Would You Rather Be Lucky Or Good?

[1badbadger]

When some of the subordinates of Napoleon Bonaparte were telling him of a new general's bravery, skill, and determination in great detail, Napoleon waved his hand impatiently. "That’s all very well," he said.  "But tell me...is he lucky?"

Obviously there is an argument for either answer.  If I'm walking down the sidewalk and a pile of bird crap lands inches next to me, no amount of skill would have saved me from the embarrassment of being hit on the head with crow poop.  Skilled or unskilled, good luck at the right time can be huge.

However, let's say I'm on my way to the bank to deposit a large sum of money, and get robbed along the way.  If I had gotten the money as a result of luck, how likely would it be for me to replace it?  If I came into that money due to skill, I should be able to use that skill to make it again.

When it comes to golf, would you rather be lucky or good? 

[Gator Hazard]

I wonder if Napoleon was thinking about luck when he invaded Russia...."snow? Meh, maybe we'll get lucky"

I would rather be good. Good people tend to get more "lucky" breaks in general. 

I hear it is good luck in some cultures to get pooped on by a bird. 

[DaveP043]

I'd rather be good, luck will even out.  Was it Gary Player who said "The more I practice, the luckier I get"?

[SavvySwede]

1 minute ago, DaveP043 said:

I'd rather be good, luck will even out.  Was it Gary Player who said "The more I practice, the luckier I get"?

The truth right here. People who think they are lucky are simply good at forgetting their instances of "bad luck". Golfers who consider themselves unlucky are just the ones who dwell on the bad bounces.

[1badbadger]

3 minutes ago, DaveP043 said:

I'd rather be good, luck will even out.  Was it Gary Player who said "The more I practice, the luckier I get"?

I used to have a framed picture in my office of Ben Hogan with that quote...

[DaveP043]

1 minute ago, 1badbadger said:

I used to have a framed picture in my office of Ben Hogan with that quote...

Yeah, I googled the phrase and came up with a few different sources.  No matter who said it first, I think its right.

[roamin]

12 minutes ago, Gator Hazard said:

Good people tend to get more "lucky" breaks in general.

This. True "luck" is deceiving and I don't need that. I already think I'm better than I really am. 

[Groucho Valentine]

But If you're lucky all of the time, does it mean you're just good? 

[1badbadger]

12 minutes ago, DaveP043 said:

I'd rather be good, luck will even out.  Was it Gary Player who said "The more I practice, the luckier I get"?

 

9 minutes ago, 1badbadger said:

I used to have a framed picture in my office of Ben Hogan with that quote...

 

7 minutes ago, DaveP043 said:

Yeah, I googled the phrase and came up with a few different sources.  No matter who said it first, I think its right.

I agree.  A good example would be hole-in-ones...I think we can all agree that an ace involves quite a bit of luck, but Tiger has 19 and I have 0.  Of course he plays a lot more than I do, but I still think his talent results in him getting "lucky" breaks. 

[roamin]

3 minutes ago, Groucho Valentine said:

But If you're lucky all of the time, does it mean you're just good? 

[krupa]

Good.  You can rely on skill, luck comes and goes.

 

[Wally Fairway]

you can't count on being lucky

and

luck is when preparation meets opportunity

 

So I'll take skill, preparation, and determination

[CarlSpackler]

I'll take good. There is no such thing as luck.

[MuniGrit]

On 4/10/2009 at 6:37 PM, NorCalGolfer said:

Best foursome game ever: WOLF

For those that have never played this or don't know how it works let me explain.

Hole 1 is a par 4.

Player A tees off on hole 1. If Player A bombs his drive straight down the middle and thinks he has a good chance to beat the other players...he calls WOLF and plays the other 3 guys in match play. If he hits a bad shot...he waits for player B to hit his shot. Once player B hits he has the choice to pick him or wait for C. Once player C has hit, player A can't go back and choose player B. He must either take C or wait for D. But if he waits for D to hit and player D hits the worst shot of the bunch...well tough cookies. After you choose your partner or go WOLF the hole becomes match play with dots. Holes carry over obviously and on the second hole it's player B's turn to tee off first and choose. Extremely fun game.

I made the mistake of playing with a 3some and I was having a terrible day so I was basically playing against 2 people the whole day. NOT FUN! Needless to say I lost my ass.

 

54 minutes ago, DaveP043 said:

I'd rather be good, luck will even out.  Was it Gary Player who said "The more I practice, the luckier I get"?

It was Trevino that said "Luck is for hackers!"

[caniac6]

I'd rather be good and lucky.

[Vinsk]

With luck my friend may you taste the fruits or run through the fields unscathed,

  But have skill my friend, and reap your crops, and run wild as you may.

O' take heed my friend for luck is passing, sweet and hard to reach.

But have skill my friend and spread this gift,

For luck you cannot teach.

 

-Vinsk.

[Valleygolfer]

Good. Luck is just happenstance. Relying on luck is doing yourself a disservice.

[Dave2512]

Any consistent luck is the byproduct of skill.