I looove the game of golf…it is my passion, but it was a passion interrupted. I took up the game in my late teens and got reasonably good (a 5 handicap) by the age of 25. But I got frustrated that I never got any better and completely quit the game until my mid 30’s, when I met my future wife, Joan. One day she saw my clubs gathering dust in the corner of a closet and asked about the game. She expressed some interest and so I took her to a professional tournament. She had a great time and I was bitten by the bug, once again…lessons seemed in order.
We went to our local course and she took a series of lessons. I then found a pro who would work with the both of us (for me lessons are cheaper than therapy). That was 20 years ago and we have each been taking one lesson a month, ever since. But, sadly, I can never get her to play with me, because of her Minerva complex.
OK…so back to Minerva. The great Seal of the State of California has the image of the Roman goddess of wisdom, Minerva, at its center. According to Roman mythology, Minerva was the daughter of Jupiter. She sprang, a full adult, from the forehead of Jupiter. California, like Minerva, sprang full born as a state without ever having to go through the childhood of being a territory. And that’s what Joan wants from her golf game.
Golf is a game that requires a lot of practice, and playing, just to be average. Joan doesn’t like to practice and she doesn’t want to play with strangers…unless she is reasonably good…which she won’t be unless she practices and plays, which…well, you get the picture. Like Minerva, she wants to be a full fledged average golfer without going through the “beginner” stage.
And so, the only time she will play is when we play in an annual family tournament that friends put on, or when we are on vacation and we go to some expensive resort course where we can play alone.
Many women complain about being golf widows. Minerva…Uh, er…Joan need not suffer that fate. I would love to have her out there with me…at least once in the while.
6 comments:
Why would anyone want to work hard and practice something just to end up average? Joan is much too smart to do that.
Hubby...I'll answer Lynn's comment. "No I'm not."
I am not a golf fan so I have no advice for Joan. It seems kind of silly to me to chase the ball all around while aiming for a 4 and a half inch target.
My favorite sport, football is another story. Look how HUGE the target is?
I like golf. I stink at it, but I like to go to the driving range with my husband and sons.
Of course, my eight year old hits it about 50 yards further than I do, but that's ok.
I can see how it would be frustrating to just not "be good at it" though. I don't actually *play* golf, I just hit a bucket of balls, that's a whole different kettle of fish.
Needless to say I don't play golf. If you knew me you'd know I never do anything fun (cue violins)
but I do like the name Minerva ~ we have a street with that name in the next town.
There are four of them in a row downtown with old fashioned names: Caroline, Minerva, Elizabeth and Olivia.
Rick, livng in New England, I always thought that something in California had the golden bear on it, if it's not the seal, is it the state flag?
As for golf, I tried it in my walking days, but the reason I think that golf is a great game, is that everyone kills their shot by thinking about that shot so much you make so many mental adjustments that you shank it into the rough...a humbling game. I think that you are supposed to swing the same weather it is a one iron or a pitching wedge, keep your eye on the ball and follow through...
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