After reading the post on Ben Hogan I decided to start a topic on the Great Words of Wisdom that I learned at the golf course!

First Off I grew up in Atlanta and played at a golf course where Luke Barnes was the Pro. Luke Barnes was Tommy Barnes brother who is associated with Bobby Jones and East Lake CC. Around the time of this learning experience, he had just started working with Larry Mize who went on to win Augusta a few year later.

Pardon the long drawn out explaniation but I need to set the stage correctly!

Luke was sitting at the Pro shop counter working on some paper work when I walked in to get a bag of range balls. I can remember it like yesterday!! He always seemed to have on this white Hogan type hat and was a man of few words. But when he spoke, people listened!!! He greated me and asked what I needed? As I was waiting on one if the assistanst to hand me the bag of range balls in flys this member who was one of the better players at the club!

He says, "Luke, Luke, I have found it!! I just shot 67 and I have found the Keys to the game of Golf"!!!

Luke looks up and pulls his glasses down with his fingers and he says, "Son, I recommend you NOT go to sleep tonight, becasue tomorrow it will be GONE"!!!

He pushes his glasses back up on his nose and goes back to work on his paper work!!! The two Assissant Pros bust out laughing!! I started laughing and the guy runs out of the Pro Shop all huffy!

As funny as it was, it was a profound statement from a great club Pro!

Couldn't be more true. Especially if you don't get to practice or play more than once or twice a week. Playing good golf is not like riding a bicycle.

I believe at no matter what level you are on, sometimes you find the keys for a brief moment, or for a round or two, but most of the times you are in the search of them.

And a beautiful search it is, too.

Right there's yer Words of Wisdom. Stianvm just nailed it.

Many, many years ago I played regularly with someone who (IMHO) was the worst golfer in the world at that time - worst for someone who played weekly anyway. He was my partner once and somehow one hole came out so that all we needed to win the hole was for him to 4 putt from 35' (these were not treacherous greens). We didn't win the hole.

He had a "golf truism" that I will never forget. And that was "well, if you are short then that means that your ball is closer".

You just had to play with this guy to understand the significance of that.

dave