In 2007, my good friend Joi Ramirez gave me a tiny book about golf authored by Mitchell Uscher. The Introduction goes like this:
How do you know you're addicted to golf? When you've named all your golf clubs but aren't sure what to call your kids. Your tee time is at dawn and you ask, "Why so late?" A hole in one gets you more excited than sex.
That last sentence ought to catch your attention. :-)
Okay, you're addicted. So what are you going to do about it? (And, yes, you have to do something.)
According to the author, there are 18 steps and they are:
1. Admit you are powerless to pass by a fairway, a putting green, or even a random little hole in the ground.
2. Remember that you have a spouse.
3. Remember that you have children.
4. Know that there are other things in life besides golf.
5. Be aware that there are other reasons to go outside.
6. Realize that your lawn is not a fairway.
7. Expand your social life.
8. Your Higher Power is not your spiritual caddy.
9. Fashion means more than matching your golf socks to your golf shirt.
10. Your actions really do speak louder than your words.
11. Acknoweldge that there are also achievements off the golf course.
12. "Getting into the swing of things" doesn't have to include a golf club.
13. Be honest with yourself and others.
14. Appreciate the beauty of nature around you.
15. Take time to listen to the birdies.
16. Learn to wear an apron as well as play on it.
17. Look for the "sweet spot" in life as well as golf.
18. As in golf, enjoying life is all about how you "approach" it.
These 18 steps may sound formal and serious but the explanation on each is witty and oftentimes funny.
Stay tuned for the explanation of each step. I may even have an anecdote or two on each step. :-)
I should tell you that I have played in 33 courses over the last 3 years since I started playing serious golf (yet, I don’t understand how my handicap remains at 34.2...oh well. 34 if the list includes my home course.)
I first started playing golf at the tender age of 13. But my love affair with golf was abruptly stopped because of an accident that happened in the Villamor Driving Range in 1983. My childhood friends Grace Estuesta (who was a xxx champion and now a writer/contributor of Inquirer Golf magazine and GM of Sta. Elena Golf and Country Club) and her brother Richard were witness to this. A pro was teaching us the basics of hitting balls using iron clubs and I was happily hitting balls in my assigned bay being served by a young tee girl. Let me tell you that during those days, tee girls (or boys) would use the dirt to form a tee and that’s where they place the ball for me to hit. While my tee girl was doing this, I swung the 7 iron high in the air but instead of hitting the ball, I hit her hand. Ouch. Actually, make that a double ouch. Imagine the pain?
I first started playing golf at the tender age of 13. But my love affair with golf was abruptly stopped because of an accident that happened in the Villamor Driving Range in 1983. My childhood friends Grace Estuesta (who was a xxx champion and now a writer/contributor of Inquirer Golf magazine and GM of Sta. Elena Golf and Country Club) and her brother Richard were witness to this. A pro was teaching us the basics of hitting balls using iron clubs and I was happily hitting balls in my assigned bay being served by a young tee girl. Let me tell you that during those days, tee girls (or boys) would use the dirt to form a tee and that’s where they place the ball for me to hit. While my tee girl was doing this, I swung the 7 iron high in the air but instead of hitting the ball, I hit her hand. Ouch. Actually, make that a double ouch. Imagine the pain?
For a thirteen year old, that was, well, very traumatic. So I quit. I did not go back to playing golf nor did I ever step foot on Villamor until 1994.
For years, everytime I would see Richard, he would always tell me that the tee girl lost her hand. And that I was wanted by the tee girl’s family. Scary.
Only after 11 years, did I start playing again. By this time, I was already working and was convinced that golf will be helpful in my career in AT&T because I was in sales and was always dealing with decision-makers who played golf. I had to get a pro to learn the sport properly. So I went to Fort Bonifacio Driving Range (which is now non-existent and has been replaced by the new road and Essensa in The Fort Global City) and hired golf pro Flor who was then 70 years old and had a strange American English accent. But he was in great shape and I’ve never seen anyone hit the ball that easily. Plus, I suppose, I was enamoured by his accent. I told him about the 1983 accident. And Flor was kind enough to ask around about the story of tee girl who lost her hand because of me and he said that there wasn’t any story like that which anyone remembers. So he said, “now you have no reason not to play good golf”. And so my love affair with golf began. Again.
Until I got pregnant that same year.
For years, everytime I would see Richard, he would always tell me that the tee girl lost her hand. And that I was wanted by the tee girl’s family. Scary.
Only after 11 years, did I start playing again. By this time, I was already working and was convinced that golf will be helpful in my career in AT&T because I was in sales and was always dealing with decision-makers who played golf. I had to get a pro to learn the sport properly. So I went to Fort Bonifacio Driving Range (which is now non-existent and has been replaced by the new road and Essensa in The Fort Global City) and hired golf pro Flor who was then 70 years old and had a strange American English accent. But he was in great shape and I’ve never seen anyone hit the ball that easily. Plus, I suppose, I was enamoured by his accent. I told him about the 1983 accident. And Flor was kind enough to ask around about the story of tee girl who lost her hand because of me and he said that there wasn’t any story like that which anyone remembers. So he said, “now you have no reason not to play good golf”. And so my love affair with golf began. Again.
Until I got pregnant that same year.
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November 15, 2009, Sunday The Rac/Antonette Project
Ayala Greenfield Golf and Country Club
Inspired by the movie Julia & Julie (starring Meryll Streep and Amy Adams) and seeing that my handicap has not improved, my friend and golf buddy, Antonette, decided to embark on this project: play in 50 golf courses in the Philippines in 52 weeks or one year. According to the Golf Guide Philippines 2009, there are over 100 golf courses in the country. I suppose 50 is a good number because that would mean playing every week for one whole year. This should definitely help improve my handicap. I hope.
My golff buddy and good friend, Antonette, is featured in this photo.
This project would also mean that I have to get my hubby’s support (note that he does not play golf) because this would entail time away from family and would cost a lot of money. Playing golf takes about 5 hours plus travel time depending on how far the golf course is from my home. And lunch...poker...drinking...which can happen (we’ve done this once and you can imagine the explaining that I had to do to my kids and Honeybun). Anyway, I played this morning and told Antonette about this project. And that I would need her to be with me so she can take photos and videos and provide some insights. Somehow. While I do the blogging. And she gladly accepted. Told my caddie, Malou, too. So, for 2010, here’s the challenge: 50 courses in 52 weeks. And showcase the beautiful Philippines and its 100-some golf courses.
Anyone out there who cares to join us? Let us know. Target tee off is at 6am, 50 times in 52 weeks in 2010.
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