We went out with another couple to play 18 holes. I made it through 11, and then I gave myself a promotion.
I went from golfer to cheerleader. And I didn’t even have to get out of the cart.
By the end of the 11th hole, I was tired. I could’ve pulled another club and tried to get through the next seven. But I was ready to put the clubs away, and I still wanted to spend the rest of the afternoon with everyone.
So they kept playing, and I rode along and cheered them on.
The back nine from the passenger seat
As a beginner, I spend a surprising amount of a round thinking. Which club? Am I standing too close to the ball? And, of course, will I even hit it?
From the cart, I finally got a break from all that chatter in my head. I could watch everybody else play and enjoy being out there with friends. I’d already had 11 holes of golf. I got seven more holes of company.
There’s a funny little pressure that comes with saying, “We’re playing 18.” Somewhere along the way, it can start to sound like a promise you made. But it was just the plan we had when we got to the course. Eleven holes in, I had a better idea of what I had left in me.
Would I do it again?
Absolutely. Some days I’ll play all 18. Some days nine will sound just right. And apparently, some days my number is 11.
I went home with a golf story and a smile, which is a pretty good way to end any round.
Have you ever switched to cheerleader partway through a round? Or are you the one saying “I’ve got one more hole in me” with three to go?
Beth 💚
Fairways, Flowers & Flights