Spring Break
How one good game of golf turned into a hobby
Angela Marino
Issue date: 11/5/09 Section: Opinion
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Golf is a different kind of sport - it doesn't involve any teammates.
I guess a caddy could be considered a teammate, but when stepping up the tee, a golfer is alone.
The game is about the course and the ability of the golfer to understand it.
A game can be played without anyone present. It is easy to walk onto the course and play a round of 18 holes without talking to another soul.
One of my best games of golf was played a few months ago.
My heart was beating out of my chest, and I felt the dewdrops of the grass sprinkle the back of my calves.
I grabbed my driver out of my bag and walked up to the tee.
Anxiety and anticipation overcame me as I stepped up to the first tee of the day.
On this day, it was a crisp morning outside as the sun rose.
My stance was solid, and I was focused on the ball.
My posture was correct, my grip was relaxed.
My weight shifted from my left to my right foot as I brought back the driver.
I pulled back my weight to my left foot as I barreled down on the ball with the club face.
I felt numb at the initial contact of the ball as I felt the power of my swing and the technology of the club combined to loft the ball into the air. The smooth noise from the club head clipping the moist grass gave me instant gratification.
My swing ended with my body facing the target. I lifted my head to see the ball flying in mid arch toward the fairway.
The feeling of a great swing was exhilarating as the pride of the long drive was swept away with thoughts of the next iron shot.
I gathered my golf bag and trudged to my ball.
The ball landed directly onto the green as it bounced and regained its traction on the grass.
The satisfaction of the shot left me feeling confident, as I pulled out my putter to address the hardest part of golf.
A putt is one of the most difficult golf swings to perfect.
That swing is all about the soft touch versus the powerful swing on the fairway.
A simple mistake can drastically change a score on the green.
The rest of the day went well as I hit the ball without thinking - every swing felt natural.
This day was the reason I fell in love with golf at the age of 12.
I will never forget the way I felt that day as I walked the course with such accomplishment.
Golf is a game that I still find fascinating and challenging each time I play.
There is nothing more rewarding than having an amazing day of golf.
Golf was once the acronym for gentlemen only, ladies forbidden, but it is no longer a stereotypical old man's sport.
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