Another Golfer Down

Three years ago a a woman named Dixie approached a friend of mine on a golf course about a ladies' golf group she was organizing. When the information about the golf group was relayed to me I immediately contacted Dixie to join up. Sometimes, I find amusement in very random things.Initially, I found Dixie's name amusing. Although, the golf group is called In Love With the Game, I used to refer to it as the Dixie Cup and the Dixie Chicks. Dixie, who has become a close golf friend of mine is most likely cringing if she is reading this blog post. To this day, if we are out playing and she sees a woman on the course, she extends an invite to join our group.

ILWTG, is the ladies' golf group that I tee it up with most frequently.We play 18,9,wager on the course,take our golf seriously but, ourselves less seriously. Some of the ladies are high to mid handicap players and others are flat out exceptional golfers. What a collection of individuals too, our group is composed of consultants, scientists, financial executives and domestic goddesses, like myself presently.

Living in DC, it's a very transient town and I have had a number of friends come and go in the six years we have lived here. Two such friends moved away because they were married to members of the US Military and needed to relocate. My closest golf friend from ILWTG, My Thanh left in June for San Diego. She now calls Torrey Pines her home course. With the PGA Tour in San Diego this week, I am thinking about her a great deal. Our collective efforts in our Spring golf league rendered our team victorious three weeks in a row!

Once again, we are bidding another golf friend, MJ, aka "the Banker" adieu. We held a farewell dinner last night in her honor. Although, she is making an extraordinary career move that will put her closer to her family in Seoul, we, as a group will miss her collectively. Our wallets will not miss her, as she frequently wins our putting games that we build into our rounds. MJ has been known to jingle coins adjacent to green while you're attempting to read your putt. She is a gamer. Back in December, one round we broke up into teams to play better ball and we ended up on opposing teams. My friend Karen and I were up three on MJ and Dixie at one point during the match. The Banker holed out from the fairway, eagling was how she answered the pressure. We all were hunting for her ball and then we realized it was in the hole. Many laughs were had.

Golf should be about that, laughter and enjoyment tinged with competition. For most golfers the reverse is probably true, more emphasis is placed on competition, against themselves and other members of their foursome or country club. Whether it was back in the day at a track competition or recently on a soccer field, I love the thrill of victory as much as the next gal. I simply do not believe recreational golfers should allow themselves to be miserable on the golf course. Three to Five hours, depending on pace of play, out in nature playing a game, alongside friends should be a happy thing.

Sure, I've been known to drop a four letter bomb when I am frustrated with myself out there but, I have never been so miserable that have chucked a club. A majority of the time I am laughing at myself and my friends are laughing with me.

On one occasion last year, I had hit a long drive (for me) on a par 5 that starts out level but, finishes down hill. My ball was sitting in the second cut of rough.The group playing in front of us, all men, were painfully slow.(I point out their gender because as soon as some men see women on the course they assume ladies are going to play slow) In fact, we had called the marshall about this group earlier and they were warned to speed it up. They did not speed it up.

My anxiety was rising waiting to play my second shot, taking into account distance, the lie and realizing laying up was my best option. I grabbed my six iron out of my bag, with the intention of doing just so. I waited for "Too Slow Crew" to clear the green and went to address my ball. What I didn't realize is that TSC had decided to mull around conversing instead of moving onto next tee box. I hit my shot and it travelled an astronomical distance and bounced near one of their golf carts. My miss is left, the cart path was left, entirely not intentional but, riotously funny. Was I frustrated that I didn't hit that green in two? Yes, absolutely. But, what I will always remember about hitting that shot is my cart buddy laying on the ground writhing around laughing so hard she was crying.

Dixie with The Banker making the water sign, which also represents money as she informed me.

Karen and I at MJ's farewell dinner.