Saturday 12 -1

One of the tenets of a lifelong practice is that sometimes you are awful. You reach a point while making progress and then slip back 10 strokes.

Five years ago I was a 15 handicap. I am now a 30 handicap. I stopped playing for several years because friends had moved, I was between jobs, and I didn't have the time or money to play. I started playing again this March. I was lucky to join two other guys who straddled my ability. We all have the same low-key attitude toward the game.

This year I set myself to be better. I want to be a 20 handicap. I took lessons. I learned from the lessons. I looked at other equipment. I have made progress in the past five months. I have been playing better.

Then, for the past two weeks, I slipped back into over-30 mode. It's frustrating but that's the game. I have to give myself more time.

No play this weekend

I'm taking the weekend off. It is good to test yourself, but there are times when it is better to relax and let other things happen.

Ron was in a car accident Tuesday. One of my co-workers was in a car accident this morning. Random acts of violence or a coincidence? Andy didn't know about Ron; I called him yesterday afternoon.

With my project finishing, deadline approaching, missing friends, coming holidays, gift buying, and general malaise, I do not want to strain my tenuous grasp of how to play golf. Time to devote myself to clearing away a few of the trees in my forest.

I sometimes play mindlessly. I have to be more aware of what I want to do, and how to do it. Some courses punish you for just hitting the ball any way you can. I played one Saturday morning, and I am unhappy about my performance.

brisk days

The weather has turned cold. I'm comfortably numb on the ride in. We play golf tomorrow, in the morning. At least the usual three. The fourth changes like the weather.

Morning

We played on Saturday at the usual Bear Creek Golf World. The parking lot was packed because they were holding a large tournament on two of the three courses.