Not Singing in the Rain. I bought rain gear...just to have in my bag, just in case. But I do not golf in the rain. I am a fair weather golfer-I have a hard enough time playing well in nice conditions, why would I want to battle the elements, too? Earlier this week I had a tee time with my husband and his friend. The day dawned-not bright and sunny, but overcast and a little muggy-but not rainy. I played well in Ladie's League Monday night, so I was pumped to play well.
No more tennis elbow in my left arm, I now have it in my right arm. But nothing a little ibuprofen and brace can't help. I was looking forward to walking 18 holes of golf for the first time in over a month.(It has rained 40 days and 40 nights since the end of May, here.)
The first few holes were passable-not great, but my chipping and putting looked fabulous! The first nine holes were relatively dry-n the air anyways. Of course int he fairway we were playing puddle golf-dunk and splash. But by the time we were on the 12th hole, we were playing in the rain. It was a light drizzle to start, and we actually thought it was mist coming in off the Bay as the tide rolled in. But mist turned to drizzle, and drizzle turned to a light, wind driven rain.
"I don't play golf in the rain" I said as we headed out toward the farthest point on the course. If we walk in now we have to walk past 5 holes- we might as well keep playing. So I golfed in the rain. Slippery, wet, puddly, leaky, soaking wet feet but not freezing cold, rain. I survived, and it was not all that bad. Of course I was glad when it was over, and my score was pretty bad, but as it turned out-it was actually my low score for the week.
Two more sun drenched rounds later, I have discovered I am auditorily distracted- and as soon as the sun came out, so did the lawnmowers and tractors-en masse. Tractor traffic everywhere-following me, cutting me off, distracting me-trying to mow and mow and mow while the sun is shining and the course is drying out.
So I will golf in the rain because it is quiet. And that golf umbrella I was looking at just a day earlier when I declared-"I don't golf in the rain!" Guess what- I'm buying it.
Showing posts with label golf. Show all posts
Showing posts with label golf. Show all posts
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Sunday, June 22, 2008
The Truth About Golfers
So, you ask, what is it like to see real professional tour golfers up close and in person? Well, I guess it's kind of like seeing a celebrity in person. Once they jump off the TV screen onto the fairway, they are just regular people...with some really cool clothes.
For example, from my living room couch, I thought Tiger Woods was at least 6'4. Apparently, the only reason his smaller frame looks so much larger than everyone else's, is because many of the golfers are small....like, I mean, 6 ft tall or less. Yes, that's right. Who knew? They also come in all shapes and sizes. Most of them are lean and not very large, either. Tiger is ripped, and Phil is trying to pump it up, but pretty much, their muscles are long and lean. I would have to say Vijay is probably one of the tallest golfers on the tour, but that could be becuse he is sooooo slim. Apparently he is not very nice to people along the course, either, especially when things don't go his way.
The most sylish dressers are definitely the Europeans. Tiger is very conservative. and who is responsible for Phil's wardrobe? I think he is trying to reinvent himself, and it is not working, at least for me.
The caddies are amazing. The golfers totally rely on their caddies for information, guidance and of course, to lug their bags around.
The biggest lesson I learned by observing the best golfers in the world is:
1) There are ALOT of bad golf shots...and not many great ones
2) Golfers keep their bodies REALLY still. There is an amazing efficiency of movement so that all of their energy is transferred to that little golf ball.
3) A Positive attitude goes a very long way. It was very obvious that when shots went bad, the golfers who kept their wits about them ended up in a better place than those who threw their clubs.
4) And it really is all about the putt. Champions are determined more often than not by 3 feet or less.
Everyone should have the opportunity to see the people we idolize up close, in person. Turns out, they really do exist, and they are just like you and me....only a whole lot better at golf.
For example, from my living room couch, I thought Tiger Woods was at least 6'4. Apparently, the only reason his smaller frame looks so much larger than everyone else's, is because many of the golfers are small....like, I mean, 6 ft tall or less. Yes, that's right. Who knew? They also come in all shapes and sizes. Most of them are lean and not very large, either. Tiger is ripped, and Phil is trying to pump it up, but pretty much, their muscles are long and lean. I would have to say Vijay is probably one of the tallest golfers on the tour, but that could be becuse he is sooooo slim. Apparently he is not very nice to people along the course, either, especially when things don't go his way.
The most sylish dressers are definitely the Europeans. Tiger is very conservative. and who is responsible for Phil's wardrobe? I think he is trying to reinvent himself, and it is not working, at least for me.
The caddies are amazing. The golfers totally rely on their caddies for information, guidance and of course, to lug their bags around.
The biggest lesson I learned by observing the best golfers in the world is:
1) There are ALOT of bad golf shots...and not many great ones
2) Golfers keep their bodies REALLY still. There is an amazing efficiency of movement so that all of their energy is transferred to that little golf ball.
3) A Positive attitude goes a very long way. It was very obvious that when shots went bad, the golfers who kept their wits about them ended up in a better place than those who threw their clubs.
4) And it really is all about the putt. Champions are determined more often than not by 3 feet or less.
Everyone should have the opportunity to see the people we idolize up close, in person. Turns out, they really do exist, and they are just like you and me....only a whole lot better at golf.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
See me in SI
SO back to La Jolla, home of Torrey Pines Municipal Golf Course, home of TW's Buick Open, and host of this year's USGA US Open Championship; where San Diego residents can golf after 4pm for 20 bucks, or something ridiculous like that.
Can you say excited? The third time is a charm. It was my third visit to San Diego...my third visit to Torrey Pines. The first two times included photo ops and shopping, lots of shopping, in the pro shop. I have spent so much money there, I could pay for a round of golf! Wait a minute!
So my third visit to San Diego included Torrey Pines Golf School: a 3 hour lesson with a pro, and nine holes of golf with the pro, followed by the remaining 9 holes of golf- on the South Course at Torrey Pines.
I walked up to the desk and announced my arrival. Trumpets did not sound..but the guy behind the desk wondered who I would be working with. "Jordan..she's yours!" Great....thank goodness Jordan was Jordan and not the obnoxious, annoying pro with the southern accent. I took off my sunglasses and met the golf pro with whom I would be spending the better part of my day. Tall, dark and obviously a good golfer, right? Oh, did I say young? And tall. And very nice.
Let me just say the total experience was worth every dime. This was one adventure where the totality definitely outweighed the sum of its parts. The day was glorious and sunny, the pro was attentive, charming AND a good teacher. I hit balls on the range, he videotaped me, and analysed my set up and my swing. He instructed, I hit some more balls, then we went to the lodge for lunch. Then we practiced putting. He liked my putter. I like my putter, too.
Then it was time to tee off. "I'll be right back." a few minutes later..." I had to do some damage control.They had you going out on the back 9 with two Korean guys. Who speak no English. But we're going out with these two other guys from Golf School and their pro will stay with them for a few holes."
On the first tee Jordan suddenly looked at me from across the Tee box and said,"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have assumed you didn't speak Japanese..or Korean. Do you?"
"No, Jordan, I do not."
"Alright then, let's go!" The two gentlemen who joined us were from Arkansas, and their pro was from somewhere south as well. I could have cared less. Jordan and I decided to walk...and I decided not to keep score. Why ruin a perfectly good walk? I hit the ball, it landed in the thick rough, I found my ball, Jordan gave me a really good lie, and I hit it again. Such a simple game, really. Everyone should get to play with their own pro.
The view was fantastic..The first hole heads out toward the ocean, then the second hole heads to the left and parallels the ocean and the third hole-the famous par 3-heads out toward a cliff.
Jordan took my picture on the championship tee box with his 9 iron. Or maybe it was his wedge. I really don't know and I don't care. What a blast.
As we approached the 4th hole, there was a threesome already on the tee box. "Don't mind us, we're not cutting in front of you or anything, we're taking photos for a magazine."
"Can I be in your magazine?"I asked. An older African American gentleman dressed in a blue golf shirt with a navy golf cap was sitting in a golf cart, the photographer was in front of the tee box, and another gentleman was walking back toward the cart. "Do you know who this is? This is Lee Elder!"
"And that' s the weatherman from Channel 9. The guy who always wears the bow tie," Lee Elder said. Who is Lee Elder?
"We're shooting for a Sports Illustrated article." Who is Lee Elder? Nobody I was with knew who he was..but he was obviously somebody we should have known about. The threesome shot their photos and scooted off in front of us out of sight. Throughout the day, the SI photographer could be seen darting about the course, ladder on his golf cart, on the back 9 catching the sun setting over the 16th and 17th holes.
Jordan left me after the 9th hole, with a folder of photos, a list of recommended courses, and a warm handshake,"I really had fun today."
I finished the back 9 with the Arkansas boys, finally approaching the fountain on the 18th hole as the sun went down. What a day.
Oh, and Lee Elder? Look for him in Sports Illustrated. He was the first African American to play at Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Master's Championship.
Can you say excited? The third time is a charm. It was my third visit to San Diego...my third visit to Torrey Pines. The first two times included photo ops and shopping, lots of shopping, in the pro shop. I have spent so much money there, I could pay for a round of golf! Wait a minute!
So my third visit to San Diego included Torrey Pines Golf School: a 3 hour lesson with a pro, and nine holes of golf with the pro, followed by the remaining 9 holes of golf- on the South Course at Torrey Pines.
I walked up to the desk and announced my arrival. Trumpets did not sound..but the guy behind the desk wondered who I would be working with. "Jordan..she's yours!" Great....thank goodness Jordan was Jordan and not the obnoxious, annoying pro with the southern accent. I took off my sunglasses and met the golf pro with whom I would be spending the better part of my day. Tall, dark and obviously a good golfer, right? Oh, did I say young? And tall. And very nice.
Let me just say the total experience was worth every dime. This was one adventure where the totality definitely outweighed the sum of its parts. The day was glorious and sunny, the pro was attentive, charming AND a good teacher. I hit balls on the range, he videotaped me, and analysed my set up and my swing. He instructed, I hit some more balls, then we went to the lodge for lunch. Then we practiced putting. He liked my putter. I like my putter, too.
Then it was time to tee off. "I'll be right back." a few minutes later..." I had to do some damage control.They had you going out on the back 9 with two Korean guys. Who speak no English. But we're going out with these two other guys from Golf School and their pro will stay with them for a few holes."
On the first tee Jordan suddenly looked at me from across the Tee box and said,"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have assumed you didn't speak Japanese..or Korean. Do you?"
"No, Jordan, I do not."
"Alright then, let's go!" The two gentlemen who joined us were from Arkansas, and their pro was from somewhere south as well. I could have cared less. Jordan and I decided to walk...and I decided not to keep score. Why ruin a perfectly good walk? I hit the ball, it landed in the thick rough, I found my ball, Jordan gave me a really good lie, and I hit it again. Such a simple game, really. Everyone should get to play with their own pro.
The view was fantastic..The first hole heads out toward the ocean, then the second hole heads to the left and parallels the ocean and the third hole-the famous par 3-heads out toward a cliff.
Jordan took my picture on the championship tee box with his 9 iron. Or maybe it was his wedge. I really don't know and I don't care. What a blast.
As we approached the 4th hole, there was a threesome already on the tee box. "Don't mind us, we're not cutting in front of you or anything, we're taking photos for a magazine."
"Can I be in your magazine?"I asked. An older African American gentleman dressed in a blue golf shirt with a navy golf cap was sitting in a golf cart, the photographer was in front of the tee box, and another gentleman was walking back toward the cart. "Do you know who this is? This is Lee Elder!"
"And that' s the weatherman from Channel 9. The guy who always wears the bow tie," Lee Elder said. Who is Lee Elder?
"We're shooting for a Sports Illustrated article." Who is Lee Elder? Nobody I was with knew who he was..but he was obviously somebody we should have known about. The threesome shot their photos and scooted off in front of us out of sight. Throughout the day, the SI photographer could be seen darting about the course, ladder on his golf cart, on the back 9 catching the sun setting over the 16th and 17th holes.
Jordan left me after the 9th hole, with a folder of photos, a list of recommended courses, and a warm handshake,"I really had fun today."
I finished the back 9 with the Arkansas boys, finally approaching the fountain on the 18th hole as the sun went down. What a day.
Oh, and Lee Elder? Look for him in Sports Illustrated. He was the first African American to play at Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Master's Championship.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)