Getting ready to golf

Golfing with my Dad was something I knew I wanted to add to my Top 40 list, but my Dad really only golfs in Florida in the winter. In fact, he leaves his golf clubs down south so I worried it wasn’t even an option. Luckily, my mother mentioned in passing that my father had bought his neighbour’s old golf clubs and I knew it was going on the list.

We arrived at the golf club around 5 p.m. for the cheaper rates and they managed to squeeze us in, since I had neglected to book a tee time. I guess I should have known that golf courses in Canada are popular places.

We lined up at the first hole and started checking out our new clubs. Dad commented that his new club heads seemed smaller than his own clubs in Florida. I checked out my clubs for the first time – a hand-me-down set my Dad had gotten for me when an acquaintance had hung up her spikes. We had our excuses for bad golfing all lined up!

The two golfers at the first tee said that we were to combine for a foursome, but Dad said no. He told them this was a special father-daughter golf game and so we remained two twosomes. They didn’t mind and I was kinda proud. Plus the two young gentlemen looked like pretty good golfers and I hadn’t hit a ball for three years. I didn’t want to hold anyone back or worse, embarrass myself.

But when they teed off, one went left of the fairway, beyond the rough into the trees, and the other went into the trees on the right. Suddenly Dad and I didn’t need to be worried about our game!

We had a great game. My score was atrocious but I hit some balls long and straight. Dad was better, but he is retired and golfs all winter so he should be better.

The best part was how evenly we golfed. Our balls were regularly within 25 feet of each other. (Thank goodness for the red ‘ladies’ tees.) Dad made par on the 7th hole, launching a beautiful tee shot over the water and two-putting. I shot a bogie on that hole – my second of the game.

By the 8th hole my elbow was sore with every swing, and Dad reported a sore wrist. Standard injuries for occasional golfers like us, but they were worth it. We had a great time… a special golf game indeed.

The golf course is nestled among cornfields.