BLOG – Page 3 – Rather Be Golfing

In my opinion, golf receives a bad rap. Many people will dismiss golf as “not a sport” or “boring” before ever laying a finger on a golf club. I should know as I was one of those people growing up. I treated golf like I treated the green vegetables on my dinner plate… I wanted nothing to do with it. Up until the age of 12, you couldn’t have paid me to have any interest in golf. I thought golf was a game you played because you couldn’t play any of the more popular and physically demanding sports like football, basketball or baseball. I thought golf was a game meant for old people to play when they retire. I almost let negative (and FALSE) stereotypes steer me away from a game that turned out to be a lifelong passion of mine! FYI - It took many, many more years for me to come around on vegetables but I can proudly say by age 25, the green veggies had become a staple in my diet. I’ve been hooked on golf from the moment I hit my first golf ball. And that is no exaggeration! I went from wanting absolutely nothing to do with golf to golf being on my mind 24/7. I not only wanted to play golf all the time, but I would actually sit down and (GASP) watch golf on television for hours at a time. Golf is an amazing game and I’d like to help grow the game in any way I can. So here are my top 3 reasons for playing golf. 1) Golf is FUN! This is obviously my #1 reason for playing golf. Golf in its purest form is a very enjoyable game to play. There is nothing like teeing the ball up high, grabbing the driver and letting it fly! I could hit golf balls all day long. Not many things can compare to hitting a golf ball flush. It’s an effortless feeling. If I had to compare it to something, it would be hitting a homerun in baseball. I hit a homerun in high school, and I didn’t feel the ball come off the bat when I hit it. Again, it was an effortless feeling. I was amazed watching it sail over the outfield fence. I get the same feeling when I hit a flush golf shot and watch it soar to the green. There are many other reasons why the game of golf is so fun like socializing with friends, playing amazing golf courses and the thrill of competition. However, the fundamental act of swinging a golf club at a golf ball, connecting and sending it flying down the fairway (or rough 😊) is what initially drew me to the game and remains a big part of why I’ve kept coming back after all these years! 2) Golf is Challenging Without a doubt, golf is the hardest sport/game that I’ve ever played. And I’ve played a ton of other sports. Most would think hitting a ball that is NOT moving would be a piece of cake. Sadly, that's not the case. You may be a former baseball or hockey player who is used to hitting some sort of moving ball or puck. It honestly doesn’t matter...you will likely struggle at first. Hitting a golf ball solidly is an acquired skill. One that the greats like Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy began honing while they were still in diapers. Earlier, I mentioned the effortless feeling one receives hitting a flush golf shot. Well, that is not an easily attained feat! For an average player like myself, it probably only happens a few times a round. And so when it does happen, it’s so rewarding. Just like any other sport, the more practice you put into your golf game, the better your golf game will become and those effortlessly hit shots will occur more and more often. And even those who don’t have the time to practice, at some point they’ve hit those flush shots and experienced that euphoric feeling. It’s something like a drug in that it keeps you coming back for more, again and again. I absolutely love the challenge golf presents. 3) Golf Can Be Played For A Lifetime I’ve been playing golf for 28 years now. I’m currently 40 years old. I realistically figure to play golf for another 35 years (as long as my health cooperates). If that comes to fruition, that would be 63 years of playing golf! There are not many other sports out there you can play for 60+ years! I love the longevity in the game and while it’s not a sole reason to pick up the game, it’s an amazing perk to think about once you’ve started playing. Personally, as I get older, I think more and more about health and taking care of my body. And while I have many reasons to care of myself, playing golf for as long as I can is certainly on the list. I would be devastated if golf was taken away from me as I gracefully enter my retirement due to my own neglect. Eating healthy and exercising is not the easiest regimen to maintain long-term so if golf contributes to me taking those two things more seriously, then it’s a win-win! Finally, I love to compete and always hope to have some type of competition in my life. As long as I’m able to golf, I’ll always be able to scratch that itch. Final Thoughts These are just three of the many reasons I play the game of golf. Picking up a golf club for the first time was literally one of the best things I've done in my life. Some of my greatest friendships have been made through playing this wonderful game. Just recently, I've introduced my daughter to the game and she's taken a liking to it which is amazing. So if you've never thought about playing the game, do yourself a favor and give it a try. You can go to any Goodwill store and find used golf clubs for usually a few dollars. Buy a club or two and then head to a local driving range to give them a swing. You can thank me later!