Going Fore It - In Golf and Life

Living Golf

Lesson # 1 - Power from the Heart of Consciousness

To play golf from the heart of the game is to come into alignment with a concentrated conscious connection to what it is all about. This is accomplished when we train ourselves to stay in a state of focus with the clarity of our intent and at the same time be accepting of a heartfelt, intuitive desire. Integrating the analytical mind with instinctive intelligence of the heart elevates capability to new levels of achievability.

We must not be distracted for a moment by reflections of past experience that we impose on the task. By breaking through these patterns and reactions we will become more response-able.By shifting from the head to the heart we become accepting, non-judgmental and begin to come into alignment with the truth in the consciousness that we seek.

We are now getting to the “heart of the matter.” Powerful, congruent alignment is now achievable through the mind, body, and spirit providing the gentle guidance of a rhythm from the heart. As we discover more about what “it” is that lies within the heart of the game, we come to realize that “it” is not about the “doing,” but rather, allowing “it” to be done.

Living Golf – Introduction

Lessons from the Heart of the Game

The majestic nature of golf, a truly, remarkable sport, captivated my imagination and I began discovering what it is about golf that transcends the final score.

The spiritual sense of the game inspired me to begin an enduring search for the deeper meaning of life and its relationship to the nature of my game.

I have been led down a path, and find myself in a totally involved commitment, sharing my feelings and knowledge with as many people as possible. My passion has never been stronger and the purpose has never been clearer. Now, the process has become part of me, reaching new levels of efficiency and dedication. I can only hope that the ongoing intensity of the pursuit, coupled with the strength of my unfailing efforts establishes a legacy that will live on. I am blessed to share what this game has given to me and pay it forward. The process now supports passion and frees my heart’s desire in the pursuit of a true pre-destined purpose.

Arrival for Departure

An ongoing acceptance of our potential for the desired outcome of our golfing experience runs true and passionate, like the playful nature lying within our life force. We discover wondrous revelations and insights into our own character when we create and play our game without trying to over emphasize the growth process.

Evolution becomes a result of and not the purpose for the continuation of our deliberate efforts, as we plan and discover a true course of action.

Our course design is created in the blending of passion and purpose instilled in our individuality with an acceptance of the discoveries along the way. How we cope with challenges opens the opportunities during our journey. Rewards are recognized by the sense of satisfaction, through a spirit-based accomplishment, graciously accepted within the humility of a divine nature. All of the components of a well-planned game are provided with endless enjoyment through the many cycles of playful participation. Each round of golf opens the potential for a new and wondrous journey within the unrestricted nature of our design. Process and pursuit are supported by the intensity of passion and the clarity of purpose.

Setting a course with an authentic, personal design based on awakened intrinsic values, our nature is defined by cooperative melding within the game’s requirements.

We understand that this game, which we have the privilege to be part of, is truly more than just a recreational pastime. It is an adventure that continually challenges us and supports our personal vision. As we overcome self-doubt, and feel the exhilaration of accomplishment, we are provided with the hope and anticipation associated with each ball strike. The handicaps we place upon ourselves are overcome as we learn to be totally committed to and immersed in the aura of the game. Our character is structurally supported by the passion lying within the cornerstone of the course design. The secrets of the game unfold and unconditional acceptance of ease and grace is experienced in our play. This allows for a holistic connection to the why and allows mind, body, and spirit to become one with the game. We are now playing from the depths of our being, to the outer limits of our expanding ability. The search continues for the authentic acceptance of our relationship to the game. A sincere recognition of the successes along the path reaffirms our intent. Unlocking ability, we expand beyond any limits of conscious awareness and accept life’s lessons.

We become conditioned with a peaceful acceptance of the golf process.

As our minds expand our conscious awareness becomes non-controlling and we gain a relaxed, playful nature.

We attain clarity within our conditional feeling, opening a response to the natural swing. We are now able to go fore it without the pressure of any artificial desire to control. Now, we experience the course that dreams are made of. As we refocus intent, and clear the way for our total commitment we are stimulated by and immersed in an optimal energy source.

Capability and Potential

Continuing the search for clarity of purpose we discover a need to carefully assess our current level of capability and realize the potential for future achievement and growth. If we open our imagination to envision a course of play where the greatest ambitions and aspirations are fully realized, inspiration is energized providing the acceptance of possible accomplishment. The game of golf now presents the next level of acceptable challenge. Spiritual fulfillment comes with the expansion of playing capacity increasing and supporting a continued passionate involvement.

Passion and purpose are now united and set on a course that is clearly designed.

This establishes the necessary procedure to pave the way for an effortless pursuit of our ultimate hopes and dreams. Expansion of the vision of the possibilities strengthens our willful desire to overcome the challenges. A well defined course of action has now been thoughtfully laid before us. We are finally positioned to play away.

Holistic Connection

In the study of quantum physics experts, have discovered the scientific support for the theory that we exist in the form of pure energy, both kinetic (in motion) and potential (at rest). So too does all of the substance that surrounds us. Energy provides a versatile dynamic and powerful part of who we are.We are provided with pure potential for whatever we wish to attract. This concentrated energy constitutes the very spirit within us. Our bodies, thoughts, and emotions are all outward emissions of the dynamic expended energy. How we direct this energy dictates the limitations of the positive outcomes that we achieve.

The clarity of desire will ultimately influence the joyful quality of the life we chose to live.

When the energy is obstructed by fear, anxiety, or worry, it becomes misdirected into defensive, manipulative, or protective postures. Our spirit is susceptible to discontent, illness, and lack of holistic connection with the life force. When we fully realize the power of the force within us, the experiences of golfing adventures continue to expand. An energy release becomes a conscious part of our everyday play, expanding exponentially. Properly focused, we witness the infinite potential hidden within finite existence.

Philosophy of Flow

Being in the Zone

Becoming a good ball striker is more than mastering the basic mechanics of the swing that has been covered thus far. We are consistently challenged to make adjustments in search of a better result. To achieve consistency of contact, we must develop a sensibility that allows for a fluid motion, which coordinates all parts of the body in a seamless, coordinated movement creating maximum club head speed at impact. This is what we call feel. This attitude that lurks within the mind, coupled with the combined construct of rhythm, tempo, and timing, work in concert to produce this quality of flow. Our body, mind, and spirit must be in proper balance in executing every swing from the booming tee shot down to the more delicate three inch putt. To achieve this, our mind-set must be openly accepting and aware of the process while at peace with the requirements of the intended result.

Wanting desire for success must yield to the intuitive sensibility of process as we pursue our goal with passionate determination for the connection to the purpose.

Once again, we return to this premise that serves us well in our quest for achieving anything in life. To analyze how these elements of a fluid golf swing connect, I suggest a methodology that is adaptable to the requirements of solid ball striking. When we understand and have had reasonable success with the development of a swing that is generated from shoulder turn rather than arm and hand control, we are prepared to apply an acceptance of rhythm, timing, and tempo.

Pre-Shot Routine

When we are committed to a wholeness of our playful pursuit, we are able to meet the demands of a focused execution of every stroke. To be fully connected to the requirement of each specific play, a process of planning is necessary to facilitate the joining of mind, body, and spirit in a oneness of effortless flowing motion. All outside, irrelevant, mental distraction must be eradicated and our minds should become peacefully connected to the clarity of our intentions. In order to accomplish this task, a routine approach to each shot must be created and adhered to with passion. We need to provide for ourselves with a consistent process in order to achieve the confidence that results in reliability.

While we properly adopt a pre-shot preparation, we open our sensitivity to the requirements of the moment and tap into an intuitive understanding of precisely what it takes to carry out the intent.

Every player eventually decides on the structure of their own personal routine. However, we need to know the fundamental elements that should always be part of any good procedure. First and foremost, we must check the position of the ball. Depending on the lie, a decision should be made as to what type of shot and club selection would be most advantageous. It is important to realize that distance from the intended target is not always the ultimate consideration. Once the club choice is made, then we begin to activate an imaginative capacity in order to pre-condition our sensitivity to the expected outcome. At the start of each hole, the process of imagination begins before the ball is even placed on the tee. We must look out to our intended target and assess the pros and cons that the design of each hole presents. This determines which side of the tee box would be the most appropriate to hit from.

Playing Golf in a Field of Infinite Possibilities

Within the confines of the golf course lies the field of infinite possibilities. As we progress from tee to green and hole to hole an evolution in our potentiality is exposed in every stroke taken. Expansion of consciousness creates a golfing experience that will live in progressively higher awareness of our full capacity.

We all have within us limitless organizing potential to tap into a collective wisdom that has been planted in our brain cells.

Through years of experience both conscious and subliminal we have been branded with a source of divine guidance. It is possible to call up this source from parts of our being that will appear just when they are needed most. If we can first realize that anything is possible, begin to believe that the possibilities are truly limitless and then our faith can be vitalized to a point of accepting the unlimited capability that we possess.

Optimal Achievement

Choice in life is one of the greatest attributes to human capacity. How we direct our thinking can be chosen.

If we can learn to direct our thinking toward the outcomes that we desire, we will be able to remain focused on purpose.

Due to a seemingly inherent human condition to be protected from danger, our minds tend to focus more on what we want to avoid. In the game of golf the mind can be set in one of three patterns.

Developing a well supported belief we are able to actively focus our imaginative posers on what is ultimately possible. The result that we are wishing for is at risk of being unfulfilled unless we begin to accept the probability of outcome. However, our thoughts and emotions are not as tangible as the actual, physical aspect of the experiences that we witness as we play. In order to have our mind power, control our outcome requires a heightened level of awareness that comes from the depth of our senses.

Golf Rules in Brief

INTRODUCTION

Golf is a game in which a ball is struck with a club from a prepared area, known as the "teeing ground", across fairway and rough to a second prepared area, which has a hole in it, known as the "putting green". The object of the game is to complete what is known as a hole by playing a ball from the teeing ground into the hole on the putting green in the fewest possible number of strokes. A "round of golf' consists of playing 18 such holes.

There are basically two forms of play, one which is decided by holes won and lost (match play) and the other which is decided by the total number of strokes taken to complete the round (stroke play).

There are three important principles to remember when playing golf: Play the course as you find it. Play the Ball as it lies. And if you can't do either, do what's fair." To do what's fair you need to know the Rules. The following is a summary of the Rules of Golf, simplified where possible.