Fore! (Part I)

On Rotary Leadership

They say that the beauty of golf lies in the quest for perfection, and more often than not, this is quite unattainable. Yet, once in while when the Goddess of Fortune decides to give the poor golfer a glimpse of much-desired Nirvana, she would allow the golfer such a perfect swing and in that moment, a moment long-etched in the golfer’s memory, he would have witnessed his ball flung over the green and right smack into the hole, his goal.

In March 2001, I have accomplished such a feat, combining luck, strategy, concentration and will power, I drove a hole-in-one at hole #13, 193 yards using a Callaway 3 Iron Steel in the former old Capitol Golf and Country Club, Quezon City. That moment gave me such intense pleasure that since then, I have looked at the game in a much different light. The game gave me the hope of a million possibilities and more than that, the belief in the attainment of something close to perfection.

My friends, we may find that Rotary is in many ways similar to a game of golf. Teeing off early in the morning is similar to being inducted to Rotary. All throughout the course, you may find yourself stuck in a bunker or putting with such form and ease that you feel like you can take on Tiger Woods himself. Yes, as in golf, Rotary will have its highs and lows. In all likelihood, you may find yourself caught between a rock and a hard place, racking your brains, on how you can best serve your community without departing from our Rotary ideals, at the same time balancing the interests of your club and the interests of your members and the attention needed by your family. I can guarantee to you now that the course will indeed be peppered with obstacles. However, I can also assure you that with careful planning, unflinching determination and close coordination with your mentors, your members, and your club leaders, you can do no wrong.

They also say that in a game of golf, your worst competitor is yourself. You alone determine the level of perfection that you can attain and even that depends on how dedicated you are to the game. So let your experience in Rotary be like a game of golf. Each day, you try to improve your performance and each day, you will find that your confidence to do more is increased. At the end of the game, only you can assess whether or not your performance is merely satisfactory or quite exemplary. But nothing, except maybe your own doubt, stops you from aiming for perfection.

The game of golf is a gentlemen’s game, and it is meant to be enjoyed. It is not a violent struggle of brute strength, rather it is a game of finesse and extreme poise. In any endeavor, please remember never to lose perspective of your composure, otherwise, that may cost you your game. Truth to tell, like any man in my position, there are times when doubts besieged me, when I almost lost composure due to many pressures. Many times, I was driven to the limits of my patience. It is in those times that I remember to recover my poise and like in a game of golf, to just concentrate on the task at hand.

This year, we have much to accomplish. Perhaps it is not news to you that this year, our beloved Rotary Club of Manila will be celebrating is much-awaited 100th Year Anniversary. RCM members are invited to attend, participate, contribute and help make memorable this cherished event. This three-day celebration will be held on June 20th until the 22nd and we shall have in attendance of no less than Rotary International President-Elect Mark Maloney. And as if the celebration is not yet special enough, the President of the Philippines, His Excellency President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has also been invited to grace this momentous occasion.

[to be continued…..]