From the football field to the golf course

There are moments in life when you realise it's time for a change. For me, that moment came when, after years of tirelessly chasing a football, I suddenly found myself on the golf course. The journey from football to golf was not only a change of equipment, but also an adventure that completely redefined my view of sport and team spirit.

I was never the star on the pitch in football. I wasn't the fastest runner, not the best technician and, if we're honest, not the most successful goalscorer either - at least not after my glorious time in the U11s. What I did bring with me was fighting spirit, overview and a bit of team spirit, which often made me the captain of my team. "Team spirit beats individual class", as football so beautifully teaches. And if it hadn't been for my knee, nothing would have stopped me on my way to becoming a professional ;) - a story that many amateur footballers know only too well. I look back with particular pride on my goal against SpVgg Greuther Fürth in the U17s, even though we ended up being beaten 7-1.

The switch to golf came during a holiday in Portugal, far away from the football fields of Forchheim and the failed beginnings in Frankfurt, which were made frustrating by the corona pandemic and various minor injuries. It was to be a course to gain a golf license - a decision that would change not only my life, but also that of my friends.

Golf and football – two worlds collide. Every shot, every mistake on the golf course has an immediate impact, and I quickly realised that there are no teammates to correct your mistakes. No fighting spirit can make up for technical weaknesses, and suddenly I was alone with my club and the ball.

Golf has become a real mind game for me, a constant battle between hope and despair, usually with a not so happy ending for me. But it has also shown how challenging and fulfilling it is to learn a completely new sport in your early 30s. Golf calms me down, demands inner peace and concentration - a far cry from the trash talk and sliding tackles on the football pitch.

On the golf course, I've learned that stillness and focus create their own form of team spirit. It's a sport that teaches me to be at peace with myself, and although I'm missing my teammates to smooth over my mistakes, I've found something that grounds me while challenging me.

From the football field to the golf course – it may seem like a transition between two worlds, but in the end, each of these worlds has taught me what it means to challenge yourself and never lose the fun of the game.