That guy from Pensacola, FL

Well I'll start off by saying I'll probably make a few cringe.

I played very little golf during high school, only because I fished the course ponds and thought it was fun to hit a wedge over water. That was the most extensive golf I had played. I grew up in Pensacola, Fl, I preferred Surfing and Skateboarding over everything. Many years later at the ripe age of 28, my wife and kids took a little family vacation to stay with my sister in-law at the Orange Lake Resort. Well, we decided that the females could have a day and we would go drink some beers and attempt to hit some balls. The first few swings with a driver were and absolute s*** show. There was one shot that I had set up where I pulled a pitching wedge out, having a nice piece of water between me and the green, this took me back to 2006 in high school. I took that swing. That feeling you get while getting barreled or coming off a big cutback with a little slide in the pocket is exactly what I felt while watching that ball act like a dart as it landed roughly 10ft away from the hole. That’s where I decided, I gotta buy a set of clubs.

Being some what discouraged by pricing, all the swing gizmos, coaches, the richy richy or elitist vibe. I’m not that guy who dresses up like I live in a frat house.  But looking past the outsider’s view that I had at first, I called a buddy who played good golf and had some extra clubs. I bought a full bag lacking only a 7 iron ( I still need a damn 7 iron). This bad consisted of a TaylorMade RBZ driver, Big Bertha Steelhead #7 hybrid, tour model Titlist blades, a Mizuno PW and SW and a Ping Sedona 2 putter. I didn’t grasp that others look at your clubs until my first round by myself, a local coach was also playing, small talk began, he looked at my bag and asked if I knew what I had gotten into, I didn’t grasp what he was looking at (the blades) or how that question popped up, I just stated “ I hit a few balls in high school”. I still get a kick out of that to this day. The guy probably thought I was out of my mind.

A friend at work, long story short handed me a TaylorMade gift card for $500. At this time I had read all these reviews and tips and figured I would just get some mid handicapper irons and got a set of the M2’s. I got the basics down with my swing but noticed I wasn’t getting range but played the clubs for about 5-8 rounds, I picked the blades back up in the back yard and just started swinging focusing on my footing, slowing down using a rhythm, and overall just taking my time and focusing on the contact. I noticed I was in my own opinion “crushing” the golf ball. I was some what confused as I was lead to believe you need to get forgiving gear as a beginner. I since then have upgraded the driver to the M2 9.5 , R15 3W, I still love the #7 Callaway hybrid, the good ol Titlist blades, I kept the PW and AW M2’s, a SM7 Vokey 58 and my white hot putter (due to change again). So far my accuracy has improved, although I haven’t yet, I plan on eventually getting fitted when I go to upgrade the irons, and possibly a new shaft for the driver.

Three years later, I still haven’t kept a score, although I have shot a few round that were great, I just haven’t felt the need of keeping a score and branding myself with a handicap, I just shoot for par on each hole, if it doesn’t happen then it doesn’t happen I suppose. I never fully grasp why having that number over your head was important unless your competing any ways. But listening to Golfer’s Journal podcast, and the Instagram’s of Link Soul, Muni Kids and a few other really opened up a different world of golf I had no idea about. It’s comforting to know there are guys out there that love this game, the architecture, and the “surf and turf” vibe while wearing t-shirts (depending on the course), board shorts and stepping up to the tee box in vans or barefooted! Maybe one day I will start keeping a score card for craps an giggles, After coming close to a hole in one on a short par three, I’d hate to not have a score card and have to explain the only score I kept was that hole.

That’s all, a little introduction to how I have picked up golf nearly 4 years ago, I haven’t looked back. 

Thanks for reading!