Attritional Golf

Inevitably, for me at least, a long round of golf becomes an internal battle of attrition and mindfulness. We’ve played four days in a row now. At the best of times, I can be frustratingly incompetent on the course. With fatigue, it becomes inevitable.

Horrific shots are simply baked into the equation of stepping foot on the tee box. Consecutive bad shots, and despondency, though, are not. I can always dictate how I respond.

So, golf poses a great challenge in mindfully returning to the present. The reality that each shot is entirely independent of the last. That it doesn’t really matter all that much. An acknowledgment of everything beyond you and that little white thing. The green grass. Blue skies. Great company.

I know I’m never going to set the world on fire with my play, but I can decide how to approach that mediocrity. It’s been fun. The game is hard enough. I don’t need to wear myself down, too.