Brian Thompson Thompson was inspired to
write this column after his first round of golf in months on
Tuesday. Somehow, he conveniently forgot to reveal his score. He
can be reached at bthompson@media.ucla.edu.
Click Here for more articles by Brian Thompson
Unless your name is Tiger Woods or you grew up at the country
club, it’s safe to assume that most of you out there
didn’t grow up with a 7-iron in your hands.
We typically grow up playing sports like baseball, basketball or
soccer. But the closest a lot of us come to the game of golf is the
nearest miniature putt-o-rama.
But I’m here to tell you that golf ““ the real
version, not the miniature kind ““ can be a great game.
It’s one of the few games that all of us can play. At the
same time, it’s a game that very few us as can actually play
well.
Now, I know what many of you are thinking right now. Just as you
quickly change the television channel when you stumble upon David
Duval, Ernie Els, or any of the other PGA superstars, you may feel
the urge to casually skip past this column and continue your
reading elsewhere. But hear me out, as you may gain a new
appreciation for the grand game.
Golf truly is a fun, interesting, challenging sport. Of course,
many would contend using the term “sport” when
describing golf is a bit of a stretch, but that’s another
column for another time.
There are a lot of stigmas attached to golf. Many think
it’s the sport of rich, country club types. But those in the
sport have done much in recent years to get people of all ages,
ethnicities, and economic backgrounds to pick up the game. Of
course, the success of Tiger Woods has done much to expand the
boundaries of the sport.
Moreover, it can prove to be a very difficult sport to just pick
up and start playing. Golf is a very expensive sport, with even
bargain sets of clubs costing a few hundred bucks. Add to that the
cost of balls, shoes, and other accessories, all before
you’ve even swung a club.
And, it’s not like you can go play a pick-up round down at
the neighborhood course, like you can go and shoot hoops down at
the park. A round of golf, even at a public course, will cost you
at least $25.
Lastly, there’s that whole mindset we have when thinking
about golf. It’s just not a sport we play. It’s
reserved for our fathers and our grandfathers, and for the doctor
and lawyer types. It’s that game we told ourselves we might
try to pick up later in life.
Well, that time is now. And the reasons why golf is grand are
numerous, my friends.
First, it is a game that nearly everyone and anyone can play.
It’s a game for men and women, the young and the young at
heart. By the time most of us are in our 30s, we won’t be
able to take the ball to the hoop like we used to, or run like the
wind anymore. But we can all go out and hit that golf ball in the
sunshine for a few hours.
And it can be for the whole family! Dad may have quit playing
sports with you back when you whipped him in H-O-R-S-E for the
first time when you were 14. But golf is a game that the old man
still thinks is his, so he might even let you play with him–and if
you’re lucky, he’ll let you drive the cart!
Second, golf is one of those games that rarely leaves you
satisfied. In fact, golf can sometimes be more frustrating than
it’s worth. You can have a round where you’ll be
hitting the ball from tree to tree, and even into the occasional
lake. But then, out of the blue, you’ll hit that perfect
shot, or score that elusive par or birdie that will keep you coming
back for more. As long as you realize that you cannot master the
sport, you can take pride in the improvements in your game, as well
as on your scorecard.
Third, you get to kill four and a half hours out in the sunshine
surrounded by beautiful scenery. And if your lazy ass avoids the
temptation of that cart, you’ll get to enjoy about a
five-mile walk.
But just because golf is a sport that grandma can play, as well
as something you can do while drinking does not mean it is an easy
thing to pick up. The first time I ever picked up a golf club, I
was 15 years old. Already an accomplished baseball player (at least
in my own mind), I thought that smacking that little ball 300 yards
would be simple.
But after about 50 shots in a row that bounced about 50 feet, I
was in for a cruel realization: golf ain’t easy. In fact, it
can be darn near discouraging.
Therefore, if you are interested in picking up golf, my first
suggestion is to take a lesson. Yeah, these so-called
“pros” might rip you off a little. But they’ll
teach you the mechanics of the swing. For those who grew up
swinging a baseball or softball bat, it can take a long while until
you train yourself to adjust to the golf swing.
Next, invest in used or hand-me-down clubs. There’s no
reason breaking the bank unless you figure out golf is something
you want to pursue. Golf is the Rodeo Drive of sports ““
everything is expensive. So keep the costs down.