letter
The opportunity to write a
little about my trip to Alabama
made me smile through the
process. What a great golf trip.
That’s the first time I’ve ever
been able to say that as a player
instead of a caddy.
On the trip, the ladies I played
with were awesome. Donna
Hoffman of Women on Course,
Susan Fornoff at Gotta Go Golf,
Pam Shaheen at Crossroads
Marketing, Kay Maghan at
Gulf Shores and Orange Beach
Tourism, Patricia Hannigan
at Golf Girl Media and Pat
Mullaly at Golf Gurls were very
patient with this beginner.
We had a great time, and I
learned how people should treat
beginners ... because that’s how
I was treated, and now I have
high expectations for my people
on the golf course.
I started off apologizing
over and over, and finally, I
got ‘splained to. Everyone in
the group had started playing
as adults, and it takes time to
develop the game.
Pat Mullaly told me that I
needed to stay the course. In
golf, I guess that can take on
several meanings. While I was
explaining the term “Bless your
heart” to this Boston native, she
was explaining patience to me.
Now, this patience thing ...
my family (and probably many
of you) knows that this is not
one of the virtues I embrace.
I’m a get it done kind of girl.
Produce and move on to the
next thing. Golf is not patient
with my impatience.
And that impatience just
made it worse. So here’s what
I did. At my most frustrating
moment when I was playing
with Pam (who was having the
most awesome round ever) and
Susan (who apparently has
awesome rounds all the time), I
sat out a hole or two. I brought
a ball over to the side and put
my left hand behind my back
while hitting the ball with only
my right hand. It’s a trick Andre
Caldwell taught me during my
first golf lesson. And it definitely
calmed my nerves.
I also picked up the ball a lot
and kept moving. My dream of
posting a decent score on a hole
didn’t really happen on the trip.
I did get a seven on a par 3 and
an 8 on a couple of par 4s, but
that’s as good as it got.
My goal for the next time
is simple –I want to be able to
keep score on at least nine holes.
Is that too much to ask? Can
you remember when you first
started? What were your goals?
And how long did it take you?
I want to hear from you. I
need encouragement, and I
need goals as I truly begin this
adventure.
I just don’t want to aggravate
people I’m playing with. If
you’re one of those folks who
gets irritated with beginners, I
don’t want to play with you. The
people I first played with were
awesome, and anyone I play
with from here on out has big
shoes to fill. I’ll play, but while
I’m developing patience in my
game, I’m gonna need you to be
patient with me.
Amber
9