Michael Peña

Its amazing, really, to witness the dexterity and flexibility of a ten-year-olds body going through the motions of an all-out swing. I, on the other hand, play golf the way the textbooks and magazines say youre supposed to play it, with a strategic, patient, and calm mindset.

Actor Michael Pea Golfs with His 10-Year-Old Son

I grew up wrestling and boxingsports that require strategy and patience but also an extreme sense of discipline and focus. Thats why today I can spend so much time analyzing my swing that I lose myself in the details.

So with the breadth of knowledge that Ive gained from reading, youd think Id have a lot to teach him. But it hasnt quite worked out that way.

Roman was about four when I first started taking him to the driving range. I thought it would be a fun way to spend time with him. Wed pick a mat away from the crowd and go to town on a bucket of balls. Gradually, I tried to work in a few pointers without overwhelming him.

First I started trying to adjust Romans grip and stance. He didnt seem interested. Then I worked on his swing. Id line up three balls and hit them off the mat myself. Nice and slow. Controlled.

Sometimes Roman would ask me, Howd you make the ball go so high? or Why did you swing that club differently? Yes! Nuance!

Then Id line up three balls for him. Hes smart. Hes watched my movements. Hes good at taking advice. His practice swings would be nice and fluid. And then when he got up to the ball, he would alwaysalwaysswing as hard as he could.

But in that completely undisciplined swing, I started to notice something. Whether he hits it or misses it, he moves on. He tried. He did okayor he didnt. But he lets it go. He looks at golf as one ball up, one ball down. The ball may go exactly where he wants it to go. More likely, it wont. He takes his shots as best he can, and now hes back to enjoying the time in between. The swing is in the past and Oh, looka sand trap!

And this is exactly how the best teachers tell you how to play. Golf is a game about the future. Each hole is a new opportunity. If Im too preoccupied with the shot that I missed off into the bunker, Im also going to miss being in the right frame of mind to tackle the next one.

Which is what Roman did a few months back, after he shanked a ball into the sand in the practice area. I could have pulled out my sand wedge and set up three practice balls in the hope of pulling him back into the game.

Instead, I put down my clubs and watched him roll around and play in the bunker. He climbed out of that trap covered in sand, a smile plastered on his face. Had I been thinking about how I was going to fix his next shot, I wouldve missed it.

Michael Pea's credits include: Crash, Narcos: Mexico, and Dora and the Lost City of Gold

Actor Michael Peña Golfs with His 10-Year-Old Son

My ten-year-old sons approach to golf ishow can I say this?wild. With every swing, every ball goes one distance: as far as it possibly can. Roman is all torquewhich, incidentally, is how he approaches almost everything else in life.

Actor Michael Peña, on Practice, Patience, and Golfing with a 10-Year-Old

Politics

Local

World

News

Celebrities

Music

Movies

Entertainment

Sports 

Fashion

Beauty & Health

Relationships & Weddings

Food & Travel

Lifestyle

Domestic

International 

Business

Explore categories

Checkout our authors for the latest content across entertainment, sports, business and more. Be first to receive exclusive updates with your free subscription straight to your phone | Pulselive Kenya

Authors | Pulselive Kenya

| Pulselive Kenya

Read the latest news across entertainment, sports, business and more. Be first to receive exclusive updates with your free subscription straight to your phone | Pulselive Kenya

Breaking News & Top Stories | Pulselive Kenya

Pulse Kenya is the most followed news and entertainment platform in Kenya. It informs and engages young Kenyans around the clock and provides updates by the hour.

Pulselive Kenya

Search for the latest content across entertainment, sports, business and more. Be first to receive exclusive updates with your free subscription straight to your phone | Pulselive Kenya

Search Results | Pulselive Kenya

Watch the latest videos across entertainment, sports, business and more. Be first to receive exclusive updates with your free subscription straight to your phone| Pulselive Kenya

Michael Peña

Articles written by the author

Actor Michael Peña, on Practice, Patience, and Golfing with a 10-Year-Old