What’s an “A” Game Anyway.

The quest for every golfer is to find their “A” game and shoot a perfect round. But what is the perfect round and how does one find it? Golfers devote a lifetime in pursuit of those two answers. Time and again golfers boast that they discovered “the secret” through a new swing thought, a piece of equipment, or maybe even a fitness program. But at the end of the round was perfection found? I ask this because I find that my definition of perfection has changed dramatically in the 30-plus years that I have played this game.

I love Tiger and Jack not only for their prowess but for their pursuit of perfection. They have set standards that golfers will chase for years to come. Tiger coined the phrase "A" game in his post-round interviews, and I am fascinated with its meaning. Does he have the expectation that every part of his game is in top form, or does he plan his strategy around the strongest aspects of his game? Annika Sorenstam often speaks of her “Vision 54” training in which she defines the perfect round as 18 under par. The dictionary defines par as the standard score assigned to each hole or the sum total of the 18 holes played in a round. It can be achieved any number of ways when playing a hole but at the end you only have room on the card for the number. Where should the average golfer look to find their own definition of perfection?

Looking back on my journey with golf, I have learned that the challenge of finding perfection has been the true reward of this game. I celebrate my birdies, appreciate par, and try to forget the bogies!

--Dee Forsberg