It’s all very disillusioning. Max takes Rob out the last 2 tournaments and he shoots low 40s. I return this week to the bag – 55. I would like to blame it on the rain …… but statistics really don’t lie.
Well maybe I can blame it a little on the rain – Rob’s game is absolutely not suited to flooded fairways. He still has a rather flat, baseball type swing which is not as glaringly ineffective in dry conditions as it is when a higher, choppier stroke is required to launch a ball high and swift from muddy mires.
I did what Max told me to do : remind him to drive with ball lined up with front foot (check, drives were pretty good); and remind him to tell me where he planned to hit it. Everything else I let him do his thing, which kept the peace for the most part.
Despite the rain Rob enjoyed himself out there and drained some rather impressive putts to rescue double bogey on a few occasions. Afterwards he hit the practice putting green with his playing partners and as all the pairings drifted in it turned into a major putting competition filled with laughter and fellowship of boys who only see each other at golf tournaments but share a familiarity that bonds participants of the more solitary sports.
A useful lesson to take away from the day is to curb our natural impulses to rush. You are almost assured of putting the ball in the water on an across water par 3 if you don’t wait for the group in front to finish the hole. Not sure why daddy caddy insisted his son take the shot. Slow it down. If you are not lagging 10 minutes behind the people in front of you, you are not going to be penalized. Keep calm and swing easy – you will be glad you did.
I also came away with 2 great examples of kids having the confidence to challenge a peer’s behavior. Walking between holes Rob and playing companion were discussing some top golfers. I confused Justin Day and Jason Rose and Rob made some disparaging comment about my lack of leaderboard insight. Rob’s playing partner reminded him: Always respect your mother. Love that !
As the boys finish their rounds they gather for putting competitions on the practice green and eagerly await the scores as they come in. One child rushes up to a recent finisher : What did you shoot?
43.
Beating his hands against his chest : 42, I beat you !
The Pastor’s son immediately jumped in and told him how uncool that behavior is and that we must show good manners. Love him !
Disillusion is born in dashed expectations. I suspect I expect way too much.