 updated 5/8/24 Most beginner golfers think the sport has to be easy to learn because it looks easy. You hit the ball and get it into the hole, how hard can it be? The idea of the game is easy but the technique and discipline behind the game can be difficult to grasp. Many focus on the full swing, specifically the tee shot with the driver because they want to see how far the ball will travel. Smart golfers think about the second and third shots. They think about lay ups, bails outs and even stingers. Around the greens you learn how to bump and run or use a flop shot to your advantage. If these terms are sounding foreign to you, then you are missing out on the rich levels of diversity the game of golf offers when you play. Golf will stretch your imagination if you let it. It will allow you opportunities to think about angles and geometry in a way you never thought you would. What might be an obstacle for one player can actually be a help to another because of their ability to adapt to situations. The more you play, the more you will learn about your ability to think creatively and overcome while working towards your next best score on the course. Persevere through physical challengesGrowing up I played several sports including football and I was considered an elite athlete because I put in the effort on and off the field. I dedicated a lot of time to physical training in the gym building strength. It was very rewarding to attain strength goals so I decided to push myself even more by becoming a competitive power-lifter. This pursuit caused a lot of wear and tear on my shoulders that materialized when I decided to become a golf professional. The more I played the more pain I experienced but I was not willing to let the past influence my future. I did as much as I could with home remedies until I met a personal trainer that had experience with my injury. She developed a program of exercises and therapies that allowed me to gain a better range of motion. It has been nearly five years and I am finally starting to play good golf. Recently, I have been plagued with some hip issues that are pretty common for golfers and if I don't warm up well I can experience back pain for days. My trainer has moved on to some bigger endeavors so I have had to take control of my exercise routine. It is a commitment that means doing what it takes so I can play this game that I love. PERSEVERE THROUGH Mental CHALLENGESPERSEVERE THROUGH CircumstancesBack 2020, when the new management at the county golf courses decided that I was not a good fit for their programs, I did not know what was ahead. I knew I would be teaching somewhere. Initially that was in a park under the cover of trees. Seriously, I found a quiet shady spot with enough room for my net and some short game tools. It was the perfect spot to work with my junior students and they did not mind at all. As a matter of fact, they loved it. It wasn't a fancy golf course, but they were progressing and they continue to do so at the Golf Learning Center at Commons Park in Royal Palm Beach. I am sure that there are golf professionals out there that think less of me because I am not teaching at a golf course. I have also lost a few students since then because they want to learn in those facilities. I am fine with all of it because I love where I am, I love what I do, I love teaching. When you love what you do, you find a way to persevere.
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AuthorGlen Beaver 
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