Ruud Gullit about golf: ‘That first shot is always nerve-wracking’
Ruud Gullit is the tournament director of the KLM Open this year. Like no other, the former footballer can enjoy golf, but it sometimes also leads to frustrations. Ruud is just like every golfer. He wrote a column about his life as a golfer and his admiration for fellow players.
“That first shot is always nerve-wracking”
“I’ve learned never to compare myself to others. Every golfer is different, built differently. I don’t watch YouTube videos to learn either. Everyone has a different swing. Some have long arms, others short. Some are bigger, others slimmer. Everyone wants to swing like Rory McIlroy, but not everyone is built like Rory. You have to discover what works for you.
I once had a coach who said: you’re trying to do something you can’t. Just stop. He gave me other exercises that suited me better. That worked immediately. There’s more than one way to Rome.
The point is: if you learn something wrong, it’s hard to unlearn it. I do enjoy watching top players, but I’m curious about their strategy. Where do they want to place the ball? What’s their plan? Do they play safe or go for it? I’d love to listen in. I got that chance once at the Ryder Cup. I was allowed to walk between the ropes and heard everything. That’s when you see how precisely they hit the ball, exactly as planned.
Ruud Gullit and Joost Luiten in action at The International
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.”
