Many people wonder why golf is the greatest game. I've heard phrases like "all you have to do is take a club and whack a little white ball into a cup" or "isn't it like baseball, without the running and throwing?" People have told me how it "just looks so boring on TV." So what is it about this game that makes it so addicting? In my own words, I'm going to shed light into the mystical wonder of "why golf is the greatest game ever played."
Let me start off by saying, I'm in no way a pro or even close to it. I shoot mid 80s on a good day. If you read another post of mine you'll see I shot so bad that I'm not even going to say the score in this article. But that is exactly the first point as to why this is the greatest game ever played, the challenge. The pros make it look easy, but even they flub one or pull it hard left every once in a while. The weekend golfer, on the other hand, doesn't get to practice daily or work on shots like it's their job because they actually have a real job. I've hit super good one week and think I'm going to tear it up (in a good way) the next week only to feast on a healthy serving of humble pie. But that's what makes it so fun, it's the challenge of trying to get better.
There's so many different areas to work on. You have the long ball off the tee. Time to "let the big dawg eat" in the words of Tin Cup. You set up trying to rip it 300 yards all while trying to #keepitinthefairway. Then there's the 2nd shot or a mid-distance shot. Give me a 7 iron through 9 and I'm pretty solid. Pitching wedge or Gap wedge I'm deadly. But please don't make me pull out the 3 wood, hybrid, or a 4 or 6 iron. I'll either push it to the right or chunk the dirt like I'm digging for gold. I'm not a Topper Harley, just a Chunky Monkey. The 5 iron usually works out decent, somehow. Then there's the chipping aspect. I've seen people blow up so many holes within 10 feet of the green because of their chipping. Many people try to slow down their swing and chunk the dirt or they'll swing solidly only to have it skull off their club and go flying across the green. It can be so frustrating to be so close, yet so far away. Lastly, there's the putting. Putting's easy, right? Take a look at your last putt-putt score and tell me if you thought it was easy. If you were to 2 putt every hole, which would be par if you made it on the green in regulation, then that would be 36 strokes right there from a round of 18 holes. Better not 3 putt if you're wanting that score to look pretty at the end.
The second reason why this is the greatest game ever is because you're playing a sport outside with Mother Nature. Not all sports let you outside with the elements. Yes, football and baseball do, but they can maintain a physical beating for 4 hours and let's face it, baseball is just boring unless you're hitting or having the ball hit to you. Now I'll play in the rain and cold, but not with the two elements combined, and definitely not if it's lightening. Say what you will about my manhood, but I'm not testing my luck with a metal pole in my hand while lightening is close by.
The third reason this is the greatest game ever is because you can make it the work out you want it to be. The days of running around like a spring chicken are over for me, so sports like basketball (which was my favorite sport growing up) are out. The physical exertion of swinging a club 80-100, including putts, aren't so brutal on the body. They can be, sure, but it's not like the strenuous conditions of some other sports. If you feel like getting a good work out in, then walk the round. There's multiple ways you can walk a round. You can carry your own bag, get a pull-cart, or even get a caddie to carry your bags for you. Walking also makes you really in tune with nature and the course, itself. If you're not in the walking mood, then take a cart and cruise for the day. The physical exertion can be a choice you choose, unless you're shooting a bad round.
Lastly, the reason golf is the greatest game ever played is the fellowship. This is the only sport where you can carry on a conversation about life without having to leave it shelved. Just take a second to let someone swing and back to the conversation you go. My crew (the 4 Coursemen) love to get out there, talk about whatever and keep it lighthearted. We will have deep conversations, but for the most part we are just enjoying the companionship with one another. We love to talk trash to each other while at the same time encouraging one another. We all want each other to play well, we just want ourselves to play better than them.
Golf is truly the greatest game ever played. If you haven't tried it out, don't watch it on the screen and think it's too easy or it's boring. Get out there and try it for yourself. You'll find out it's a lot harder and more fun than you could ever imagine. There is a reason so many people are golf junkies and can't get enough, myself included. There's a lot to love about this game and I encourage you to find it out for yourself. Good luck trying to #keepitonthefairway.
-Bogey Fett
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