Stinky Golfer Paradise

It’s almost June and I finally played my first round of the year! Well, half a round anyway. I managed to squeeze nine holes in on Saturday morning. My score? Not so memorable. But the round? Memorable as always.

This particular round was nothing out of the ordinary. So you might ask what exactly made it memorable then? I guess it’s more the experience of the first round of the year than it is the actual golf itself. It’s like, once I get out on the course for the first round of the year, I seem to remember all of the things I love about the game. It’s as if I forgot what golf was like during the long winter lay-off. But it doesn’t take long for the memories to come rushing back.

Once I walk into the clubhouse, I’m reminded of the things I enjoy about the sport. For starters, my wonderful wife (whose connections I used to get a 9:30 am tee-time for Saturday morning of Memorial Day weekend despite only calling on Friday) accidentally called in only two of us when we were actually a threesome. But the two pro-shop guys, despite the fact we threw off their schedule, managed to politely find a spot for us anyway, and we teed off right on-time. There’s nothing like dealing with a friendly, polite and professional staff right from the start, even though it was not their mistake. It just seems to set the round off on the right foot.

Then of course, there’s the round itself. I don’t need to play the game well in order to play the game. So my final score really doesn’t have much of an effect on my attitude. That’s another thing I love about this sport – I don’t take it overly serious. I try to do well, but if I don’t…no sweat. I’m still having a good time. And while the course may have left something to be desired, it certainly wasn’t bad…just different than I remember it. But once again, I’m playing golf…and that’s really what matters most here.

However, you can play a great course and have a great round, but without good company it can ruin the whole day. So one more thing I love about this game, the camaraderie. Spending some time with my buddies, doing something we all enjoy, getting away from the everyday hustle and bustle for a few hours, busting each others stones every time a putt comes up short or a drive winds up in the lumber yard…these are the things that make for a memorable round.

And how can you forget the 19th hole? Bellying up to a table with a burger and a beer ends the day on a perfect note.

So it took long enough, but it finally happened. Just a few days before June, I got myself out onto a golf course. Much too late, but better late than never. The only problem I see with getting out so late is that I’ve already lost a month of golf before the season even started, and I’ve got a lot of work to do to make up the time. And even though my first drive of the year hooked into the woods, taunting me the entire way as if to say “Hey, you back for another year of this #$%&?,” I’m still looking forward to squeezing as much out of this shortened season as I can. Wish me luck!

Swing ’til you’re happy!