Trying new things

I am a firm believer that trying something new is an experience that usually leads to growth. In that spirit I golfed for the first time a week ago today. Most men My age are experienced golfers (while sometimes over-stating their skill level).

As a kid or young adult I had a combination of no interest and little opportunity to try golf. In spite of this, my life has gone on quite well.

I've been aware that golf's absence from my life might become an issue at work. Things came to a head last week. My new department was having it's annual golf tournament. This year's organizer was a colleague who has been an extra big help in my new job (and who I've known for many years). Out of loyalty to him and in the face of uncertain numbers, I agreed to go/didn't have much choice.

Let me be clear- I have never golfed before that has not involved the beautiful AstroTurf, windmills, and clowns of mini golf.

Happily, the afternoon was a lot of fun. Several things lead my first golf game to be fun and not the humiliating debacle that I had foreseen. First, I was with three guys that I knew and who knew that I was a golf virgin. Second, we had a "closest ball to the hole" format. This was merciful. Third, two things happened that made things more fun. On the first hole, I managed to hit the ball in such way that it went straight up, hit me on the top of the head and landed in
my hood. Laughter ensued. There was no where to go but up from there (and I did gradually improve). Second, I found and returned a $50 bill that the group ahead of us had lost, becoming an instant hero.

So, overall it was a fun afternoon and not the train wreck I had pictured. I guess that's growth.

B.

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