The perfect swing

I come from a family of golfers. Me? I’ve never played nor have I ever been inclined to do so. I’ve always shared Rosie O’Donnell’s opinion of golf: “Golf is not a sport. Golf is people in ugly pants walking.” (It should be noted that I don’t share the vast majority of Rosie’s opinions, just that one.)

My son took to golfing at an early age. He has what family members and more than one seasoned golf professional have called a perfect, natural swing. I’ll have to take their word for it. I wouldn’t know one if I saw it, although I will say his golf swing is a thing of beauty. He can drive the ball 280-300 yards on a fairly consistent basis. Which is pretty impressive for a 13 year old. Or so I’ve been told.

But natural ability is not enough.

Excellence requires persistence and dedication.

Persistence and dedication comes from a passion to pursue a goal.

My son isn’t interested in playing golf right now, and because of cutbacks in school programs next year, there will be no golf team to try out for. No short term goal to strive for.

I hope my son takes up golf again someday soon, not because I want him to, or his dad or his grand dad or his aunts and uncles want him to.

But because he wants him to.

“Nothing in the world can take the place of perseverance. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”

~ Calvin Coolidge

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This post has been part of the One Word at a Time Blog Carnival: Swings, hosted by the lovely and talented Peter Pollock. Please visit his site to read more posts on the topic or link up one of your own at