Golf's Sacred Journey:Seven Days at the Links of Utopia by David L. Cook, Ph.D.

By reading Golf's Sacred Journey:Seven Days at the Links of Utopia by David L. Cook, Ph.D., I learned not only how to improve my golf game, but also how to improve my life.

At the beginning of this novel the reader is introduced to a golfer who is so wrapped up in the game that he thinks his score at the moment defines who he is as a person and determines whether or not he is accepted. After a terrible round at a tournament (the very one which won him the title of highest scorer), he finds himself in the small, Texan town of Utopia. While in a diner there, he stumbles across a flyer that leads him to a driving range. At the driving range, he meets the owner, Johnny, who convinces him to stay at Utopia and work on his game for seven days. By the end of the journey Johnny has saved the golfer from a life of insignificance. While the lessons at Utopia are unconventional, they are crucial to the development of this golfer's entire life. The lessons taught by Johnny do not teach the fundamentals of golf. They teach about the mental aspects of the game such as, control of emotions, imagining the shot, conviction about why certain personal methods are used, and being prepared for anything.

Throughout this book the young golfer has to learn about trying new things. "The fear of failure incapitates us and we are a shell of our former self"(12). By participating in seven days worth of unconventional lessons such as fly-fishing, painting, putting with cowboys, and flying planes, the confused golfer learns that "see it, feel it, trust it" should be a routine for each shot and rhythm, balance, and patience are very beneficial while playing.

By being in Utopia, the golfer starts to feel God working in his life and realizes that God will "...take what you do well and perfect it" (13). He later discovers that "see it, feel it, trust it" can be applied to spiritual life as well as a routine for a golf game ("See His love, feel His presence, and trust His word" (131)).

One very important insight to sanity that I learned from Golf's Sacred Journey is that "A total emotional response made him vulnerable to the trap" (51). This quote explains that letting a one's emotions control how they react to things will lead them to ruin. I have learned that controlling emotions is a much better way to handle things that come my way especially while out on the golf course. After I read this book, I found myself asking "Am I in charge of my emotions?" I learned that often times the answer is no, and I have been trying to improve that aspect of my life.

Among all the great quotes in this book, "' There is more to life than increasing its speed'" (87), is the one quote that truly applies to lives in this age, especially my own. While reflecting on this past year, I realized that I was always looking for the next good thing to happen. Man I can't wait until I get my license!, I really wish [insert date] would hurry up!, or Life will be so much better after ____ happens! That is the nature now. Why must we all be in such a hurry? Instead of wishing life away we should deal with whatever is happening and know that the storms in life are what enables us to cherish the good times.

After reading this book, my life has been dramatically changed. I have learned that success on this earth is not all that matters, and fear often hinders me from doing the right thing. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone. While playing golf does help the reader understand the story, I believe that anyone who picks up this book will be changed by the awe inspiring journey at the Links of Utopia.