Golf is more than a sport – 69-year-old
Golf teaches you to keep on fighting and practising, which can be the case in your life as well.
Fred Viljoen has been playing golf for almost 40 years, but besides the pure enjoyment he has experienced, he said golf has taught him invaluable life lessons.
The 69-year-old said he has loved the game ever since he was introduced to it and while working in the corporate world, it gave him an opportunity to meet new people and have fun at the same time.
“I am now retired and play as much as I can on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, which gives me an opportunity to get a bit of exercise and relax at the same time,” Fred added.
Fred also said golf is a wonderful game and is there so much that one can learn.
“For me it is all about attitude and discipline. I play against the course and not against a player. I always make sure that I play the best I can and I think that’s important.”
For Fred, it takes a lot to be a good golfer as the challenges are always there, similar to what life throws at you.
“Like in life, you might be in a good space now but there will be a period where you go through a dip. Golf teaches you to keep on fighting and practising, which can be the case in your life as well,” he said.
Fred said although he has never been professionally trained, he has managed to make a name for himself by simply taking advice from friends and watching the sport on television.
“This enabled me to take part in many competitions thanks to the extremely competitive bunch of members at the Randfontein Golf Club.”
He also broke the stigma attached to golf, that it’s a rich man’s game, saying that people need to know that golf is not only associated with wealth and that anyone can play.
Some might say, “It’s all about ‘sealing the deal’,” but if you’re looking for an opportunity to understand others better or build working relationships with them, the golf course is the place to be instead of a boardroom.
“I personally believe that golf is like buying food or clothes. Yes, there are those expensive places one can choose, but it’s not about the value of your golf clubs – it’s about how well you can play,” Fred added.
