I nearly always walk a course when I play. It seems that all my best and most memorable rounds occur when I walk. When I walk I see more, hear more, focus more, and relax more. It doesn't hurt that I could use the exercise too.



Jeffrey A. Rendall includes excerpts in an article at GolfTheMidAtlantic.com from several interviews he's done with Rees Jones, who shares that, "you pace yourself when you walk, and you actually start feeling the hole. You have to 'feel' the hole in order to play a complete round of golf and I think walking really gives you a better opportunity to enjoy the visual landscape -- because I call a golf course a nature walk to play on... Golf is an escape. It's getting away from the travails of life, and if you concentrate hard enough, you will, even mentally, get away from all your worries. But if you're in a hurry, it's not really what golf's supposed to be. Golf's supposed to be a form of relaxation."

For me, golf is not only a form of relaxation, but provides the opportunity to be out in nature - to experience sunshine and rain, to feel strong winds and mild breezes, to listen to chirping birds, rustling leaves and burbling brooks, to smell freshly cut grasses and flowers in bloom, and to observe a variety of birds and trees, scenic landscapes and colorful skies.

When I walk, I'm much more likely between shots to become aware of and appreciate this beauty, which quiets my mind, and better prepares me for my next shot. Not only does this communion with nature give me peace and enjoyment, it makes me more aware of my intended target, relevant course conditions and subtle breaks on greens. It gets my mind off me, my game, and my expectations, and makes possibile extraordinary shots and rounds.

Bob Weisgerber shares in an article at Golf Today Magazine, that "Golf courses are the product of owners and architects working with a canvas that God gave them... Blending the wildlife, the endlessly varied vegetation, the atmosphere, and the optical perspective of a thoughtfully designed golf course can be nearly mystical in its impact on the human psyche. It is more, much more than a game. It is a fresh new experience that enriches your life and your feeling of belonging to a world of wonder."

Labels: Articles, Beauty, Bob Weisgerber, Nature, Rees Jones, Walking