So I stink at golf.
I stink at miniature golf.
I’m not even that good at Wii-Golf.
The sport never really appealed to me. It always seemed like some boring event where everyone had to be quiet. When I finally played my first game of golf (first of three to date) six years ago, I found the whole thing frustrating. I couldn’t hit the ball straight, I couldn’t putt for the life of me, and I was teamed up with others who were far better than me. I played again the following year and the results weren’t that much better (except that I recognize how bad my slice was and just turned in the other direction to make the ball go “straight”). I was tempted to vow that I’d never play a third game.
Fast-forward to last week. I’m just about wrapping up a forty day trip in California, and I’m heading back to my brother’s place. A few days prior he got this idea that during my Monday visit, we should go to the driving range. I’m not thrilled with the idea, but I go ahead with it anyway.
He’s treating, so I won’t complain too much. We hit the range. My brother is left-handed and I’m right-handed, allowing us a rare opportunity to face one another on the range. We take turns. Some hits are bad. Some are quite laughable.
But a few are actually decent. Maybe even good.
I probably violated every “proper” swing rule known to mankind, but my slice is almost completely gone (I send a few in the wrong direction). After we finish our respective buckets, my brother asks if I want to maybe play nine holes.
I’m a bit reluctant, but not as reluctant as I would have been before the driving range. It’s a nice day, and it sure beats sitting at his place just watching Tivo.
So I rent a few more clubs and buy myself a glove (apparently it makes life easier on the hands), and we head out to play a par three course.
I’m not going to pretend I got brilliant–not even close. I still can’t put for the life of me (one of the reasons I probably stink at miniature golf), but my initial hits kept getting better and better. I landed on the green on the last three holes on the first hit (and then failed to put properly to make it something to talk about). My game was getting a little bit better, and…
…I was having fun.
This sport I easily dismissed was now becoming something I actually enjoyed. Sure I have tons to learn (apparently I walked on my brother’s “line” which is poor golf etiquette), but I really do think golf might become a new hobby for me. It was nice to casually visit with my brother as we waited for our turn on the next hole, or to laugh when a hit went really bad, or to celebrate when one of us had a brilliant shot. We caught up a bit on life and spent some other time just enjoying a nice day in silence.
It was nice.
As we drove back to his place, I thought about my attitude heading into the afternoon’s adventure. Had I voiced my initial reluctance or distaste for golf, we might not have even played, and I would have missed out on perhaps one of the coolest “hangout” times my brother and I had done together in years. Maybe the third time really was the charm?
So I guess I’m saying, be open to some possibility. Give something another chance. You never know.
Now I need to see about getting some clubs…