It's All About Golf!

David has long wanted me to learn to golf so that we can go out together. This year I finally relented and immediately he bought me a starter Callaway starter set complete with a nifty lime green pull cart, to-die-for specs style golf shoes, glove, visor, towels and balls (as my birthday gift).

I've been reading about golf, watching tournaments, viewing Paul Wilson's tips and this week one of my "staycation" goals was to hit the greens. The weather has been very cooperative--not hot, not cold but juuuuuuust right. With lots of "rah, rah, rah's" from friends and family out I've gone.

Day 1: putting green at Redhawk for an hour or so of putting practice. Then over to the dreaded driving range at Emeis. The ways of a golf course are so foreign to me. I've learned about how to get a bucket of golf balls from the machine using tokens purchased at the shop and why using a real grass surface at the driving range is better than a pad. And what the blue, red and white flags are all about. The machine that the young lads drive around to pick up the golf balls is pretty nifty, too. But most importantly I learned how hard it really is to hit a golf ball properly!

Day 2: No woosy putting today--it was all driving range. I petered out after an hour using mostly my 8 iron, but also my 9 and one of the hybrids. I like that one the best.....

Line up the ball. Set feet straight with left at 25 degrees and right at 5. Grip club correctly (I tend to use an interlocking grip. Dunno why--just feels comfortable). Head up. Chest out. Swing from waist driving with legs. First left leg as back swing---no! not too high! Remember to rotate wrists. Don't drive with arms. That's like swinging a baseball bat. Don't try to hit the ball. Just relax and allow it to be in the way of the swing and it will be hit (well, part of the time).

I was pooped mentally and physically. I needed caffeine. I needed recovery. I needed rewards. I needed to watch more videos so that I could see what I was doing wrong.

Sigh.

I think that I'll be doing a lot of picking up my balls and walking to the next hole for awhile. Starting today back at Redhawk, easily the simplest 9 hole golf course in the Quad Cities.