My father got interested in golf when I was in grade school and attempted to pass the love for the greens onto me. I never gained that love of the game as much as I did love for the quiet atmosphere of the big courses.
My talent in the real game was and is very limited, so I was introduced to mini putt-putts at an early age. I took to them right away, especially the ones on the family's yearly excursions to Niagara Falls (since Michigan didn't have many choices in mini-courses).
The enjoyment of those putt-putts never went away; I just haven't had time to putt that much. There are two courses within five miles of me, so I went to one this past week.
One thing for sure is that it's never fun going alone, probably because I'm used to someone being there with me. But what else takes out the fun is the actual construction of the holes: originality & fantasy are sorely lacking.
I remember those early years & smile. A wayward first putt - BONK - into the side of a windmill. A weak putt on the next hole - UGH - it didn't get up the slope and runs back past me. Getting that trick shot through the clown's mouth or between the elephant's hooves was funny no matter if I made it through or not. The obstacles only added to the game, and even for a semi-serious student like me, they presented a needed challenge. And finishing up the round on the 18th hole by shooting the ball through a Skee-Ball set of rings (free game) made me want another round without question. Shooting 70 in a round could still be considered under par.
The course I went to this week had none of it. Half the holes were straight shots; only a few had the slightest dog-leg curves. Obstacles? None. They put in heavier felt on some of the holes to simulate sand or rough, but in the most unreachable sections of the hole (read: only moronic putts will get you there). There's no challenge or anxious moments on those holes, which ends up explaining why every darn hole was a Par 2. You'll never end up getting below par unless you do hole-in-ones all the way. Plus, the actual course was stacked on four levels, so you had to walk stairs half the time.
It was just as I was leaving that I discovered there was another set of 18 holes on the opposite side of the property. I decided to glance at it because I was disappointed at throwing away $5 for a lack of challenge. Keeping the money was wise. Though the course was on one level, the holes were just as plain, save for one ramp - which could easily be bypassed and land you near the hole anyway.
I've spent part of the afternoon wondering if I think into this issue too much. Eh, I think not. Many youngsters out there don't care how they play or what they have to face. I was just one of the few that did, and the course quality & variety struck me back then.
There was simply no novelty in my visit last week - although that doesn't mean I'll be taking to the real links anytime soon. A man's gotta know his limitations.
