Hope Joy Golf
  • Welcome Home!
  • Cathy's Blog
    • Tees2Greens Archive Posts >
      • Masters 2020
      • Ryder Cup 2016 Blogs
  • Shop Golf
    • Holiday Gift Ideas for Golfers
    • Product Reviews
    • It's a Deal!! Great Golf Sales

It's all about choices... 

1/2/2016

0 Comments

 
Posted Jul 02 2009, 12:16 PM by Cathy Erickson
If you haven't read Sam Johnson's post this week about summer golf, you really should.  It's a good read and I hope it makes you laugh a few times.  As he has been slow roasting himself in triple digit temperatures, those of us closer to the Canadian border (eh!) have been on a weather roller coaster - just the other day I had a turtleneck on and it's summer!!
While I appreciated Sam's humor, his last sentence really made me think - and it reminded me that I sometimes roll the following question through my head - "If I love golf so much, what in the world am I doing in Minnesota?"
 
I think that's a question that goes through the minds of many Minnesotans, because you know, Minneapolis, Minnesota has the largest number of golfers per capita than any other city in the United States!!
 
But then I start remembering favorite golf memories that include family, friends, and sometimes strangers, and I can't think of any place I'd rather be.
 
I'm from a golfing family, and I'm smiling right now thinking of countless memories of times on the course with my Mom, Dad, and brother.  My Mom was the one who taught me how to play so even though I'm a lefty in several things, I'm a right-handed golfer because my Mom had right-handed clubs.  When we were young she would give my brother and I 1 club and a ball and we could hit it up to the green.  We weren't allowed to hold anyone up, so it was a race on every hole (I think that's why I can't stand slow play!).
 
I got my first set of Nancy Lopez clubs when I was in junior high, and I remember golfing regularly with my mom and her friends.  There weren't a lot of girls my age that golfed, so my Mom and I spent a lot of time on the course...what great memories.
 
My Dad always encouraged me and one of his favorite words is "tempo" - I try to remember that when my swing disappears.  My brother and I played some when we were younger, but I realize now, not enough.  A memory that is hitting me right now is when I was in high school my brother and a friend came to watch me in a high school playoff meet - we didn't get many spectators, so when I realized who it was, and that they were there to cheer for me, I was so excited! (thanks, JP!)
 
Working summers through college didn't leave me a lot of time to golf, but after I graduated (and had second thoughts on my career choice) I got the opportunity manage our local clubhouse for 4 seasons.  It was an experience that impacted me more than just about anything in life (what memories!!).
 
My Mom was my partner and my Dad was the best grocery getter ever (brother JP was a guest cook when he was home)!  We spent just about every day at the golf course and it became like a second home (and an extended family!).  There were long days and hectic times, but I loved it there.  I made friends that mean more to me than they will probably ever know, and it taught me that people, not things, are what really matter in life. My golf game was at its worst then because I never got to play, but I was able to live vicariously through every player that checked in.  I love it when we reminisce about those days.
 
The reality of that golf life was that I couldn't make a living doing it, so it was time to find something new.  But being away from the grind made it possible to actually golf more!  It took a few years to find my game, but when I did I was able to reclaim that joy I found every time I took a swing...and it became a haven as I found my way to a challenging, stressful, but rewarding job outside the golf world.
 
It's like golf is a hub that connects things for me.  Sometimes it's my alone time, to practice or just escape life.  I appreciate it when golf reminds me that there is beauty all around us. Or when it teaches us that life doesn't always give us what we want, but when we least expect it might give us a gift we don't deserve.
 
Golf is a great social connection, too, either in the morning golf group, league night with the girls, or the throw together 9-some scramble a few weeks ago (loved that!).  I have enjoyed golfing with new pals over the past few years, and I'm really looking forward to a few scrambles coming up.  My mind is filling up with some golf road trips I've taken with awesome golf pals, and I'm laughing right now thinking of some funny golf stories I just talked about with a friend last night (I wish I could share them here!).  I'm also missing my friend Carol who made golf seasons so fun for me...she made the leap and moved to Florida.  And I know I've said this before, but I am so grateful to all of my guy golf friends who let me play with them.
 
And sometimes golf is family time...I am still golfing with my Mom (my Dad only plays in perfect weather conditions so we're still waiting!) and I feel so lucky that we have golf to share together.  One of my favorite memories will always be playing with her in a 2-lady scramble last year.  Neither of us had high expectations so we just went out to have fun and enjoy the day...and maybe that was the key.  Tee to green (no pun intended) I played about as good as I can remember, and my Mom's putter was hot!!  (she will want me to tell you that she birdied #8 all by herself!)  We ended up in 2nd place and I think the surprised happiness on our faces stayed with us all day.  I'm excited to be playing in that event with her again next week.
 
I think having such short golf season makes us "short season golfers" appreciate the time we have that much more.  And the 50 degree days make us Ooo and Ahhh over 75 and sunny.  As a friend and I often say, "It's all about choices"...and it just makes sense for me to be in a place where I can have family, friends, and golf all in one place...and when I get the golf bug during the off season I'll just visit Texas!
 
 with 2 comment(s)
Filed under: Minnesota, family, choices, memories, scramble, friends
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Author

    When I found Tees2Greens website and forum I found a happy place.  There were great people there and in 2009 they asked me if I wanted my own blog space.  It was a dream come true!!  The site is down now, but I was able to get all of my posts to be able to post here.  I will always be grateful for all of the Tees2Greens folks!!

    Archives

    January 2016

    Categories

    All
    2008
    2009
    2010
    2011
    2012
    2013
    2016
    2Putt
    Accessories
    Accident
    Adam Scott
    Alvaro Quiros
    Amy Grant
    Andy Paulson
    Angel Cabrera
    Anonymous Pro
    Anthony Kim
    Apology
    Apparel
    Arizona
    Atlanta
    August
    Augusta National
    Azaleas
    Babe Zaharias
    Back Pain
    Believe
    Benchmark
    Bethpage Black
    Betsy King
    Birdie
    Bobby Jones
    Bob Hope Classic
    Bo Van Pelt
    Brandt Snedeker
    British Open
    Bubba Watson
    Cameron Beckman
    Cathy Erickson
    Celebrate
    Chad Campbell
    Champions Tour
    Character
    Chipshot
    Choices
    Christina Kim
    Christmas
    Clayton Rask
    Comparison
    Competition
    Concentrate
    Concentration
    Confession
    Confidence
    Corporate
    Coverage
    Crystal Golf Ball
    Curling
    Dallas Cowboys
    David Toms
    Davis Love III
    December
    Divot
    Donald Constable
    Don Berry
    Dormie
    Doug Barron
    Dream
    Dreamer
    Dream Team
    Dubai Desert Classic
    Dustin Johnson
    Dwan Golf Club
    Eagle
    Easter
    East Lake
    Economy
    Emotions
    Encouragement
    End Of The Season
    Endorsements
    Enthusiasm
    Equipment
    Erik Compton
    Erik Tammar
    Ernie Els
    Europe
    Excitement
    Expectations
    Eye2
    EZ Links
    Fall
    Fall Series
    Family
    Fan Bus
    Fans
    Fantasy Golf
    FedEx Cup
    Floods
    Focus
    Fred Couples
    Friends
    From The Fringe
    Frustration
    Funk
    Geoff Ogilvy
    Georgia
    Goals
    Golf
    Golf Allowance
    Golf Channel
    Golf Digest
    Golf Fever
    Golf Is Like Life
    Golf Now
    Golf Swing
    Golf Talk
    Gonzo
    Good Good
    Grateful
    Greens
    Greg Norman
    Handicap
    Hang On
    Happiness
    Happy Place
    Hazeltine
    Heart
    Heart Transplant
    Heath Slocum
    Hermitage
    Hockey
    Home Course
    Honda
    Honda Classic
    Honesty
    Hot Ball
    Hotel
    Hunter Mahan
    Hybrid
    Incentive
    Increasing Play
    IOC
    Jason Dufner
    Jeff Rude
    Jerry Kelly
    John Atkinson
    Johnson Wagner
    Jon Sauer
    Journey
    Journeyman
    Juli Inkster
    July
    Junk Points
    Justin Leonard
    Justin Rose
    Justin Smith
    Ken Green
    Kenny Perry
    Kerplookee
    Kodak Challenge
    Lee RInker
    Life
    Limited Status
    LPGA
    Luke Donald
    Lung Cancer
    Magazines
    Majors
    Marathon
    Marc Leishman
    Marketing
    Martin Kaymer
    Masters
    Match Play
    Matt Kuchar
    Media
    Mediocrity
    Memorial
    Memories
    Mental Game
    Merchandise Tent
    Michelle Wie
    Mike Gray
    Minnesota
    Mom & Dad
    Money
    Money List
    Mother Nature
    Motivation
    Municipal
    Nashboro
    Nashville
    Nationwide Tour
    New Year
    Niall Turner
    Nick Watney
    November
    Numbers
    October
    Odds
    Olympics
    Online
    OWGR
    Padraig Harrington
    Passion
    Past
    Pat Bradley
    Patience
    Patty Berg
    Paul Azinger
    Pebble Beach
    Peggy Ference
    PGA
    PGA Championship
    PGA Tour
    Phil Bundy
    Phil Mickelson
    Phoenix
    Player Of The Month
    Players Championship
    Playoff
    Play & Stay
    Points
    Policy
    Potatoes
    Practice
    Practice Round
    Predictions
    President's Cup
    Priorities
    Putter
    Putting
    Q School
    Qualifier
    Queen
    Ranking
    Rant
    Rate
    Refrigerator
    Research & Development
    Resolutions
    Retief Goosen
    Rich Beem
    Rory McIlroy
    Rory Sabbatini
    Routine
    RSM McGladrey
    Rules Of Golf
    Ruling
    Ryder Cup
    Ryo Ishikawa
    Sam Johnson
    Sand Trap
    San Fransisco
    Schmooze
    Scramble
    Sectional
    Senior British Open
    September
    Sergio Garcia
    Seve
    Shark Shootout
    Shazbah
    Shopping
    Si Woo Kim
    Slice
    Solheim Cup
    So-Lo
    Solus
    Sony Open
    Spirit
    Sponsor
    Spring
    Springhouse Golf Club
    Stereotype
    Steve Anderson
    Steve Stricker
    Stress
    Stretch
    Summer
    Super Star
    Tees2greens
    Tennessee
    Texas
    Thankful
    The Classic
    The Golf Club Of Nashville
    The Hermitage
    The Legend
    The Quarry
    The Wilderness
    Thomas Campbell
    Tiger Woods
    Time
    Tips
    Titleist
    Tom Gillis
    Tom Lehman
    Tom Pernice
    Tom Watson
    Top 20
    Top Ten List
    Tour Championship
    Tournament
    Travel
    TV
    Under Par
    USA
    USGA
    US Open
    US Women's Open
    Vacation
    Vaughn Taylor
    Vijay Singh
    Vikings
    Visualize
    Waste Area
    Waste Management Open
    Weather
    Web
    Webb Simpson
    Web.com Tour
    Wedge
    Wednesday
    WGC
    Whistling Straits
    White Tees
    Wind
    Windtree Golf Course
    Winter
    Women In Golf
    YE Yang
    Zach Johnson

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Welcome Home!
  • Cathy's Blog
    • Tees2Greens Archive Posts >
      • Masters 2020
      • Ryder Cup 2016 Blogs
  • Shop Golf
    • Holiday Gift Ideas for Golfers
    • Product Reviews
    • It's a Deal!! Great Golf Sales