Let me interrupt this (somewhat painful) baseball season to give attention to another deceptively difficult sport. Golf.
Like baseball, golf seems to be a rather slow game. But also like baseball, golf requires bursts of athleticism, intense concentration and lots more thought than the casual fan realizes.
This week, I will be attending my first PGA tournament. Actually, it will be the first golf tournament of any kind that I’ve attended. Heck, I haven’t done more than mini-golf — ever. But I am really excited.
Unlike other sports, occaisionally the average industry pro gets a chance to go up against the big names. And this week, that average industry pro is family. And he gets to play against Kenny Perry, who had a green jacket in sight a couple months ago, Zach Johnson, Davis Love III and a couple other guys I’ve heard of. And quite a few more that I haven’t.
So I’m learning the importance of tee times, that you can watch golf “parade style” or “cross-country style,” and what makes a particular hole difficult. And I’m sure I’ll learn a lot more while I check the leaderboard, follow play-by-play coverage and check scorecards during the first round, and walk the course to follow my favorite golf pro during the second round.
And if he makes the cut, I may even turn on the Golf Channel this weekend.
