Victor Bay,
CEO of the PAP Community Foundation
When Brahm Centre asked if I could write a testimonial about my experiences with their Mindfulness courses and trainers, I initially wondered if it was necessary. The fact that I am currently enrolled in my fourth Mindfulness course—having taken the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course twice within the last 16 months—speaks for itself. In fact, I’m already signed up for my fifth course, “Mindfulness for Compassion,” scheduled for September 2024. Some might think I’m just trying to use up my SkillsFuture grant, but the reality is, I haven’t used a single cent of it on any of these courses.
I enrolled in the Mindfulness courses with the goal of improving my golf game. As the legendary golfer Bobby Jones once said, “Golf is played in a five-inch fairway between the ears.” Beyond physical skills or what the renowned golf psychologist Dr. Bob Rotella calls “swing confidence,” it’s the mental aspect—or “golf confidence”—that truly sets golfers apart. I’m convinced of this.
Every one of the 9 or 12 foundational attributes for MBSR and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) applies perfectly to anyone who wants to enjoy and excel at the game of golf. While my golf game hasn’t improved dramatically since taking these four Mindfulness courses, my enjoyment of the game has increased significantly. I’ve learned to stay present, trust the process, practice patience, let go, accept things as they are, and embrace non-striving and non-judging. I’ve also developed curiosity, a beginner’s mind, gratitude, generosity, befriending, and compassion. These lessons are valuable not just for golf, but for life as well.
A heartfelt thank you to Prof. Angie Chew, Christina Liew, and all my course mates for sharing their experiences. You have all helped me avoid giving up on golf!
