Never say never

For several years whenever anyone asked me if I played golf, my response was that I wouldn’t get out of the electric chair to play golf. My dislike for the game comes from my limited experience with it. I was always a star athlete and was naturally good in every sport that I attempted. I always felt golf was for fat guys that smoked cigars and bragged about their businesses and position in life and status in their country club and I assumed it had to be an easy sport if ‘they’ were good at it and consequently I never really attempted to play it.

My sons got into playing golf when they were college age and it became obvious if I wanted to hang out with them at all that I would have to take it up. My assumption was that I would be naturally good at it as I was with other sports. My assumption was wrong. Golf is a difficult game and I was not worth a flip at it. One day you can be fairly decent and then the very next day on the exact same course you can be very horrible. There are one million and one things to remember on every swing and even if you remember them all, the ball has a mind of its own. Only a demon would invent such an evil game.

Lately I have been looking at potential homes in the Atlanta area located on golf courses. I am contemplating taking it up again. In a fit of rage several years ago I gave my brand new expensive golf clubs away and vowed to never play again. I was discussing this with my son the other day and he still has my clubs, I assume because he figured sooner or later I would come back around again. It looks like I would have learned through the years to never say never, but I have not. I intend to take up this wretched game again soon. Hopefully when I play poorly I will take it in stride patiently telling myself that things will improve before I know it. Yeah right

I think golf is like many things in life. Our society is built around instant gratification but the world is not like that. It takes hard work, patience, determination, and a great attitude to succeed at virtually anything. Bottom line: we get out what we put in. I am determined to become diligent in my quest to achieve some hint of respectability in this frustrating game as I do not want it to get the best of me again. I have looked to the Bible for inspiration and found the following verse. I vow that I will not be a sluggard and refuse to say never again!

Proverbs 13:4
The sluggard craves and gets nothing,
but the desires of the diligent are fully
satisfied.