Photo By Staff Sgt. James Hunter | Sgt. Maj. Jaime Guarino, operations sergeant major, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st...... read more read more
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FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. — It takes pure concentration, with the sun beating down on ones head, to excel at the game of golf. It's a game of intellect, one that takes sheer determination with the utmost focus on the game. It's a game where thoughts and questions fog ones mind from start to finish. The game itself plays with ones mind, not to mention ones body as fatigue wears over as they inch closer to 18th hole.
Golf is a very mentally daunting game, but a game many Soldiers enjoy.
From the initial drive to the potential birdie putt, it's a game where all come together to enjoy a competitive, yet relaxing sport.
"It's one of those sports you can go out there and be on your own. It doesn't matter how good you are because it's just you and who you are playing with," said 2nd Lt. Kyle Snook, with Company D, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). "You can go out for five hours on your own and just hang out and be on your own."
Snook, and the other three members on his team, took part in the Legacy Golf Tournament during Week of the Eagles Aug. 14.
Snook believes golf is the ultimate competitor's sport; a sport that demands a lot of focus and may bring a ton of stress.
"It's probably the most individual sport. If you mess up, or something goes wrong, it's just you and the ball," said Snook. "There is no one you can blame except for yourself."
Sgt. Maj. Jaime Guarino, operations sergeant major for the 2nd BCT, believes golf is the ultimate game of challenge.
"(It's) a sport that is so challenging," he said. "The game causes you to concentrate on the game at hand and you must focus at what you are doing."
With the challenges, one learns the game on a much greater scale, improving their overall skills on the course. However, with improvement comes greater complication, said Snook.
"I think as you get better and better at this sport, it get more complicated because you know that even the smallest thing can affect your shot," said Snook in reference to understanding the green sloping from left to right or the elements varying ones shot. "You start seeing it a lot more."
Snook said the ground is ever-changing and it's hard to find completely flat ground.
"Golf gets a little more complicated," said Snook. "There's much less room for improvement."
Guarino and Snook both believe the most critical part of any golfer's game is his short game, the ability to chip and putt accurately.
"You must be accurate to land on the green and be close to the hole," said Guarino.
However, if one can't drive the ball into play, Snook believes, ones short game practically becomes irrelevant.
No matter what though, all agree that golf is a way to escape from the everyday stressors of life, especially in the military.
"There's always someone out there who is better than you," said Snook. "The key element is to try and have fun with the sport."
| Date Taken: | 08.19.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 08.19.2009 19:51 |
| Story ID: | 37723 |
| Location: | FORT CAMPBELL, US |
| Web Views: | 253 |
| Downloads: | 163 |
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