The Essence

I feel a little badly...this is the third time in the last five
minutes or so I've taken my perch at the keyboard - and
each time poor Jazz has curled up at my feet - she loves
to be close...she's not there now - probably gave up on the
idea that I was going to be here long enough to make chasing
me around a worthwhile prospect...oh well...puppies, like
putting strokes and inspiration, come and go. ( at least she's
now consistently going outside .)
I played golf today - not particularly well - and in fact at one
point caught myself musing whether this pastime was anything
more than a colossal waste of time...I made some good shots - in fact
I parred the first two holes - missed biride butts - but played the holes
the way I intended - hit the ball where I wanted it to go.
Then on the third hole - I turned my back on the good , controlled
swing that had kept the ball in prime positions, in the fairway, where
life is uncomplicated, relaxed and satisfying...nope - that's apparently
for better golfers ! The evil Don took over - as he is want to do -
and I stood over a tee shot about which I was anything but comfortable.
I have never read anything in any golf publication that recommends
swinging hard in any situation about which you are unsure....but that's
what I do ! Imagine - I've played this over in my mind several times
in the hours since it happened - standing over a shot...first thought is -
you're standing far too far from the ball...you're leaning over way too far..
there's no way you should be standing like this...and then instead of
standing back up - backing away and starting the address process
over again - you conclude - close the clubface - and swing hard - that
should fix it...this is where the game of golf becomes a mind-altering
drug....we found the ball in the trees - from which I had to pitch out
sideways....200 yards plus to the green - sidehill lie - ball above my
feet - with a fully mature tree 30 yards away...what kind of a lunatic
would decide that the same guy that was incapable of hitting an 80
yard fairway - could hit a high draw, around the tree and expect to
get anywhere near the green...that lunatic is the evil Don...lost the
ball even deeper in the trees right...oh well...bogeyed the next
hole without making any terrible mistakes - parred the next par three,
and then on one of my favorite holes on this golf course...a straightaway,
tree- lined par four, I drove three balls in the woods right...
I made some decent shots - made some really good shots - made some
very solid pars - the rest of the way - but continued to interrupt any
possible lengthy runs of competance with dumb mistakes...
Finally on the 18th tee, I relaxed- totally....drove a ball up the tree line
on the right....pinched a little nine iron to four feet from the back pin -
and made the putt...the only birdie of the day. That felt good !
Interesting though...I'm not sure I would have felt a lot different
if I'd missed the putt...It's mid September - the sun was shining -
it was lovely and warm - and I was with three good guys whose company I
enjoy - we all made some nice shots, made some poor shots, did a little
cussing at appropriate intervals - and shared some laughs...
For the recreational player - golf is the journey - and the folks you
meet along the way - it's not the destination...
Whether I was 77 or 87, 97 or 107, I will try just as hard the next time
to play error free..to make my way through the 18 hole maize without
mind spinning mental cramps, enjoying the good shots and trying to
forget the bad...and I know when I come home it'll be to a wife that
loves me - and when I sit down at my computer Jazz,
who just peed on the floor, will curl up at my feet.....
Life's not all bad.
Don