Round of golf offers more fun than expected

I had a lot of fun, but man, do I hate golf. At least that’s how I thought I would feel after golfing 18 holes at the Whispering Winds Golf Course here.

I had no intention of golfing this past Saturday, as my original plans were to go to Palo Duro Canyon, just outside of Amarillo.
Mitigating circumstances aside, I overslept, causing a few people to be upset with me. But by doing so, I was given the opportunity to go golfing with my friend Bryan.

Golfing always struck me as a sport of patience, of which I have very little. So I expected to be disappointed and upset by the end of the first hole. I was.

I found that the course here is a wonderful place to practice. Having gone golfing fewer than five times in my short 24 years, I tend to have little desire to try anything new.

Luckily, Bryan had played golf in the past, so he helped me figure out what club to use when, though I did try and drive just about everything after tee-off with a 5-iron.

Bryan also told me that when playing, I was supposed to actually get the golf ball off the ground, instead of rolling it like I tended to do.

I’m sure that there are some people out there who, if they had played like I had, would have given up on the sport entirely.

However, failing to try something new keeps a person in a very small section of a big world.

And if you don’t like something, at least you can say you tried it.

Golfing 18 holes helped me understand myself, as cliché as that sounds. It helped me become more patient, control my anger (which was plentiful, especially on the water hazards), and also helped me get some fresh air.

For those afraid to try something new, golf is a great start. You don’t have to be perfect or even good. It’s a chance to enjoy the outside air and relax with friends.

If you have a friend who needs to get out and/or release some anger, do it the healthy way and go hit some golf balls. And if you just like the sport, sign me up. Believe me, I need the practice.