How to Play a Gratitude Golf Game

To play the gratitude game

1. Imagine approaching your playing partners and saying “I would like your help to play a grateful golf game the first day of spring and for all of us to focus on what we are grateful for while playing the round.”

2. Your gratefulness can begin at home, by contemplating on what you like about your golf equipment. Then at the course, what do you like about the clubhouse, the course, what do you like about your playing partners. Look for the good and you will see it reflected back.

3. A great way to begin your day on the golf course is to bow to Mother Earth. This way we humble ourselves before her to teach us the lessons for the day. This is a similar act in Martial Arts the opponents use they bow to each other before they begin. Although we don’t view the golf course as an opponent, but as our teacher and playing guide. We can use a yoga move called the Yoga Mudra pose to set the intention of the day. To others it just looks like a pre-game stretch but it is the beginning of sacred play. We bow forward and silently say Thank you to Mother Earth for the opportunity to play upon her.

4. Think about how children learn, by playing games, this does not stop ever, but we view ourselves as adults and we need to be serious, let that go for one day. Take Golf seriously, but yourself lightly. Golfers are very lucky to continue to learn by playing. Golf, just like life, is filled with paradoxes and a lot of the time we only need to change our perception to be happier and more grateful.

For instance instead of viewing the sand and water as obstacles this day. Another way to view them is an opportunity to play better golf. If you land in the sand, you can say “I am grateful for the opportunity to practice with my wedge.”

5. The breaking down of negative habits will not be accomplished with one game, so please be gentle with yourself if they do come up.

As a reminder to yourself, know that the willingness to play a gratitude game is more important then the overall outcome. When we are grateful, we prove to ourselves we are FULL OF GREATNESS, and you are one step closer to becoming your own encouraging coach.

If the weather, work or some other reason prevents a day of playing or go to the Driving Range- Make an imaginary golf game Gratitude list. And reread it before you play your first game of the season.