Draino

I am sure I made this putt!

Competitive Juices

“Real pressure in golf is playing for $10 when you’ve only got $5 in your pocket.” Lee Trevino

I was playing golf this weekend and not playing particularly well. When we finished the round, I found myself 11 over par, shooting an 82 on this particular course. For most golfers this wouldn’t necessarily be a bad day, but for me it really is.

As we were finishing up the round, one of the guys suggested we play 9 more holes for $20 a man. We all agreed. I don’t know if it was the pride factor, the $20 bet or the fact that I only had $16 in my wallet, but all of a sudden I started playing better. Not that the money was truly an issue as we are all friends and I am sure I could have slid on the $4.

I really haven’t played in many cash games since moving east. I used to play in games where hundreds of dollars could switch hands in a day, but out here most of the time no more than a few dollars ever switches hands.

Well, I guess it was the prospect of losing money I didn’t have or maybe it was just my competitive juices, but I played more to my potential that last nine. I shot two under par with two birdies and seven pars. One of the guys kept it close through the first six holes, feeding the competitive juices even more, but fell back during the last three. I won by five shots.

It is nice to get the competitive juices flowing occasionally. I am a very competitive person, but I learned a long time ago that the competition is actually with myself and not those I play against. This is particularly true with golf and other individual sports, but I also think it applies to all team sports. Whenever I compete in an activity, I don’t judge the outcome based on winning and losing. I base it on my individual performance. Did I play up to my ability…did I maintain my focus…did I do everything I could to make my team or myself successful. If I did those things, then the outcome is irrelevant to me. I think the hardest thing for most competitive people to understand is that it is possible to do everything right and still lose.

To bring this whole thing back to golf...I read in book by Bob Rotella, “You can hit the perfect putt and it still may not go in, so the success of a putt should not be based on whether the putt goes in or not. Rather it should be based on your preparation and execution.” I wish I understood that my entire life. Might have saved me a few putters.

So that is what they meant by, “it’s now whether you win or lose, but how you play the game.” Who knew?

A Good Golf Memory

Quick story from the golf trip…I was playing the first morning with three guys. Four of us went out to play while we waited for some of the others to arrive. There was a round later that afternoon with the entire group, but for some reason, the four of us seemed to think we needed to cram a sixth round into the weekend.

I knew one of the guys in the foursome, but I met the other two that morning. One of the new guys started out the round struggling very badly. I waited until about the 5th or 6th hole and then I asked him if I could give him some advice. I told him that I could not help him with his swing as I have never played with him and had no point of reference. However, I asked him if he had ever played a good round of golf. He laughed and said yes. I told him that instead of focusing on figuring out what he was doing wrong today, he should think back to that day when he played well and focus on how he felt that day. Think about that day and what he did to play well. I explained that focusing on what you are doing wrong is a common amateur mistake in golf, and he would be better off to focus on something positive.

He began playing a little better over the next few holes. About four holes later after hitting a great shot, he turned to me and said all he was thinking about was the day he got a blowjob on the golf course.

I have to admit, that wasn’t quite what I had in mind when I gave him the advice, but hell, whatever works. I am a little surprised that I needed to remind him to think about that day. If that had happened to me, I would think about it everyday.

This was just day one – round one - of the trip. Imagine what happened after that.

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.

Let's Catch Up

So I haven’t written much in the last week or so. I have been a little busy. So here is the reader’s digest version.

I became an adult again this weekend…yep I bought a condo. So now I owe more money than I could make in 3 years. Of course one of the companies I was talking with about moving to Europe contacted me Monday after I singed the contract. Should I still take the interview?

I finally got out on the golf course last weekend. The weather has really turned here and summer seems to have begun. What is your favorite Summer pastime?

The Jag spent the last few days in the shop. Nothing major, but I needed the head lights changed as well as the cooling system flushed. Speaking of the Jag, I have it on Craig’s List for sale right now. I am just seeing if I get any takers. I only have one parking spot in the new condo, so I am thinking of selling both and buying something new. What should I get?

K comes into town this weekend so we can go to the Nats/Mets game on Saturday. It is the first of my 12 games this season. I bought into a season ticket package. Do you have season tickets to anything?

One of my friends was very sick all last week – stomach virus. She spent 7 hours in the emergency room getting fluids. I sent her some flowers and chicken soup. Someone told me she might take that as though I am interested in her. I think she knows I am not, but what do you think?

Work has been tough this week as the project I have been working on got delayed at the last minute. I am very frustrated with the whole thing. How do you deal with frustration at work?

My cell phone company, and former employer, can’t seem to get my bill correct. They charge me an extra $50 a month which causes me to spend an hour on the phone to get it straightened out. Same thing for 4 months now. How long do I have to put up with it before I can say screw employee loyalty?

I sold my first thing on Craig’s List this week. Some golf equipment I won in a tournament. Now I need to get rid of a lot of things. I figure I will get rid of things rather than move them in June. You want to buy any of my junk?

Some girl from Mexico has been emailing me on Match. I get about one email a week from someone who is not in the US from places as far away as Egypt and Russia. Apparently my profile screams “I am looking for a mail order bride.” How far is too far for a long distance relationship?

I got all the ingredients so I can start my Detox in a Box next week. Anyone want to do this torture routine with me?

I will be in NJ for a day next week and then Orlando for most of the week after. After that Seattle and Los Angeles for a week. Going to be a busy month of May. You headed anywhere soon?

That’s about it. Enjoy the rest of the week.

Still Pretty Good After Four Months...

No I am not talking about sex.

I was on the golf course yesterday for the first time in four months. I have forgotten how hard the game can be on your body. Now those of you that know me know I am out of shape, but I am not really out of shape. The movements in the game are hard on the body, especially if you try it once every four months. Imagine not playing tennis or basketball of baseball for a long time and then going at it hard one day. You would feel crippled the next day. My back hurts, the torn muscle in my hamstring hurts as do halve of my abs. You see your legs and your core make up most of the golf muscles you use. Well and the muscle between your ears. If it is true that golf is 90% mental, then the 10% that is physical is really physical, because my brain doesn’t hurt at all this morning.

I played with one of my coworkers yesterday and two guys we did not know. The course paired us together. Too bad for those guys. You see, my coworker sucks at the game. I think it was only his second or third time on a course. I don’t mind playing with beginners, as we were all beginners once. But it can be very hard on some players, especially good players. I was warned by the starter that these two guys were good players and not to bet with them. It made me feel a little better about my game that I beat them both, but I could tell they weren’t playing with their A game.

I love the game of golf. I was obsessed with it for a while in my life. I think my obsession started because it was the first sport I ever sucked at. It was like a personal challenge. There is something about pushing yourself to do something as difficult as play the game of golf well. Now I am a pretty good player, even when I don’t play for four months. I have given up on the idea of ever playing for a living, but I still like the competition.

And for all of you people I hear say that golf isn’t a sport, please go to a driving range and just try and hit a ball. If you get any to go in the air at all, I will be amazed. If hitting a 90 mph fast ball is the hardest thing to do in sports, then hitting a 300 yard drive, where you are aiming, is a close second.

I need to play more often. I am always at peace on the course, probably more than in any other place. There is something tranquil about a golf course. It is the best kind of nature – man made.