| Recently I played a round of golf with an 85-year-old | | | | years! That gave me some comfort as I am |
| woman, and she beat me. Easily! I drive the ball a fair | | | | comparatively new at the game. The fact that she |
| distance, at least 30 yards further than my | | | | had several Club Championships under her belt also |
| companion, but for accuracy she had me beat. I | | | | helped. But what was the secret to her accuracy? |
| watched her as she played the round. Long game, | | | | "Your set up is fine. You've got all the fundamentals |
| short game, it didn't matter. Each shot landed | | | | right," she told me. "But I was watching you swing. |
| perfectly, just where she wanted it to go. | | | | Your swing is so fast that your club can't keep up. |
| For my part, I was playing what they call "military | | | | And you swing too hard, which throws off your set |
| golf." Left, right, left, right- I was all over the place. I | | | | up. The secret is to relax and swing easy. Don't try |
| would set up carefully, check my feet, my hips, my | | | | to push the ball, or scoop it up, or even help it get |
| shoulders to be sure they were all in alignment, | | | | where it's going. Just swing." |
| perpendicular to the target. My stance was correct | | | | "You make it look so easy," I said. "Every shot |
| for each shot, with the ball either forward or back a | | | | seems just right." |
| bit. I was really trying to focus and concentrate on | | | | "One thing you might try in order to slow down your |
| making the best shot I could. And then, when I was | | | | swing is to come up with a phrase or a rhythmic |
| finally set, I "thwacked the ball" with all my energy, | | | | pattern you can say to yourself. Something like, |
| and off it went to the right, to the left, -the ball | | | | one-two-three, with the one-two as you lift the club |
| sailed down the golf course to land anywhere but | | | | and the three as you swing. Sort of like a waltz. That |
| the spot at which I was aiming. My game was a | | | | might help. Remember, less is always more when it |
| disaster. What was I doing wrong? How could this 85 | | | | comes to the golf swing. I used to try to slam the |
| year old woman beat me so badly? | | | | ball like you did today. I learned long ago to stop |
| After our round of golf, I asked her to join me for | | | | trying so hard. Just let the club do what it's designed |
| lunch in the country club grill so I could go over my | | | | to do." |
| round and ask her advice. The first thing she told me | | | | This from an accomplished 85 year old golfer, it |
| was that she had been playing golf for over 50 | | | | sounded like good advice. |