I play golf with a very unusual group of guys. This particular group is composed of the most erudite gentlemen that you will ever run into. When we complete our journey around the course – and even during it, we have serious discussions. We do not blabber on about only getting three birdies, or discuss (ugh) politics, nor talk about the foibles of the opposite sex. No sir, this is one intelligent group.
For example the other day, one of the learned ones mentioned that he used to see articles and discussions that mentioned Confucius. Confucius was always being quoted about something – and he certainly did a good deal of talking in his lifetime so there was much to quote.
Then and there we determined to lower our standards a tiny bit and talk about golf – but only in accord with the philosophy of Confucius. This was not difficult to begin as we all had appropriate quotes of the loquacious one buried in our brains. One member immediately began a quote which went, “If you make a mistake and do not correct it, this is called a mistake”. Obviously, Confucius was referring to the fact that when you hit a mighty blow off the tee and it goes to the right across another fairway into a lake then a correction is in order. Golf has it its own terms and this is called a mulligan which is to be used so you do not end up with a mistake. Our careful research has shown that Confucius put no limitations or correcting mistakes, so good golfers should so note.
Several of members mentioned the well-known quote – “When anger arises think of the consequences”. It is obvious that Confucius played either golf or a similar game. How else would he know that it is not good form to throw your seven iron into the pond just because you went into a sand trap. Throwing into a pond in Florida is particularly bad as there may be an alligator in the pond who is riled up when your seven iron hits him on the head. Think of the consequences lads. True Confucius probably had a situation like the above when he commented, “To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short”. In other words hit the green, dummy. (It should be noted for accuracy that Confucius would never use a common term like “dummy”.) He would have had a more distinguished word, but it would have been in Chinese which not many people would understand.
There is a favorite among many of the lads who quoted it while looking at one member. It went, “He who acts with a constant view to his own advantage will be much murmured against”. In other words, there is usually one individual in a golf group who you do not put in charge of the score card. This is true especially on the line where his score appears. It does cause murmuring! Then, there is a common quote, “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop”. This naturally applies to the group in front of you – except that sometimes they do stop!
Finally, let me mention one of my favorite sayings by Confucius, “Never give a sword to a man who cannot dance”. There can probably be a number of interpretations to this quote. However, he was clearly referring to the fact that there are people out there using a golf club who shouldn’t have one!
Barry Evans writes about Life in The Villages for Villages-News.com
