Spring has definitely arrived. This year, the weather in New England has been at times unseasonably warm, as the temperature has already reached into the 60s on several occasions. Although New England golf usually doesn’t get into full swing until mid-April, most golf courses in the area opened in mid-March this year. I have not played very well at the beginning of this season; however, it is still early and therefore, I am treating these first few rounds like pre-season golf.
Every year in April, my golf craving exponentially increases after watching golf’s first major championship on television, The Masters. What an incredible Sunday charge by Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson that came up a little short. In the end, it was a fantastic finish with a three-way playoff among Kenny Perry, Angel Cabrera, and Chad Campbell. Congratulations to Angel Cabrera for winning his first green jacket and second major. However, while I was watching, I began to wonder why so many people who play poker also love to play golf. I believe that there are many similarities that may account for this overlap.
The most obvious parallel between poker and golf is the gambling or betting aspect. In poker, betting is an integral part of the game. Without betting, poker players would rely solely on their cards to determine the outcome of the hand. However, betting adds another dimension and allows a player to win the pot without the best hand. In golf, gambling can be part of the culture, whether it is a friendly Nassau bet or a high-stakes skins game. Some players feel that gambling makes golf more interesting during a random weekend round. However, I think the similarities go well beyond just the betting aspect.
First, in both poker and golf, a player can aspire to greatness. However, no matter how much you practice and work on your game, it is virtually impossible to perfect either poker or golf. The ubiquitous phrase about Hold’em, “A minute to learn, but a lifetime to master,” is very apropos for both poker and golf. Six-time World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner T.J. Cloutier once said that the minute he feels he can’t learn anything more about poker, he would quit. Last time I checked, Cloutier was still playing and has no plans to retire anytime soon. Overall, poker has so many intricacies, nuisances, and different situations that it is virtually impossible to master the game fully.
The same holds true in today’s world of golf. Overall, the slightest deviation in your golf swing can send the ball off course, resulting in a bogey or worse. Even Tiger Woods, currently the number one golfer in the world and possibly of all-time, has yet to reach perfection. Even though he may be the most gifted player on tour and diligently works on his game daily, Woods, or any player for that matter, has yet to achieve the perfect round by making 18 birdies and eagles. Thus, perfection in poker or golf is basically impossible.
Although mastering the game is unattainable, poker and golf inevitably seem to produce their share of miraculous moments. In poker, until you are officially drawing dead, there is always a chance. How many times have you witnessed runner-runner flush or a miraculous one-outer on the river? Even on the world’s greatest poker stage, Peter Eastgate hit a one-outer versus Scott Montgomery during the 2008 WSOP Main Event final table to eliminate Montgomery in fifth place. In golf, a player may be facing an impossible shot, but you can never count them out. They can chip in from off the green or sink an improbable 45 foot putt like Justin Leonard during the 1999 Ryder Cup to cap off the U.S team’s unbelievable comeback versus the Europeans. These miraculous plays make for unforgettable moments in both poker and golf.
Additionally, these incredible moments make you want to come back time and time again. Even though you may suffer from bad beats or putts that lip out, you always come back for more pain and suffering. In poker, you can have a horrible day in which you lose every race and get no playable cards. However, after you flop quads or hit that one-outer on the river, you eagerly anticipate playing in your next tournament. In golf, you can shoot a dreadful round and miss fairway after fairway, green after green, and putt after putt. Nevertheless, after hitting that one pure shot, you cannot forget the euphoric feeling, making you return to the golf course for another round.
Finally, many poker players and recreational golfers are former athletes. Thus, poker and golf allow them to satisfy their competitive edge. To succeed, players must utilize their sports experience by slowing down and focusing on the moment. In poker, each hand is critical, especially in No Limit Hold’em, where every hand could be your last. In golf, you must stay focused on the moment in order to deliver the perfect shot at the absolute right moment. As my instructor always says, “One shot at a time.”
Well, I’m sure there are even more similarities between poker and golf, but I have to go, as I have a tee time. I wish everyone good luck in poker (I hope you always go in with the best hand and never get unlucky) and golf (hit ‘em long and straight and may your putts never be left short).