Perseverance - The Fifth |
Separating the Good from the Great
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| by Jeff Troesch |
 In four of my 2006 columns, I wrote about
four words that begin with the letter P that
I believe to be critical for young golfers to
achieve their golf goals. Those four are:
being Present, being Prepared, being
Positive, and being Patient. In the next few
months, I will add some more “Ps” to the
list. This month’s word is perseverance.
I am often asked by parents and players alike
what one characteristic separates the good
from the great players. I answer without
hesitation; “perseverance”. Every player
faces adversity and every player struggles to
master this very challenging game. The great
players face each trial as an opportunity to
battle through their own limits and to
continually fight despite what sometimes
feels like difficult odds.
Everyone can do the things that are easy.
The best players do the things that are
difficult, and they do not allow themselves
to become discouraged if they are initially
unsuccessful. Their response to
golf’s “tests” is to keep working hard and
use the wisdom that comes from making errors
to their future advantage. Lesser players
get frustrated, make excuses, blame outside
influences, and shirk responsibility. Great
players own their own failures and their
successes and they make a conscious choice to
keep going forward.
When faced with difficult circumstances, how
much do you persevere as a player? The
decision you make in your reaction to
hardships in this game can make the
difference between you achieving your goals,
or missing them altogether. What choice will
you make?
“Nothing in the world can take the place
of persistence and perseverance. Talent will
not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful
individuals with talent. Genius will not;
unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.
Education will not; the world is full of
educated derelicts. Persistence,
perseverance, and determination alone are
omnipotent.” Calvin Coolidge
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