One of the most captivating aspects of golf is that it has transcended to something beyond a simple physical sport. Its positioning as a “tough mental game” stems from its unique form of play where “the enemy” is not another person to be conquered, but rather the environment (such as the golf course), or more strangely, oneself. It is commonly known that “most of the best golfers in the world employ ‘mental coaches’ (otherwise known as sports psychologists) to help them with their game”. Furthermore, the idea that golf is partly metaphysical has grown such that some people consider the game of golf as a method of self-discovery and transcendence – ultimately a lesson or metaphor for life.

An example of this can be found in Deepak Chopra’s book, Golf for Enlightenment: The Seven Lessons for the Game of Life. The book combines the fictional story of a man (Adam) receiving golf lessons from a mysterious woman, along with “the relationship of golf to a happier, more spiritual life”, utilizing the “seven life principles” outlined below:

1. Be of one mind
2. Let the swing happen
3. Find the now and you’ll find the shot
4. Play from your heart to he hole
5. Winning is passion with detachment
6. The ball knows everything
7. Let the game play you

This may seem confusing or even ludicrous, but the idea of golf as an allegory for how to live life is not an anomaly. Rather it is part of an entire movement of numerous titles including:

• Zen Golf: Mastering the Mental Game
• Golf’s Mental Hazards: Overcome Them and Put an End to the Self-Destructive Round
• Yoga for Golfers: A Unique Mind-Body Approach to Golf Fitness
• Beyond the Fairway: Zen Lessons, Insights, and Inner Attitudes of Golf

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