Golf and Emotional Rollercoaster Ride

Written in 2014

It was 4 years ago this summer when I took up golf. I thought it would be an easy game to learn and I could play with my children. The truth is golf is not a game; it’s an emotional roller coaster ride! If you want to learn, you had better buckle up.

Every emotion that you have ever experienced will cross your path again; joy, happiness, exhilaration, disgust, frustration, rejection, dejection, and depression; they’re all wrapped up in the game of golf.

In the beginning my boys would hit the ball better and farther than I did. That was frustrating. My father in-law said it was because they had supple bodies, mine is rotund.

As I have progressed, I have found that a club in my hand can be a back-hoe, a shovel, a weed whacker, everything but what it was made for. To move the ball in a forward direction with the least amount of swings is harder than it looks. This can be very depressing.

I can stand on a tee box and look out and enjoy the beauty that I see. The joy of being outside and getting exercise at the same time is a pleasure. As I gaze out on the fairway I tell myself I can't help but put the ball in the middle or on the side somewhere. Then I tee up and swing and watch my ball sail to the far right, over a house. I try again, and watch it take the very same path as before. This brings a tear and a dollar sign to my eye. The anger grows inside me.

Imagine watching your ball go into a sand trap. Disgust and fear grab a hold of you. To try and pick the ball up out of the sand without using your hands is not easy. This can be a humbling and humiliating experience.

The best feeling is when you hit the ball on the sweet spot of the club. You make the ball scream for joy as it flies higher and farther than you thought possible. This feeling begins in your hands and travels up you arms and all over your body. It brings a smile to your face, its exciting, it exhilarating, it’s almost climactic! It’s a cheap thrill and it brings me back.

Getting the ball to the green is only half the problem. Trying to sink the ball into the hole with a putter is the hardest part. You can get so frustrated and dejected when the ball refuses to go in.

The emotional roller coaster ride can last 5 hours. One hole is great the next a total disaster, and so it goes for 18 holes. During the ride you must always keep things in proper perspective. Nothing comes easy. Practice, Patience, and Perseverance will see you through.