As many of you already know, I like to take everyday, run of the mill, chores and relate them to golf. It helps show how almost anything we try is connected in one form or another. Also, it helps show how being good at one thing is transferable to such a point that it is possible to be good at many things. It is all a matter of how you look at things.

Think of a person right now who you consider to be good at many things. It does not really matter what they are good at, however it is interesting that they appear to be top performers, artists, writers, mothers, fathers, carpenters, or whatever, all at the same time. Is this person special? Do they have super powers? Or are they genetically superior? The short answer to these questions is a resounding NO!

I enjoy painting a wall with a roller. Call me crazy, but I think a newly painted wall looks clean and fresh and I gain a certain level of satisfaction when the wall is finished. During the past weekend, my darling wife and I decided it was time to paint the whole basement. Importantly, four days off work was enough time to complete the job and still get a couple of rounds of golf in!

As I cut, edged, rolled, wiped, fixed, re-rolled and applied a second coat of paint, I was surprised how painting and golf were so much alike. And here is how:

The grip – as I gripped the broom handle attached to the paint roller, I quickly realized that to produce smooth even stokes of paint I needed to hold the handle gently.  Too tight and the roller moved in short choppy movements; too loose and I was dripping paint everywhere. Gripping a golf club produces the same results. Too tight – choppy swing; too loose – no control!

Edging – As I cut delicately around the ceiling and baseboards, patience and a steady stroke produced the best results. Being patient enable me to see potential mistakes, anticipate areas of concern and fix minor blemishes before I compounded them into a painting gaff. In golf, focusing on course management produces the same results. It helps us plan our next shot, avoid the hazards and make small corrections in our game as the round unfolds! Thereby, lowering our score.

Length of my painting stroke – when painting, keeping the roller at a steady, yet constant speed helped to evenly spread the paint. If I needed to cover an area just a little bit further than normal, I would keep the same speed but extend my stroke. In golf, my putting stroke is the same way. The speed of my putter head does not change, but the length of the stroke does depending on the distance from the hole!

I think you get my point! Many everyday skills are transferable. It is a matter of how you look at the task at hand and how to apply the skills we already know. Personally, I use this technique with great success on many new things. No matter what you are trying to accomplish, if you can relate it to golf (or whatever you are good at) positive results are likely to occur.

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!