The Minimalist

Last weekend, I played 9 holes with 8 clubs. It is because I watched a movie called Seve, about the life of professional golfer Seve Ballesteros. He was obsessed with golf as a kid growing up in Spain, but had no access to actually play the game. Seve did, however, own a 3-iron that he had built himself from parts found on a beach near his family’s home. He spent much of his youth hitting golf balls on that beach with that 3-iron; everything from full drives to pitch shots and putts.

By the time Seve graduated to a full set of clubs he was a master of that 3-iron, making every other club in the bag seem simple in comparison. It helped him become a supreme ball striker and short-game wizard, and ultimately a champion who lived a brilliant Pro Golf Hall of Fame career that spanned 33 years. Seve sadly passed away at the age of 54 in 2011.

Playing with just 8 clubs in my bag is a paltry gesture towards Seve’s 3-iron training, but it has already paid dividends. If going minimalist helps me drop a few strokes next season, it will have been well worth the somewhat painful experiment. And it will all be thanks to Seve.