--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've always wanted to see how far I could…" description: "\"I've always wanted to see how far I could take my competitive golf, but I didn't want to sit and wait for things. I wanted to actually compete in thing..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/940/john-smoltz-6392_game_i-ve-always-wanted-to-see-how-far-i-coul_1013466.jpg" --- # I've always wanted to see how far I could take my… ![“I've always wanted to see how far I could take my competitive golf, but I didn't want to sit and wait for things. I wanted to actually compete in things, and I think that's the only way you learn about your game.” quote by John Smoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/940/john-smoltz-6392_game_i-ve-always-wanted-to-see-how-far-i-coul_1013466.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/940/john-smoltz-6392_game_i-ve-always-wanted-to-see-how-far-i-coul_1013466.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/940/john-smoltz-6392_game_i-ve-always-wanted-to-see-how-far-i-coul_1013466.jpg) > “I've always wanted to see how far I could take my competitive golf, but I didn't want to sit and wait for things. I wanted to actually compete in things, and I think that's the only way you learn about your game.” [John Smoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smoltz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success comes from active competition rather than passive waiting; real learning occurs through direct challenges. **In simple terms:** Compete to learn, not just wait. Key Takeaway Engage in competition to improve. Themes competition learning growth Mood motivated focused Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - tournament play - practice rounds - skill assessment - team events Key Concepts sports psychology deliberate practice Questions to Reflect On - What competition could you join today? - How does active play accelerate learning? A Different Perspective Passive observation yields limited progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Competitive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competitive/) [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Golf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/golf/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) ## Related quotes > [My father died very suddenly at sixty-three. Just dropped dead. For a long time afterward, I'd ask myself, Why didn't I ask him to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/my-father-died-very-suddenly-at-sixty-three-just-dropped-dead-for-a/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [Competitive golf is played mainly on a five-and-a-half-inch course... the space between your ears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-jones/competitive-golf-is-played-mainly-on-a-five-and-a-half-inch-course/) [Bobby Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-jones/) > [I love playing competitive golf because it's really the only thing left that I'm still pretty good at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-fish/i-love-playing-competitive-golf-because-it-s-really-the-only-thing/) [Mardy Fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardy-fish/) > [I played competitive golf all my life. Then all of a sudden, when I quit playing the game, I've got all this spare time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/i-played-competitive-golf-all-my-life-then-all-of-a-sudden-when-i/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [I like to have success experiences rather than failure experiences. So I'm more likely to compete in things I'm good at, and more likely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-dietz/i-like-to-have-success-experiences-rather-than-failure-experiences-so/) [Park Dietz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-dietz/) > [I have come to see what the Tour is about, and it has been harder than I imagined. You don't realise what it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraint-thomas/i-have-come-to-see-what-the-tour-is-about-and-it-has-been-harder-than/) [Geraint Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraint-thomas/) > [For our team leotards, we get about ten to choose from to actually compete in at the Olympics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mckayla-maroney/for-our-team-leotards-we-get-about-ten-to-choose-from-to-actually/) [McKayla Maroney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mckayla-maroney/) > [Golf didn't seem like it was for everybody. I didn't grow up with a whole lot of money, and my perception was that golf…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cub-swanson/golf-didn-t-seem-like-it-was-for-everybody-i-didn-t-grow-up-with-a/) [Cub Swanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cub-swanson/) > [I'd give up golf if I didn't have so many sweaters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hope/i-d-give-up-golf-if-i-didn-t-have-so-many-sweaters/) [Bob Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hope/) > [I can sit here and hit all the balls and chip and putt all day long, but if you're not playing competitive golf... there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-daly/i-can-sit-here-and-hit-all-the-balls-and-chip-and-putt-all-day-long/) [John Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-daly/) > [It wasn't until last year that I figured out the problem: I just don't love competitive golf. What I love is the game itself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paige-spiranac/it-wasn-t-until-last-year-that-i-figured-out-the-problem-i-just-don-t/) [Paige Spiranac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paige-spiranac/) > [I can accomplish all those. It's really awkward, kind of, for me coming out here and being in a competitive golf atmosphere. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-curry/i-can-accomplish-all-those-it-s-really-awkward-kind-of-for-me-coming/) [Stephen Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-curry/) > [All I ever wanted to do was play competitive golf against the best players in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/all-i-ever-wanted-to-do-was-play-competitive-golf-against-the-best/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [I try to squeeze in a round of golf here and there when I get a chance to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smoltz/i-try-to-squeeze-in-a-round-of-golf-here-and-there-when-i-get-a/) [John Smoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smoltz/) > [I've learned so much through golf and myself. I've been frustrated a lot, but I've proved a lot, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smoltz/i-ve-learned-so-much-through-golf-and-myself-i-ve-been-frustrated-a/) [John Smoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smoltz/) ## More by John Smoltz > [A definition of a good broadcast is when 50 percent of the people think you're rooting for one team and the other 50 percent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smoltz/a-definition-of-a-good-broadcast-is-when-50-percent-of-the-people/) [John Smoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smoltz/) > [Pitching for the Boston Red Sox proved to be one of the few challenges in my career that I was unable to overcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smoltz/pitching-for-the-boston-red-sox-proved-to-be-one-of-the-few/) [John Smoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smoltz/) > [I gave up a lot of money to stay with the Braves four different times and I don't regret any second of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smoltz/i-gave-up-a-lot-of-money-to-stay-with-the-braves-four-different-times/) [John Smoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smoltz/) > [I've learned so much through golf and myself. I've been frustrated a lot, but I've proved a lot, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smoltz/i-ve-learned-so-much-through-golf-and-myself-i-ve-been-frustrated-a/) [John Smoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smoltz/) > [If the players don't produce, and aren't in the position to be evaluated correctly, then a manager's job of winning or losing baseball games…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smoltz/if-the-players-don-t-produce-and-aren-t-in-the-position-to-be/) [John Smoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smoltz/) > [When you go into the minor leagues and you take a kid out after 75 to 90 pitches, what do you expect him to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smoltz/when-you-go-into-the-minor-leagues-and-you-take-a-kid-out-after-75-to/) [John Smoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smoltz/) > [I don't know that we'll ever see a 3,000-strikeout guy again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smoltz/i-don-t-know-that-we-ll-ever-see-a-3-000-strikeout-guy-again/) [John Smoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smoltz/) > [To be honest with you, the two greatest games I ever pitched resulted in losses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smoltz/to-be-honest-with-you-the-two-greatest-games-i-ever-pitched-resulted/) [John Smoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smoltz/) > [I never grunted, and never overthrew a pitch when I was a starter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smoltz/i-never-grunted-and-never-overthrew-a-pitch-when-i-was-a-starter/) [John Smoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smoltz/) > [I try to squeeze in a round of golf here and there when I get a chance to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smoltz/i-try-to-squeeze-in-a-round-of-golf-here-and-there-when-i-get-a/) [John Smoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smoltz/) > [Yeah, I've never been afraid of any challenge, and I'm either all in or all out, because that's the mindset I've always had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smoltz/yeah-i-ve-never-been-afraid-of-any-challenge-and-i-m-either-all-in-or/) [John Smoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smoltz/) > [Going to the pen was something I had to learn to do. It wasn't something I wanted to do. If it made our team…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smoltz/going-to-the-pen-was-something-i-had-to-learn-to-do-it-wasn-t/) [John Smoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smoltz/) > [Alan Trammell came right up to me. I was sitting in a locker, looking like I don't belong here. He shook my hand and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smoltz/alan-trammell-came-right-up-to-me-i-was-sitting-in-a-locker-looking/) [John Smoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smoltz/) > [I love to compete. I really do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smoltz/i-love-to-compete-i-really-do/) [John Smoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smoltz/) > [Golf was a great way to be better in baseball. And now golf is something I enjoy, and a way to better experience and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smoltz/golf-was-a-great-way-to-be-better-in-baseball-and-now-golf-is/) [John Smoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smoltz/) [Explore all 99 John Smoltz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smoltz/) ## More Competitive quotes > [If life were like a competitive race, some people would be given a flying start and others would line up with weights tied to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-grothe/if-life-were-like-a-competitive-race-some-people-would-be-given-a/) [Mardy Grothe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardy-grothe/) > [When my main character in 'Heat' climbs the tower, the highest diving platform, hoping to resume competitive diving after an injury, I am there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cadnum/when-my-main-character-in-heat-climbs-the-tower-the-highest-diving/) [Michael Cadnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cadnum/) > [I'm a competitive person. I love the game of basketball. I'm a gym rat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-pierce/i-m-a-competitive-person-i-love-the-game-of-basketball-i-m-a-gym-rat/) [Paul Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-pierce/) > [My dad is a competitive guy. That's a part of me. It's just a certain drive, I guess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/auston-matthews/my-dad-is-a-competitive-guy-that-s-a-part-of-me-it-s-just-a-certain/) [Auston Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/auston-matthews/) > [I was a serious competitive figure skater and still ice-skate as much as I can. Anyway, I once brought a date to the rink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-serratos/i-was-a-serious-competitive-figure-skater-and-still-ice-skate-as-much/) [Christian Serratos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-serratos/) > [Don't compare your career to anyone else's. It's tough when you're in a business that's competitive. I was having a difficult time with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-brooks/don-t-compare-your-career-to-anyone-else-s-it-s-tough-when-you-re-in/) [Danielle Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-brooks/) > [In any competitive environment, whether you're in sales or marketing or whatever it is, you have to know your competition, understand who they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-moses/in-any-competitive-environment-whether-you-re-in-sales-or-marketing/) [Edwin Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-moses/) > [I just love this sport and it's so competitive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-coleman/i-just-love-this-sport-and-it-s-so-competitive/) [Christian Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-coleman/) > [Everyone must be in the same competitive situation, including on the fiscal level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-hollande/everyone-must-be-in-the-same-competitive-situation-including-on-the/) [Francois Hollande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-hollande/) > [I've always been competitive and determined. It's part of my personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-simmonds/i-ve-always-been-competitive-and-determined-it-s-part-of-my/) [Ellie Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-simmonds/) > [Uruguayans are competitive, and we always want to win. Even though we try to hide it, it is impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-godin/uruguayans-are-competitive-and-we-always-want-to-win-even-though-we/) [Diego Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-godin/) > [I'm quite competitive. Not with other models but with myself. I have to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arizona-muse/i-m-quite-competitive-not-with-other-models-but-with-myself-i-have-to/) [Arizona Muse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arizona-muse/) > [I'll miss the competitive side and the camaraderie of being around the players and competing each and every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scottie-pippen/i-ll-miss-the-competitive-side-and-the-camaraderie-of-being-around/) [Scottie Pippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scottie-pippen/) > [We always want to see each other do well. And I think we all want to win. As competitive as you are, you always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-brown/we-always-want-to-see-each-other-do-well-and-i-think-we-all-want-to/) [Antonio Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-brown/) > [Any physical practice can be a competitive sport. What level you can take postures to create the maximum challenge and show your maximum skill,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajashree-choudhury/any-physical-practice-can-be-a-competitive-sport-what-level-you-can/) [Rajashree Choudhury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajashree-choudhury/) [Browse all 1,008 Competitive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competitive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've always wanted to see how far I could take my competitive golf, but I didn't want to sit and wait for things. 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