For me, enjoying golf is also enjoying the surroundings. You’re in a beautiful environment, can walk freely, and play a game. When I play with my girlfriend Karin, we do it purely to enjoy ourselves. We never compete. Sometimes we play for a qualifying card, but never competitively. Often we bring music on the course. I carry a little speaker with me. Then we’re really enjoying ourselves. It’s wonderful to start something and see it grow into such a big passion. Yvonne gets grumpy if she can’t play.
I’m someone who prepares well for a round—but not by hitting balls for an hour. Before I leave, I pack everything carefully. I prefer to wear dark blue on the golf course. For me, warming up means getting warm. Nice, good shoes are important because you’re on the course for five hours. Karin and I always pick courses where we can walk. We don’t like using a buggy.
Some players practice so long until they finally feel they’ve hit the perfect shot. Don’t do that. Just warm up a little, chip, putt, and then hit the course.
That first shot is nerve-wracking, especially when I play the Dunhill Links in Scotland. There are quite a few people watching, and it’s on TV. Then I think: please let that shot be good. Strange, isn’t it? As a footballer, I played in big stadiums and never felt that pressure. Probably because I knew what I could do. With golf, I don’t. You never have full control, and you have to learn to live with that.”
