Golf is possibly the most fickle sport I play. Cricket is close, but it doesn't quite have the sheer annoyance that golf brings. I love playing both sports but they both bring me great euphoria and great disappointment. Unfortunately for me it's usually the latter. Both can be up and down, and are tough to find form in. Once you have form, its equally as tough to keep it. Where golf differs, is that there is nobody else to blame for your form and the outcome of your game, it is all down to you.
The aspiring golfer that I am, I have never had a lesson, and merely coach myself as best as possible. Only this year I have been able to purchase a set of clubs that are a) younger than me b) forgiving to use. Before I had a set of cast iron blades that would give me one good shot in 30. Still I can hit a ball quite a long way when I connect and have been known to be quite deadly with the putter. (Truth is I need to be, my putter usually saves me from my horrific short game).
When all is said and done, golf has to be the most frustrating sport known to man. You can go from hitting the dream drive of your life, only to ruin the hole with the next couple of approach shots. Take today for an example, I played Earlswood Golf Course for the second time in 5 weeks with my Dad. It is peculiar how one shot can set you off on a good/bad run. I chipped in from the fringe today to card a 6 on a par 5, and that led me to a nice approach and a par on the following par three. The hole after I made a cawlach of my tee shot and ended up taking an 8. Told you it was weird. Last time out we shot quite poor totals of 121 for him and 116 for me. This time he improved by 15 shots whilst I struggled, having an absolute stinker. The funniest bit of it all was that I finished with 115, which for the mathematically retarded of you out there is one shot better than the previous time. I was baffled, as the original round I was pleased with how I'd played.
That is the weird thing with golf, it takes you by surprise and you never know how things can turn out. Your only ever one shot away from a great birdie or smashing it into the nearest hedge/water hazard/nasty bunker. It is fickle, but the challenge and unpredictability of it is what keeps you interested. It is a challenge I love. It is a challenge I will endeavour to continue until I can become a competent golfer that rarely embarrasses himself. Try golf out, no matter what the ability it is a tricky but rewarding mistress. It'll break your heart and wind you up but it'll keep you married and won't give you anything itchy. Now I'm off to watch The Open to see how its done properly, and so should you.
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