rough draft

Amanda Chance

English 101

Rough Draft

Educational Narrative






Recalling my first golfing trip is quite difficult.  It was very sun filled day. Going into a golfing trip without much prior knowledge was the way I did things. So embarrassment escaped my emotions as I first stepped up to the driving range. I had begun this trip to impress a man; It wasn't just any man of infatuation, but my father. Being a busy man, it was decided our quality time was to be spent on the golf course. The course that day was a bit wet because of the sprinklers having just been on but with the sun I was already hot. The sun was bright and it was lucky I had brought my hat. I waited by the driving range for ten minutes before I decided to start without him. Buying a bucket of balls with no direction proved quite difficult. I put several quarters into the machine before a grounds keeper stopped me and sent me inside. It turns out the golf ball machine didn't take quarters but a special type of coin only the golf shop supplied. Then upon returning to the machine, to my surprise the golf balls flew every direction other than in my bucket! Again, the hat came in handy, but instead of blocking the sun, it blocked my flushed cheeks.

Five weeks earlier I had gone to my mother with a request. I think she expected anything other than what I was going to say, “Mother, may I have $200 for golf clubs?” Her hands were wet from washing dishes and she was only half listening. When the amount was heard, something in her head triggered ‘panic’ and I had her full attention. With a little convincing she agreed that it was time for me to get a job. With my first paycheck, I bought my desired clubs. They were pink and wonderful. I had to proclaim my effeminacy with everything that came within my sixteen year old ownership. Those clubs were a true treasure of mine, you never quite forget those first clubs. In my eyes, I hold them as dear to my heart as my first car.

With those clubs in tow I approached the driving range; I took my time putting on my pink golfing glove and pretended to stretch while I watched the others hit their golf balls. It didn’t look too difficult. With my stance in check I took my first swing, and had my first miss. It was no small miss, it was quite the charade of physical comedy as I almost went full round with my pretty pink club. To my surprise, no laughter escaped the men behind me. I continued to try and continued to watch the people around me. One hour later, I was hitting the ball. I knew how impressed my father would be. He would say “You are a natural” or “Wow that’s great” I went back to the club house to grab a soda and wait for him. It was through a phone call that I realized my first golf trip would be alone. My dad, having owning his own business, was required to stay at work and handle some sort of crisis. I continued on to learn to drive a golf cart, keep my own score, and lose about 20 golf balls, but I completed that trip with a smile and a sunburn. In the memory of my first golfing trip I don't think of only the disappointment of my father not showing up but of the whole experience of my first trip and how much fun I had.

Whenever I think of golfing, I think of my first set of clubs. I think of how I must have looked to all the others who were veterans of the course. In every aspect of my life I relate something I learned while golfing. Even in the long talks in the golf cart, or the adventure of driving a golf cart into a sand trap. The connection gained through different golfing trips will last me forever. Looking into the future I see many more golf trips and vacations. Golfing means family to many people I associate with, which includes of course my husband and son.

           For any person that is just starting out I would argue against going alone. It isn't a sport easily learned by an unaccompanied self-starter. While in my situation; observing and making giant embarassing mistakes was an alright method, as an adult I would never suggest that to anyone. If an interest in golf has you sporting clubs and ridiculous outfits, take a friend or do a lesson. Lessons are not that expensive, most of them are taught by old men that are absolutely in love with the game. They are paitent and kind and not at all grumpy. The reason I know is through knowing a few personally. Living in a country club area, I was lucky enough to see these instructors from my patio quite often directing young men and women in the ways of golf. If only I had gone about learning in a different way, it may not have been as big of a life lesson. I don't know many people that could say they learned a lot from doing something perfect the first time.

The biggest benefit of learning golf has been the attachment of my husband. He loves to play more than I do and is quite good. It has already been a bonding experience for our young son, whom we take with us whenever we go. In the real world, I have forever benefited from the patience learned on the golf course. Without the steadfast determination and the overall stubbornness a golfer must ensue, there would be no college for me. I would have given up on my dreams a long time ago. It seems so strange to attribute a life lesson from a hobby that was originally meant to impress my father. Now it impresses my son. Maybe one day that will be turned around and my son will use it to impress me!

While the experience of being left at the golf course has taught me what to expect of my father, this year I finally got to go golfing with him. After that first trip we kept making new plans to go golfing but it almost always ended up the same. Sometimes the excuse was different, things like he wasn't feeling well or he had some across some issue at work. Eight years has gone by since I went alone to the golf course with my pink set of clubs. It has not been what I would call a disappointment. The relationship with my father has always been strained, we have just had a hard time connecting. When I got married, he invited my husband and I to the golf course to get to get better aquainted with my husband. The first trip was fun. Turns out my dad is not a very good golfer. Since then we have gone a few more times. My father lives in Arizona and the weather is always nice when I visit. He even has a set he keeps extra for me and my husband to use when we come visit. For the rest of my life, I will always try to get the approval of my father. Even as an adult with a child and husband, I still strive to impress him. The easiest way is through my golf score, and while he has yet to admit he is proud of anything I have done, hearing him say, "Nice shot" is more than enough of an alternative for me.