Last fall my family gave me a shiny new set of ladies left-handed golf clubs for my birthday. It was a subtle hint that they wanted me to join them in the game. I was flattered but also a little hesitant. I had only played golf a couple of times in high school and the experience was frustrating. My last memory of golf was me in tears on the driving range. The new clubs sat in our storage room all winter and spring. I wondered whether I should give golf another try or not. Would I have the patience for the game? Finally, this summer, I decided to give it a chance. It would be a nice way to spend time with my family and my son is crazy about the game. Most importantly, even if I didn’t play well I would look good with my “Golf Girl” pink clubs (yes, they really say “Golf Girl” and the heads are pink).

I’ve now been practicing about a month and true to its reputation, golf is a tough sport. I’m still learning how to swing the club and make solid contact with the ball. I often top the ball, which is common for beginners, I’ve been told. My swing speed is slow and needs to improve. So far, I can only hit the ball between 50 and 100 feet, so when I try playing it takes me a lot of shots to make it to the green. Luckily the course we play has “Family Tees,” which are about 100 yards out from the green, making the game tolerable for me. This time around I haven’t gotten too frustrated. I know the game is hard and my expectations are low. I’m surprised when I hit a good shot.

Since I started practicing our family has joined a golf club close to our house. Now there’s even less excuses to play golf. I’ve played the course a few times (from the Family Tees) and walked along with my son several times. One day we did 36 holes and my son would have gone for more. The course, Mira Vista in El Cerrito, is a beautiful spot with views of the bay from almost every hole. The pros are friendly and welcoming. Tomorrow I have my second lesson. I just may become a real golfer.

My son writes:

Coming from someone that has seen every one of Allison’s swings this summer, there’s potential, but more importantly, it’s obvious that she likes the game. As she comes along, I help her as much as I can. It has been a fun summer so far, and golf has definitely been a great way to connect with my mom. As she says in her portion of the article, I love the game. I play almost every day, and if not playing it’s practicing. And as my mom enjoys coming along with me, she plays a lot too. She is coming along.