Eagle, Birdie… Bogey! Oh My!!

Story by Judy Fleagle - Photos by Alicia Spooner

A few weeks ago, I watched Tiger Woods take a practice swing before a shot and Phil Mickelson chip from the rough onto the green. And today, I was doing the same …well, sort of, anyway. They were competing in a major tournament watched by millions on TV, and I was taking my first golf lesson under the watchful eye of a patient pro. The similarities were only in my mind.

While I enjoy watching golf on TV and have friends who play, I’ve never played. But I’ve often wondered what attracts people to hitting a little dimpled ball out of sight and then after finding it, hitting it away again and again while chasing it all over the course. So I decided to find out what it is that makes this game so addictive.

I made an appointment at Ocean Dunes Golf Links in Florence, Oregon. Not having any cool golf togs, I didn’t know what to wear. So I settled on a loose and comfortable outfit and followed course manager Randy Curtola’s advice to wear athletic shoes. I brought my gym workout gloves, which made me feel more like a golfer. But I accidentally left them in the car.

Vic Martin, the golf pro who must have drawn the short straw, said I wouldn’t need them. I picked up the club and was surprised at how heavy it was. Martin explained that although the shaft is lightweight, the head is solid steel. Perhaps that’s why it’s called “an iron?” I’m starting to get the hang of this lingo.

Martin, a lifetime member of the PGA, has been playing golf since he was four. His excuse is that he grew up in Palm Springs where his dad was a golf pro. Martin was very patient as he stressed the importance of the correct grip, good posture, and proper ball position.

We worked on grip. He said I was a natural with my left hand; however, he didn’t say that about my right hand. My posture got better when I actually did what he said: Center the club to your body, then rotate the body and the club will follow. He tried to keep it simple, and I kept complicating it. My mind kept telling me to check the grip, center the club, rotate the body, don’t curve the back, don’t watch the club, and so on. After several practice swings, I finally got the hang of it.

Then he added the ball. It was like everything I’d just learned flew away on the breeze. I missed the ball completely. I hit it sideways. I tried to scalp it. Then I paused, checked my grip, adjusted my posture, centered the ball, and tried again. I heard a resounding CLICK and the ball lofted up, up, and away. Darn near hit the clubhouse. He gave me a high five, and I began to feel like this game really did have possibilities.

We moved onto chipping with a different “iron” and, at first, I had too much power. “Gently,” said Martin. “Just scoop it.” After several not-so-goods, I got a decent chip from the rough onto the green. Again there was a high five and that feeling. Hmmm! This could be fun.

We didn’t make it to the putter today, but this was only lesson one.

I learned a lot and have much more respect for those who play the game well. Next time I watch tournament play on TV, I’ll check Tiger’s posture and follow-through and see how Phil changes his grip when he chips. Look out guys! I’m ready for lesson two.

Northwest Travel July/August 2007