I love golf, but at the same time, I hate it!
I love to play the game, because there’s something about making the right club selection, hitting the ball cleanly, propelling the ball to the intended target with its proper distance, landing the ball to within a putter’s length of the cup and then putting it in.
Just me and the ball!
What I described may sound simple to the unknowing.
Do you realize how many things can go wrong from the time you select your club, approach your ball, set up with your stance, start your back swing to your follow through and then leave your ball in the hands of the golfing gods?
That’s why I hate it. I know of no other activity that requires so much to think about and then you have to put all of it out of your head to “enjoy the game”.
I took up the game when I was 48 years old. I tried to hold out until I was 50, but I had too many friends eager to take my money (25 cents a hole-winner take all), so I bought my FIRST set of clubs. I am now on my FOURTH set, and I have owned no less than SIX putters!
You see; I am one of those guys who must rely on technology to strengthen the weakness of my game. So, yes; I believe that you can BUY your way to a better game!
I will start this season with an 18-hole handicap of 17. Not bad for taking it up 8 years ago.
I enjoy the sheer beauty of a well manicured golf course. I belong to a local country club that is very well maintained. We take great pride in our course, but I have also played on some of the best courses that Illinois and Iowa have to offer.
Wherever I go, I will replace my divots, fix my ball marks on the greens and pick up trash that I find on the course. Yes; I’m a better groundskeeper than golfer!
I believe that I have the right attitude for golf. I am a student of the game. I learn something every time I go out and play. I have taken lessons. I play in a league. I play in tournaments and I am no longer nervous around other golfers. I have found that I actually play better when I am playing against better golfers and I have beaten some good ones; mostly in handicapped matches.
No; I am not a sandbagger; I have honestly earned my 17 handicap. I don’t…nope; I won’t go there!
I have also seen the ugly side of golf. I am talking about the expletive-filled, club-throwing, ball-throwing, walk-off-in-the-middle-of-a-match ugliness; not by me, but by others. You have to wonder why they play!
Call me a romanticist, but I can relate to people like Player, Palmer and Nicklaus and their reverence for the game. It is almost spiritualistic their connection to the game.
I play for the challenge. I strive to get better. I play for the fun and the enjoyment of hitting that one, good drive; that one, good sand shot and making a 20 footer for a birdie. It makes my whole day and screw what’s on my scorecard. I’ll pay my money when I lose, but relish in the eagle that I made on #13!
Then, we will sit around in the clubhouse, have our beverages and bust each others’ balls.
Sound familiar? It almost sounds like the firehouse, doesn’t it?
I play in firefighter tournaments when I get the chance. Last year, I sponsored a two-person, super ball tournament for my firefighters. I’m proud to say that Lance and I took second place. My chief and his partner won the thing. They want to do it again and I will gladly take a re-match.
To me; it’s the best of both worlds. The camaraderie is second to none. And the charities that they support are well worth your time and your entry fee.
Love golf? You bet (25 cents a hole).
The article as submitted is published under The Adventures of Jake and Vinnie© umbrella and is the intellectual property of Art Goodrich a.k.a. xchief22 and ChiefReason. It is protected by federal copyright laws and cannot be re-printed in any form without expressed permission from the author. You may read other works by the author at www.chiefreasonart.com.
Also on Chief Reason …
- Of Dreams, Clowns and Eagles – May 2, 2010
- The Body Won’t Do What the Mind Tells It To! – March 29, 2009
- The First Due Blog Carnival – March 11, 2010
- Your Cheatin’ Heart… – October 25, 2009
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