If You're Going to Play Competitively, Know Your Rules

When I first started playing golf, I started off as a 9 holer.  I was more concerned about how I would swing the club and then get the ball in the hole without making a 10.  As I progressively got better, the captain of our match play team asked me if I'd play a match against another club to be paired with a lady who had been playing for awhile.  I squirmed saying I don't play that well, I don't know the rules, I don't want to screw up the team.  She says, I really need you to play.

A Sisyphean Game

Wow, that's a mouth full.  Want to know who uttered that phrase?  Ray Romano on The Hank Haney Project.  Yes indeedy, it was Ray.  He's on the show to try and become a single digit handicapper.  He brought up Sisyphus to describe his approach to golf.  His game is a "Sisyphean game", one that seems to be nothing but frustration.  Constantly trying to improve his game by trying to improve his game by himself.  What?  OK.  He does nothing to improve his game other than constantly hitting on the range and watching videos and reading magazines.  He doesn't get better and all that does is frustrate him.  If you don't remember Sisyphus, in Greek legend he pissed off Zeus with his hubris, thus angering said god who then compelled Sisyphus to roll a huge rock up a steep hill. But before he could reach the top of the hill, the rock would always roll back down again, forcing him to begin again.  How many of us have a game that rolls ups and then tanks.  We're playing a round and after 9 holes, we've shot a 36.  Woo hoo!  Going to shoot the game of all time.  Then bogey, bogey, triple, triple, three putt, three putt.  It's a Sisyphean game. 

I've always been one of those folks who doesn't like to be told what to do.  I also don't like to think that I may not live up to other people's expectations of me.  So, if you were to extrapolate from that-  I don't like to take lessons.  Someone is telling me what to do and even though the pros see all kinds of swings, I do have a reputation to uphold.  Yah, right.  They know your handicap and it's not an 8.  I always end up squandering time by yakking or joking around.  Not good.  I'm never going to be an 8.  I asked a teaching pro once what would that take.  He asked, how much actual time do you have to practice and if you had the time, how often would you practice?  He said I'd have to practice 3-4 times a week and take a lesson once a week for 6 months and then I might MIGHT break 80.  I have shot one 79, one 80,  and one 81.  But that's 3 scores out of 100's.  So, what's a girl to do to get out of this Sisyphean rut?   Albert Einstein once said "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results".  Well, I'm not insane so I either have to accept mediocrity or make a plan for improvement.  Well, I'll watch Ray and see how he does.  Maybe he'll inspire me...

Blogger's Note:  Ray does not reach his goal of breaking 90.

Playing from the "Women's" Tees

At our club, we have 6 tee boxes all the way from the "tips" to the red tees.  Informally,  the white tees are the "senior" tees and the red tees are designated as "the ladies'" tees.  There are variations on this.  I have seen, and I much prefer this, that the tees be designated by handicap.  But, of course,  you have to take into account slope

Golf, Rules and Women

My women's golf association had its Informal Coffee this week.  We like to get together in the dead of the winter with the informal coffee to meet new members, cajole possible new members and harass old friends.  We don't spend a lot of money on the coffee and just provide said coffee and muffins.  I'm going to digress for a moment.