Living Life in a 'Golf Now’ Moment –Warning: This is not a story about golf – well, maybe just a little.

By: Danny R. Gall

March 2025

Read Time: 2 ½ minutes

Full disclosure:  I suck at golf. 

I have been golfing for several years and can remember clearly a decision I made when determining whether I should quit golf altogether or give it a real college try to improve my game. 

I chose the latter, bought myself a half-decent set of clubs, and really tried to up my game. This included spending several hundred dollars, taking a few lessons, reading as many golf books as I could, playing as much as I could, spending time at the driving range and putting green, and listening to several strong golfers on their keys to golf success. 

And I am here to tell you my game still sucks.  So, one might ponder why bother?   

Well, it’s an interesting question that I have grappled with over the years, and I can honestly say that it’s because golf is the only sport or activity that has allowed me to leave all my cares, worries, anxiety and troubles behind for those few short hours while on the golf course.

Don’t get me wrong. I mutter to myself when I strike the ball poorly and celebrate when I make a good chip or putt, but that is merely a result of living in the ‘now’—which is why I love golf. 

During my time on the golf course, I am not worried about the phone call I have to make, the emails I didn’t read, or the work I still need to do. All I do is think about the shot I have to make NOW.

I am not dwelling on the poor shot I just made, or putt that I missed – I am focused on what’s right in front of me.  My next shot!

Which brings me to why I am telling you this story. 

Golf allows me to live in the moment—the now—not the past or the future, but right now.

I find it to be a good metaphor/analogy about how I should live my life. 

If only we could stop thinking about past mistakes or what we should have done or said. If only we could stop worrying about what’s around the corner, what might happen in the future, or what others think about us and just focus on the immediacy of the moment—the ‘right now’—how much more peaceful and appreciative we would be if we capitalized on the moment rather than the past or what the future may or may not have in store.

Now, I know that this is easier said than done, and Lord only knows how much pushing and pulling, to-ing and fro-ing, we do as a result of external forces, but if we just think about ‘now’ and enjoy this moment how much more grateful we will be as a result.    

As I am writing this, I am not thinking about yesterday's poor golf score or the worries I have ahead of me because I am focusing on ‘right now,’ and I can assure you everything just seems all right at this moment—just for right now.

When you are troubled or worried, you are not living in the now – you are living in the past or in the future. 

It’s time to take your next shot.  So, focus on making it a good one.  It might be the only one you get.

p.s. This leads me to a video I saw about the concept of Now with Bob Proctor that you might enjoy… 

Dan is President of Danny R. Gall Consulting.  For more information on how you and your employees can begin living and working in the 'Now', find out more about Dan's workshop for your company and organization at dannyrgall@gmail.com