I don't rant all that often. My outlook is generally pretty positive (I always say MY glass is 3/4 full!), or at worst I adopt a "live and let live" attitude. You know: kinda like, "If that's the way you feel, I respect it but choose to disagree." And I'll usually state my reasons in a nonconfrontational way.
But not today.
I enjoy golf. I like it best when I can walk all 18 holes. No, I don't carry my clubs; that's what those wheeled carts are for -- especially for us retired seniors! Carol and I will typically walk and play 18 holes in 3 to3 1/2 hours. On a cool, brisk autumn day we've done it in 2 1/2 with no reall effort to hurry. The exercise is good for us, and the game is more fun. But sure, when we're playing a hilly course or it gets much over 90 degrees, we ride.
There is no reason why a round of golf should drag on past 3 1/2 hours! Even for a foursome walking. And especially not for a foursome riding in carts, which get you to your ball a lot faster than walking. So why have our recent rounds taken 4 1/2 hours?
*sigh* I guess it's because all those foursomes riding in carts are really out on the course to socialize, talk trash, bet on their round and drink beer. Mostly drink beer. And that's fine! Just do all that in 3 1/2 hours, not 4-5! Or let me and Carol play through!
Why do I care? Because every minute past 3 1/2 hours is a minute I'm standing and waiting, not sitting on a cushioned cart seat. Standing and waiting gets tiring, so I'll walk around a bit to find some shade, or take practice swings, or watch the wildlife. But after a while I begin to focus so much on how much time we're wasting that I lose focus on the golf swing. I start to play poorly. I get disgusted and walk in, put our clubs in the car and go home.
That's what happened both yesterday and today. Yesterday was worse because the starter had joined us up with three other walkers to make us a fivesome. Soon we were holding up groups behind and Carol and I were chafing to get moving. We should have been rude, told the three we had someplace we needed to be soon, and left them behind. We resolved that, rude or not, that's what we'll do if in that situation again.
I compare slow play to driving on a curvy, hilly two-lane road behind a vehicle going 25 mph under the speed limit, but with no way to pass, and you've got 50 miles to your destination. Tell me that wouldn't frustrate you!
Hence my rant. I feel better. Thanks for listening.
2 comments:
Hmmmmm..... I think if a past-time begins to give you reason for stress and impatience, it is time to give it up - or decide to "live and let live".
Judy, you're right of course! Since slow play bothers us so much we need to figure out how to avoid it. Like, for instance, try to get one of the earliest tee times and get our round in before the turtles and snails come out. Those turtles have just as much right to be out enjoying their tedious golf as we enjoy our rapid rounds, right? Plus it won't be long before it's too hot to walk 18 holes here in South Texas, and we're much more patient when riding since we can pull over under a shade tree and wait on our padded cart seat.
Nah, we're not ready to give it up yet. The pleasures of a good round still outweigh the frustrations of a tedious one. "Live end let live" is the way to go. Thanks for the reality check!
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