Golf: A Game of Patience, Precision, and Personal Growth

Written by Naphat Chariyasathaporn

Freshman in the Faculty of Medicine at Chulalongkorn University

Golfing has become one of my passions. Many would say that golf is a rich man’s sport, but I don’t agree with that. It’s not about the money you spend; it’s about the time you invest. Initially, I wasn’t the one asking my parents to play, but eventually, I was the one begging for more. If you’ve ever watched golf, you’ll find it quite fascinating—the precision, the pressure, and the reward. Yet, professional golfers excel despite it all. While I once trained like an athlete, I now enjoy golf as a leisure activity; however, my passion for the sport has never faded.

Golfing, as many know, is a challenging sport. While it’s relatively easy to learn the basics with a few lessons, developing into a skilled golfer requires significant practice. Even with hundreds of hours of training, progress is slower than when you first started. Initially, I thought golf wasn’t really a sport because it seemed like just an activity where you hit the ball into the hole. But after firsthand experience, I realized golfing requires a high level of practice and is definitely a sport.

I’ve had many opportunities to showcase my golfing skills. I participated in several tournaments and won some of them, but the most important thing golf taught me came along the way. It taught me to be respectful and calm, and the most valuable lesson I’ve learned is to compete with myself, not with others. I found that many experiences in golf can be applied to daily life. One moment that remains vividly engraved in my mind is when my trainer told me to play while a cart was up ahead, and somehow, I managed to hit the cart. Luckily, nobody was injured.

Now, I am a proud "CU Freshy Games" gold medalist. Although I don’t have a lot of free time, I still enjoy practicing golf or going for a round. Competing at a higher level has taught me the importance of practicing even more. Another important lesson is that, even if you're confident, there will always be someone more talented. It’s essential to focus on your own game and not feel jealous of others.