Golf Requires Discipline

“Those who have an intense discipline get results quickly.” -Patañjali Yoga Sūtra I:21

Why state the obvious? Because if we don’t love it, we’ll never work hard enough to be great.

If we are going to attempt to thrash a little white sphere and catapult it across 500+ yards of grass with a tiny metal thing on the end of a stick to a small 4-1/4 inch hole in the ground 18 times, it’s going to take some self-discipline.

Self-discipline provides the energy for practice, to establish quality repetition, and build new muscle-memory. It moves us past the frustrations and frictions that come with swing changes and mental upgrades. Discipline is the fire to do the work even when we don’t feel like it.

Whether it’s correcting our 30-yard slice or changing an unhealthy habit, may we practice with enthusiastic energy and self-discipline. (Shantih Path Mantra, Line 3)

Dodie Mazzuca is the author of “Golf Sūtras,” “Daily Golf Tap-Ins,” and founder of Golf PROformance. She teaches golf lessons, golf yoga workshops, and mindfulness for golf programs in Santa Cruz, CA.