Finding the Sweet Spot: Lessons from My First Golf Outing

I can confidently say that I’m no stranger to golf… well, mini-golf and the occasional driving range session, to be precise. These outings were always more about spending time with friends, exchanging laughs, and seeing who could hit the most outlandish shot. Needless to say, my knowledge of golf fundamentals was minimal at best. So, when I received an invitation to participate in the Chancellor’s Golf Outing for Purdue Northwest (PNW), my alma mater, I hesitated for a moment. But, as someone who sits on the Board for the College of Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences (CHESS), I figured it was a good opportunity to connect with peers and show up for an event that mattered to my university.

Of course, I gave fair warning - I had never played an actual round of golf in my life. The reassuring response? “It’s more about being present than being professional.” I took that to heart and geared up for a day of fresh air and camaraderie, knowing full well that this would be a humbling experience.

Paired with a peer from the Board, we embarked on our scramble, and the struggle was real. I tried to keep a positive attitude while my partner graciously offered advice. At some point, after plenty of awkward swings and divots that would make any groundskeeper cringe, something incredible happened. I swung, and everything clicked - the stance, the grip, the follow-through. I hit an amazing drive. The ball soared, gliding perfectly down the fairway. It was a textbook shot, one that would make a seasoned golfer proud.

My partner, John, smiled and said something that stuck with me: “That’s what makes this game worth it.” He went on to explain that most golfers have plenty of bad shots, but it’s those one or two perfect hits that keep them coming back. It’s these moments that get talked about after the game - not the missteps or the missed swings, but the hits that were just right.

As the round continued, I couldn’t help but think about how much that applies to the work we do as educators. There are days where everything seems to go wrong - the lesson plan flops, technology doesn’t cooperate, or a challenging conversation leaves you feeling drained. But if we reflect on those tough days, we can almost always find one moment that made it all worth it.

Recently, after a long and taxing day, I was heading down the hallway when a teacher stopped me. He shared that his class was wrapping up a unit on power, and for their exit ticket, he asked students to name someone who uses their power for good. One student wrote about me. That small gesture, shared by the teacher, shifted my entire perspective on the day. It reminded me of our deep, often unnoticed, impact on the lives we touch.

Just like golf, our work is full of tough swings and missed shots, but those rare moments of success are what stick with us. Imagine if, instead of dwelling on our challenges, we spent time reflecting on the “perfect drives” in our classrooms - the lesson that clicked, the student who had a breakthrough, or the activity that sparked curiosity. What if we brought those moments into the staff lounge or meetings and made them the focus of our conversations?

John was right - golfers return to the game because of those rare perfect hits. Likewise, educators stay in this profession because of the moments that make everything worthwhile. So, let’s not get bogged down in the frustrations or the missteps. Let’s celebrate our victories, no matter how small they may seem.

“In both golf and education, it’s not the swings you miss but the ones you hit just right that keep you coming back. Focus on the moments that matter, because they’re what make the journey worth it.”