September 7, 2025
A few weeks ago, I was out on my favorite local golf course for a late Sunday round. The sun was shining, the pace was slow, and I had paired up with someone new. We were having easy conversation, enjoying the rhythm of the game — until an angry outburst pierced the quiet from two holes over!
A group had hit into another group, and tempers flared.
Profanity. Anger. Accusations.
I’ve run into angry golfers before, but this was… bad.
It was jarring — not just because of the volume, but because it reminded me of a time when that could’ve been me.
There was a time in my life when golf wasn’t about enjoyment at all — it was about the perfect shots and chasing that personal best score. While my anger wasn’t outward, it was definitely directed inward. I couldn’t handle a bad shot without tearing myself down. The frustration may not have echoed across the course, but it echoed loudly inside of me.
But that Sunday, something was different.
I noticed the anger, but I didn’t carry it with me. I felt the temptation to shake my head, to let his outburst sour the mood, even to mutter some self-righteous comments about golf etiquette. Instead, I returned to my breath, the feel of the club in my hands, and the companionship I was enjoying. His issue was not my issue!
Golf will test your patience — not just with your own swing, but with the actions of others. Just like life, people will sometimes “hit into us” — push too hard, disrupt our peace, or act in ways we think they shouldn’t. We can’t stop that from happening. What we can do is decide whether to feed the anger or to step aside and play our own game with presence.
Serenity isn’t the absence of conflict. It’s the ability to stay steady even when someone else’s storm passes through.
That day on the golf course, the man’s voice eventually faded behind me. The sun still shone, the conversation picked back up, and the game went on. And so did I — grateful, once again, for the gift of not reacting.
And by the way — my score wasn’t awesome that round. But I sure had a great afternoon.
Some people like to read, others like to watch. If video is more your style, I’ve shared this reflection on YouTube as well:
