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The putting team sent out a request for new team members. My golfing experience was not the most spectacular two decades ago, but this seemed different. There would be no driving the ball off a tee into the woods. There would be no stomping around futilely in undergrowth looking for another lost ball. There would be no time wading through sand trying repeatedly to get a ball back on the grass. There would be no need to choose the correct club for the next attempt.
On the plus side I was twenty years older but still younger than most of the folks wandering around this retirement resort. The par two 18 hole putting green is just outside the front door of the building where we live. Being a member of the putting team would get me outside on a regular basis. No golf carts were needed to traverse the course.
I signed up. The team needed members to go up against another retirement community for the twice a year home and away tournament coming up in a few weeks. The official claim is that the putting team is a fun exercise. I know better. So, I began to practice every day in order not to embarrass the team at the tournament.
The practice was paying off and I was playing par golf. Maybe this would be fun. We even traveled over to the other community a couple of times to learn their much different course.
The tournament turned out to be fun despite our team losing by 34 points. While talking to one of their players I must have said something about his game and he said, “One oh One”. I was confused for a moment thinking he was sharing his score before I realized he was proudly sharing his age. Wow! I want to be like him when I grow up.
What struck my funny bone the most was the concept of quiet around the whole affair. Trying to be quiet when people are talking to folks wearing hearing aides is not conducive to quiet. It was a good thing this was all being done for fun. Oh, the final score was indicative of past tournaments when we lost by 36 on their course and they lost by 36 on our course. Maybe it is just for fun. And the food. Of course, they fed us after the last pairing finished and eating is always fun.
Here is a bit of bragging. Our leader played even, and I was the only other one on our team in the 30’s. I didn’t embarrass us and that was fun.
But, now our course was changed around by the leader and I am back to the beginning trying to learn the new course. The course has been beating me badly, so I decided to make some notes on the holes. You know keeping notes just like the pros do.
Two hours later using four balls on each hole I had notes that would hopefully help me do better on this new layout. I never took golf notes before so my efforts may be a bit odd. Or, maybe they may be a lot odd.
Here is a sampling of my notes for your amusement.
One-Firm/straight/less firm putt
Two- almost firm/straight
Four- strong tap/straight
Five- firm/straight
Thirteen- half firm/left
Seventeen- tap strong/ left
I’m not so sure this is going to be any help. Jane says if I know what ‘firm’ means it will be helpful. I’m positive the third hole notes will be very little help.
Third-firm/ left/ good luck putting
I might be in trouble.
See you next time.