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The King and The Wanna Be
The past few weeks on Spaceship Earth, we've been reminded of both:
Arnie's event at Bay Hill. Uncle Vlad's event in Ukraine (ever ongoing, so unfortunately...).
Where do you stand in the grander scheme of things, on and off the links? A legit chosen 'King' in the eyes and spirits of the masses - or a self-anointed (like our pretenders on SM, and the like..), attention-starved despot?
You choose, as you do with your attitude, mindset and demeanor on the golf course - and with your actions - fellow humans. It can be that black and white, like the image above and to follow.
Read on. Educate and enlighten yourself (yes, facts still matter) with lessons from both camps. It's time to make a difference while you can, not just a living cause you're 'supposed to.'
The King: Humility & Humor
Boy, if that ain't missing on the Intrawebs, I'm not sure what is.
Question, contradict or not 'like' someone's offering, and you're whisked away (blocked) faster than Putin can poison your next toddy. Talk about insecurity... Like it's life or death; ask the Ukrainians about that...
Then there's Arnold's 'trials & tribulations' at the 1964 Bing Crosby Pro-Am (put that in perspective next time you hit a loose one on-course, and consider your brothers and sisters in Vlad's muddy Eastern Euro waters currently). On the 17th hole, Palmer sent his tee shot over the green onto the rocky coastline. He tried to play from the rocks — a bizarre scene complete with a stray dog looking on — and ultimately took a 6-over 9 to miss the cut by one.
Jimmy Demaret (with microphone) quipped: "His nearest drop would be Honolulu."
“Looking back, it was really kind of amusing,” Palmer later said. “I hit the tee shot rather poorly and it took off for the ocean. When I found it I elected to play it, but it ended being somewhat of a fiasco because the ball would wash up and then go back into the water. As it turned out, when I finished my round I headed over to The Tap Room. By the time I got there, the bartender had invented a new drink — Palmer on the Rocks.”
Lesson: Everything in the golf park and life - including the supposed 'bad' - happens for a reason, yet sometimes the reason isn't apparent at the time. Do your best to learn from the experience, take it with a grain, and march forward, a la Arnie.
The Wanna Be: Pure evil
Some excepts to follow borrowed from an a recent article in The Atlantic entitled "I Was Wrong About Putin," by Sergei Dobrynin. Click above to peruse its entirety.
"I was bewitched by Putin's cold, metallic charisma, that way he had of suggesting that he knew more than he said," Dobrynin stated in 2000.
Yikes - sounds like the effect of Idiocrogram and its blue-lit screen brethren on the bi-ped's brain, circa 2022.
Bewitching, tantalizing and downright addicting.
You know it's destructive (we all do..) - like the plethora of golfy advice floating around - yet you continue to ingest. How's that working for you, anyway? Dazed, confused and befuddled? I understand. What is the perceived value of 'free' information, anyway? Nothing compared to the value of freedom, I'd venture to say.
Lesson: Consider the source of your golf (and other) information. Where is it coming from? For what purpose is it being dispersed? Is it helpful, meaningful and relevant to you?
The King: Legit Street Cred
More than just clicks, eyeballs and # of followers, people - did you not get that memo (yet)?
Sure, Arnie had admirers, but it was about performance, not pandering. Charisma, not cheap sales tricks. Work ethic leading to trophies, not loud music-infused & near pole-dancing swing 'tip' offerings.
Consider this run (CS loves facts - 'cause yes, they still matter): from 1960-1964, Palmer amassed (earned) 31 wins, 6 majors and 87 Top 10's. Gave him the 'right' to share a smoke with the legendary Ben Hogan at Augusta in 1966 (image above).
You? Have you put the blood, sweat and tears (smartly & efficiently please!) into playing better golf? Or, are you in hopes some quick-fix golf dictator of sorts shall appear and heal all your golf boo boos? Plead that case to the badass duo above, please.
Lesson: Do you have 10-15 minutes daily to commit to mental & physical betterment in the golf park? If so, I can help your performance on the links.
The Wanna Be: Stability (stabilnost)
One of Putin's slogans, adopted early in his presidency.
You are perhaps in search of this in your golf swing, mindset, and overall game?
"Consistency" is a word I hear far too often, and much like Putin's promises of stability (see: ruthless military operations in Chechnya + having the same people in government from one election cycle to the next) 'tis nothing but a myth... here's why:
As human beings, we are not hard-wired to be consistent, but rather to be masters of improvisation. The best players in the world are in fact kings of adjustment and adaptation.
Sure, their basic fundamentals are superior to most reading this - and - are you ready for something slightly sexier than the mug shot just north of here?
The 'secret' (SM whoremongers adore this word - we all know what Mr. Hogan thought about 'secrets,' do we not?), let's call it a truth - shall we - is in what's happening pre-motion. Even ex-KGB know this:
- Physical body and equipment properly & precisely fit to the individual.
- Set up (grip, aim & alignment, ball position, stance and posture) dialed in.
- Mental planning, programming and visualization completed of what one wants (intentions).
Lesson: Are yours? Are you sure? At times, I too must adopt the "tough love" stare and demeanor of Russia's Prez for the benefit of my students; are you ready, willing & available?
The King: Treatment of Adversaries, Conflicts & Challenges
Acknowledge, embrace and learn from? Or ignore, intimidate and (possibly) eliminate?
You choose, like with all.
The King pictured above chose the prior, when "Fat Jack," aka Jack Nicklaus, showed up on his turf and wanted to steal his crown.
Lesson: How about welcoming the challenges (oh, you thought playing good golf was a smooth stroll through rose gardens?), sharing a laugh and/or drink with your challenger, all while realizing that person is there to push you to be better, in all aspects.
The Wanna Be: Treatment of Adversaries, Conflicts & Challenges
Acknowledge, embrace and learn from? Or ignore, intimidate and (possibly) eliminate?
You choose, like with all.
The Wanna Be chose the latter.
When Alexei Navalny, pictured with Putin above, described the Russian president and his people as “crooks and thieves" (this was Navalny's way of mocking Putin, of depriving him of his superpower aura - much like not being in 100% accordance with someone's view on SM..), the Wanna Be pulled out his 1-iron in the form of the poisonous nerve agent Novichok and fed some to his adversary.
Lesson: Put on your big boy and girl pants, recognize differing views, stay open to possibilities, and disagree without being disagreeable - or run, hide and dispose of?
Choices, amigos, like with your golf (and life).
I'd look forward to assisting with your upcoming golf adventures (there will be many!) - at Eugene Country Club, and part-time at Puerto Los Cabos in the wintry months - or refer you to an individual with king-like competency in your area. I also offer remote coaching plans wherever you may reside. Click below on either spectacular venue for specifics.
"In the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed man is king"
-- Erasmus
Best,
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