Defining Life Moment #4

My defining life moment number four is the day I met her. I remember that it was a spring day during my senior year of high school. I was hanging out over at a friend’s house with the usual bunch of guys. We were in the front yard, which is more like an orchard, just messing around. That is when one of my friends introduced me to her. Her being the wonderful game of golf. That day marked the beginning of a love affair with the game that has spanned more than 20 years.

He had gone to his car and came back with some golf clubs. We then began hitting balls across the orchard. I had never hit a golf ball before. I had never even seen golf played. I remember thinking how hard it really was just to hit that ball. I had always been very good at every sport I had tried and there I was struggling to even make contact. After quite a few attempts, I finally made solid contact and sent the ball flying right into the apartment building next store. I was hooked right there.

A few weeks later, we all snuck onto the Orinda Country Club and played about 7 holes before we were caught and chased off the course. I remember during the chase, I ran through a creek and caught poison oak. Ahh, good times.

I began to play the game a lot once I entered the Navy. The course on the base was cheap and I had no idea how truly bad I was at the game. I played for the next five years or so before I ever took a lesson. This is not the approach I would recommend to any beginner. I spent the next five years unlearning all the bad habits I had taught myself the first five years.

I have worked hard for ten years now and my game is, well better than most. At one time I used to play about 250 rounds a year. Back then I wanted to be good enough to compete in amateur events, like the US Amateur and US Mid-AM. I never made it into those events, but I have not completely given up hope.

Golf was also the introduction to some of my best friends today. I have played golf in many different states and even in other countries. My best vacation ever is still the 10 days I spent in Ireland playing golf with 19 other guys. The camaraderie of that trip will never be surpassed in my eyes. I only knew one guy when I got on the plane and I still talk with many of the participants today from that trip.

I am down to about 30 rounds a year now, but I still very much enjoy the game. The golf course is still a place for me to go and relax and forget all that life throws at me. It is my time to think and reflect. There is still nothing as nice a walking down the middle of the fairway with three friends on a Sunday morning.