Opposites in Golf

When it comes to golf, I love a good laugh.  Because if I didn’t laugh, I wouldn’t be golfing at all. It may be the greatest game in the world, but it’s also the most infuriating.  For every good shot, there are 5 “opposites” just waiting to steal all my glory.  

Those opposites all come with quirky names like chili dip, wiff, worm burner, duck hook, banana ball, shrimp, duff and the ever favourite…sh__k (I can’t even bring myself to write it, let alone say it).

So when I saw that the renowned golf poet, Leon White, had written another book called “Opposites in GOLF” I had to read it because I knew it would make me laugh.  I wasn’t disappointed.

I first learned about Leon back in 2011 when I read Golf Course of Rhymes.  Robert Trent Jones Jr. said in his forward in the book that it “is the best round of golf you will ever play without swinging a club.”  I couldn’t agree more and highly recommend you get yourself a copy.

But back to his latest collection of treasures…

I finished the book in one sitting and made sure to read every poem out loud (It’s the only way to truly experience the magic of his words and phrases.).  So many of them spoke to me personally because they evoked memories I either wanted to relive or bury forever. 😉

But one in particular really had me nailed.  I was going through a tough time with what I have come to call my “super power fade”.  It had turned into a debilitating disease that seemed to have no cure.  Thank goodness I am a tenacious tigress (or stubborn “B” if that works for you :)) and didn’t give up.  It took me about 2 months until I finally overcame the dreaded duffs so that I didn’t fear their return every time I stepped up to the ball.

That was a few years ago, but when I read The Opposite of A Hole-In-One, it all came back to me and I felt the unpleasant chill Leon wrote about.  Read it for yourself (out loud) and let me know what you think…

 

Forgive me, Leon, but I decided I had to write my  personal sequel to your poem to remind me that a hole-in-one just might be in my future.

I’ve felt the pain that came with shame,
But have no notion of “intense emotion”
I hope it comes on a par 3 shot
A contest hole where I win the pot!  

Okay, okay…I’ll stick with my day job 😆  But seriously, check out Leon’s new collection of golf poetry.  I bet you’ll find you have as much fun reading it as he did writing it.

Golfgal