Zen and the Driving Range
Jul. 7th, 2008 10:32 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jeanvieveMom and I found Laurelwood golf course, nestled on top of some foothills in Eugene proper. Standing up at the pro shop, you look down over this tiny jewel of a valley that consists nearly entirely of the golf course. The driving range was a very steep slope downward, perhaps forty yards.
I was delighted to discover that my basic golf muscle memories have not deserted me. Perhaps because I am such a not-gifted athlete, and every success I've ever had has been because of words attached to each tiny movement and position, I can pause and run through them all when I line things up. There is still a lot of thinking for me, each individual time I step up to address the ball. Hello, ball. Remember me? You just sit there and don't move while I work around you. There's a good egg.
Yes, I had a few mulligans. I top hit five or so, and under hit a couple more. But most of the bucket went right out where they were supposed to. And the very best ones were when I was silent and still and relaxed, and the voice in my head faded to being quiet like the announcers when Tiger is teeing up. Swoosh! And I had the feeling I could hit harder and further, if I could only figure out the knack of it. But I could consistently hit in the 140-160 range, and mostly straight, so I'm quietly pleased.
And Mom was better than she thought she'd be, which in turn drove her to consider doing this again lots, so hurray! Company! Must get everyone playing bridge AND golf.
Got 2 CISSP study books from Jamie, now that I'm recommitted to getting that certification this year. Making schedules for myself to every day study, practice flute, exercise. Less slacking!
I was delighted to discover that my basic golf muscle memories have not deserted me. Perhaps because I am such a not-gifted athlete, and every success I've ever had has been because of words attached to each tiny movement and position, I can pause and run through them all when I line things up. There is still a lot of thinking for me, each individual time I step up to address the ball. Hello, ball. Remember me? You just sit there and don't move while I work around you. There's a good egg.
Yes, I had a few mulligans. I top hit five or so, and under hit a couple more. But most of the bucket went right out where they were supposed to. And the very best ones were when I was silent and still and relaxed, and the voice in my head faded to being quiet like the announcers when Tiger is teeing up. Swoosh! And I had the feeling I could hit harder and further, if I could only figure out the knack of it. But I could consistently hit in the 140-160 range, and mostly straight, so I'm quietly pleased.
And Mom was better than she thought she'd be, which in turn drove her to consider doing this again lots, so hurray! Company! Must get everyone playing bridge AND golf.
Got 2 CISSP study books from Jamie, now that I'm recommitted to getting that certification this year. Making schedules for myself to every day study, practice flute, exercise. Less slacking!
