Obviously, I like playing golf. That goes without saying. But there’s something about playing only nine holes that leaves me feeling unfulfilled. Of, course, I’m going to play nine when I have the opportunity, and I’ll be satisfied doing so. But there’s a big difference between being satisfied and being happy.
Just due to work schedules, family commitments and life in general…time and finances don’t often allow for eighteen holes much anymore. It seems that years ago, playing only nine was almost unheard of unless it was last minute or late afternoon before dusk. But now, it’s just the opposite. Nine holes has become the norm and eighteen has been reserved for special occasions and the like. Honestly, it’s almost sad. So last weekend, when the invitation to play eighteen was extended, finances be damned…I’m playing!
I don’t know why I accept it. I’m not interested in two quarters of football. I don’t want a baseball game to end after five innings. If I’m playing a pickup game of basketball to twenty, we don’t stop after eleven! Is it because of how long it takes to play eighteen holes? Really? I just don’t want to accept that as an excuse anymore. Can we really not find the five hours once every couple of weeks to fit in a full round? It seems we as golfers need to work better on our time management skills.
Look, we’re being duped by our families or significant others – does your wife/girlfriend cut their pedicure or hair appointments short? Tell her she can only get one hand done this weekend. Or she can only get her hair washed and blow-dried, but not cut this time. That’s going to have to wait until two weekends from now. We’re being duped by our jobs – I’m sure your boss makes the time to cut out early on occasion, right? I’m sure your boss doesn’t work on the weekends as often as you, right? Well why not tell him, “I’m only going to put in four hours today.” Or “Sure, I’ll work on the weekend, but only on one day…you do the other.”
I don’t know. I just enjoyed playing eighteen for only the second time this year. It’s just uncalled for and needs to change. And you know what? Golf season is only half the year. The other half, we don’t play at all…not even nine! So I’m going to push for eighteen holes for as much as is left of this season. And next year, I’m going to push for it again. It needs to happen. I need it to happen.
Swing ’til you’re happy!
One of my favorite things about playing golf is the variety of the courses. It’s not like other sports in that sense. A football field is always 100 yards long, a baseball field (though the outfield dimensions can vary somewhat) is basically the same no matter where you play and a basketball court is like football – 94′ long and the baskets are 10′ high, always. But golf is different that way. Every course is unique. Each course offers a different layout, different lengths, different hazards, fairway widths and green sizes. And that’s just the course itself. Play in different areas of the country and the scenery/views are different, the wildlife on the course changes…it’s a new experience at every different course. So are you missing out on something by not playing a variety of different courses? I think so.
