What Makes a Good Golpher?

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Most people think the definition of a true golfer is someone who is very talented, has the best equipment, and wins most of the time. On the contrary, I believe an outstanding golfer can be defined as one who doesn't cheat, knows all the rules by heart, works hard at practicing, and never gives up.

"Golf is the hardest game in the world to play, and the easiest to cheat at." According to Dave Hill, a professional golfer from Tennessee. Unlike football, where there are referees watching your every move, it is much easier to cheat without anybody noticing. For example, in a tournament, if you are underneath a tree and nobody can see you it is very tempting to kick it out from below. It is very hard to override that temptation. But, if you don't and you are caught, you will always be remembered as a cheater.

Knowing all the rules in golf is a very good trait to have. By learning the rules, you have an advantage against other players when there is a ruling in your favor that will save you a couple strokes. Also, whenever you are involved in a situation in which you know that if you find your lost ball, it will cost you more strokes than if you didn't find it. Having knowledge of the rules is a very distinctive quality to have because it can save yourself many strokes as well as saving your headaches later on.

A person who practices a lot and works hard at improving his game is the type that I feel is really a true golfer. As May Hezlet once said, "No golfer can ever become too good to practice." To have the motivation to prepare you for an endless amount of tough shots during a round is wonderful. For example, lets say you have a one-stroke lead in the Master's and you have a very difficult shot in which you must carry the ball 20 yards, and keep it within putting distance to keep your lead. If you hadn't practiced this shot, most likely you wouldn't carry the whole distance. But, if you did practice, it would take a lot of pressure off yourself and you would most likely succeed.

As Arnold Palmer once said, "I've always made a total effort, even when the odds seemed entirely against me.

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