A poor shot can affect more than a golfer’s score. Frustration can carry into the next hole, leading to a rushed swing or a risky attempt to recover a lost stroke. Playing well takes practice, but it also requires patience and the ability to move on from mistakes. For Larry H. Weltman, a Toronto-based professional and golf enthusiast, those demands are part of what makes the game appealing.
Golf gives players time to think between shots. In tennis, players have to react quickly to the next ball. In soccer, they’re responding to movement around them. A golfer has more time to assess the situation and decide how to play.
A round lasts several hours, with much of that time spent walking, waiting, and preparing. Those breaks can be enjoyable, but they can also leave a player dwelling on a missed putt or worrying about a difficult hole ahead.
Players with similar swings may respond differently to those moments. One puts a mistake aside and prepares for the next shot. Another stays frustrated and makes a decision they might otherwise avoid. Managing that response helps golfers use the skills they’ve practiced.
Most rounds include mistakes. A drive misses the fairway, a chip comes up short, or a putt catches the edge of the cup. Patience helps a golfer keep one poor shot from becoming several.
After hitting a drive into the trees, a player may be tempted to aim through a narrow gap to regain the lost distance. If the shot fails, they could be left in an even worse position. Chipping back to the fairway may cost a stroke, but it often gives them a better chance of finishing the hole without further trouble.
That choice can be frustrating, especially when the player believes they can pull off the harder shot. It still makes sense to consider the likely outcome. There will be other opportunities to play aggressively when the position is more favorable.
Trying to maintain intense concentration throughout a round can become tiring. A pre-shot routine helps players focus when they need to, then relax between shots.
Before hitting, the golfer checks the distance, wind, and lie, chooses a club, and decides on a target. A practice swing and a final look can help them settle into the shot without continuing to reconsider every choice.
The routine doesn’t have to be complicated. Following a familiar sequence gives the player something practical to focus on when nerves or distractions arise. Once the shot is over, they can assess the result and move on.
Regular practice matters in both fitness and golf. Weltman describes himself as a “hardcore” fitness enthusiast, with training a regular part of his life. Both activities require consistency, including on days when improvement is difficult to see.
Golf also involves the kind of careful decision-making familiar to someone with an accounting background. Weltman trained as an accountant, as outlined on his LinkedIn profile. On the course, players weigh the risks of a shot, choose a club, and consider where the ball needs to finish.
Thinking about the next shot can make the current decision easier. The longest shot isn’t always the most useful one. Leaving the ball in a manageable position may give a golfer a better chance of completing the hole well.
Even experienced golfers hit poor shots. Feeling frustrated is understandable, but it can become a problem if it affects what they do next.
Some players allow themselves a brief reaction before turning their attention to the next shot. Others take a deep breath or adjust their glove as a reminder to reset. What helps will differ from player to player.
Detailed swing analysis is usually easier after the round, when there’s time to review what happened. A small adjustment during play may be useful, but trying to change several parts of a swing at once can leave a golfer unsure of what to do. Making a quick note for later can help them remember the issue without spending the rest of the round thinking about it.
During play, the immediate task is to assess the next shot and choose how to approach it.
Golf gives players regular opportunities to practice patience and recover from disappointment. They can’t change a shot that’s already been played, but they can decide how to respond to it.
Those habits can be useful at work and in other parts of life, where progress also takes time and setbacks are common. On the course, a realistic goal is to make thoughtful choices, limit mistakes caused by frustration, and stay engaged throughout the round.
Readers interested in Weltman’s background and interests can find a short overview of his story online or follow him on X at x.com/larryweltman.
Larry H Weltman is a Toronto-based professional with a background in accounting, entrepreneurship, and the real estate commission advance sector in Canada. He is also a golf enthusiast, a self-described “hardcore” fitness enthusiast, and a lifelong supporter of Liverpool Football Club. More about him is available on Larry Weltman’s page.
Image: Unsplash
