- December 20, 2024
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Golf presents challenges both mental and physical
Golf is played year-round in Florida, but warm-weather fans like me wait until the cold winds stop blowing before gathering up the clubs and all the other gear: the tees, balls, little score card pencils and other implements of the game. A catcher’s gear is traditionally called the “tools of ignorance,” but with my game, that description could apply to my golf gear.
And I have the golf gear. Every golfer has those handy items: little telescopes to find out how far you are away from the pin, ball washers that look like big golf balls, club covers, devices to pick up the ball so you shouldn’t have to lean over, etc.
The reason for this plethora of equipment is that golfers are sitting ducks at birthday time. If you golf occasionally, you’re getting the latest devices.
Ah, the first time out. The stroll in the balmy, spring breeze with the green trees against the blue sky. And then the run for the clubhouse as lightning appears in the distance.
As Mark Twain said, golf is a good walk spoiled. I suppose you could go for a walk through the landscape instead of golfing. But, stopping at the top of each hillock and savoring the scenery would look odd if you weren’t hauling a bag of clubs.
It’s a good excuse to get away from the TV screens, cell phone screens, tablet screens, computer screens and the next screen yet to be invented. You’re out in the quiet, tranquil world of golf. Tranquil, that is, until you start enjoying the nature scenes a bit too much, and the foursome behind gets impatient.
It’s a simple game. Just hit the ball with the club toward the hole.
You only have to think about keeping your arm straight, head down, eye on the ball, follow through but don’t watch the ball, grip the club but not too tight, don’t bend over too much, and a few others.
But I wasn’t thinking any of those things when I hit the first two shots I made. They were pleasant to watch, arching through the sky and then bouncing lazily down the fairway.
But then things went awry. A huge chunk of sod flew and the ball dribbled away; or the ball made a “duck hook” into the trees.
What did I do? Raise my head? Were my feet too close together? Elbow not straight?
If you’ve learned the proper swing, it’s best not to think, and just let muscle memory take over, because the golf swing is controlled by the major muscle groups. Sadly, I don’t have any major muscle groups.
The same is true around the greens; it takes a while to get the touch back. I was hitting it all over the place, trying to think how far to take back the club, where to place the ball in my stance. Then, after several strokes, I simply walked up to the ball, glanced at the hole and poked at the ball without thinking. It bounced on the green and rolled obediently to the cup.
It’s a mind game. Or maybe a mindless game. But I’ll be out there again. Trying to find that elusive swing.
You can take my advice. I came close to breaking 100 once, with a few mulligans.
