ABSTRACT

An Autoethnography on the Transformative life Journey of
A Professional golfer


Bangsoo Kang
Department of Physical Education
Graduate School
Korea University


I am a the Professional Golfers’ Association of America CLASS A professional golfer with a bachelor’s degree in political science and International Studies. I was a regular student, not a student??athlete both in middle and high school. Currently, I am a visiting professor at Korea Golf University at the same time doing my Ph. D course.
The purpose of this study is to share professional golfer''s experience of acquiring a golf license in the PGA PGM golf curriculum qualified levels in the United States. Also to share the meaning of a researcher’s life who returned to Korea and continued his study. Therefore, this study aims to interpret the meaning and value of happiness inherent in golf activities by illuminating the history of a professional golfer''s life.
The data collection of this study includes personal memory, personal social network, internet site, diary, interview data related to golf. The collected qualitative data were transformed into texts based on the technical category criterion. The data analysis was done by coding and categorization. For the first coding, the in??vivo method and the value coding method were used. Then second coding categorized the characteristics of continuous data by means of longitudinal qualitative data summary matrix through longitudinal coding. Verification of data, self??reflection, and literature research were also conducted continuously. The validity of research was assured using triangulation method, research participant identification method, and peer review method. It was constantly attempted to describe the experience in depth. Also it was attempted to treat the autobiographical data with critical, analytical, and interpretive eyes to detect any cultural undertones of what was recalled, observed, and told. At the end of a thorough self??examination within its cultural context, it is hoped that this research helps myself and others to gain a cultural understanding of golf.
Autoethnography pursues the ultimate goal of cultural understanding underlying autobiographical experiences. Autoethnographers undergo the usual ethnographic research process of data collection, data analysis, interpretation, and report writing. The analysis and interpretation of data enables decipherment of cultural meanings of events, behaviors, and thoughts.
The results of this study have led to four transformative life journeys. First, I lived a life in the process of learning golf and performing golf as a "Doer". Golf was perceived as an easy sport for me, however it certainly was not an easy sport. It was a sport that required sensitivity of the body movement. This is the main reason why I fell in the charm of golf. My golf skill rapidly improved and developed since then, and I decided to become a professional golfer. Second, I acquired golf knowledge during the PGA PGM program as a "Knower". I started to have basic knowledge about golf from the PGA. The acquisition of golf related knowledge has led to the expansion of the area of golf. However, as a professional golfer, I failed to manage myself and to acquire the true virtues to be a professional golfer. Third, I expanded the domain of golf knowledge as a "Liker". In order to expand practical knowledge, I devoted myself to study which can make golf education more efficient through learning basic knowledge about physical education in graduate school. I have lived a life where I tried to raise my academic ability in graduate school. To get golf related qualification and certification, I was taking my endless steps towards golf education. Finally, I am making a journey of life realizing the integration and harmony of the golf as a "Enjoyer". I was able to understand myself better as I was appointed as a visiting professor at university and as I taught students. I became more thoughtful and caring about students.
This transformative life was voluntarily chosen by me. My choice as a professional golfer played a role in connecting the links of happiness of my life. Through a series of events related to golf, I tried to find a better direction through self??reflection. Also, The pleasure and happiness obtained through golf appeared as a form of self??realization. I realized that I enjoy golf and experience happy moments with golfing, because I pursue my life as a golfer. It became the pursuit, the meaning, and the goal of my life. Also the pursuit of happiness as the realization of inner??self is the life as a golfing being. As a self??realization, I live a life as a professional golfer.
I, as a researcher, have experienced an exceptional experience of transforming from an ordinary student to a professional golfer. The essence of golf experience was the feeling of happiness in harmony with the golf ‘knowledge’, ‘teaching’, ‘learning’, and ‘enjoying’ golf. My experience is one kind of happiness that can not be easily obtained in the Korean golf society which only focuses at becoming an elite athlete.
To share the happiness that I have experienced is to show that Korean golf culture can also focus on obtaining the golf related knowledge, not only emphasizing golf performance skills.

Keywords: Autoethnography, PGA of America CLASS A, Happiness, Transformative life