I remember it well. I didn’t start when I was young. I was already in his late 20s, but my first golf shot was the most magical I have ever experienced.
In high school, I played the Big 3: soccer, basketball, and baseball. This dates back to his late 70’s to his early 80’s. We had a golf team, but golf wasn’t that cool back then.
Some of my friends are already regular players and I resisted for a long time, but finally decided to give it a go. I was a decent athlete, but I didn’t know how to swing a golf club. Have no idea.
And I practiced and practiced and practiced more. I often went to my father’s house to practice. Because my father’s backyard was so quiet that no one could see it.
What I practiced with were those little whiffle golf balls… plastic ones with holes in them. I figured if I couldn’t get them right, there was no point in trying to hit the real thing.
It’s not that I didn’t hit. I could, but they didn’t do very well. I was so frustrated that I ordered the Wally Armstrong (Remember Wally? The King of Golf Props?) Kit, a bundle of plastic training aids in a box. Some were really helpful.
I especially remember the plastic hangers. It basically taught me how to feel the “hinge” of my golf swing. Things started to get a little clearer. Now you can “feel” what a golf swing feels like.
Then it happened. just another day. i got you. I hit his one of these little plastic golf balls hard and with a nice sound. Finally compressed the golf ball. (even though it was plastic)
There were no more questions. I now “knew” how to hit a golf ball. After hitting another 20-30 shots with my trusty little Wiffle Ball, I wanted to try a real Wiffle Ball. I was quite nervous. Does it work just like the real thing?
Anyway, this field was on the side of my father’s house and a road ran nearby. Now was the time for truth. I threw the ball to the ground and swung with his rusty old left-handed 9-iron. I was really unprepared for what happened next.
I swung pretty easily. The ball ran straight up the face of the 9-iron. It was clearly visible against the blue sky. It went on and on. I had no idea how far I could hit the 9-iron. And it barely missed a car (because my directions weren’t quite honed yet) and crashed cleanly over the freeway.
Then I realigned myself and started pouring shots down the field.I felt like I had found the Holy Grail. I was finally able to hit a decent golf shot. I remember that day like it was yesterday.
It’s a feeling that you’ll never get tired if you’re a golfer (I’m generalizing now). It’s pure beauty. You can actually stand there and watch the ball hurdle through the air and reach its target. Look at the beauty of the arc of the shot.
To this day (I turn 50 this year), that’s why I love this game. hit those shots. Time really stands still. Sometimes I am really in awe of it. It’s such a magical game. No two are exactly alike.
I hope you continue to hit beautiful and majestic golf shots year after year. And if you’re new to the game (or just starting out as a golfer), we promise to take you on a magical (and mind-boggling) adventure.
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