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01Prologue: The Round Is Over, But the Game Is Not Over Yet
The moment you sink the final putt on the 18th green and organize your scorecard, it appears on the surface that the round is over. However, the moment you open the door to the clubhouse sauna and step inside, a quick-witted person realizes that the game is not yet over. Only the stage has moved from the fairway into the bath.
In a space where everyone has stripped off their clothes, brand logos, membership levels, and nameplates on carts are of no use. Strangely enough, however, it is precisely at this point that a new kind of psychological warfare begins. If they cannot compete with scores, they attempt to re-establish the hierarchy through physical play; and if even that fails, through a few words tossed about.
Since this secret battle is usually conducted through glances and attitudes rather than words, only those who have experienced it truly understand. If you try to explain it to someone who hasn't, you are likely to get a response like, "Where would such a thing exist?", but it is a story that any golfer who has frequented the saunas of prestigious courses would nod in agreement with.
I know this is a potentially embarrassing subject. However, it is the role of [GOLF ROOM ESSAY] to cover the hidden side of golf culture outside the field, and Club14 does not shy away from such topics. Today, we take a look at the secret battles of wealth and physical prowess among men that unfold in the space of a sauna.
02The game of wits that starts in the changing room
The locker room is the first stage of the psychological warfare. The moment the body, concealed by golf attire throughout the round, is revealed, subtle sidelong glances are exchanged between the lockers. A silent evaluation is concluded with just that brief scan, determining who worked out hard and who failed to hide their belly fat.
Those who are secretly concerned about this game of reading the room are prepared even before entering the locker room. There is a joke that they straighten their posture more than usual and even calculate the timing of wrapping a towel around their waist. Rumor has it that those confident in their bodies actually stall for time by wrapping their towels later.
Strangely enough, whenever I go to the sauna, everyone walks with their stomachs tensed. Even people who don't usually do that can see their posture change the moment they enter the locker room.Anonymous golf club member
Age is not a significant factor in this rivalry. In fact, it is said that the unspoken comparisons regarding self-management are even more intense among seasoned golfers. The recognition that someone "maintains that physique at that age" subtly stimulates both envy and competitiveness.
03The conversation going on inside the bath is actually a wealth briefing
Just as the tension over physical contact subsides, a different kind of conversation begins inside the bath. On the surface, it sounds like mere small talk, but if you listen closely, it is often a subtle briefing on one's financial status. Stories of recent overseas golf tours, newly purchased cars, and children studying abroad flow naturally through the hot steam.
No one directly says, "I earn this much." Instead, sentences starting with "My schedule has been so busy lately" or "I went somewhere this month" take that role. Everyone seems to realize that boasting wrapped in subtle language is actually more effective than boasting more blatantly.
Actually, half of what is said in the bath is just bragging. They don't say it outright, but when you listen, it turns out they are basically saying, "This is how I live."Anonymous clubhouse regular
What is interesting is that most of the people involved in this conversation do not know the exact truth about each other's situations. The stories exchanged inside the bath are usually slightly exaggerated, and although everyone knows this, they do not go out of their way to pry. This may be because the moment they try to determine the truth, the rules of this psychological battle are broken.
04The Final Round of the Powder Room: Skincare and Watches
The powder room, where you dry off after coming out of the bath, is effectively the final round of this battle of nerves. Here, it is not about physical appearance or wealth, but personal belongings that become the subtle deciding factor. This is because it is a space where the watch you put back on your wrist and the brand of the skincare product you take out of your pouch catch your eye.
Some people ostentatiously lay out a multi-step routine, putting great effort into even a single cleansing step, while others casually toss their watches back on as if tossing them aside. When their eyes actually meet, they simply nod silently as they pass by, but both know that in that brief moment, they scanned each other's belongings.
The moment they are fully prepared and step out into the clubhouse lobby, the war of nerves quietly comes to an end as if nothing had happened. When those who had been playing a subtle game of wits just moments ago run into each other in the lobby, they simply exchange smiles and greetings and head to their respective cars. It is a draw where no one claims to have won or lost.
05Editor's Note
I do not intend to say that all this psychological warfare is necessarily bad. Wherever people gather, comparison and competition are bound to follow in some form, and a sauna is no exception. However, the irony is that when this psychological warfare becomes excessively serious, the actual enjoyment of the round vanishes without a trace, leaving only a tiring battle of wits.
The true value of a round of golf lies in the pleasant conversations shared while walking the 18 holes and the memories of playing partners who clapped together for a well-struck shot. Let us overlook the subtle tension in the hot tub as mere playful banter, and I hope you do not forget that what truly matters is the moments of laughter shared on the course that day.
This concludes the observation report for [GOLF ROOM ESSAY]. In the next issue, Club14 plans to continue exploring behind-the-scenes stories that the golf community might be curious about, moving back and forth between the field and the golf course.
