Welcome to my golf journey.
My golf journey began in 2019. It started while I was studying for a certification exam of an undisclosed nature after graduating from a post-graduate program. I was living at home and was searching for a reason to get out of the house and clear my head. I stumbled upon much more than that.
For my entire life before that point, people would ask me if I played golf and I would reply "I have clubs." That truly was the extent of it. I would play two or three times a year, usually with my dad or friends. The primary focus of the round would be to not embarrass myself or cause the group to get behind pace.
I mark 2019 as the beginning of my golf journey because it was the first time I actually gave it a chance. I think for most that golf is an acquired taste. Nobody has ever lost two dozen balls, hit shots all over the map, gotten rationally angry at their lack of ability, and then immediately signed up to do it again. This time, however, my purpose wasn't to play golf. It was to get my head out of the books, get some fresh air. Golf was merely a byproduct. No expectations. Nobody to disappoint. Nothing to be embarrassed by. If I was going to be out there, I might as well try to figure it out.
It was then that I decided to pursue golf. I wanted to know how to swing, how to play, how to act on the golf course. I wanted to know what to wear, what kind of ball to play, what courses I should visit.
What I found was a universe of information. I scoured the depth of YouTube to identify my swing flaw (I thought it might just be one) and watched relative nobodies (at the time) play each other in weekly matches. I read countless reviews for irons, woods, putters, wedges, and any golf course within driving distance. I found websites of brands I had never heard of that made bespoke products. I realized that there was not one way to swing, not one way to play, and not one way to act on the golf course. There was no one brand or style of clothes I had to wear. There was no one ball I had to use. And there were hundreds of accessible course across the country and they weren't all the same.
I realized I could tailor my golf experience to my own wants and desires. I was hooked forever.
This series is a look into my experiences. It is not about reaching a certain handicap or breaking a certain score, although that will be part of it. I will share my thoughts, feelings, trials, and tribulations. Maybe you are thinking of starting your own golf journey and this series will provide some insight. Maybe you are on your own journey and you enjoy commiserating with another hack. Or maybe you are just a fellow golf nut and want to consume anything and everything that has to do with golf. Either way, welcome.
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