| I was chatting with Fred Greene of Golf Smarter | | | | gentleman pointed out the other day. It provides |
| the other day and was aware of how often we | | | | a great "networking opportunity" as you bond |
| broke into laughter during the course of our | | | | over your shared passion. But you can't play |
| conversation. There are many things which made | | | | cricket on your own and your level of ability will |
| us laugh, and I am only too aware that my jaw | | | | affect the overall game. Tennis requires too much |
| got a great work out! | | | | energy to leave much time for pleasantries and |
| Both of us are passionate about golf, and both of | | | | you again cannot play alone. Can you think of any |
| us have found our way to forming a marriage | | | | sport which provides the same opportunities to |
| between our passion and our employment. Golf | | | | "connect" that golf does? |
| makes me smile a lot and I can tell that it does | | | | Aside from the friends you can make through |
| the same for Fred. | | | | golf, there are many other things which make it a |
| There are many aspects of golf which I dearly | | | | very special game. I have already mentioned that |
| love. It is a friendly game and a wonderful way in | | | | you can play it alone or with others and level of |
| which to meet new people. My home is in the Isle | | | | ability doesn't cause issues. A far greater thing |
| of Man; although I'm lucky enough to spend a fair | | | | however is what golf teaches you as a person. |
| amount of time in California (even though it's quite | | | | I played yesterday with a friend who passed |
| a commute!). It was a gentleman (an avid golfer) | | | | comment on how much her temperament had |
| who lives in Edinburgh, Scotland, who put me in | | | | altered since she had started to play golf, both on |
| touch with Fred who also lives in California. There | | | | and off the course. She is now a more placid and |
| are very few games which put people together | | | | person; she was always determined. Golf teaches |
| from all over the world in such an easy and | | | | you the mental skills which are necessary in life in |
| comfortable manner. | | | | general because it provides you with immediate |
| Part of what leads to that ease of getting to | | | | and dramatic feedback upon your thoughts and |
| know someone is the shared passion for the | | | | actions. As you learn to control your emotions |
| game whilst another part is the amount of time it | | | | and direct your focus more appropriately, these |
| takes to play a round of golf together with the | | | | skills can then be put to good use in every other |
| gentle pace of the game. A further aspect is the | | | | area of your life. |
| fact that you can be almost any age or fitness | | | | Cause and effect are seen very clearly in golf, as |
| level and still be able to play golf. And then of | | | | your thoughts control your arms and then the |
| course your level of accomplishment doesn't | | | | club and ultimately the ball. The impact of your |
| affect the play of the other people who you are | | | | thoughts are therefore illuminated; you can see |
| playing with. Golf is pretty much unique in this | | | | very clearly what needs a little work or practice. |
| combination of facts. | | | | As your control of the golf ball increases, you |
| Cricket is another game which affords plenty of | | | | inevitably grow as a person. |
| time to get to know a fellow spectator, as a | | | | |