I was standing in the golf shop at Birkdale Golf Club in Huntersville, NC where I do some teaching, talking to the Wes Jones, the GM and Director of Golf. Wes worked at Harbour Town Golf Links with me and was one of my head teaching instructors for my golf schools. We were discussing some swing points when a man walked by and then turned around and came back to speak top me.
He said he recognized my voice from watching the videos on the PPGS.com web site. He went on to say that he really liked the PPGS and was working on it. But then he said, 'I have been playing this game for over 40 years and I just don't think I can change my swing this late in my life.' With that statement, he turned and walked away before I could even try to give him some words of encouragement or relate my teaching an old dog new tricks logic.
I have heard his cop out, baloney statement, or various versions of it, for over 30 years as a teacher. Players throw this out as their life preserver and or excuse to not try a swing change or as a pre-warning to everyone else and themselves that they may fail. 'I have been doing my old swing for so long that if I don't try or if I do and fail, I deserve a pass because I am old.'
My answer to any golfer who says that, or for that matter, anyone facing a new challenge and making that excuse, is to tell them: 'That it is 100 percent negative thinking. In fact it is an insult to yourself.' It is in fact saying that to some degree they are lacking in determination and are a quitter even before they get going. And, if they do try, they have already set themselves up for failure with their pre-start 'can't teach an old dog new tricks' failure attitude. My answer to anyone doing anything, including trying to learn a new golf swing and using the 'You can't teach an old dog new tricks' statement is, 'THE ONLY DOG YOU CAN'T TEACH A NEW TRICK TO IS A Dead Dog.' (I've been told I can be a bit blunt on occasion.)
Keep an open mind, keep yearning and searching for new knowledge and self improvement, and always desire to become a better person in all you do. You can learn no matter how old you are. You can learn and improve and acquire new skills for your entire life, as long as you keep an open mind and seek knowledge and improvement.
I'm reminded of a friend of mine's granddad. When he turned 96 he bought a new Buick as a present for himself. He got the OnStar service and a GPS system because, as he told his grandson, 'I figured out how to crank a Model T. This doesn't look so hard. It ought to be fun.'
He also bought the extended warranty.
I've had students in their 80s and 90s. I've seen the smiles. I'm convinced you can learn until the day you become a DEAD DOG.
The Surge!