Ten Ways Photography Is Like Golf

I’m not a golfer. Tried it once but my eye/hand coordination doesn’t seem to match the requirements of the game. Also I get impatient. Yet I notice that my impatience does not seem to extend to my interest in photography where I am comfortable spending hours trying to learn a new skill or track down a great shot. I’m even enrolled in an upcoming four-day workshop to learn to use photoshop.

But I have friends who are golfers and friends who are photographers. Talking to them has led me to believe that they have more in common than they might suppose. So here are 10 ways that photography is like golf. Please feel free to add to the list.

1. Both are equipment intensive sports.
2. Both have pros, hackers, and wannabes. Knowing that we can’t all be Tiger Woods does not stop golfers from trying to improve their game. Know that we can’t all be Ansel Adams does not stop photographers from trying to get a great shot.
3. Speaking of shots. Both photography and golf have them.
4. Practitioners of both believe that their game will be improved with better equipment.
5. Both consume as much time as you are willing to give them.
6. Both require some walking around.
7. Yes, it is exercise. OK, it can be exercise.
8. Both improve with practice.
9. Both can take you to far away places with strange sounding names. Or make you happy staying close to home.
10. Did I mention an obsession with equipment?

Photo: The road to Waimea canyon on Kauai. Taken December 2006.