As I write this up, at the start of a new junior golf season, I’ve forgotten just how tiring these days can be. Or maybe its just me – both boys have been playing basketball outside for the past hour non-stop and Max is working on his own golf game at the range. Rob and I left home at 6:30 am to travel 1 1/2 hours north to a US Kids tournament and Max and Bear not much later to travel 1 1/2 hours south for Hurricanes. Divide and conquer. That’s how we roll. Some more effectively than others.
Rob has been playing consistently over the past month on our own home course with consistently good results in the upper 30s for 9 holes. We looked forward to the start of the season with cautious optimism.
The first hole went rough, tree, rough for a double. Hole 2 was better technically, hello fairway!, but the same score, deceptive green! He was not pleased. I was completely detached.
Hole 3 Par!
Hole 4 he ventured back into hazardous territory. Hole 5 Par!
I remain remarkably calm. So does he.
On a long par 5 he says: You have to be very strategic on this hole. I have seen Bear play this hole many times and I know what to do.
Unfortunately 2 shots out of the sand did not enter the equation.
He hit twice out of the sand on the next hole too. Soft, downy stuff which on a beach would be idyllic.
The first outing of the season, on a difficult course is in the books. He approached it with fortitude and character which bodes well going forward. My favorite part was standing beside the green on hole 9. He even let me put my arm around him.
I’m sleeping in tomorrow morning while Max rides south again in the dim light of dawn and walks and watches day 2 of Bear. He starts in the lead group. A good place to be as we charge confidently and serenely into a new year.