Why Golf Is A Gentleman's Game
Golf is a gentleman's game but played by all. We dress appropriately in collared shirts, long trousers and fancy spiked shoes. We keep quiet when your partner or opponent, depending on what type of game you're playing, is taking his shot. We shake hands before each game, wishing each other good luck. We shake hands after the game, win or lose. Golf is played by men and women of all ages. In golf, we compete against each other and sometimes play together in teams. The fact that we’re handicapped according to our skill level, makes the game open and available for everyone to play against each other. I’m what’s known in golf terms as a “scratch golfer”, no it doesn't mean I scratch all over the course! It means my handicap is zero, basically, I’m not handicapped when playing against other players. I have to play a round equal to par for the course, to be playing “on my handicap”. This in short means that when I’m playing against an eighteen handicapper, that player will be able to play eighteen shots over par and it will still equal my level par round when converted to points. Thus, whether I’m playing against a man of my age or a little boy of 10 years old, we are equals when competing against each other.
Golf teaches honesty, integrity, and good sportsmanship. A junior golfer gets taught the basic values of honesty, integrity, and good sportsmanship when playing and learning to play golf. You are always playing against yourself and the course, not really the other players. They are there, they’re competing, but you’re playing together trying to shoot the lowest round and stepping out as the winner of the day. Some basic rules of golf; play the ball as it lies, which means just that! Whether you find your ball on the fairway or up in a tree, you have to play it as you find it. If you can’t, you have options available at a cost, usually, a penalty shot or two, depending on the scenario. You as a player must help your opponent search for their lost ball, you congratulate each other on a good shot and also feel bad for them when a bad shot ends up in the water. You play alone, your opponent doesn’t follow you around the course and we trust in each other’s honesty that the correct score will be written down on the scorecard. Yes, you do count the shots, but you don’t check if he dropped an extra ball without penalty or kicked his ball to a better playing position. You trust his integrity to be an honest player. After the game, we shake hands and thank each other for the game, good or bad, and congratulate the winner accordingly.
It’s easy to be dishonest when nobody’s watching. It is so easy, just kick the ball to a better position or drop a new one because you couldn’t find the original. But, how are you going to feel afterward? You've been taught the value of honesty and integrity since starting this wonderful game. Deep inside yourself, you must and most probably will feel some guilt. And what if you get caught? Everybody in the club will know that you are a cheat! Nobody will want to play with you anymore and when the union gets word of your cheating, you’ll not be allowed to play in any official tournament! Oh, the shame!
In conclusion, I would like to reiterate my statement that golf is a gentleman’s game, but played by all. Personally, my whole family plays golf, myself, my wife and our three boys. We've all played it since a very young age, except for my wife, she’s more of a tennis player. My eldest son has made golf his career. Teaching him the basic values of honesty, integrity and good sportsmanship has earned him compliments from many older people in the community, not just the golfers. “Your son is such a well-behaved boy and always makes the time to properly great us” or “he is so well dressed when walking onto the course” are just some of the compliments I've received. Once golf is in your blood and you have accepted it as part of your DNA, it is difficult to not respect the game and the rules and etiquette it deserves.
