Some of the most common days for men to get together for some “bonding” are no doubt football Sundays. This is especially true here in the northeast during this particular time of year when it’s NFL playoff time, there’s snow on the ground and the temps are hovering around the low 20’s. Needless to say, it’s not golfing weather.
As I sit watching the playoffs with my boys, I consider the difference between football bonding time and golf bonding time. As focused as we are on watching the games, we also use the time together to just talk. What’s going on at school, what did they do with their friends, jokes, a new video game…anything really. But it’s the football games that brought us together to begin with. Now, despite that we all enjoy playing golf, getting all of us together to hang out and watch the first golf tournament of the year would likely have proven to be a bit more difficult.
In a funny way, just the opposite can be said of getting out and playing the sports we are, or could be, watching. While there may not be any bonding time watching golf on TV, getting out on the course and playing is a different story. In much the same way male bonding takes place while hanging out and watching the game, the same can be said while actually out on the course playing golf…and vice versa. Heading outside to throw the ball around or playing a game of two-hand touch, while fun, doesn’t exactly spark up much good conversation.
So as much as I enjoy football, especially at playoff time, I’m also looking forward to a few months from now when golf season gets back into full swing. When football season has been over for a couple of months, my boys and I can continue the bonding that will hopefully last our lifetimes, but continue it out on the course. However, I’m sure the first time one of them beats me, I’ll be looking forward to football season again.
Swing ’til you’re happy!
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