Get Out and Golf

No matter your age or state of life- you should be golfing. I’ve been golfing since about 5 years old (although you wouldn’t know it by my game). Golf is something I’ve been doing on and off but no matter what it’s always been there for me. My parents picked up golfing shortly after my family moved from Nebraska to Colorado when I was about three. Golf was something they could both do together and both learn together. My Dad recently told me the other day he had a standard agreement with a babysitter for awhile that every Saturday she would watch us (my younger sister and I) and my parents would go golfing. A concrete date planned every week. As a married woman now myself, I can’t imagine how beneficial that was for their relationship. My Mom and Dad knew no matter what they what was going on that they were going to get to spend time with one another each week.

None of our family lived in Colorado when we first moved here and still we don’t have extended family in Colorado. Through my parents golfing and joining a golf course they’ve met the most amazing families. These golf families are certainly now considered our family. There are so many of our golf friends I know that I could call in an instant and they’d be there for me as my family would for them. None of these friendships would have been formed if it hadn’t been for my parents picking up the game of golf. You should be golfing.

My Mom and Dad- no idea what year but they look young so probably a long time ago.

I sort of have a little bit of an opposite situation of your normal stereotypical golf couple relationship. As mentioned above, I grew up golfing and grew up around the game. My Mom started working at golf courses when I was in my early years of elementary school and I eventually followed in her footsteps in the golf industry once I was able to work. Golf has always been apart of my life, but it wasn’t always apart of my husband’s life. All my past boyfriends, brief flings, guy friends and most of my girlfriends played golf in some capacity. When I started dated my now husband he had only golfed a handful of times and here’s the dagger to the heart, he had no interest. Not sure how, but we eventually got married (not on a golf course- ha).

This story does have a happy ending though- in the last 6 months my husband has picked up golf. Brendan (the husband) has been taking weekly lessons, practicing a lot, and playing often. It’s been such a blast to do it together. He’s much better than I am. I’m hoping that we can keep at it together so that we can enter some couples’ tournaments next summer. I can imagine we will both be calm, collected and completely at ease competing on a team together ;).

“The more I work the luckier I seem to get.” -Gary Player

This quote has always been a favorite of mine. Obviously it covers much more than golf, but for the purpose of this blog post and wrapping it up it can relate to relationships. All relationships take work. Some much more than others, but they all take some output of energy and focus in order to foster and grow. If you’re not a golfer and married or dating or have a best friend who is a golfer- ask to go with them sometime. It’s much easier to say than it is to do, but put your fears aside and get out there for some fun. Swing a few times, hop in the cart, pick up the ball & try again on the next hole if you’re frustrated. My personal favorite past time on the course- track down the beer cart girl (don’t forget to heavily tip her by the way) and enjoy the outdoors with someone you love. Golf is something you can do until pretty much the day you die. It’s not too late to try it and it’s not too late to love it. Find the beauty in nurturing a relationship through golf.

Copyright of @LaurenLeahNel.