Golf's Spell

I find shaping my (weirdly) unique swing off Bali's enchanting golf courses a refreshing start for the new year, especially doing so with those good friends with no ego to display. But every time I play golf, I cannot help but feel for it as a minuscule manifestation of life ups and downs made compact in a few hours of hiking time.

Any assiduous golfer will know and readily appreciate how a golf game is full of pitfalls, and how it is such a challenge to overcome all odds. It is hardly all merry enjoyment and in face of adversity, one may even call into question the invisible hands of fate and "golf gods", and pray luck for mercy.

Nevertheless, one can only keep grinding on and focus on one shot at a time. When the muscle memory returns, the body switches to the right gear and with luck, the good shots will turn up.

Otherwise, the game remains a torture and temper may flare. Or running out of holes to play before the luck yet turns, one may even be tempted to get even with his poor fate by resorting to the low means of conveniently (if not mischievously) counting one or two strokes less, or the thick skin for assuming the playing partners' ready consent to mulligans.

But golf is of course not just a game of perseverance. It is a thinking game hardly ever without enough factors for cogitation - the direction, the lie, the wind, the trees, the rough, the green speed and all the rest of both audible and cognitive noises which happen to get to the mind - as one needs to find time for reflection on major or minor life issues every now and then.

When the desired shot eventually made its magic presence to save ones score (and dignity), any keen golfer would know the feeling - ecstasy - and identify himself with the glorious moment.

But one should be forewarned of Solon's teaching instead of getting too carried away with the fleeting sense of euphoria - fortune can be treacherously reversed all too readily whenever the ball lands on a bad lie (don't count the strokes until all holes are played)!

Paradoxically, perhaps the hardest part of golf is not so much about hitting the perfect shot, or chipping the critical save, or making the score-defining put, as standing tall in face of adversity with one temperament and integrity peacefully intact. Frankly, I don't always pass this test. But for one of my new year resolutions this time, I passed 3 games out of 4 in 3 days of intensive golf - I contained my temper ok and had good fun with my friends.