In all my years of hacking around golf courses, I’ve had “good” days and ones that weren’t up to my expectations. This was written after I played a golf tournament which benefited a local charity my partner and I supported annually. I hadn’t been playing for awhile, and didn’t have a handicap, so they put me in the “calloway” handicap system in which your handicap is determined by your play on the course that day.
I had one of the worst rounds of golf in quite awhile, and was thoroughly disgusted and demoralized by the day. As we gathered in the clubhouse for the 19th hole, and the scores were posted for the day, I was made aware of my “score” adjusted for my “handicap.”
I won the damn golf tournament–a trophy and along with a new set of golf clubs!
I was so embarrassed by this that I left the tournament early and deputized my partner to collect my winnings. I was too embarrassed to accept the clubs in person…but not too embarrassed to keep them!
The following is my ignominious paean to the day.
“Of all the rounds of golf I’ve played
Some for good, some for naught
It takes a day of total humiliation
To yield what?
A win of sorts
A material achievement, a prize, a trophy
But upon learning I might
I couldn’t stay
For hey, I didn’t earn it!
I struggled before, and nothing came
I destructed today, and heaven smiled
…and winked, I think.”
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