Core Value: Courtesy

Apparently Reader's Digest is still around and earlier this year an article was published about the sixteen habits that polite people have in common, they are listed below:

1. They say "please" and "thank you."
2. They don't touch people without permission.
3. They can admit when they are wrong.
4. They don't ask overly personal questions.
5. They accept correction graciously.
6. They make others feel comfortable.
7. They don't interrupt.
8. They have polite body language.
9. They disagree without rancor.
10. They don't gossip.
11. They don't listen to gossip.
12. They listen more than they speak.
13. They treat the janitor the same as the CEO.
14. They're never passive aggressive.
15. They don't take joy in others' mistakes.
16. They know the difference between indoor and outdoor voice.

As I think about the culture that we live in today, it seems that we are starting to forget some of the basics of being courteous to one another.  What do you think?

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In golf, the person who had the best score on the previous hole is extended "honor" which means they tee off first on the next hole.  This is just one way that golfers extend courtesy to one another.  Another important way of extending courtesy is being mindful of time.  This starts with arriving at least ten minutes before your scheduled tee time and continues through the round by maintaining the appropriate pace of play for each hole.

​Being mindful of time should extend outside of the golf course as well.  This means showing up five to ten minutes before a scheduled appointment.  If you are running late for an appointment it is courteous to notify the person you were scheduled to meet so they can plan accordingly.  Amazingly, these two simple ways of extending courtesy are often neglected but they don't have to be forgotten.

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The core value of courtesy is a building block for sportsmanship.  In other words, you are incapable of displaying sportsmanship without courtesy which is defined as 'the showing of politeness in one's attitude and behavior toward others'.  This is especially important in life which is why I am very supportive of parents who cancel lessons when their junior golfer has not been courteous to them.  I will also do what I can in the following lesson to encourage better choices at home. 

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As you watch this video you may find that being courteous on the golf course is very similar to being courteous at home and in every day life.

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This is a classic filled with great reminders about being courteous.