Golf: A Double Edges Sword

Trip and I, Freshman year of high school at the Hillsboro Air Show.

Once a few years ago my best friend Tripper and I were going to the driving range to hit some golf balls into the field to work on our swings. Already an amazing golf prodigy, he was driving it up to 300 yards on certain hits against the wind. I myself usually shanked each and every one either right or left. This was extremely frustrating for me, and required lots of work to attempt to correct my swing. I am significantly better with my irons than I am with my drivers, which is why I use my 5 or 6 iron at the tee to drive the ball down the fairway instead of my driver. If I use my driver, I will probably lose my golf ball.  Anyways, we are at the golf range and we each only had about 5 balls in our bucket left. After having a small competition to see who could chip closest to the flag, I ran out of mine while Trip still had three left. I told him to grunt obnoxiously loud when he hit it, because this old man a few booths down kept looking over at him whenever he hit it. He obliged and relinquished a shrill battle cry when he smashed it 300 yards downrange, drawing questionable glares from the man down the way. With his last two balls, he did something I didn’t even expect. He just looked at me, smiled, took a few steps back, got a running start at the ball and yelled,

"HIIIIIII HOOOOOO SILLLLVVVVEEEERRRRR…………AAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWAAAAAAAYYYYY!!!!"

Right as he yelled "Away" he made contact with the ball and smashed it so hard out of there the guy was awestruck, dumbfounded even. Even I had to try hard to retain my laughter because it was so unexpected and so funny at the same time. I just acted like it was a normal day at the range.

Another experience that I remember vividly was when I was on the course at Green Mountain with Tripper, my friend Matt Hartley, and his brother. All three of them were employees there, so we got golf carts and got to play for free. It was amazing. The sun was out, and it was glorious outside. Don't get me wrong, I love golf. If I could be good at one professional sport, it would be Golf. (Not Soccer). Crazy huh? For someone as big a soccer fanatic as I am, I would rather be good at golf. Make money, walk on a BEAUTIFUL course all day, and see some great scenery. And, you get longevity, and get to play into your 70's and 80's. Well we were on the course and I was about to hit up range. They all had hit farther than I had, and Matt's brother had hit up and to my right about 60 yards. As he got to me in the golf cart, he asked if I should wait or if he should go to his ball way to my right. I said, "There is no way I can possibly hit you from here. Go for it" So he went and I swung really a lot harder than I should have. A laser beam of a shot resounded and skimmed about 10 feet off the ground headed straight for Matt's brother. He ducked into the protection of the golf cart and my seeking missile shot struck the cart's back. Trip and Matt just fell over laughing and I just stood there shaking my head. That was very unlucky but so memorable nonetheless.

I can't wait to try and hone my skills at the course further this summer, or at least pay a few visits to the driving range and try and work out my clubs some more. When I am older, Golf is definitely the sport that I am going to stick with. 

Also, driving home from our ward activity last night a song from my past came on. I couldn't help but sing along, high notes and all. Trip and I wold listen to this more than anything!