comedy of errors.

But that is exactly where the true philosophy of the game begins. When a tricky par 4 gives me a painful, sour lemon of a lie, I can’t just walk away. I have to learn from the bitter taste, embrace the challenge, and realize that the process of improvement is a slow journey, not a quick fix.

Golf relies on me to face the unpredictable with a calm mind, showing me what I am truly capable of when things don’t go according to plan.

And sometimes, a failing plan leads to something miraculous.

I pull off a crazy, accidental trick shot out of the woods that somehow lands on the green, putting a massive smile on my face, and I realize that while I may never achieve total golfing perfection, the journey is worth every single misfired shot.

And that is exactly why I love this crazy game.

If every shot went exactly where I planned it, golf would lose its magic. The beauty of golf, much like the beauty of life, is that it forces me to adapt to the unexpected twists, turns, ups, and downs.

Even the best-laid plans on the golf course will fall apart, but it’s how I accept the bad breaks and navigate the rough that shapes who I am, both on and off the green.

So, the next time your perfect drive goes wildly off track, don’t lose your composure. Take a deep breath, laugh at the absurdity of it all, and focus on the very next shot.

My Reads from the Reds – My plans may go awry, but the walk is always beautiful.

Fairways and Greens  – We are 18 Holes and Counting.   

Written by Kathy Festa