Article #35
Teacher: Jitterbug
To meet this week's teacher, or to purchase a copy of MUNIE ~ The Jitterbug Collection, go to www.bobbysteiner.com
Jitterbug and I often walked around and watched the Skyland Open Championship, an individual tournament held every July at Munie.
Golfers everywhere geared up for the annual event. I once heard Pinky Paxton declare, "This is my Master's Championship. If I only play well once a year, I hope it's at the Skyland Open."
The same sentiment was shared by more than a few Munie members. And, why not? At least ten Munie regulars had handicaps of two or better, and could shoot in the middle 60s on any given day. Still, three rounds averaging 70 won the Championship Flight every year.
As for Pro division, the same seven or eight players always finished in the top ten. Only the top third of the 50-man field made a check, so for most, the $200 dollar entry fee was simply a donation.
"I just can't imagine," I said to Jitterbug, shaking my head.
"Can't imagine what?"
"How some of these guys call themselves 'pros,'" I said. "I mean, I don't know what they shoot at home, but out here, some of 'em don't break 80."
Jitterbug smiled. "What makes somebody a pro, Bobby?"
"Well, being able to compete at a high level, for starters," I said.
"They are competing at a high level," Jitterbug said. "When you got fifty guys playing, you gonna have forty-nine who don't win. But, you also got forty-nine who at least showed up. It's easy to sit back and judge these guys, but tournament golf is a tough gig. Besides that, being a pro involves a lot more than just shooting some kinda score."
"So, what do you think makes somebody a pro?" I asked.
"It depends on what kind of pro you're talking about," Jitterbug said. "If you're talking about the ones who make their living in tournament golf, then you're talking about a hard life. These guys spend hours on end by themselves practicing parts of the game that would bore the average person to tears."
"Like what?"
"Like short putts," Jitterbug said. "How often do you practice the same four-foot putt for an entire morning? Well, if you don't do it at least ten days a month, you can forget about making any money as a player."
I never thought of it before. That was more than I practiced all my shots combined.
"It's a job," Jitterbug continued. "And if you're doin' your job, I don't care what kind of scores you're shooting; you should be praised, not ridiculed."
"But, what about the rest of these pros?" I said. "The ones who don't ever practice?"
"You're talkin' about the club pros," Jitterbug said. "They'd love to practice, but simply don't have the time. Most of them were at one time outstanding players, and some of them still are, but whether they are or aren't doesn't matter. What matters is that they're steppin' up to the line, Bobby. If you step up to that line, you're already a champion."
Jitterbug followed with his eyes as a foursome of tournament players walked by. "And by the way," he said, "these here club pros, you best not count 'em out neither!"
Some golfers work hard with the hope of one day breaking 100, while others dream of winning a major championship, but all who play golf share in the same uphill struggle. Being a competitive golfer doesn't require any particular skill level, but rather, a commitment to higher achievement.
There was a sign above the entrance to Jitterbug's workshop that read, "THERE'S NO SHAME IN FALLING DOWN, ONLY STAYING DOWN."
I'm sure Jitterbug wanted me to know that.