by Joyce Kazmierski LPGA Teaching Professional
As you read this, Annika Sorenstam will have already made her appearance in the PGA event in Texas. We will know if she made the cut and how she fared against a field of world-class men Professionals. Regardless of the outcome, we all have to give Annika credit for accepting this challenge and for using this as an opportunity to grow, in her quest to fulfill her potential. After her incredible performance in 2002, winning 123 tournaments worldwide, you do have to wonder what motivates the best player in the world. She is beyond playing golf “for the money,” and her still basically shy nature leads me to think that she’s not an egomaniac who craves attention. But I do know that she is a Libra (born 10/9/70) and Libras are all about the “ideal.” Ruled by Venus, the planet of relationships, Libras strive for harmony, diplomacy and balance. The balance Annika is seeking is within her own mind, knowing what she has control over (her own game/swing) and what she doesn’t (other golfer’s scores). The high ideals of the game of golf are very appealing to a Libra and they are gracious in defeat as well as in victory. Libras know that the harmony they seek can only be learned through experience and they are willing to accept challenges of all kinds. What we learn from her example is to take a look at our own potential. The dictionary defines “potential” as “capable of being but not yet realized” and “capacity for growth, development or progress.” Even though we haven’t dedicated our lives to the game, like Annika, we do play the game for some of the same reasons: we enjoy the outdoors, the camaraderie, and the built-in challenge of the game. Given unlimited time and resources, each of us has the potential to elevate our game to world-class status. But simply because we play the game, we can identify with Annika. We know how we react to a bad/good bounce, a bad/good shot, the wind/rain/heat/cold.
We play our best when we are in balance, not because we hit every shot perfectly (no one does!). Our best days on the golf course are the days we enjoy our playing companions, appreciate the beauty of a golf course, and take each shot for the challenge that it is. How wonderful that we have such a good role model in Annika... to affirm that effort is rewarded... that dedication is of value... that you don’t have to have the “killer instinct” to succeed... that the game of golf, like the game of life, is all about accepting the things you can’t change, having the courage to change the things you can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
 Joyce Kazmierski is a class A Teaching Professional in the Indianapolis area and co-owner of Sun Spirit Golf Tour (domestic and overseas trips). Joyce was an LPGA Tour player for 18 years and former President of the LPGA. She was elected to the National Collegiate Hall of Fame and to the Michigan State University Athletic Hall of Fame and is a member of Golf Collectors Society and a member of Keepers of the Green
|
