Golf Fore the Good

OK, so a Debbie Reynolds I’m not. I am not terrifically graceful, as one might guess from my often out of tempo golf swing. This particular day seemed in some way out of kilter as well, and therefore proved perfectly suited for me and my golf game.

The golf was hurry-up-and-wait, so agonizingly slow that, had I been playing poorly, I might have tried blaming it on the pace of play. Nor was the weather anything to dance and sing about. There was at best a heavy mist in the air, at worst a light shower spitting out of the steel gray sky. Somehow, none of it mattered, wedged in as we were in the middle of the second 18 holes of a huge group of transients playing a thirty six hole tournament. It was one of those rare days that any golf would be better than no golf at all.

I was scheduled for office duty on Mother’s Day, being the only “non-mother” amongst my colleagues. Evidently, the Border Collie doesn’t qualify as a real child. Knowing the day would be quiet, with most people tied up with their own family celebrations, I planned an office picnic to mark the holiday with my parents and godmother. If I had to be working and couldn’t be golfing, at least I could squeeze in some family time.

On the day prior to my planned get-together, my aging golf friend phoned to chat. I asked if she had plans for Mother’s Day. Never having met her offspring, I am aware that one of her children lives two states away and the other a half a world away. She would spend the day alone, she said. With but a moment’s hesitation, an invitation for her to join us at our little picnic popped out. It was as natural as a golf swing – you may take that as you will.

Each spring for five weeks, women golfers in Massachusetts have a golden opportunity for competitive golf unlike any other. From the end of April through late May, 840 ladies playing in twenty eight “cups,” tee off on consecutive Thursdays across the state at their respective roster of golf courses. The traditions of Spring Teams run long and deep, having been played out for over a century.

In the past, Spring Teams used to commence much earlier in April. With our fickle South Eastern New England spring weather, such as it is, I’ve heard tell that matches were played in snow flurries more than once.

It is often the little things that make a difference.

I took a golf lesson on approach shots yesterday, as I’ve been having some accuracy issues with my wedge. My PGA professional made a few changes: my feet, my arms, the length of my swing, my wrists, my shoulders, my spine angle and my weight transfer - I think that was about it. Just a few little things.

May Day. As a child, it was a day full of frolicking, fun and baskets of flowers. Historically, it is a day filled with traditions and symbols ranging from May poles, to May queens to May flowers – and even cows (yes, cows…). No where could I find reference to May Day traditions with regard to golfing but yesterday I hope I started a May Day tradition of my own: playing twenty seven holes of golf. I can think of no better way to celebrate the start of a season full of rebirth and promise then with lots and lots of golf.