This past weekend we played host to another golf championship, another EP Amateur Championship and another field filled with enthusiastic amateur golfers. To qualify this year, you needed a handicap of 7 or better. To advance from the Stroke Play Championship to the Match Play Championship, you had to not only handle the field of 74, you also had to overcome the elements. In the previous three EP Champs, we offered the players perfect weather. This year, the forecast was ominous from the get go. High winds and rain were forecast. We set the course up for it – even favouring higher positions on the greens if the rain did fall hard. As if stroke play on the Links is not enough of a challenge, the wind and rain that came in the morning proved to sufficiently separate the “who coulds” from the who couldn’ts” – or more appropriately, the prepared and patient from the unprepared and impatient.

I beat the point to death that “golf is about attitude”… and the only way to play in difficult conditions is to stay positive… stay focused. The conditions are the same for everyone. But the second point that needs mentioning refers to preparation. How can you compete at a high level without proper rain gear? My rule is simply, if it’s in the bag, I probably won’t need it. If it’s in the closet or does not even exist, I’ll pay the price. If you are going to play the game you need a decent rainsuit, umbrella, a dry towel, extra gloves or wet-weather gloves, a cover for your bag – in addition to a positive attitude. By mid-morning, the scores reflected the difference in attitude and preparation. Good players had some shocking holes, marginal players took it in the chin and the real perennial champions were where they were expected to be – on top. I predicted that par would be 76 and the best score on the day could tilt as high as 155. Then, after being correct with my score for par and seeing Luke Jerling match that score as the best in the morning, the weather mysteriously improved – the rain stopped and the wind subsided. But by then, for some, the damage was done. Luke followed his 76 with a 74 and was pipped in a play-off by Naldo Claassen, who fired a great 72 after his opening 78. 32 players advanced in the A flight and another 16 to the B flight. The losers in the first round of the A flight had another chance to win in the plate that followed.

In the prize giving I made a point of praising the patient and the prepared. I emphasised how impressed I was with the scoring by many of the competitors – especially those who overcame a horrific hole or a bad nine. One such player had a nightmare start and posted 100; but he came back in 80 – that showed some class!

The Moral, if you please… Last week I referred to commitment… This week I mention preparation and patience. Life and golf have many parallels – “fail to prepare and prepare to fail”. If you are going to tackle any task, do everything you can, in advance, to make it work out best… and I’ll sell you the rainsuit, Ryan, the swing and the course is yours!