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5/21/2009

Fore!

I have played golf ever since I was 25 years old. If you do the math, that means I have endured a certain level of frustration for all of 38 years.

The frustration of consistently poor play.

Over the years I have conquered SOME of my golf demons. But my two biggest bugaboos have stayed with me for a long, long time and threatened to remain with me forever. Those two bugaboos are - an unconquerable inability to strike a ball for good distance and an inability to drive the ball straight with the 'Big Dog'.

Yesterday afternoon I took advantage of a PGA Program which encourages you to make an appointment with a PGA Pro for a free 10 minute lesson, fill out your form after your lesson and send it in to the PGA for a drawing which will award a 3 day golf package and a set of clubs to the winner.

I called a Pro I know a few days ago and set up an appointment for yesterday afternoon, on my way home from work. I know this Pro for a few years, so when I made the appointment I told him there was one thing and one thing only I wanted to work on - that problem with the 'Big Dog'.

To make a long story short - he did, and the results were beautiful.

I'm a left handed person, but I swing rightie. I feel everything with my left side, not good for a right handed swing. He saw what that did to my swing, showed me how to correct what i was doing wrong, and left me with a bucket of balls and the admonition, "Work on it". And I did. And it was beautiful.

I may actually, FINALLY, be able to play a respectable game of golf - because the thing wrong with my swing when on the Tee, cost me DISTANCE as well as that big assed slice I've been fighting all these years. So I'm going to be able to kill two birds with one stone. Accuracy and distance. Those words .... so rare.

I think that now I might actually be a much happier man. Or, at least, a better golfer. And being a better golfer will make me a happier man.

After all, you have to take it where you can find it.

Ndinombethe.

22 comments:

Shadow said...

i love golf. no wait. lemme re-phrase that. i love driving a golf cart. with all else, i'm pretty useless, heee heee heee

Myst_72 said...

Yay!

Pity the opportunity didn't come up sooner in your golf career though :)

G
xx

Ashlie- Mommycosm said...

I have always wanted to play golf - and begin lessons with 3 other women friends next week. So, when I do find my way in your neck of the woods someday, we'll have to go golfing :)

Tara R. said...

Good for you! I don't understand golf, but have a lot of important people in my life who live for it. Glad you were able to get a fix on your bugaboo.

Hockeyman said...

Ahhh, golf. The game I love to hate. However I have corrected my big ass slice and its wonderful now. Better to be straight than long but it's all about the short game. Only 14 strokes in the driver, but 50 with the putter and wedges. We'll have to play sometime. I'm not great, just respectable.

Wait. What? said...

Golf! Now there is something you could teach me a thing or two about - my husband golf's - I have clubs but - I am not so great - although I did get a hole in 2 swings once - which impressed even me!

So glad you got out and made the most out of the lovely weather yesterday Lou!!!

Sage Ravenwood said...

Never got the concept of golf. However if it makes you happy - happier now that you have a handle on things (literally), I'm all for it! Swing away dear friend! (Hugs)Indigo

Expat No. 3699 said...

You said 'balls'. Tee-he.

I'm not a golfer, unless you count mini or Wii. Glad you got the help with the 'Big Dog' and hope you win that golf package and clubs!

Jennifer said...

glad you are a happier golfer. :)

i worked in a golf course one summer. it was pretty fun meeting everyone and making friends with the gentleman golfers. :) they were all friendly. and to be honest the ladies were pretty cranky and stuck up. lol
anyway... glad to meet with the Pro! i also hope you win the trip and the clubs. :)

xoxoxo have a great day!

witchypoo said...

Huge deal! Congratulations. I can feel your warm fuzziness from here.

moneythoughts said...

You're left handed and you swing right handed clubs. You have been swinging from the wrong side for 38 yrs. I am left handed, bat left, throw left, swing a golf club left.

To correct a slice, don't hold the club so tight. Easy up on your grip and that will permit your arms to roll properly as you close your swing. One more suggestion: use a 3 wood instead of a driver. You will probably hit the ball straighter with a 3 wood and that will save you a few strokes.

Joyce-Anne said...

Both my husband and I are lefties. More importantly, though, he also plays golf and swings rightie. Just thought I'd share that fact.

You gotta take happiness wherever you can find and if it's improving a golf game then good for you!

Holly said...

I have to admit I don't understand the love of golf, but I do get from many golfing friends that the game can drive you crazy! I think it's great you were finally able to conquer some obstacles, and I think it's cool that you're continually striving to be better at it.

Nan Sheppard said...

Six! Oh wait, that's cricket.

Anything where you have to hit a ball with something makes me curse horribly.

Emily/Randomability said...

Hubby plays golf and Little Man has been asking to go to the putting green. He likes Glow golf and putt putt golf too. And like you, he's a lefty who putts righty.

Loraine said...

You do seem much happier.
Personally, I can't swing a club to save my life.
BTW Lou- you're a sweetie. ;)

Momisodes said...

Awesome! I'm so glad you were able to see results with his help.

I've never played a game on the green. Only the wannabe put-put kind on the astro-turf.

Jientje said...

That's very good news!! One should learn something new every day, I think. Being able to tackle two problems at once is just great!

Joanna Jenkins said...

I live on a golf course in Los Angeles and watch poor golfers torture themselves on a regular basis. After watching them there is no way I'd ever take up the game :-) Congrats to you for figuring it out!

Unknown said...

Sorry, but you sound like my dad ;)

Unknown said...

I'm glad you got to work on something that was fun for you!!

I wonder if there will ever be a time in my life that I'd like to try to golf.

KG said...

I suck at golf, and so does my Dad, though he loves to play. He also loves to meet new people on the course. So I remember this time we went to a golf course and we were (mercifully) on the last hole when my dad decided to try to "play up" with these two dudes. We easily shot our worst hole of the day with my dad almost killing some water bird and me having the ricochet off of tree problem. Anyway, the two guys were really good and got their ball up to the green in 2 or 3 shots. At the end of the disaster, the guy gave my dad his card and said "I'm a pro. Call for help."

Yeah. Good times.