A B+ Kind of Life

Welcome back to this week's On the Fly.

Retirement has taught me something unexpected: life gets a lot more enjoyable when you stop chasing perfection.

Lately, I've been having an absolute blast playing executive par-3 courses like Rancho Carlsbad. A short iron, a sunny morning, and nowhere to be except the next tee—that's my kind of day.

This Thursday, though, I'm raising the stakes. I'm heading to The Links at Lakehouse in San Marcos, a full-size par-71 course with enough water hazards to keep the local fish well-stocked with my golf balls.

After shooting a 64 on a par-3 course, I've set myself a new goal: shoot an 89 before my birthday next August.

Why 89? Because on a par-71 course, that's bogey golf—one extra stroke per hole.

For non-golfers, think of it this way: par is like earning 100% on a final exam. Bogey golf is a solid B+. You got the job done, learned something, and probably had a lot more fun getting there.

The older I get, the more I appreciate B+ goals. It took me until retirement to figure this out, but it's a lesson you can apply right now. When you're not chasing perfection, a bad shot becomes part of the adventure rather than a reason to get frustrated. You laugh, drop another ball if necessary, and keep going. After all, it's called playing golf for a reason.

Maybe life works the same way.

Instead of trying to do everything perfectly, maybe we should focus on doing things joyfully. Try something new. Accept a few mistakes. Celebrate progress instead of perfection. Leave a little room for laughter when things don't go exactly as planned.

That's my plan this week. Since I haven't played a regulation course in years, I'm not charging out to play all 18 holes. I'm starting with nine. No pressure. Just enough to enjoy the challenge, shake off the rust, and remember what made me love the game in the first place.

Sometimes the smartest way to reach a big goal is to begin with a smaller one.

I'll let you know next week how it went—and exactly how many golf balls decided they preferred living at the bottom of the Lakehouse.

I'm Patrick Ball. Stay curious, ask better questions. See you on the course.

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