Recently the question was asked, "is playing golf just about hitting the little white ball?" Confused, my first thought was, "that's a stupid question!" Wanting to give a more politically correct answer, I suppressed that first thought, grinning through clenched teeth, prohibiting the sarcastic answer from flipping off the end of my tongue. I've noticed in recent years, I lack self-control when I surmise a stupid question had been asked. Hopefully that lack doesn't extend to other body parts as well!
In light of numerous political debates, which leave you wondering what the hell the question was in the first place, I will answer the question: "is playing golf just about hitting the little white ball?" NO! Expanding on that emphatically answered NO, one must understand competition.
For the sake of naysayers, all this malarkey is for professional golfer wannabes, reasons for excluding the "big guys/girls" also known as PGA professionals, will soon reveal themselves. Almost a quarter century back my wonderful husband decided to take up the game of Golf. One year into his project, he poked, prodded and pleaded, "please play golf with me!" Thinking I'd rather watch paint dry but loved the idea of being outside soaking up all the Vitamin D, I relented. Alas, we are hooked, but there is so much more to golf than just smacking the little white ball!
Brain vs. Brawn: Golf is a game of mathematics. Clubs have certain degrees of loft, they are made that way for a reason! Standing, gripping and ripping (John Daly's famous swing), keeping one's head down, letting the club do it's job, understanding stance, are just a mere "tap in" compared to the complete game of Golf. If you are agile, understand all the above, then perhaps your game is both brain and brawn working together much like a fine tuned machine. Knowing what you are supposed to do and how far you can hit each club, tends to be more brain power and self-control. Constantly hitting a long and wrong shot, using a club as a projectile when your "game" has left you, leads one to believe, all brawn no brain. However, we all have bad days!
Wardrobe: Well, you've got to look good! Pockets and lots of them are a necessity! Unlike my usual playing partner who sticks his pencil under the edge of his hat, loosing it each time he removes said hat to wipe his sweating brow, I prefer to carry one either in a back pocket or just leave it in the cart if we are riding the course. Preferring to walk, most Florida courses require riding, speeding up the game! Once out of the Starter's sight, my walk begins. Pockets are a must! These days, it's all about comfort and cotton. Loose fitting breathable clothing always wins out over "looking good!"
Ball hawking: for those unfamiliar with this golf term, please read on! If hitting the ball "long and wrong" seems to be your normal approach, subconsciously you are a ball hawker. This unique form of golf requires patience, a fearless approach, love of bugs, reptile (snakes) and high tolerances for pain, as thorns and vines wrap around you legs and any open skin available. Another type of ball hawker requires navigating ponds and the purchase of special equipment; a fine example of re-cycling would be a clam rake. Again a sharp eye and quick reflexes are just a few of the skills necessary to perfect this aspect of the golf game. Here a twosome is preferred, one to do the actual raking of the water's edge, the second would be the reptile spotter (snakes and alligators!)
As they meet at the 19th hole for a recap of this versatile game, much like a trade deadline in the major leagues, bartering begins: "I'll give you a sleeve (3 balls) of Bridgestones for just one of your Titliest ProV1, PLEASE?" "If you tell me your favorite spot to ball hawk, I'll consider it!" This is going to be a long afternoon, let the games begin!
In light of numerous political debates, which leave you wondering what the hell the question was in the first place, I will answer the question: "is playing golf just about hitting the little white ball?" NO! Expanding on that emphatically answered NO, one must understand competition.
For the sake of naysayers, all this malarkey is for professional golfer wannabes, reasons for excluding the "big guys/girls" also known as PGA professionals, will soon reveal themselves. Almost a quarter century back my wonderful husband decided to take up the game of Golf. One year into his project, he poked, prodded and pleaded, "please play golf with me!" Thinking I'd rather watch paint dry but loved the idea of being outside soaking up all the Vitamin D, I relented. Alas, we are hooked, but there is so much more to golf than just smacking the little white ball!
Brain vs. Brawn: Golf is a game of mathematics. Clubs have certain degrees of loft, they are made that way for a reason! Standing, gripping and ripping (John Daly's famous swing), keeping one's head down, letting the club do it's job, understanding stance, are just a mere "tap in" compared to the complete game of Golf. If you are agile, understand all the above, then perhaps your game is both brain and brawn working together much like a fine tuned machine. Knowing what you are supposed to do and how far you can hit each club, tends to be more brain power and self-control. Constantly hitting a long and wrong shot, using a club as a projectile when your "game" has left you, leads one to believe, all brawn no brain. However, we all have bad days!
Wardrobe: Well, you've got to look good! Pockets and lots of them are a necessity! Unlike my usual playing partner who sticks his pencil under the edge of his hat, loosing it each time he removes said hat to wipe his sweating brow, I prefer to carry one either in a back pocket or just leave it in the cart if we are riding the course. Preferring to walk, most Florida courses require riding, speeding up the game! Once out of the Starter's sight, my walk begins. Pockets are a must! These days, it's all about comfort and cotton. Loose fitting breathable clothing always wins out over "looking good!"
Ball hawking: for those unfamiliar with this golf term, please read on! If hitting the ball "long and wrong" seems to be your normal approach, subconsciously you are a ball hawker. This unique form of golf requires patience, a fearless approach, love of bugs, reptile (snakes) and high tolerances for pain, as thorns and vines wrap around you legs and any open skin available. Another type of ball hawker requires navigating ponds and the purchase of special equipment; a fine example of re-cycling would be a clam rake. Again a sharp eye and quick reflexes are just a few of the skills necessary to perfect this aspect of the golf game. Here a twosome is preferred, one to do the actual raking of the water's edge, the second would be the reptile spotter (snakes and alligators!)
As they meet at the 19th hole for a recap of this versatile game, much like a trade deadline in the major leagues, bartering begins: "I'll give you a sleeve (3 balls) of Bridgestones for just one of your Titliest ProV1, PLEASE?" "If you tell me your favorite spot to ball hawk, I'll consider it!" This is going to be a long afternoon, let the games begin!
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