Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Getting into Practice

There are days when you are just meant to play golf - and this was one of them. I have rarely, if ever, had a game in February, but today's bright sunshine and clear blue sky meant that it was perfect weather to go for a five mile walk - and for it to be interrupted by a few golf shots. I won't pretend it was my best ever game, but it certainly made me think I ought to try to play more this year - especially as I need to up my level of exercise.

Linking back to the previous thread, I always view golf as a sporting equivalent of culture. There is a real art to it (which I have yet to fully master, it has to be admitted) and it lacks the vulgar philistinism of certain other sports - most of which I love too!

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

"it lacks the vulgar philistinism of certain other sports"

That may be, but the language I use whenever I hack my way round pitch and putt courses is usually pretty vulgar.

Anonymous said...

I once played golf for about ten years, and believe me its not easy.

I thought breaking 100 was a minor miracle and got pissed as a result. My best so far is 92.

My hat gos off to anyone who breaks 80 however much they play.

As for the pros. I have absolutely no idea how they consistently scratch the course.

The Gods must have had something to do with it. What other answer could there be?

Atlas Shrugged

strapworld said...

Iain, Look carefully at the picture. then draw an imaginary line along your back up to your head.

the line should be straight. your head needs to be slightly forward.

This will improve your shots believe me.

Briantheship said...

A grand game, beloved by gentlemen and London cabbies alike.

Tapestry said...

Shhh!

Keep it quiet Iain.

or maybe bad golfers will be sponsored next...

Anonymous said...

Golf is an exercise in Scottish pointlessness for people who are no longer able to throw telephone poles at each other. Florence King
I regard golf as an expensive way of playing marbles. G. K. Chesterson
If I had my way no man guilty of golf would be eligible to any office of trust under the United States. H. L. Mencken
In the wider world, a lack of golfing aptitude could, like the lack of an aptitude for shoplifting lunchmeat, be taken as a sign of good character. Philip Martin
It is impossible to imagine Goethe or Beethoven being good at billiards or golf. H. L. Mencken
Man blames fate for other accidents but feels personally responsible for a hole in one. Martha Beckman
Men who would face torture without a word become blasphemous at the short fourteenth. It is clear that the game of golf may well be included in that category of intolerable provocations which may legally excuse or mitigate behaviour not otherwise excusable. A. P. Herbert
The golf links lie so near the mill/That almost every day/The labouring children can look out/And watch the men at play. Sara Norcliffe Cleghorn

Anonymous said...

Boy you must be bad for it to be a 5 mile walk given the normal length of golf courses.

Your NW3 Councillors said...

yeah...golf
...
Just don't get it...

Roger Thornhill said...

Previous post: "What is one person's art is another person's philistinism."

This: "it lacks the vulgar philistinism of certain other sports"

Nuff said.

Scipio said...

Iain, imagine playing golf at the Lake Bled Country Park, on an 18 hole course designed by Harradine, with views over the Julian Alps. Then, after the round finishes, take a walk into town, and enjoy views over Lake Bled - with the castle on the hill and the church on the island - from one of the lakeside cafes!

When you do that, it doesn't matter how well the round went.

Pogo said...

Anonymous at 3:47 PM said... "...My best so far is 92. My hat gos off to anyone who breaks 80 however much they play.
Easy! My best so far is 71 - but I wasn't so good on the back nine. :-)

Anonymous said...

Adrian Yallard

Thats the spirit.

Goodish golf player are generally rather nasty competitive pieces of work that dont even notice the countryside they are so lucky to have surround them.

Thats my excuse for 92 and I am sticking to it.

Atlas shrugged

Anonymous said...

Your set up is a lot better than your handicap. I imagine it all goes wrong after that (or is the dodgy clothing to blame)?

Anonymous said...

Your extremely odd phrase "I always view golf as a sporting equivalent of culture" perhaps explains your attitude to funding for ‘culture’. You appear to have only a very limited grasp of the meaning of the word.