When I have some free time (ha!), I enjoy playing golf. Despite the fact that I'm really not that good at it, I find it both relaxing and challenging. After a recent round, I was thinking about the sport, and came up with the following list of observations (and don't worry, this isn't turning into a sports blog; I've got a long writeup on Butler in the works! This was just top-of-mind last night...).
- If there's one spot on the fairway you don't want to be, that's where you'll find your drive.
- Golf balls have a strange magnetic attraction for water.
- Though it may appear the putt breaks left (right), it actually breaks right (left).
- If your irons (woods) are working really well today, your woods (irons) are not.
- If your score on the front nine is five shots better (worse) than your typical round, your score on the back nine will be at least five shots worse (better) than your typical round.
- If you consistently hit your 9-iron 150 yards, and you need to hit it at least 140 to carry the lake, you will hit it 139 yards.
- Trees may be 90% air, but your ball will hit that single, tiny, skinny branch sticking out roughly 99.5% of the time.
- When the Golf Gods force you to use five shots on a short 175 yard par three hole, then immediately let you use only three shots on the very next 440 yard par four, thou shalt not question the Golf Gods decision making process.
- The hardest shot in golf is your opening tee shot on a busy Sunday morning at the local course, where the crowded outdoor patio at the restaurant overlooks the first tee.
- If you ever stop to really consider what it takes to even make contact with a golf ball, you'll probably never hit one straight again.
Despite all this, I still find the game fun to play ... though I'm not sure why!
I have to disagree with #9. The hardest shot of the day is the Mulligan you take after you topped your first shot off the opening tee in front of the patio filled with onlookers, since now you have to REALLY prove you couldn't possibly be as bad as that first shot.
Here's another one. The less "Pro Tips" you try to incorporate from golf magazines, the better you'll hit the ball.
Re #1: Ha! OK, I'd agree. That one's even tougher!
-rob.
I used to play golf all the time, until I started finding it harder and harder to find a nice course that was affordable, not too crowded, and didn't make me wear a shirt with a collar in oider to play there. It was then that I realized this wasn't really the game for me. Since then I've been playing disc golf.
The cost of a disc is about the same as a high end golf ball, and you can measure it's longevity in years instead of holes. When I played golf a lot, I would spend about $1000 a year playing, with disc golf I spend about $30 because almost every course is free. I believe disc golf is just as challenging as regular golf, and just as difficult to master, but easier to learn. And best of all, I don't have to make a day of it. I can drive 3 minutes to the course near me on a work break, play nine or ten holes, and be back working on my computer in 45 minutes. It's fun, and not stuffy at all, like golf seems to have become.
Classic, just classic...
Why do any of us play this silly game?
Why do we play this silly game? Because we remember the feeling of hitting that tee shot square, seeing it fly right down the center of the fairway. That's why.
One of those beautiful tee shots is enough to hook you on golf for life. That's what did it for me, anyway.
I never thought I would still be "learning" to play this game after 30 years but that's the way it is - like you I am not good just determined.
And, I never take that Mulligan off the first tee - I always play the first ball (usually with my trusty, never-fail 7 wood!). The last thing I need
is for that patio crowd to watch a second flubbed tee shot!
Who said we didn't want you to turn this into a sports blog? ;-)
And haven't we all hit the perfect shot in any situation with any club on any hole and wondered why it doesn't happen on any situation with any club on any hole for 18 holes? If I could choose my best score on any matching hole over the last 35 years, Tiger Woods and any other golf legend would be whimpering. But such is golf... and life really.
mpress, I thought I was the only person alive who topped the ball on an opening tee. Though my handicap is that I own a set of golf clubs, I still enjoy the game when work, school, kids and wife permit.
Nope, Herb... I've experienced that on any number of occassions. As Rob stated, it's the hardest drive of the game. It's almost like you feel your entire day will be decided with how well you hit that first shot. And when I first read the #9 Robservation I immediately was reminded of the time I teed-off in front of the spectator patio and nailed the metal garbage can ten feet away to the left. It hit with such a CLANG! that all eyes turned toward me. I took the Mulligan just to prove myself in front of the crowd. Luckily I didn't hit the garbage can this time. Nope. I hit the Jaguar parked just past it. It bounced off and gave me a great lie on the ladies tee. I swear I'm not that bad.
I think I am in a withdrawl. :) Checking everyday for some new post (rereading the old ones for umteenth time).
I've played since I was 10 years old - was even on the college golf team - and it just doesn't get any easier, even after 20 years of experience. I would say that golf is humbling to everyone, no matter what their skill level. We all just keep coming back because when it all goes right, it feels so good.
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