Focus on the Game at Hand
by Mariah Burton Nelson  

Last week, two Georgetown University golfers invited me to play. It became my own little Annika Sorenstam Challenge as I tried to keep up on a long course with players who are -- no offense to Sue, Sam, and Katie -- light-years better than my regular foursome.

While we played the front nine, I asked Christy Larrimore, a rising sophomore, and Connie Isler, a rising junior, about their majors, career goals, and pre-tournament routines. I chatted with their coaches, Leland Beckel and John Keyser, who gave me golf tips. I offered Leland swimming advice, demonstrating freestyle technique while waiting on the 5th tee.

My playing partners, by contrast, just played golf. They responded politely to my inquiries, and we celebrated good shots (I said "Wow" a lot). But they initiated zero chitchat. Heavy bags hoisted onto strong shoulders, they marched purposefully from one spot to the next, pursuing their goals. Christy wanted to straighten her drives; Connie sought a birdie or par on each hole. For them, golf is not a social occasion. It's not time to talk about yesterday ("Where did you grow up?") or tomorrow ("When's your next tournament?").

"I used to think about the clubhouse, and how all these people would congratulate me afterward," Connie explained, laughing. "It didn't work."

"What do you think about now?" I asked.

"Where I want the ball to go."

Now there's a good idea. Where do you want the ball to go? There's nothing wrong with social golf, or social life. No law against swimming on the 5th tee. But if you want the ball to go somewhere in particular, you'll need to stop fooling around with casual chatter, cell phones, instant messages, and other distractions -- and concentrate on clear objectives.

On the back nine, I caught on and shut up. I began to enjoy the freedom of focus, the serenity of single-mindedness. Did the ball magically start going where I wanted? No. But over time, I know such attention improves performance.

(As for my score that day? Let's just say that, like Annika's at the Colonial, it was "over par.")

Point #1:

When you play with purpose, you enjoy a respite from a multitude of demands and distractions.

Point #2:

Focus may not deliver immediate results. Like everything else, it takes practice.

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