In a recent article at Golf Today Magazine, Bob Fagan contemplates the influence of Golf's Higher Plane. Fagan maintains that although the mental and physical sides of your game are necessary to excel at golf, they are not the only keys to success - you also need a solid spiritual side.


Photo by lesleemitchell at flickr

Fagan believes we continually attract either positive or negative energy to us. Those who truly excel in any endeavor somehow attract the positive energy more often. He goes on to define this Law of Nature as The Law of Attraction. Simply stated, you attract everything into your life - eagles, double bogeys, friends, accidents, teachers, life lessons, money, health, you name it... We are all nothing more than energy, and our thoughts create feelings, which emanate energy into the universe. That energy attracts like energy back to us.

Michael Murphy in his 1972 classic, "Golf in the Kingdom" writes glowingly about the joys of playing golf through the spirit and the effects of doing so. Fagan states that the secret to Shivas Irons' and Tiger Woods' success is The Law of Attraction.

Printer Bowler studies these laws in depth in his book, The Cosmic Laws of Golf. As Bowler began to observe life through the lens of these laws, he could see how their use or abuse determines the relationships we have with ideas, each other, and all the games we play. Outside the law, golf becomes a renegade that steals our dreams and buries them in the wilderness of anxiety. Within the law, it's a fascinating course that can lead to self-realization - as it turns us inside out, it reveals what we really believe about ourselves and shows us where we need to make peace in our world.

Bowler proposes for your consideration and discovery some proven and useful answers on how to apply the fruits of Self-discovery to the playing fields of golf. He shares, "the journey to self-mastery is mysterious, rampant with the hazards and bunkers of our own demons - a thrilling challenge to the sincere seeker, a confounding maze of obstacles and torment for the idly curious... Trust that you are creating your experiences - as a way your soul has chosen to teach you about your choices and beliefs. If you aren't getting the results you expect, take a gut-check to see if you truly want it because: You always get what you accept and believe you are."

Bowler states, "If you really want to get better, accept your present golf game for what it is here and now, then consider what you want to do about it and make a serious commitment, stop reacting and start creating the game you're dreaming about." He advises that, "all we need to do is trust the quiet, powerful voice of our own heart over all others. And be willing to act it out without doubt or hesitation. This willingness triggers an immense array of abilities that have been waiting ages for the call - that is, trust and believe in oneself - to come forth."

Fagan closes by saying, "we have only been scratching the surface of human performance and golfing excellence. Those who specialize in swing mechanics and mental coaching will continue to be integral to our success and enjoyment of golf. Add to that, however, a third area, the platform that enhances the first two, the spiritual side through The Law of Attraction, and you will find your life and your golf elevated to a position you may have never realized possible."

Labels: Articles, Attraction, Bob Fagan, Books, Cosmic Laws of Golf, Golf in the Kingdom, Printer Bowler

"You’ll come away from the links with a new hold on life, that is certain if ye play the game with all yer heart." -- Shivas Irons

I'm currently rereading Golf in the Kingdom by Micheal Murphy. I'm drawn to its unique insight into the game of golf and the spirit with which it can be played. Shivas’ reminder that "your handicap is not an exact mirror of your soul, it is your relation to your score that really counts," reminds us that the game can be about self-discovery instead of just about performance.


Surreal by insight32 at flickr.com

Golf is played at many levels and for many reasons, but as Murphy shares, "Golf is first a game of seeing and feeling. It can teach you stillness of mind and a sensitivity to the textures of wind and green. Golf is also a game to teach you about the messages from within, about the subtle voices of the body-mind. And once you understand them you can more clearly see the ways in which your approach to the game reflects your entire life."

That's what golf offers at its deepest level, that opportunity to discover more of who we are and to evolve towards who we can be. Instead of playing golf as a simple pursuit of recreation or competition, golf can inspire us toward inner growth. For, as Flower A. Newhouse shares, "evolution is working on us, chiseling and refining us, bringing all its tools of experience to bear on us." And golf is one of evolution's tools!

After rereading this novel, I discovered the Shivas Irons Society, which was formed fifteen years ago in response to the popularity of the book and the outpouring of letters from readers. This non-profit society is dedicated to furthering the game of golf as a mindful pursuit and as a tool for personal growth and transformation. Having a similar philosophy, I decided to become a member. I'm looking forward to meeting some of the 1000+ members who share a common love for the game and a respect for golf's deeper dimensions.

I've also been inspired to reevaluate my goals. Instead of focusing solely on shooting lower scores and lowering my handicap, I'll place more attention on raising my awareness and developing my character. It doesn't hurt that the self discoveries and transformations that I've already made have also improved my game! Approaching the game with a humble spirit has helped me the most in making such swift progress. The challenge now is to stay the course and not become focused on those results, but continue on the path of self-conquest that enabled those results.

Labels: About, Books, Flower A. Newhouse, Golf in the Kingdom, Michael Murphy, Shivas Irons Society