I've been bitten by the golf bug π³. Don't laugh. It's true!
And if you're a golfer - or if you are the significant other of one who plays the game - you might know of my conundrum. Which is this...
I JUST WANNA PLAY GOLF
β¦ to the exclusion of just about all other things (other than time with my family - and I'm not even sure if that's safe!) π
Give me your eyes for a few minutes and I'll explain what's happened.
I used to play golf a lot. Especially when much younger. At least weekly - fair weather or not. Was a Junior Member of a golf club. Had a handicap. Even represented my school in the 1971 Victorian (Australia) School Boys Golf Championship.
Kept playing golf into my thirties (1980s). That's about when my life started to go slowly off the rails. You know - booze, work etc.
Anyhow - when my hip joints started to go wonky (osteoarthritis) so playing golf became difficult - along with the other sport I loved to play, squash. As best I can recall my last round of golf was twenty years ago. Squash about the same time.
Then I had surgery to replace my right hip in 2008. The left one in 2012.
Playing golf was a long-gone interest. Earning a living as a self-employed copywriter became my obsession in 2012. Once I started attracting paying clients my days were usually 10 - 12 hours stuck in front of the computer. Not so unusual for freelancers.
Last year I pulled the pin and retired from all client work.
Watched a lot of Netflix for a few months. Drank a lot of coffee. Pulled weeds from the garden - even when they weren't there. And tended the lovely roses.
Then out of nowhere - I can't recall where, when, or how - I got the idea to 'see how the body copes with swinging a golf club'.
Problem. I didn't own any golf clubs. So I trolled around Facebook Marketplace and found a guy near me who was selling a few clubs for $55. Grabbed 'em. Started swinging them in the backyard.
Next - I took the clubs to the local golf course/driving range at Centenary Park Golf Course to see how my body felt during and after whacking a few. All good. The driver (long range club) not so much. On one shot at the range the head of the club broke off during the swing - and it went further than the ball I tried to hit π.
Soon after visiting the driving range a few times I thought it was time to 'test' myself on the course proper. 9 holes only. What a mess π. The 'golf bug' was starting to bite though. My shots on the other hand were abysmal.
"I need some lessons!" I thought.
That's when I subscribed to some online classes with well known PGA golf coach, Martin Chuck (video based instructions).
About the same time an old friend from way back and I happened to catch up. Hadn't seen him for over 20 years. He says, "We have a social hit of golf every Friday morning if you want to join us?"
Did I want to join him?!!? Do fish swim?
I rocked up to the golf course (not my local one - a different one) and there were nine guys in total including myself. We split into three groups of three and off we went.
That's when my mate said, "I've got a second set of clubs I don't use. Would you like to borrow them until you're ready to buy yourself a decent set of your own?"
I accepted his kind offer. Collected his spare clubs a few days later. And took them straight to my local range to try them out. I think this is the actual time the 'golf bug' bit down hard. Hitting shots with good quality clubs (Srixon, if you're a golfer) convinced my in an instant that I needed to buy my own set of new clubs, NOW!
The next day I took my wife and daughter on an outing. To the golf shop π . Invested in a set of clubs. A new buggy (golf cart for you Northern Americans). New golf shoes (so comfortable!). A couple of new golf shirts (so wearable!). Actually it was my wife who suggested buying the new shirts. "Ok, dear" said I. Happy wife, happy life π.
And - well, I reckon you could write the rest of this story...
I've been studying more golf coaching videos (almost in my sleep π) - taught by stalwart Australian PGA golf instructor, Peter Croker.
I've been practicing putting on the carpet in the living room (getting better at accuracy too!)
I've been swinging clubs in the backyard (the local magpies sit up high and watch me) π
But most of all...
I've been visiting the practice green, pitching area, and driving range every second day π. Just got back home from the course not long ago in fact.
All of which brings me back to my apologyβ¦
I'm not writing as much lately. Not as many newsletters. Not even as many shopping lists (except for golfing subscriptions, training videos, balls, tees, markers, shirts, caps etc).
So my dear reader. If I suddenly appear to have gone totally AWOL - don't come looking. I'll be at the golf courseβ¦
"Fore!" πβ³οΈ
Keep swinging if that's what makes you happy. But keep us updated as well with these stories. Let us know when to watch for you on the senior tour.
i hit a shot that went about 3 miles a hook shot from north bondi course down warners ave and beyond https://youtube.com/watch?v=Fc_-icFHwQo&feature=shares