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closein the redzone: Golfing is quickly becoming my favorite summer activity
Shaun Scott
If you would have told me two months ago that golf would eventually become my second favorite sport (football is my all-time favorite), I would have told you the possibility was not only unfathomable but unimaginable in my mind. Growing up I was only interested in contact sports which consisted primarily of football, wrestling, basketball and soccer.
During my childhood, golf and bowling were the only sports I have ever quit. When I was in the fourth grade in the spring of 1992, my father was a golfing enthusiast and took it upon himself to buy me a set of clubs with my name on the bag. After going through a few weeks of lessons and a few rounds on the course with my dad, I realized that golf wasn’t the sport for me. I told him I didn’t want to play this game again. I could tell by my dad’s face that he was disappointed that I didn’t want to continue playing one of his favorite sports.
Sixteen years later, my tune has changed quite dramatically.
After golfing for the first time on June 23, I’ve hit the course five more times in the past 31 days with friends Nolan Soete, Robert Masaniai and Roni Pewo at courses in Parkland and Port Orchard on different occasions.
I wish my father, Robert “Scotty” Scott, who passed away in July of 2004, could be here to see it. He would be surprised by my change of heart regarding the sport. I think it’s safe to say I’m addicted now.
Three weeks ago in my weekly column, I described my first experience on the links being quite enjoyable. Little did I know it would be consuming as much of my life as it is right now. Typically, I get Sundays and Mondays off from my work week. During those days off I try to hit the course at least one of those days.
Thus far, every time I’ve golfed I’ve used rental clubs, but that won’t be the case for long.
Unlike football and basketball, golf is a sport I can partake in well into my 60s or 70s. That’s probably the most unique aspect and selling point of golf. Anyone can do it. It doesn’t matter if you’re 6 feet tall, 5 feet tall, a man, a woman, overweight, underweight or a child. It’s a universal sport that everyone can enjoy.
In the next few weeks I’m planning on purchasing a set of golf clubs for the first time in my life. I’ve heard from various sources that if new clubs are properly taken care of they can last up to seven years.
My goal is to have purchased clubs by the end of July, which leaves me just seven days.
It may cost me a hefty chunk of change, but I have no doubt that it will be worth every penny. I mean why wouldn’t it be, considering I will still be participating in this sport for the next 40 or 50 years.