I shouldn't have bragged yesterday.  Played at that  very challenging par-3 course again today, complete with lots of angles, bunkers, water, and rolling, tilted, fast greens.  I stunk like a skunk.  So did my friend, though, so we both had a good laugh.   Rounds like today's I like to call "Educational," as in "How not to do things."  These golf gods think they're so big and bad, but I know their Boss.  I'll be looking to make a fast comeback tomorrow morning on my home course.

(I'm whispering...)

I almost don't dare to say this, for fear of the wrath of the golf gods.  But my game has suddenly kicked up a notch -- a big notch!  I hope this is a permanent move, and that I can stay on this plateau for awhile.  My friend's instruction has been "key":  close the face a bit at address, rotate the right hand over the left at impact, and follow-through to a big finish.  Well!  Clocked a 234 yard drive yesterday, straight as an arrow.  Most all my tee shots have been bullets this week.  Played a whole round with a single ball (Slazenger II)!  3-woods go a mile now, 5-woods have a beautiful fade at the end, straight-blading my 6-iron to bump to the pin, and putting with authority.  Playing consistent bogey golf, and the occasional par (complete with rude shout) -- all of a sudden. 

Whooo yeah!

A most enjoyable day off from work!  Up refreshed at 5:30 AM, a reserved tee time on a great course and a round with a friend, all 18 holes, rejoiced with the good shots, and managed to laugh off the bad ones; back home grilled boneless, skinless, tequila-and-lime marinated chicken breasts on the back deck in the newly saved daylight, added mixed veggies in butter, potatoes O'Brien, ended with angel food cake smothered in strawberry pie filling; now sitting here with wife and kids writing about golf and listening to the Beach Boys.

With all the terrible strife and pain in the world today, I've had an oasis of calm and joy, and I'm very, very thankful.

 

Life became too complicated to play golf for a few weeks -- this shouldn't happen in an orderly universe.  I mean, what's the use of maintaining a club membership when I can't break away long enough to play?

But I survived the stretch.  I broke the spell with a round at a very challenging par-54 course of par-3 holes, all deviously arranged around water hazards and bunkers.  I came on confidently to hit from tee-to-green every hole...but I stunk.  Ugly golf, the whole way.  But I got to play with a Welshman who has emigrated to USA to be near his grandchildren.  He pretty much stunk too, but then birdied the last hole!  "That's as keeps us coomin' back, aye Lad?" he said, and we enjoyed jovial conversation covering everything from world politics to the drought here at home.  Great guy.

Next day, played a much better nine-hole at my home regulation-size course.  Without thinking too much about it, I narrowed my stance somewhat, and discovered a new freedom and ease in swinging, squaring the clubface and improving my follow-through.  This made a dramatic difference in the length and quality of my shots, with my 3-wood especially.  Just in time, too, as I was getting ready to see how far that particular club could fly over water.  It's a Dunlop, the "I Need Lead Tape" model, from Walmart (surely a haven for price-minded golf neophytes like me).  Anyway, after making my swing improvements, I told the club that I take back everything I've ever said about it.   

Tomorrow I get to play at a friend's home course, in Sanford NC.  I've never played there before, but my friend brags about it nonstop, how his fairways are like my greens, and his greens are like pool tables.  We'll see about that.  But I plan to have fun, no matter what.  As for my friend, he's a pretty good player for a 62-year old, but whew! Does he lose his temper when he messes up!  Loses his mind, actually.  I gave up months ago trying to perk him up at such times.