CaboGolfo
| May 24th, 2008 by Robert | Word Count: 1162 | Reading Time 4:41 | 2,467 views |
Yes, I made up another word. As I’m sure you have figured out, this article will have something to do with golf. Now, I’m not the connoisseur of golf like I know some people out in the world are and I have no problem with that. It is a sport and lots of people truly enjoy it and the challenge that it provides on a personal level. Playing golf isn’t hard, playing well in golf is very hard. So this is not an article about golf in itself, but how some people use golf in their lives. The story behind the word of the article is this. Cabo Wabo is the name of a nightclub in Cabo San Lucas and also in Nevada. Golf of course, is golf. The reasoning I’ve decided to combine the two relays the simple fact of how many use the sport of golf as a “club” of some sort.
Nothing wrong with that, there are all kinds of clubs, members only, or invitation only groups in our world. However, there is just something about golf being used in such a manner that rubs me the wrong way. How often to you hear people talking about golf? Depending on your circle of friends, maybe never, but there are some circles where golf is tantamount to being successful, or better yet, being VIEWED as successful. Why is this true? Nobody talks about playing basketball or ping pong in such a way. Nobody talks about playing baseball on the weekends or bowling in a manner of successful living. How come? One reason really. People pay membership fees to “belong” to certain golf courses and the associated country club. Pretty basic reason, but on a good, or prestigious, golf course, it can be pretty hard to obtain a membership and to get in, and you have to “earn” it in some manner.
You won’t see some “Joe Schmoe” playing the links on the best members’ only golf course in town alongside the local executives. You also won’t see some “Big Headed Executive” playing on the local public golf course amongst the “little people.” Separation exists here because of the self serving need to be viewed as a success by others. People, who desire to fulfill this need, belong to these upper echelon clubs. They have in a sense, made it. They have reached the pinnacle of “coolness” within their society bubble. These people walk around on the golf course in their designer sports outfits with their top of the line clubs and bags. Wait, did I say walk? Ok, that’s doubtful. They “ride” around the course in their cart decked out with amenities only the coolest golfer could imagine. It’s a “tricked out” golf cart. This is all perfectly fine and earned because these people have paid their money to belong to such a club, great for them.
So why does it rub me the wrong way? People have a right to spend their money how they want. They have a right to do and say what they want. What I have a problem with is with how the majorities of these “members” behave and carry themselves outside of the golf course. These people bring their club mentality everywhere they go. They have bought the ideal that they have reached a different level of society and those beneath them are there to serve them or defer to their wants and so called needs. Have you ever seen the movie “Caddyshack?” It’s a bit off the wall, but the society separations displayed in the movie is sadly, a pretty realistic view. Somehow, over the years, golf has been transformed into a simplistic social elevator. Some people get on at the ground floor and work their way up through the floors of society. Others are given a head start or begin their lives already in the penthouse.
Golf is used in business to conduct meetings, hold negotiations, or used as perks for customers or executives to attract business and loyalty. Need to make a client happy? No problem, invite them to the local prestigious golf course for a day out on your tab. Need to close a deal? No problem, take the target out to the country club and have all the drinks put on your tab. Need a business to recognize your company? No problem, sponsor the local country club and have your business logo on marketing merchandise. You get the idea. I know, golf isn’t the only thing that can be used in this manner, but more often than not though in our current day and age, it’s the “go to” method. In the past, there were all kinds of other social elevators. These are still methods of “showing” how successful you are to the world but they may not be as prevalent as golf currently is. This list includes: land, cars, women/men, houses, and something as trivial as a vacation.
Why do we require these social elevators in our life? Even the most unselfish person has a tendency of wishing to be viewed as successful by his peers. Our human nature has this desire built into us. It’s another form of acceptance. We are social beings and we thrive on being accepted. We thrive upon being viewed as successful in our lives. How come social elevators are usually tied to monetary or possession based factors? Aren’t the truly successful people in our world the happy ones? The ones with a family who loves them, or the one who succeeds at making a marriage last over their lifetime? Aren’t the parents successful who teach their children right and wrong and show them through their examples what it takes to lead a good life which can help the needs of others? Aren’t the really successful people in our world the people who willingly give their life to help those in need?
Sure, there are people who have earned the respect of society by using an alternate social elevator, but they are few and far between. Not to mention, the attitudes of people using alternative social elevators are much different than those involved in possession based acceptance. Which elevator are you on? Are you 90% possession? Maybe you are at 75% or even 50%. Do you WANT to be on a different elevator? That’s a choice you have to make. Which one leads to true happiness? One leads to only more of the same and fills a never ending pit of desire. The other leads to true happiness and the example you set lives on in the lives of others. As you can see, this article isn’t about golf, but what it has come to represent, a social, possession based, elevator. Find an elevator for your life that will help you realize your true potential. Acceptance in your life will be earned by your deeds and not “bought” by your possession. I’ll meet you on the top floor.
on May 25th, 2008 at 12:04 pm:
You nailed that one!!! I have sat on the sidelines and watched lots of people get promotions,not because they were leaders or what they knew,but they ran around and drank beer and chased women with the BIG SHOTS. That is quite a way to pick out your leaders but it happens more than most people realize.
I always just wanted to be me, if I had to sacrifice my pride and morals to get to the top in their companies,then I would settle for no promotions. You can’t pick a person to be a supervisor or an executive just because of who they run around with, or because they are doing a good job running a machine. A good leader is born with leadership qualities, not because of your family name or how much money you have,or the color of your skin or what gender you are.
I have been talking mostly about areas in manufacturing, but if you look around it is every where. For example just take a look at our politicians, how many would be in their positions right now if they hadn’t come from a family with lots of money ( no matter how they got the money ),or from a family with a big name. Governors, senators, congressman,vice presidents, presidents and the list goes on and on.Very few poor boys have ever made it big except maybe President Lincoln, now considered to be one of the best Presidents of all time. Why? I think it was because of his morals, and he knew the sufferings of the little people. He was born a poor boy and lost everything that he had a couple of times having to file bankruptcy.
It makes me wonder how many of our leaders even notice the price of groceries or the price of gas. Living from week to week or month to month on their paychecks would probably drive most of them insane.They couldn’t handle it but they expect us to.
on May 25th, 2008 at 6:57 pm:
I agree, it is hard to be on an elevator in the working world that doesn’t involve compromising who you are morally and ethically the majority of the time. People in the working world are mostly out for one thing, advancing their own position. So, they use whatever social elevator they can latch on to and advance their “position.” You will see a lot of these people crushing those below them with their weight of misdeeds. They are in effect, stealing the livelihood of those they use as stepping stones.
If we were more focused on using the alternative social elevators in our lives, we would see much less of what you mention. People would be recognized for doing good work and not for the advantages of having their presence around due to money, prestige, and other forms of socially advantageous possession. I don’t think people will change because the current elevator system works too well in the society’s mind. Money, power, and immediate gratification continue to come to those on these elevators. However, for the majority, these answers are short lived and in the end, they still must reconcile their lives as we all do. Are you remembered for what you have done to help people, or what you have done to hurt people?