[비즈한국] Not long ago, I received a text from my son who had gone out for a round. Since we don't usually exchange texts often, I wondered what was going on, but it turned out he had achieved his "life best" score of 81. He proudly sent me a picture of his scorecard. Looking at that card, it reminded me of a memory from a long time ago. Yes, I too had called my father first when I recorded my first score in the 70s. I started golf because of my father's suggestion. One day, he sent a full set of golf clubs to my house. Back then, I was almost a newcomer at my company and thought golf wasn't for me, but my father told me, "It's always better to start golf even one day earlier."
My father’s "romance"—a dream—was to play a round with his son. Of course, he achieved that dream. As time passed, he told me his next dream was for three generations, including his grandson, to walk the field together. That dream, he could not achieve. If he had lived just a few months longer, it would have been possible, but he passed away before that promise, leaving behind his son and his son’s son.
'Romance' is a wish. It is something you want to do or something you want to become. The word carries meanings of being highly "ideal" and "grand," which is why it sometimes feels like a massive, hard-to-reach dream. Once you start golf, everyone develops a romance as a golfer. As we stack our 'golf romances' in our hearts or carefully select them, we continue to walk toward our balls, the greens, and the holes today.
What are some golf romances? What are the things that make a golfer think, "If I could just do this, I would be truly happy"? Perhaps the first one is the score? For a golfer who just started, 'breaking 100' might be the dream, while for others, becoming a 'bogey player' is the goal. The ultimate dream for every golfer is to become a 'single-digit handicap golfer,' and once that is achieved, the dream of shooting '72' likely begins to grow in their heart. If you feel you have a talent for the game, or if you want to set a specific goal, 'passing the pro test' could be your dream. We often encounter stories of golfers who achieve the dream of turning pro after dozens of failures.
A specific 'partner' you want to play a round with could also be a romance. Wouldn't a round played by a couple, a father and son or mother and son, or a family of four including the in-laws be a cherished dream that makes for heartwarming and long-lasting memories? Yes, even if it’s not a luxury course, a round with people you like and love is bound to be a luxury round.
Playing a round with a golf pro you passionately support is the ultimate romance. Imagine a die-hard fan and fan club member of Park Sung-hyun playing a round with her. It might seem a bit obsessive, but perhaps being a caddie and carrying the bag for a golfer you support is a dream. While it seems unlikely to happen, just the thought of being Tiger Woods' caddie and discussing course strategy with him is enough to make anyone’s heart race.
Some golfers dream of playing at a storied course in Scotland, the home of golf. The thought of looking out over a centuries-old course from a centuries-old clubhouse while sipping a glass of Scotch whisky feels inherently romantic and "golf-like." Some golfers dream of living abroad for a month just for golf. Haven't you ever dreamed of a trip solely for golf in a place where the weather is the exact opposite of Korea's?
I have a friend who was so into audio equipment that he ended up building his own amplifiers. For others, the dream might be to dive into golf and create their own golf clubs, gear, or clothing. Whether or not it expands into a business, creating your own brand based on what you love is truly a wonderful thing.
As a human ages, a golfer ages too. Though I never thought about it in my youth, as one becomes a senior golfer, the dream of an 'age shoot' grows in the heart. An age shoot means recording a score equal to your age. If you shoot a 77 at 77 years old, or an 88 at 88 years old, wouldn't that be the ultimate achievement for a golfer, provided that certain conditions in life are met?
Even if it isn't a grand romance, 'I hope I can play the golf I love for a long time' can be a dream itself. It requires health, a certain level of financial stability, and partners to play with. Golfers carry a 'romance card' in their hearts, just like their life-best scorecard. We walk and walk on the field until we achieve that dream. What kind of 'golf romance' do you have? And at which hole are you currently standing in front of that dream?