I started golfing about ten years ago. Over that time I have met some really great people, had some really great trips, and become a lover of the game.

I remember as a teenager seeing my uncle watching golf on TV and thinking "Why would anyone do that? What a colossal waste of time!".

Now I get it. Not that I spend my free time watching golf on TV. But I understand how it is such an enjoyable sport to be a part of.

I think part of the enjoyment is that golf can often be a like a metaphor for life lessons. Let's see if you agree. Here are seven life lessons that I think everyone can learn from golf:

1. There are rules and etiquette to follow. Just as there are in life. Some people always follow the rules and some people don't. And a lot of the time it depends. It depends on which course you are playing, who you are playing with, and which rules you've decided to ignore (as a group hopefully) ahead of time.
2. The game doesn't always look pretty but it's the end result that counts. The time I got a hole-in-one was probably one of the worst rounds I played that year.
3. There is more than one way to get to the hole. In life, there is also more than one way to get to your goal but it's a lot easier if you keep going in a forward direction.
4. You have lots of chances but eventually you run out of time. If you have a terrible score on your first hole you still have seventeen holes to make up for it. But, if you don't course correct eventually you will run out of time. Life gives you lots of opportunities and time to make mistakes but if you never learn or grow from them you will never fulfill your potential as a human on this earth.
5. When you are in a tough spot consider some course management. This is when you make the easier shot even though you end up taking an extra stroke. A lot of times in life we make the harder choice instead of the easy one because we don't like having to take a penalty.
6. It's the short game that matters most. The cheesy saying is drive for show and putt for dough. In life what matters most is deepening your closest relationships.
7. You can still have a handicap and win. We all have what we consider to be our handicap, but it isn't what prevents us from succeeding. It's what we believe about that handicap that matters. In fact, a lot of the time it can even help us win.

Now I would love from you! Any life lessons that you have learned from a sport or hobby that you have? Leave a comment below and I'll be back next week with another edition of Doctor as Teacher Tuesday! If there is someone you think would enjoy this article don't be afraid to share.