Fore! July’26 – The Ups and Downs of Golf

By: Greg Johnson, For The Mountain Times

Hello dear readers. Welcome to another addition of Fore, where we dish out all the local golf related gossip. I feel fortunate to be back for another shot at being your eyes and ears on the course, and your voice regarding golf related topics. Where shall I begin? There is so much to share and so many stories to be told. Let us start with something a bit less serious.

Golf.  Golf is dumb. Golf is a dumb game. What sort of “leisure” activity causes one to be sent into fits of ire, and diatribes of incomprehensible cursing? Why do we choose to torture ourselves in the name of fun? A buddy of mine often reminds me that he never gets angry while skiing.  So why do we keep coming back to play more golf? Whether it be slogging through the damp and cold of winter, or enduring the scorching heat of summer, we as golfers continue to venture out to the course with expectations of grandeur. You would think we would learn, but no, the insanity is all part of the experience. I believe that is why the Scots developed whiskey, to cope with the trauma caused by the game of golf. On some level, people who play amateur golf show masochist tendencies.  

To answer the question, why do we play? Because of hope. It’s the hope that today is the day it all comes together. Today is the day we figure it all out. There are times when you are out on the course telling yourself that you should have just stayed home today, but then you have that one shot. That one glorious swing which feels like an out-of-body experience and the results are spectacular. There is no other feeling like hitting the perfect shot. For that moment, you are on top of the world and you do not want that feeling to ever go away. The problem is, you still have to make another swing. But now you know it’s in you. You know you are capable of greatness. You are now forever chasing that dragon. On some wondrous days, that shot will reemerge, and with it another and another. It can be euphoric. You are king of the world!  But this is golf, and then the next day you play, poof!  It’s gone. Where did it go?  It’s one of the great mysteries of this universe. What a dumb game.  

Speaking of euphoric moments, we have had our first official hole in one of the season.  Congrats to Cliff Fortune, who aced Foxglove number six in late May. We also had a very successful Memorial Day outing, with two days of golf, great weather, and good times. Top honors for day one was taken by the team of Micheal Nomura, Kurt “Rusty” Barthel, Michel Elliot, and Steve Surby. The day two scramble champs were the team of Darcy & Karen Lais and Cathie & Mike Anderson. The grand finale of the horserace came down to an epic showdown where Greg Johnson & Cathy Gulledge survived the efforts of Don Erickson & Lynann Solberg.  Our next major event will be held in early July, and I anticipate plenty of action and a plethora of good times.  

It seems I have already hit my word limit. That sneaks up quickly. Once again, I will have to postpone dishing out all the juicy dirt. Until next time, keep your head down and your balls straight.