One Shot at 57

One Shot

The morning did not start out great. I woke with a head feeling heavy from sinus and post-New Years list-making. I was a little rattled about going because even at 57 these tournamnents make me nervous.

So I drive to the course, thinking about all I need to do and so I miss the exit and have to turn around to arrive with only a few minutes til tee-off.

I spend my seven minutes of warm-up chopping up more turf than a full round. And then to top it off, I meet my partner for the day. He is wearing a scarlet and gray pull-over with the Ohio State University logo on it.

This was not going to be my day.

He is from Columbus, Ohio State has just beaten the number one team in the country and he wants to talk about it.

But we got off the first tee and had a decent front nine. We struggled on the back and limped home. As we putted out I was telling the caddie to bring my clubs to the car.

But as the other teams finished it became clear that our score was good enough for second place and according to tournament rules the top two teams play for the prize money.

After the final group putted in we approach the first playoff hole, with an uneventful tie, no blood.

On the second the other team poked a nice shot on the green, just past the hole for a make-able putt. It was my turn. The distance was between clubs. but I grabbed the longer one, I didn’t want to swing too hard.

By now all the golfers from the various groups, including those from the practice tee and the dining area were watching. I knew I couldn’t stand nervously on the tee and breath and think and worry. I needed to just take my shot.

I took a chunky practice swing and pulled the trigger. It looked good in the air, but it was always gonna be about the distance. It hit the green short of the hole, one-hopped and IN!

I couldn’t see it, but the "roar" of the small crowd told me, there would be no need for my putter.

Hugs, excitement, high fives, smiles, back pats all around.

When I find out that a guy was filming I got very excited and had to watch. How lucky I was to have it. I sent it to my family group chat to the following responses:

Daughter One: Who is that?

Daughter two: I'm confused?

Son: It’s a good thing you got it on video because I wouldn’t have believed you. 

Wife: Are you almost done? Dinner resy is for 7:30.

So what does it all mean?

Not much. 

Maybe a little bit about showing up, even when you're not feeling your best. Do some things that make you uncomfortable like standing up in front of a bunch of people you don' t know and try to hit a ball straight, because sometimes it goes in. Don't be distracted by scarlet and gray when the sky is perfectly blue and the greens are, well, green. 

As kids, every day, there are is a chance to win on the sports fields, grades in school and constant measurements as we get taller or stronger. 

In middle age we are still chasing these rushes but they are harder to find. Work victories become less meaningful, a win on the pickle ball court gives you a lift or your fantasy football player scores a late touchdown. 

But there is something unique about golf where you can stand where the best golfers in the world could stand and you can hit the same shot just as well, or better. Same clubs, same ball, same distance.

I'm never gonna hit a home run off Shohei Ohtani, catch a pass from Jayden Daniels, score goal for the Red Wings, catch an alley-oop from Steph Curry.

But I can get a hole in one and no one can beat that score on that hole.

The "crowds" are smaller, the "roar" wouldn't wake a sleeping baby, but walking up the green to get my ball, I know who I am.

I'm Tiger Woods. 

Not to my wife, or my kids or the anonymous guys I'm high fiving, but for that moment and the drive home there is nothing better than the quiet satisfaction of getting this small job done.