The coveted green jacket.
Arnold Palmer, John Daly, Phil Mickelson, and Tiger Woods—while also inspiring one of my favorite beverages—are synonymous with amazing golf. I grew up with golf on TV, my dad being a big fan, and often catching a Sunday nap while the pros navigated the links.
My husband is an avid golfer. He plays in a very exclusive Monday night league with the Dad’s Club at a local course. He goes on a yearly trip with his college buddies to see who can win the prized Smoosh Cup.
I wanted to join the fun of the game.
Not the club or college trip, but I wanted to see what the game was all about. I wanted to become a golfer, so that is exactly what I did.
I will admit one of my favorite aspects of the game is getting dressed. I’ve added a few skorts to my wardrobe this summer, making me feel like I know what I am doing out there. I have looking the part down, but more so, I have really enjoyed getting out for a round of nine holes and pushing myself to improve my golf game.
Learning to golf has been as much about breaking habits as it is about learning new ones.
I have been a softball player since I was a young child, so when I first stepped in the tee box, I swung the club like I was aiming for left field. My golf swing too closely mirrored my softball swing, and things got ugly.
For me, golf has many tiny pieces that I have to put together, so it is as much a mental game as it is physical. Am I far enough away from the ball? Is my head down? Am I using my entire backswing or cutting it short? Am I using the right club? Every time I hit the ball, it is different. That lack of a swing routine, like I have in softball, has been an added challenge, but one that I have enjoyed navigating.
Getting out with my girlfriends for morning rounds has been another favorite part of my new hobby.
When schedules and camp drop-off times aligned and we hit the links together over the summer, it filled my cup beyond belief. Getting to do something I love with people I love makes learning the game of golf all the more special. I have learned so much from the ladies I golf with, which has added to my deep respect and adoration for them.
Golf has also become a new way for my husband and me to connect.
This has actually been the first athletic endeavor in which I have kept my competitive nature in check and not disregarded his pointers and tips, thinking I already knew what I was doing. While out for a round of golf or at the driving range with a bucket of balls, we can enjoy our time together in a new way, and our golf dates have been some of my favorites of the summer.
I am not trying to join the tour or chase Scottie Sheffler’s gold medal win in the Olympics. My golf goals are simple: learn how to hit the ball consistently, master my swing, and eventually play a full 18 holes. Golf has been an unexpected challenge, but one that I have fallen quickly in love with.
