--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Think of golf as chess. You have to think…" description: "\"Think of golf as chess. You have to think two or three moves ahead every time you hit the ball. Over every shot, you should be thinking, 'Where do I ne..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fec/gary-mccord-29090_balls_think-of-golf-as-chess-you-have-to-think_2618300.jpg" --- # Think of golf as chess. You have to think two or three… ![“Think of golf as chess. You have to think two or three moves ahead every time you hit the ball. Over every shot, you should be thinking, 'Where do I need to put this ball in order to make my next shot as easy as possible.” quote by Gary McCord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fec/gary-mccord-29090_balls_think-of-golf-as-chess-you-have-to-think_2618300.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fec/gary-mccord-29090_balls_think-of-golf-as-chess-you-have-to-think_2618300.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fec/gary-mccord-29090_balls_think-of-golf-as-chess-you-have-to-think_2618300.jpg) > “Think of golf as chess. You have to think two or three moves ahead every time you hit the ball. Over every shot, you should be thinking, 'Where do I need to put this ball in order to make my next shot as easy as possible.” [Gary McCord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-mccord/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Playing golf requires strategic foresight, treating each shot as a step in a larger plan to simplify future shots. **In simple terms:** Golf is like chess, plan ahead. Key Takeaway Think ahead to make the next shot easier. Themes strategy anticipation skill planning Mood focused analytical Type motivational instructional When to use this quote - tournament play - practice sessions - coaching lessons - course management Key Concepts game theory decision making spatial awareness Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance strategic planning with staying present? - What simple adjustments can improve your next shot? A Different Perspective Over‑planning can lead to paralysis and reduced enjoyment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chess/) [Golf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/golf/) [Moving ahead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving-ahead/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [A good one iron shot is about as easy to come by as an understanding wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-jenkins/a-good-one-iron-shot-is-about-as-easy-to-come-by-as-an-understanding/) [Dan Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-jenkins/) > [I've storyboarded for things other people have shot. So thinking in shots and orchestrating shots is not foreign to me at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-bird/i-ve-storyboarded-for-things-other-people-have-shot-so-thinking-in/) [Brad Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-bird/) > [I'm a tennis fan, so I like Roger Federer. 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You have to think a lot and anticipate what could happen after you make your move.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrikh-mkhitaryan/i-play-football-like-chess-you-have-to-think-a-lot-and-anticipate/) [Henrikh Mkhitaryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrikh-mkhitaryan/) > [Suppose it were perfectly certain that the life and fortune of each of us would some day depend upon our winning or losing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/suppose-it-were-perfectly-certain-that-the-life-and-fortune-of-each/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [What is chess, do you think? Those who play for fun or not at all dismiss it as a game. The ones who devote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-kingsley/what-is-chess-do-you-think-those-who-play-for-fun-or-not-at-all/) [Ben Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-kingsley/) > [Writing is sort of like chess for me. 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But I think that in all professions you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judit-polgar/and-maybe-some-people-do-it-too-much-are-too-selfish-and-concentrated/) [Judit Polgar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judit-polgar/) > [Americans really don't know much about chess. But I think when I beat Spassky, that Americans will take a greater interest in chess. Americans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-fischer/americans-really-don-t-know-much-about-chess-but-i-think-when-i-beat/) [Bobby Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-fischer/) > [Lots of people still don't think of golf as a sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camilo-villegas/lots-of-people-still-don-t-think-of-golf-as-a-sport/) [Camilo Villegas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camilo-villegas/) > [I think golf is literally an addiction. I'm surprised there's not Golf Anonymous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-david/i-think-golf-is-literally-an-addiction-i-m-surprised-there-s-not-golf/) [Larry David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-david/) > [When my mother in Florida mentions that she's off to play golf, I think: Golf? In the age of Trump?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-druckerman/when-my-mother-in-florida-mentions-that-she-s-off-to-play-golf-i/) [Pamela Druckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-druckerman/) ## More by Gary McCord > [In Valdosta, Ga., during a mini-tour event, a player named James Black bet me $20 he could put five golf balls in his mouth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-mccord/in-valdosta-ga-during-a-mini-tour-event-a-player-named-james-black/) [Gary McCord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-mccord/) > [I don't putt face-on exclusively, but in the back on my mind I'm haunted by the notion that I'm sure it's the best way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-mccord/i-don-t-putt-face-on-exclusively-but-in-the-back-on-my-mind-i-m/) [Gary McCord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-mccord/) > [My career started slowly and then tapered off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-mccord/my-career-started-slowly-and-then-tapered-off/) [Gary McCord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-mccord/) > [They don't cut the greens here at Augusta. they use bikini wax.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-mccord/they-don-t-cut-the-greens-here-at-augusta-they-use-bikini-wax/) [Gary McCord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-mccord/) > [The first time I played a PGA Tour event at Tucson was 1975. I came off the course on Sunday feeling very good about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-mccord/the-first-time-i-played-a-pga-tour-event-at-tucson-was-1975-i-came/) [Gary McCord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-mccord/) > [I made nothing happen very slowly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-mccord/i-made-nothing-happen-very-slowly/) [Gary McCord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-mccord/) > [My interest in magic was kindled by Steve Martin, the comedian I'd gone to high school with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-mccord/my-interest-in-magic-was-kindled-by-steve-martin-the-comedian-i-d/) [Gary McCord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-mccord/) > [He's in the mold of a Tom Watson, in that he'll hit the ball in the trees and undaunted go it there, flail it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-mccord/he-s-in-the-mold-of-a-tom-watson-in-that-he-ll-hit-the-ball-in-the/) [Gary McCord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-mccord/) > [I've forgotten more about bad putting than all the lousy putters in the firmament combined. My mind has been twisted into an incurable, disturbing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-mccord/i-ve-forgotten-more-about-bad-putting-than-all-the-lousy-putters-in/) [Gary McCord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-mccord/) > [He's got an overall flair for the game. It looks to me like he really loves what he does and he can't wait to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-mccord/he-s-got-an-overall-flair-for-the-game-it-looks-to-me-like-he-really/) [Gary McCord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-mccord/) > [I'm nearsighted in my right eye, have glaucoma in my left, and the nerves in my hands are on Medicare. Basically, I'm on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-mccord/i-m-nearsighted-in-my-right-eye-have-glaucoma-in-my-left-and-the/) [Gary McCord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-mccord/) > [Many years ago, in the throes of my struggles on the PGA Tour, I had difficulty even getting into pro-ams. I needed money, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-mccord/many-years-ago-in-the-throes-of-my-struggles-on-the-pga-tour-i-had/) [Gary McCord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-mccord/) > [If you are going to make a change, don't go halfway. Make it with conviction and stick with your new idea. Ignore the scoffers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-mccord/if-you-are-going-to-make-a-change-don-t-go-halfway-make-it-with/) [Gary McCord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-mccord/) > [He hits the ball a long way and he knows how to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-mccord/he-hits-the-ball-a-long-way-and-he-knows-how-to-win/) [Gary McCord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-mccord/) > [Golfers don't scream. Golfers just adjust the pleats in their pants and go from there. That's about as antagonistic as we get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-mccord/golfers-don-t-scream-golfers-just-adjust-the-pleats-in-their-pants/) [Gary McCord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-mccord/) [Explore all 18 Gary McCord quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-mccord/) ## More Balls quotes > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [Once you pull the trigger, you've got to throw balls aggressively and with conviction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-smith/once-you-pull-the-trigger-you-ve-got-to-throw-balls-aggressively-and/) [Alex Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-smith/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. 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And you can teach the boys to pass at angles and run in curves. - University of Kansas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-dawkins/well-you-can-certainly-teach-free-throwing-and-you-can-teach-the-boys/) [Darryl Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-dawkins/) > [Maybe bring in sponge balls to learn the technique and gain that experience of actually challenging for a header.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-mason/maybe-bring-in-sponge-balls-to-learn-the-technique-and-gain-that/) [Ryan Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-mason/) > [I like René Descartes' theory about a ball of wax. You can change its form from solid to liquid, but it's still the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmy-rossum/i-like-ren-descartes-theory-about-a-ball-of-wax-you-can-change-its/) [Emmy Rossum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmy-rossum/) > [It wasn't really touching to be young; it was touching not to be young, because you had less of life left. 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