Don DeLorenzo
it's your SWING
Don has been the PGA General Manager of Gilroy Golf Course since
1985. He is a former winner of the Bill Stausbaugh award given by the PGA
of America for excellence in education. He was named the 2014 Gilroy
Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year and was born and raised in Gilroy.
Lose the Scorecard…Just Play
OK
WESTERN
..Let me start by
saying if you are a
golf purist, if you’re
a card carrying member of the Royal and
Ancient Golf Association of St. Andrews,
Scotland or if you never “bump” the ball
when you play you probably won’t agree
with a lot of what this article has to say.
Golf is a great game. Probably the
greatest when it comes to honesty and
integrity. It’s the only sport where the
player calls a penalty on himself. Watch
any NBA games lately? Do you think
that would work in professional basket-
ball? That is what separates the game
of golf from the other sports. But those
strict rules have kept a lot of people
from playing the game and even more
from really, truly enjoying it.
Remember, this game was developed
long, long ago buy some golf purists
and many of the ideals are still around
today. But that doesn’t mean you have
to play by the strict rules of the United
States Golf Association when you play.
Develop your own rules of the Me and
my Buddy’s golf club to make it more
fun. Remember though, we must always
respect the golf course and the others
who are playing it!
What if we just played golf for the
fun of it and kind of made up our own
rules. First of all….lose the scorecard.
Play for the enjoyment of a good shot
or a long put. Play for the enjoyment
of counting how many times you got
the ball in the air on a certain hole, not
make a weekly or monthly date to play
a few holes. Once again, you don’t have
to keep score, just enjoy yourselves.
Many of you should ask yourselves
why you don’t play or don’t play as
much as you would like. Does it take
too long? Then only play 9 holes
instead of 18. Maybe play a few holes
before work or on a weekend after-
noon just to get out. Make the round
enjoyable! Bring someone out who has
never played before and expose them
to the game, the fresh air, the exercise.
Walking nine holes is about 3 miles.
That’s a great addition to your day. Join
a golf league or gather some friends
together to take lessons to learn the
basics on how to hit the ball. Any golf
course will tell you when the best time
to play is as a beginner and how to
enjoy your round.
Is it too expensive? Golf in Gilroy
is very reasonable. Rates at Gavilan
College Golf Course start at $6. Gilroy
Golf Course green fees start at $15 and
Eagle Ridge $29. I know an afternoon
of enjoyment is worth a lot more than
that.
Golf is the only game where two
people of different abilities can play
together. I would never play one-on-
one basketball with Steph Curry…but
anyone can play a round of golf with a
player of higher caliber. So if you have
a friend who is an accomplished golfer,
ask to tag along on watch to see if this
game is to your liking.
GOLF
GETAWAYS
how many strokes it took you to get
the ball in the cup. Play golf as a reason
to drink beer or socialize with your
friends. Play golf for the reason to enjoy
a crisp winter day. What’s better than
fresh air and sunshine on a winter day.
Now I know the people that are in the
group behind you may not enjoy this
attitude but if there is someone behind
you wanting to play at a faster pace than
you, let them go through and go on to
enjoying golf on your terms.
Play with friends and “alternate”
shots. One hits a shot, then the other
and repeat until you are through the
hole. Two people play at the speed of
one person but both get to enjoy the
game. If you are new to the game, go
with someone who hits the “full” shots
and you do all the putting once on the
green. You will see how hooked on
the game you will get and will soon
be hitting the ball on your own. Find
another couple who like the game and
Life is short and so is a round of golf. Enjoy it!
114
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
WINTER 2020
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