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.