"The Shot"

Someone once said, “Golf and sex are the only 2 things in life you don’t have to be good at to enjoy.” I disagree on the golf part. Though I would agree that golf does have a tendency to mimic the rest of your life. I have always found that if you want to get down to the core of a person, play golf with them. This is generally easier then inviting them over for sex. During a round of golf you often see behaviors that you might not otherwise see, or have some of these habits confirmed.

I have never put enough time into golf. I can count the number of times I have actually gone to a driving range or a practice facility. My idea of warming up for a round of 18 was to show up, have a smoke and a cup of coffee. My “game” has reflected this stellar workout regime. I have, over time, fallen into “better golf through technology”. If it cost a bunch of money it must help to improve my game. A bit like William Hung buying a better microphone.

So this year I have opted to actually spend sometime on improving my game. I try to play at least 9-holes a day and am considering going to a driving range. I am also working at being a non-smoker, so you might reconsider any attempts to give friendly advice at this juncture. I am beginning to see a ray of hope and some improvement.

So the other day I am teeing off at our home course on number 6. A pretty straight away shot to say the least. I has a rule do not go left on my drives; going right is my claim to fame. As I connected with the ball I was amazed to see it not only go left but take a 45% and slam, and I mean “Slam”, into an all glass house. I knew I had broken something. I drove over with checkbook in hand and went to investigate. The owner, who was an incredibly friendly man in his 80’s, met me. He and I looked for the damage and could not find any; he then located my errant ball and wished me luck in my round.
Ok so 3 days later I noticed a flyer at the pro shop, which indicated something had been broken and the homeowner was opening the mystery golfer, would identify himself. Of course I did and all is well.
The following day I hit the house next door to the glass house. I no longer use my driver on #6.

So yesterday I come upon #6/15. I have a fairly good round going and the fear of the previously noted homes could easily knock me off track. I opt to hit a rescue club, I of course chunk the shot and it lands some 170 yards from the green. Also I have blindsided myself behind a tree. These trees look a lot like the apple trees in the Wizard of Oz. I take out my new Taylor Made 6 Hybrid club. I hit a perfect shot that clears the trees and lands on the postage stamp they call a green on the back 9. I am stunned; I know I will never hit a better shot ever again. For a brief second I consider retiring from golf on a high note. Just walk off in the sunset and just let my legend live on as the golfer that hit the “Shot”.

I missed the easy birdie putt and drove my next tee shot into a towering evergreen, the only tree on that hole of course. Oh well maybe golf is less like sex and more like a job. Trust me when I say that there are a ton of hackers in the work world who are years beyond their best “shot” and continue to just hold up play.