Despite Mark Twain referring to it as “a good walk spoiled,” more people than ever are playing golf. In the U.S. in 2020, the National Golf Foundation says 24.8 million took to the greens, 2 million of whom were new to the game. Like all sports, it’s one in which, for most, improvements continue over years of practice and effort.
There are many devices and systems designed to improve swings, putting, and all other facets of the game. Time spent on the greens, however, is critical to developing a better game, but there is a caveat, of course. All sports and pretty much all activities, from playing a musical instrument to mastering physics, have a few “naturals”—those who seem born to the activity. The rest of us need instruction, and becoming a good golfer is a great example. What can be learned from friends, family, books, and YouTube videos has its limits.
