Back in the heady days of the late 90s, the golf industry was all about the creation of new courses. They could not build them fast enough, and everyone (Green Keepers included) rode the wave of euphoria that was to usher in a new age in golf. Fast forward 15 plus years and that wave has crested, crashed on the beach, and sucked many of us back out in its undertow.

While the construction of new courses dwindled, the golf industry changed its focus and now the buzz words center around restoration or renovation. The stories we hear now tell of transformation and rebirth. Some courses have been taken back to their golden age (see Pinehurst #2) while others have been altered so drastically that they hardly resemble the original (see Blue Monster at Doral).

Our society has always had a fascination with the notion of transformation. From our religious myths to our most fabled lore, the notion that someone can change everything about themselves to become something entirely new is an appealing one.

Alas the idea of transformation is often times more myth than reality. As a culture we are transfixed by the romanticism that lies behind the story of change, but often times are unable to produce tangible transformation in our own lives.

It is this push and pull that creates such engagement with regards to stories of change. Just this past week I stumbled across an acquaintance from high school (graduated way back in 1991) that in no way resembled the person I remember from back then.  This excruciatingly shy person has since become a golf pro, professor, cross fit triathlete, and world traveler.  It was fascinating to see the dramatic nature of the transformation which had occurred in this person's life since high school and it brought about interesting reflection on the choices which have shaped my own life since then.

Sometimes the simple question we need to ask is, 'What is your relationship to change'? Does it scare the living daylights out of you? Does it make you feel completely out of your element? Or, are you content to ride the wave and take life as it comes? This examination does not mean that you have to run away and join a traveling circus, but it can lead to a more positive relationship with the natural changes that occur in life.

"The only lasting truth is change."  -- Octavia Butler

No great amount of change takes place without risk. Whether you are renovating all 18 greens or selling your house, it takes a shift in consciousness to enable it to happen. By accepting this shift and letting go of the baggage, you can explore uncharted territory and open yourself to amazing new experiences.