Well…there I was having arrived in Salt Lake City from Long Beach. Just last week I completed my final golf lesson in the package of lessons I purchased with birthday gift money. Yes…my birthday was back in February, I know. I had a total of six lessons, with the first being an hour long and the remainder just thirty minutes in duration. My instructor, Mardell Wilkins told me that I had “no chance” of playing well with my existing grip and swing. You see…I really stunk at golf. I was always shooting over 100 and many times over 110. After three years of trial and error, I was eager for some coaching. Mardell’s “no chance” was a truth I was already aquatinted with very well.
The lessons went well enough. I played a few more times and noticed my score shrinking. My best effort was a 96. Not bad. Not good. My final lesson with Mardell was a stinker. I had a long day of meetings and conflict management. By the time I showed up for the lesson, I looked like my old self. Even Mardell said, “Having a bad day?” What a terrible way to end my lessons…on a bad performance by me. So…back to Utah.
I arrived yesterday morning, ate a Moochie’s Cheesesteak, drove to Midway, took a nap and then inspiration struck. I took off for the nearby Soldier Hollow Silver Golf Course. Now I do not want to bore too many of you with a golf related story, but there is more than golf going on here. I played alone for the first nine holes. Just me and the ball. No one on the course. Just me. As my friend Mike Kravitz would often say, this is when you play your best golf. Indeed. I shot a 44 on the front nine. I had never shot any nine with the first number being a “4″and not a “fore”. After getting a quick drink I went out on the back nine to continue in what amounts to nothing short of the Bishop’s round of golf in Caddyshack. After hitting my first shot on the par five #10, I found myself waiting for a twosome in front of me. They waved me up and so I hit my second shot. In usual fashion my shot went left (the green was right). From there I was about 90 years away from the pin. Then Mardell spoke to me while I was holding my wedge, “Aim just behind the ball. If you don’t take a divot you did it wrong. Keep your left arm straight.” After processing all that, I just hit the ball with two Mormon onlookers, Frank and Wayne. The rest is of golf nirvana. The ball landed on the green short of the pin and just gently rolled into the hole. An eagle. I have never made a better first impression on people in my life than with that shot. I can count on one hand how many birdies I have made. An eagle. Just like that.
Things went well from there. I got a 42 on the back nine to make a total score of 86. My best game ever was 96. So…the secret to a great game of golf is:
1. Early AM Plane Flight
2. Cheesesteak Sandwich & Diet Dr. Pepper
3. Nap
4. Meet New Mormon Friends (They were both great guys!)
Or…perhaps just get some lessons. It was an exciting afternoon for me yesterday. I just had to share the story. Mardell…thanks! You too can experience the wonder of Zen Master and Plain-Spoken Mardell Wilkins…http://www.golflessonsorangecounty.com
Today we’ll try lunch in Park City and then golf. What is the worst that can happen?
