Misinterpreting "Struggle"

Dr. Norman Vincent Peale was one of this nation's finest motivational speakers. His book: The Power of Positive Thinking was a staple on many a bookshelf in the home, or on the desks of powerful corporate leaders. In one of his later writings, Peale opined that he felt our modern-day society was robbing our youth of one of the greatest

educational tools they could ever find.....

Struggle.

Peale felt that there was/is nothing wrong with a person experiencing hardships or challenges since it is from that reality that we are refined and restructured for a greater purpose - either for ourselves, or for other people. Its hard to argue against Peale's assertions. We certainly don't want people to suffer greatly for the payoff of advanced skill acquisition; but we should learn at a very early age that failings and loss (if properly understood) can teach us and motivate us to scale the heights to achievement. Yet somewhere along the way, our culture came to believe that the pain of accumulating knowledge far outweighed the lessons learned, and so we set out trying to ease the pain and pressure that often defines our challenges.

Nowhere is this battle more easy to witness then when we examine the hue and cry that we hear when it comes to understanding and following the Rules of Golf. Golf is an ancient game - far older than the games of (American) football or baseball. While it had been played for centuries prior, golf's first written testament of rules was from the mid-1700's. From that point of its initial: "13 Articles and Laws", the rules of golf have since been expanded and refined to take the shape that they are now structured. Today, 28 rules are defined with many a sub-set for each specific rule. And for good measure (so as not to be viewed as absolutely rigid), The Royal and Ancient Golf Club and the United States Golf Association - the two governing bodies of golf - gather every four years to make the changes necessary to the rules so as to keep the game moving forward with respect for the past. Of course when I say "changes", what I

really mean are "tweaks" since the rules of the game has maintained its general structure for centuries.

In 2013, Tiger Woods once again made headlines as he often does, but this was not so much for his brilliant play (albeit no Major Championship wins) as his gaffes in terms of the rules. Woods violated the rules not once...not twice...but THREE TIMES. Twice he admitted as much that he didn't know the rules (somewhat alarming given the amount of competitive golf he has played in his life); the other time he knew the rule in question, he just didn't believe that he had actually violated the rule. I am not going to get into the specific of what those rule violations were, or how arguably the greatest golfer of our time could make these errors 3 times in one season - what I want to discuss is the reaction from the public in regards to these missteps.

I am sure that we are all familiar with Wood's private life lapses in judgment that knocked him off the pedestal of being not just the greatest golfer, but the greatest athlete and most admired sportsman in the world. I know people's unwillingness to forgive/forget what he did factors into people judging him more harshly for these rule violation matters. But what I am also hearing loud and clear is golfers - and everyday people as well - believing that the rules of golf, as they are currently structured, are too difficult to follow and do not fully represent the way the game is played in 2018.

What these protesters of the rules are saying is that the rules no longer need "tweaking", but rather a significant overhaul so as to make the game easier to play within the rules, thereby more enjoyable for all be they professional or simply a novice.

Allow me to give you an alternative perspective on this matter.

I have been a high school girl's golf coach for 26 years. Among the principles I structure our program around is being thoroughly knowledgeable regarding the Rules of Golf. We have classroom sessions, watch videos and DVDs, and ultimately take tests regarding the rules - of which they must pass at an 80% or better score to be eligible to play. Believe me....I have heard and seen it all. The level of boredom in the classroom settings is off the charts (nodding-off in lecture is not an uncommon sight for me). Of course I also get the relentless whining that learning the rules is tooooo hard.

I will readily admit that the Rules of Golf are long, tedious, ponderous, anal, and quite simply difficult to FULLY grasp.

But that does not allow you to be excused for violating a rule because you deem the rules themselves as being too hard. I'm sorry that you feel they are difficult to understand and use....but they are in place to protect the dignity and honor of the game and allow the game to be played (at all levels of skill) with great integrity.

I have dozens of anecdotal stories that illustrate just how valuable our commitment to understanding the Rules of Golf by our players has provided them not only an advantage in competitive play, but the honor and respect they receive from their peers and opposing coaches. It has even gone so far as to have an opposing coach tell his golfers that if they have a question about the rules, ask the MVHS Team....they will know.

If I didn't demand that my golfers "suffer" and learn the rules at a level beyond what a normal HS golfer has, we never would have gained the positive reputation we currently have. I most certainly could have enabled them and acquiesced to there bellyaching - for the sake of my own sanity - but they would not have discovered that lessons learned in the crucible of struggle are far more rewarding than victories "won" along the path of wavering principles.

And this is where life and sport intersect....

For to cast stones at the rules and standards of our games, or for our duty of civil responsibility, is an absolute waste of physical and intellectual energy. It is one thing to look at our rules/laws and feel they are difficult to follow; its quite another to lash out and demand an easier reality. If that is your chosen perspective, then you have two choices: (1) work on changing the rules/laws for the better of all, or (2) work harder on adhering to the rules/laws we have before us.

Remember: You do not have a right to not have challenges.....and challenges encountered does not a "victim" make.

There are no "victims" on the MVHS Girl's Golf Team....let's hope that all golfers (and the population as a whole) can have that same perspective.