Between a Lake and a Sand Trap

Continuing on my theme here of bitching about my station in life; brings me to the subject of golf...

Tiger Woods celebrity profile

First let me say congratulations to Tiger Woods on win number 69. (What a great number!) His game is so up and down this year. Mine is too, (albeit about 30 stroke worse on average.)

I'm a bogey golfer. I've been a bogey golfer for years now. Part of my issue is lack of play time, much like my online gaming dilemma. The other limitation is money. I have the ability to hit great shots. I've had bad starts that I have pulled together and shot my average in the end. But just can't seem to reach that next skill level...


To test my theory, I spent more time at the indoor golf place this winter, and started hitting a lot of golf balls when the ranges opened outside. This put some stress on the home life, as I suspected. However, when I finally played a round it was like I hadn't taken nine months off. I played a couple strokes below my average. Great!

Then work and life stopped the trips to the range and extra rounds, and I've slipped a few strokes. I still hit the good shots, but I don't get on a roll like at the beginning of the season. Like many amateur golfers I can't seem to make the long game and short game both work on the same day. For non-golfers out there, that means that if I can hit the fairway on the drive I tend to have trouble getting on the green and in the hole from there. If I'm struggling off the tee, my short game tends to make a save or two in my favor. If those two elements would ever show up on the same day it would be epic!

So, it appears that I'm stuck between playing better (more enjoyable) golf and living in mediocrity on course in order to live in bliss at home. One day either my wife will tire of me (hasn't happened yet after nearly 7 years...knock on wood) and kick me out of the house to play, or the boys will be grown up and home responsibilities will be light enough to allow for more recreation time. Despite my bemoaning, I gladly accept what life has handed me and won't be giving it up any time soon.