Change is Hard

Kim Anders
Director of Instruction
John Jacobs Golf Schools and Academies Estrella del Mar Golf and Beach Resort
Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico, AZ
jkanders4@gmail.com

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About a month ago, my Senior Men’s Group was having lunch after their round and one of the guys called me over – seems the session I had with him three months ago isn’t working anymore and he wanted to ask about a refund! His buddies laughed and said they want refunds, too.

I had seen him hit a couple of shots earlier in the week and noticed he was back to his old stuff. Several other guys I had worked with jumped in saying they too were playing their same old game. 

What’s happening with your game? He says, “Well, I’m playing like I used to.” His buddies chime in saying their games are back the way they used to be, as well. Are you still working on the two things we did when we were together and you hit so many good shots?  Silence….long, uncomfortable silence… for them!

“Well, not really. It worked when I did it but it didn’t really…. feel…right.” A couple others throw in their support with, “Me, too. It felt good when I did it right but some of the time I hit bad shots and they felt terrible, so I guess I went back to my old swing. It feels normal.”  

Fellas, didn’t I tell you it probably wasn’t going to feel “great” right away? “Yes”. Didn’t it feel good AND easy when you made a good swing? “Yes.” As long as you stuck with the game plan and TRIED to do what we worked on, didn’t your bad shots go longer and straighter than they used to? “Yes.”

So, what am I missing guys? You did hit some shots that went a lot longer than usual AND it was easier, AND your bad shots went longer and straighter than normal, yet you decided to go back to your old method, lose more balls, shoot higher scores, and need more Ibuprofen. I don’t get it.

They start talking amongst themselves, “You were hitting it good for a while…I cleared the lake on 3 for the first time ever….”.  Then one guy quietly said, “We got caught up in the game between us all and forgot about discipline, didn’t we?”  

The original four students are back with me as well as 3 others that were at the table that day. They are all playing better and having more fun, and using more discipline.   

Golf is hard. Changing your game is real hard. It’s usually worth it. Stick with it!  

Kim Anders is a PGA Professional at Estrella del Mar Golf Community residing in Mazatlan, Sinaloa Mexico. You can reach Kim via email at jkanders4@gmail.com.