Outside Reading - Week 4, Post B

A Golfer's Life by Arnold Palmer

I really feel that I have a strong personal conection to this memoir in a few ways. For starters, I play golf, was on the golf team, try to practice 4-5 times a week (summer) and I have an interest in the game. Recently I read a few books on the golf mindset, it is all in your head; so when I saw another golf book on the list of memoirs I immediately knew that this would be a great read (which it is). Arnold talks about how his game is going, what he needs to practice, the strong points of his game, and the struggle to figure out the week points. I think the same things on much more basic levels, which demonstrate how adaptable golf is. It also a good read because Arnold tells you tips that helped him, which I can relate to my game. I have also started playing in tournaments and he tells stories of the tournaments that he won and lost and fought through the difficult times and relished in the glory. I was playing in my first 18 hole varsity high school tournament in the spring at Emerald Greens and it was torrentially downpouring. I was covered in my rain gear down to my rain repellent gloves. On the fourth tee I was taking my practice swing and my club flew out of my hands. The entire rest of the tournament i was afraid to swing full speed because I didn't want to lose my club again. It was hard to overcome something like that because golf is such a mental game. Arnold talks about how his parents rarely saw him play, and when they came to the semifinal match of the U.S. Amateur Cup, it was different for him, but he turned the extra energy into precision and finetuned his stroke. I also can relate to this book because Arnold relates golf to life in his memoir, and not only do I pick up on his life lessons, but I can compare the etiquette and stories i learn on the course to my life. For example, when other players try to get in your head it can screw up your game which translates to if you're mean to others it will come back to you. Lastly, this novel appeals to me because I love to drink Arnie Palmers, they are my favorite, and they are named after Arnold Palmer.