Season's First Golf Round

Thinking it was going to be the last warm dry day in a spell, Ken took yesterday afternoon off from work and we played our first nine holes of the season.

I’d like to say that it was great, but, typical of golf, it was only sporadically so. Partly to blame were the conditions: A strong wind and a course that was so wet and soft, it was nearly like playing in a bog. Balls would hit the fairway and instead of bouncing, they would embed themselves an inch in the mud. Hitting a divot only seemed to slow down the club head as it dragged through the muck. I’ve never gotten so dirty playing golf; mud splattered on my pant legs, shirt and once even on my glasses.

We were joined in our round by a very congenial retired gentleman who was very patient with my beginner’s golf skills. However, at times his presence made me nervous, as I’ve never played with anyone but Ken and felt a bit self-conscious. It only became worse when I flubbed several shots in a row. At one point, it became so frustrating, I just skipped playing a hole until I could calm down a bit.

But the day wasn’t a total loss. By holes 6 and 7, I was hitting some pretty good tee shots and even made some good contact on the fairway. Lost one ball in the water (which was completely surrounding the green). Tried to hit another shot over a bunker and almost made it; the ball bounced to the lip around the bunker’s edge. With a combination of luck and using advice I’ve picked up from Golf Digest, I managed to strike it nicely out of the bunker and onto the green.

By the time we dragged our pull carts to the clubhouse, Ken and I were both pretty wiped out. Don’t let anyone tell you golf isn’t exercise when you are walking the course.

The thing about golf is, as bad as it was, we can’t wait to get back out there and try again.