... begins with the statement, "A lot has happened this week." Mostly because a lot has happened this week. I was invited to a Giant's/Dodger game at AT&T, on October first, by my eldest child. No grandbabies, no members of her "entourage," just Tyff and me. I like it. I am really looking forward to going. I got to play my standard two rounds of golf this week with Mr. Bill. This week we moved forward a set of tees, and played from the Gold Markers. We're back to the White markers next week, and probably won't have the lower scores (92 and 93) that we had this week. We'll be fighting to "make the cut," as Mr. Bill calls breaking 100, at 64, having had a stroke, and losing half a lung to cancer, breaking 100 from the former "Intermediate" tees is a real battle.
I used to be able to hit drives of 275 yards, prior to the lung surgery, but since then, I'm lucky to get 200 yards from my driver. It was the stroke, however, that has created all of my problems. I mean, I was a pretty fair golfer. I didn't break 80 very often, but I was always around 80 to 85 strokes per round. I was, when I decided that I no longer wanted to pay $80 a year to have someone figure my handicap, somewhere between 10 - 14 handicap (back before SLOPE). I just couldn't break 80 often enough to bring it down to a 9 (for those of you who don't play, a single digit handicap is like being in the top 20% of golfers world-wide). I was pretty good, rarely gambled, and just enjoyed being out in the sunlight.
The stroke, in 2002, put an end to that. Since then, I have had to learn to play again, from pretty much scratch. I guess, all things considered, I'm not doing too bad. It's finding out how far I can depend on each club. I said I'm lucky to get 200 yards from a driver, 175 from my 3-metal, and 150 (or so) from my 5-metal. My hybrids cover the 175 - 145 yard range, but it's getting the range of my irons down that seems to be killing me. Wedge play is pretty awesome, get me to the 100 yard marker, and I can get the ball close. I'm learning a lot about clearing my mind before I start my swing, I'm relaxing a little, and hitting pretty cleanly, most often, but I still have a tendency to look up just before impact. I'm doing it a lot less, but I can still do it if I don't control my breathing, and clear my mind before. I'm trying to focus on a spot (blade of grass, piece of sand/dirt) immediately behind the ball, and maintain that focus until the club comes through. That focus keeps me from bobbing up and down (like Tiger Woods is doing so often), and usually results in a square contact, and good shots. I am also working on attitude...
There isn't a golfer on any course, any where, that doesn't secretly harbor a dream of becoming the next great pro golfer. When I retired from the Navy, I was 40. I'd tell everyone that it gave me 10 years to get ready for the Senior Tour (now Champions Tour). Guess what? I didn't make it. Sometimes your dreams are overcome by other dreams that are actually in your ability make happen. Golf gave way to studies, as I pursued a degree and a teaching credential. We didn't have a lot of money, I didn't have a lot of time, and I didn't play much from 1992 to 1999. By the time I became eligible to play, I was way out of practice, but starting to get better from playing more often. I became somewhat of a jerk, when I couldn't hit a ball exactly where I was aiming, or when I'd miss a 25-foot putt, or some other such nonsense. Then the stroke.
In the aftermath, I had a lot of rehab, but the game was gone. In the 13 years since, my age and health have had a play in my deteriorating golf game, but there's one MAJOR consolation... at least I still get to play. There was a time, fairly recently, when I thought about giving the game up. It has fortunately passed, as I have found that I may not be hitting the ball as far, but I'm not getting in as much trouble, either. Besides, who doesn't like a day out in the open?
Made a follow-up call on my referral for my hip, checking to see if the request for and additional procedure had been sent. That was done, and re-done, as the insurer claimed he didn't receive the first one.
I also managed to get an appointment with my Primary Care Manager (PCM), Dr. Vogel, to talk about my blood pressure, etc.
It's been a busy week.
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