Se Ri Pak's Tour Diary

As originally written by Se Ri Pak for Joong Ang Ilbo. Translation by LoveGiants

Diary Entry #39: Taking stock of all I've learned in the US

Taking lessons from David Leadbetter, I've experienced many surprising things. What made me sad most of all was the thought of how poor the lessons were that young golfers in Korea take. In fact, compared with the lessons from Leadbetter, lessons in Korea could not be called lessons at all.

One of my daily tasks is taking notes of all I've experienced in the US. The condition of the golf courses (which are different week to week), things that I have to pay attention to, my favorite restaurants and hotels where I feel comfortable, friendship with fellow players... My lessons from Leadbetter are important things that I cannot omit from these notes.

I write down the way he runs his golf academy and teaches players. All will give me a good example to follow when I devote myself to cultivating young talented golfers. I feel to the bone that a good tree can grow on the fertile earth. I feel keenly that one should learn golf on the course from the start, though it is impossible to do this in Korea. However hard one may practice on the driving range, he would be
puzzled on the course, not able to adapt himself to the undulations. I am lucky to play golf in such a good environment as I do, though it's a little late, but when I think of the junior golfers in Korea, I feel sorry for them.

In fact, I know the lessons in Korea were far from planned and systematic. Not because of the lessons themselves, but because of the 'golf fathers'. The problem is the tendency that if one says that A is a good coach, then he follows A, and when he comes to think that the lessons from A are not that effective, then one looks for another coach...

I was lucky that I had taken lessons only from my father, but other players had to suffer from unnecessary troubles, because whenever they changed their coaches, they had to adapt themselves to the new swing forms or ways of teaching from their new coaches. Coaches also have to perform temporary expedient lessons that can solve problems only temporarily when their students frequently change coaches. I think that one's swing form has to be developed according to his body and be refined little by little over time.

What I want to tell young golfers is, "Never be impatient".

Father has a different opinion than I do about the role of a player's parents. I insist that the player should be separated from his parents and father insists that one should think of his parents who have sacrificed
for him. But there's one thing he doesn't know. The most difficult thing that I have experienced in the US is to do it all by myself, to fight the temptation to depend on others. If I had depended on my parents when I came here, I would have blamed them for the mistakes I made, and in the end, I would not have been able to stand by myself.

Now, I'm on the way by myself, a long way to Golf.

Diary Entry #40: When I become weak and effeminate...

In the US and Britain, one can find parks and lawns wherever he may go. They offer the best conditions for those who dream of becoming golfers. But in Korea, if you ever find a lawn, you should keep off it, just look at it. When I was in Korea, the most inconvenient thing was that I could not practice on grass. The reason I am weak in my short game may be because of this. I can hit the ball as long as others do, but in my short game, I cannot easily catch up with those who have practiced on grass from the start.

My dream is to establish a golf academy which is the most scientific and systematic in the world. Of course, there will be a nice golf course there. When I feel exhausted and weak, I sometimes imagine the golf school I'll establish someday. 'How about having all the students live in a dormitory? Should I take them to a cemetery to strengthen their mentality, because golf is a mental game? No, that's too harsh...' After thinking about this stuff for a while, I feel myself full of energy, and run to the course again. Because I come to the conclusion that I have to work harder to make my dream true. My dream is not originated from my personal ambition. Rather, it's my determination to reward my fans and the Korean people that has made me have it.

Some ask me, "You don't play well nowadays, will it be unlikely that we will see you win again this year?" I answer confidently, "There'll be no slump." Of course, sometimes, things do not go well. If other players do well
while my game does not go well, they will win. They also want to win. As I do not play golf only for money, I cannot play golf only for victory. Now, what I want most is to show my fans a wonderful game rather than just focus on winning. And I'm in the middle of learning new courses in the US, as Leadbetter has said. For me, a person who has made the first step towards her great ambition, the word 'slump' is too sentimental and romantic.

Nowadays, I can read what fans want. When I'm on the course, I can feel what they expect me to do. I make shots they want to see. Fans in the US like intrepid players better than dry winners. So, aggressive plays can be great for the fans. The reason why people like Tiger Woods may be his intrepid and aggressive plays rather than his victories. The world of the professional is so different from that of the amateur.

Those I pay most attention to are the young fans. Kids run to me first and hand me whatever they can get my autograph on. I make it a rule to give my autograph to every kid fan one by one. I like kids and they'll remember me for a long time. Golf needs the long view and I still have far to go.

Diary Entry #41: To be an everlasting champion

As I serialized my stories, the number of fan letters from Korea increased greatly. Some asked, "Is it true you practiced in the cemetery?" or "I was so moved reading your stories." Some joked, "He must be your stepfather." Some US fans said that father had abused me. I've found that Koreans are much different from Americans in their ways of thinking.

In fact, harsh training was not the problem. What made me most distressed was prejudice about golf. At that time, most thought that golf was a sport for privileged people. The reason why I admire my father is that he has a strong spirit with which he has fought against this prejudice and cold treatment. Maybe my success results from the strong spirit of my father and me. But I wonder whether Korea will be able to produce many top class golfers in the future. I fear the answer will be 'no' unless this prejudice about golf disappears. We cannot be top players if all we have is hunger for success or the desire to escape from poverty. I have heard that more and more students are dreaming of becoming golfers. I do hope that they will not be forced to practice in the manner I did. I cannot say that it was a good method and I do feel that a scientific and systematic training program is necessary in Korea.

The readers of my diary now know that what I've thought about, how I've played my game. Now, the judgment of me is up to my readers. I want to answer a question many have asked me: 'What are the most important keys to playing golf well?' I think it hinges on mentality and modesty. The attitude to overcome any risk and the attitude to learn from anyone if he has something worth teaching. I think that if one has these two qualities, he will not have difficulty becoming a top class player. Skill can be learned through experience.

And I want you, my readers, to always believe in me even when I do not play well. I'll try my best to be an everlasting champion. Thank you for all the concern and cheering for me.

THE END