David Leadbetter Online :: The World's Leading Golf Instructor

Introducing "LEAD's VIEWS"
a monthly column by David Leadbetter

Thanks for logging onto our website. We are continually updating and refining our site so I hope that you find it informative and useful.

To that end, I am really looking forward to writing a monthly piece to share with all of you golf enthusiasts. Topics could be about anything in the world of golf- instruction obviously being amongst them.

This month the subject is junior golf. Being on the board of the American Junior Golf Association - the country's leading junior organization and also having a full time junior academy down in Bradenton, which has about 200 youngsters attending on a full-time basis - junior golf is something near and dear to me.

I, along with other golfing celebrities was asked to write a letter to a young golfer offering advice on a playing the game. The letters will eventually form a book, with the proceeds going to the San Francisco Bay Area children's charity, The Good Tidings Foundation.

With the popularity of the game amongst young golfers and the potential financial rewards to the odd few player; who may make the grade professionally in the future. At a young age, many kids and even parents, I might add, need to look at the big picture. It is a game to be loved, to be played and to be enjoyed. It shouldn't be so serious that kids get to hate it and are burnt out by being forced to practice excessively. It may well be that the kid becomes a star, but I think it is wise to remember that all the great players, although they were guided and helped, really pushed themselves and certainly were not forced to do so.

It's great that kids take up the game; there isn't a finer sport in my opinion, because it really is a game that can be played for a lifetime. But at the same time, it's worth noting that kids will learn a lot about life from playing the game. Please pass this on to any young golfer and hey you might even learn something yourself!

Hit 'Em Well,

David L.

Below is the letter that David contributed to the sequel of Chuck Acquisto's book, Wisdom to Grow On:

Dear Nick,

I thought I would write to you to see if I could impart a few words of wisdom to a young golfer.

I have spent my adult life trying to help golfers of all levels to play this great game a little better. This resulted in good players becoming great players, average players becoming good players and poor players and beginners just becoming avid golfers. You know what they all have in common Nick? It is the desire to improve and see how far they could go. You see, you never really know what you can achieve in life or golf unless you give it your all and strive to do your very best.

The amazing thing about golfers Nick; is that you can look deep into their souls just by watching them play. Do they try their hardest, or do they give up? Do they have a positive outlook, or are they negative and bring everybody around them down? Do they stay calm, or do they get angry? Do they accept that they are responsible for their poor shots and bad scores, or do they make excuses and pass the blame? Do they realize that some days everything goes great and other days are just the opposite? Do they respect the rules, or do they break them whenever possible? You see Nick; these and many other traits that we see in golf-- we see in life. Golf exposes our weaknesses and our strengths. That is why it is such a great game… golf parallels life!

So, my advice to you is this: Learn to love and respect the game, be passionate and determined, learn about the games history, learn its fundamentals, adhere to the etiquette of the game, cherish your clubs - they will serve you well, enjoy your time practicing and playing, set goals, appreciate and take pleasure in playing with good or bad players, keep expecting the best- even when things are going badly. Aspire to be the best that you can be, no matter whether that leads you to playing on the Tour, going to college and playing golf, being on your high school team- or just simply beating your dad! And, most importantly, do it with honesty, integrity, humility, perseverance and a great attitude- all the qualities that the world's best golfers and truly successful people have in common. Above all else, keep a smile on your face and have fun... and remember; it's just a game - not life or death.

Remember how lucky and privileged we all are just to get to play this game. In a world of turmoil and strife, a golf course is just as it was a hundred years ago- a magical place, a landscape of great beauty where you are close to nature... a place where dreams are realized and lifelong friendships are made. For a period of time, all problems and issues simply melt away as you focus your attention on getting that little white ball into the hole!

Nick, my wish for you is that you have a life long love affair with golf, and that what you learn from the game you apply to your walk through life. If you can do that, you will have a truly memorable journey.

Yours in golf,

David Leadbetter

For more information or to purchase a copy of Wisdom to Grow On by Chuck Acquisto, click here.


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