As I approach my 50th birthday in just about two months, I find myself reflecting more frequently on how much has changed since growing up in Central New York. The world today is remarkably different. Technological advancements have transformed life in countless ways—from everyday activities like meals, shopping, and entertainment to business, manufacturing, and education. Anything imaginable can now be delivered right to your door. You no longer need to visit a movie theater for blockbusters or browse your local video rental store in the grocery store basement to find something interesting to watch at home. Calling friends or family happens from anywhere, without being tethered to a cord attached to the wall phone. And those phones we all carry now are far more than communication devices; for younger generations, the “phone” is everything except something to actually call someone on. Education and business increasingly rely on artificial intelligence—a trend many fear will only accelerate.

Golf team, my Junior Year, fall 1991. A much simpler time.

One of the best things about growing up in the ’80s and ’90s was genuine human connection. If someone disagreed with you, they had to express it directly to your face—no keyboard warriors to worry about back then, no comments section where people could bash someone without knowing them or fully hearing their perspective. Respect for others and their opinions was far more the norm.

As a preteen and teenager in the ’80s and ’90s, I became a golf fanatic. I played whenever possible, even finding ways to play during winter. I vividly remember splicing open golf whiffle balls, stuffing them with newspaper pieces, and taping them back up along the seams so they would stay atop the snow as we played a makeshift backyard course in boots and gloves. I was addicted and knew as early as middle school that I wanted to work in the golf business.

During those years, golf was simply about a set of clubs, balls, tees, the course, and your local PGA Professional. Driving ranges often had you retrieving your own golf balls, and concepts like a TopTracer Range setup seemed like science fiction from “The Jetsons.” Golf instruction happened between a student and a PGA Pro, in-person and without training aids, video capture, slow-motion swing analysis systems, or various apps. If you even said “apps,” people would think you meant appetizers like nachos or cheese fries. Those were the good old days—when persimmon woods still filled golf bags and equipment advancements came maybe once a year, not seemingly weekly as they do today.

A golf “celebrity” was a PGA or LPGA Tour star, not someone performing trick shots or filming themselves with buddies playing a nine-hole scramble. Doing that would have been pointless because there wasn’t yet a platform to showcase your videos to the masses. Instruction beyond lessons with the pro came from books or magazines and occasionally videos like Jack Nicklaus’s “Golf My Way,” Wally Armstrong’s “Gator Golf.” or “Bob Mann’s Automatic Golf.” Of course, these were all enjoyed on VHS or DVD…remember those?

Having worked in the game for nearly 30 years, I sincerely appreciate what once was. Simultaneously, I’ve fully embraced all the advancements in the game. As a coach, I’ve witnessed how technology helps guide my students toward their goals and how improvements in equipment, practice facilities, home simulators, and more have made golf more accessible. I appreciate golf YouTubers and influencers. I value forums like GolfWRX. I embrace social media that allows people to share their love of the game, celebrate triumphs, process tournament heartbreaks, and offer advice they believe might help others.

What I miss most about the past—and dislike most about our modern world—is the genuine human interaction and respect for others that once prevailed, not just in golf but in life generally. I intentionally work with fewer students in my coaching practice to provide that personal connection that seems increasingly rare. I love writing and sharing experiences on forums like GolfWRX and other outlets to help fellow golf enthusiasts. It’s disappointing, however, when some feel compelled to criticize others’ perspectives rather than offering thoughtful counterpoints civilly.

It’s often said that golf is a microcosm of life itself—something I still believe. As our world continues advancing at its rapid pace, my hope is that we can learn—or perhaps relearn—how to be more human to one another, both on and off the golf course. Only then will we recapture the ability to live simpler, less stressful lives, all while enjoying the advantages of today’s technology.

Reader, please support me by checking out my three weekly columns on RG.org. On Mondays, I present “The Starter,” which recaps the week gone by in golf. On Thursdays, I give you “Fairway Focus,” which previews the week to come in golf. And on Saturdays, I dish up the “Weekend Fore-cast,” a look at what’s on tap for the upcoming weekend.

Editor’s note: “My Take” will be an ongoing weekly series where Brendon shares his thoughts and opinions on various aspects of the game and industry. These are Brendon’s opinions and do not necessarily reflect those of GolfWRX, its staff, and its affiliates.