Anyone for Golf?

I am hopeless with routine. Practice makes perfect, so I know that I could never excel in any activity which requires concerted efforts of practice. Like, for instance, playing the piano properly.

Or like golf.

Way back in time, around 1984-ish, I was introduced to the game of golf by an acquaintance during a lunch hour lapse of concentration. He convinced me to try a round of the game that Wednesday afternoon at a course in Bellville. Whilst it may have been done with good intentions, he also managed to get the afternoon off work and a bit of practice in.

I hacked and drove, smashed and missed. All afternoon the frustration welled up to the point where I swore I’d never waste my time with that elusive little white ball or that far-away hole in the grass.

A few years later, armed with a second-hand set of bent clubs, I joined a neighbour on a course just outside Malmesbury. The “set” really consisted of a heavy wooden driver thingy to bash the ball as far as possible everywhere, and a large flat putter to shepherd the ball into the holes. The “course” was more of an obstacle course, with plenty of bush and long grass – ideal for losing and finding golf balls. After the round, beer at the clubhouse was a far better alternative.

That is my track record as far as golf is concerned.

Now for a new chapter.  Golf Croquet.

(Above): The five courts at the Waikanae Croquet Club, numbers one to four furthest from the clubhouse and number five on the right.

Jeanette and I have been to a Tuesday morning practice session of golf croquet, which is a laid-back less formal form of Association Croquet. I understand that one of the big differences between the golf version and the proper big guys stuff is that each player has a single shot in turn, whilst players of AC may have a number of shots in sequence at a turn depending on the type of shot they achieve. But, I guess, time will tell.

Next week Thursday, we are off to Plimmerton, halfway down State Highway One on the way to Wellington city for a half-day course on the rules, techniques and tactics of the game. By then we should also know whether our membership application has been approved. Playing for us old fogeys is set for Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings 9:30 to before lunch.

The nature of the game and the rule of not running on and off the court every few minutes (to go get your camera, as an example) makes it difficult to take too many photos of your own game. I will try to take some photos of other games in progress next time.