Playing The Game of Golf (Continued)

Rick is a good golfer and a good friend. “I’d like to work with you, Rick. When do you think you want to do this and how many days should we schedule?” I asked.

“I’ll get an airplane to pick you up and take you back home. I would like to have you stay three or four days. I’ll start working on the details if you say yes. The weather should be good the second week in May. Will that fit into your schedule?”

“Rick, that will be perfect. I’ll organize my schedule. This will be fun.”

As promised, Rick had a plane pick me up. He was on board and we had a good trip north. As soon as we arrived in Harrisburg, Rick looked at me, right into my eyes, and told me, “Don’t mess with my swing!” That was quite a caveat, especially since I was already in Pennsylvania when it was given.

Rick’s comment was typical of a good golf player. He did not want to become a worse golfer. He felt good about his ball striking and thought his swing should be left alone. “I have no intention of working on your swing. My job is to lower your scores, not mess around with your swing,” I said truthfully.

He smiled and we went to the golf course for a bite to eat before we played golf. We made plans for Rick’s golf school while we had lunch. It was a simple plan -- play golf together until I determined how Rick could lower his score by three shots each round.

We played 18 holes that afternoon, 36 the next day and 18 the next day. While Rick was at work the morning of the fourth day, I wrote his prescription for golf success. You will find that complete letter in Chapter 25. When Rick read the letter his eyes lit up with the “I understand” look. He couldn’t wait to get to the course to put the ideas to work.

There was never a chance Rick

would get worse before he got better

That afternoon’s round of golf was quite an experience for Rick. A game he had never imagined was now unfolding for him. We talked about every shot and every decision. He began to understand the planning and thinking needed to play golf well. What had been hidden from him all these years, even with his one handicap, began to be revealed.

I didn’t change his swing; I just taught him how to play golf, think and plan. There was never a chance that he would get worse before he got better. He could put these ideas into effect immediately and get immediate, positive results. Here is the letter that Rick wrote to me later that year.

Dear John,

First, let me tell you what a pleasure it was to be able to spend a few days with you again. Believe me, it turned out to be more than just renewing an old friendship.