Golf Nerd - The Legend

Good Day Everyone! Greetings from Sunny (well, rainy at the moment) St. Petersburg, Florida!

Hello, my name is Tom, and I figured I'd start this blog to revolve around another one of my hobbies: golf. I'm currently seventeen years old, and I haven't played golf in several years. When I was very young I remember getting my first set of golf clubs and balls: a simple child's set of plastic clubs, wiffle balls, and a plastic golf bag. I quickly grew out of those and moved into the U.S. Kids' Golf line of irons, putters, woods, and drivers, and started going to the driving range with my dad. To make a long story short, I eventually got to the point that on short courses where I didn't rack up the strokes whacking it one hundred and fifty yards at a time up a Par 5, I was able to beat my dad on many occasions.

For whatever reason, be it other interests like sailing or model aircraft, the frequency with which I played dwindled until it was only once or twice a year when my uncle who caddies for courses on Long Island and is a scratch golfer would come down to visit. However in the past few years he hasn't come down as he's now a grandpa and will soon be teaching a new generation how to play golf. So, to make a long story short, I haven't played in like three or four years. Yeah.

However, while I was having lunch with some friends of mine a couple weeks ago, we got onto the topic of what to do (since we've kinda run out of things to do this summer and we still have two months left before the fall session starts up) and we discovered we all used to play golf. Well, "used to play" is almost an overstatement. I used to play, my friend hasn't played in four years since he moved from Indiana, and my other friend hasn't played in roughly two years. My friend from Indiana has only played twice, and my other friend somehow gets away with scoring decently despite his awkward swing which reminded me of a new born giraffe stumbling to its feet for the first time.

The third green at Treasure Bay Golf and Tennis on Treasure Island.

In any event, we decided we should go play golf together some time. Now, I used to play a lot. When I was probably eight or ten years old and my dad couldn't take me, my mom would take me and the neighbor kids up the road to the small par three course "Treasure Bay" where the wholes ranged from 80 yards to 120 yards, and let us loose to play a round of nine. I was taught well between my dad, my uncle, and PGA instruction at golf summer camps, and have always had a very good swing. The last time I played golf was with my uncle several years ago and I remember ripping my 5 iron 160 yards straight down the middle. I also have always had great short-game: out of green-side bunkers to within eighteen inches of the hole, sinking chip shots, and being conscious of the break in the green when making ship shots.

Anyway, we decided to go play at that short par 3 the next time we had some time and money to spare. Six days ago on Monday, one of my friends was available to play. Until I get permission to use his name, he's the giraffe swing dude. Giraffe Swing Dude and I decided to play at dusk last Monday, and to my surprise we did okay. It's a short course, so I teed off with my pitching wedge on eight holes and my 9 iron on the longest hole (the ninth). Due to whacking two balls 120 yards on an 88 yard hole resulting in two lost balls to the inter coastal waterway, along with several three putts, I scored a 42 for nine short holes. Not too bad for having not swung a golf club in four years. My friend, Giraffe Swing Dude, shot nicely as well shooting a 44 and not losing any balls to any hazards. Later the same week on Thursday I went with my other friend who has only played twice... ever. And it showed. It was fun, and he improved greatly during the round and managed to break 80 at a solid 74 for nine holes on a par 3.

The fourth green at Treasure Bay Golf and Tennis on Treasure Island.

Basically it was a lot of fun, we we hope to find a time when the three of us can get together and go play on some other local courses. If the cards fall into place Giraffe Swing Dude and I are planning on playing at Cypress Links Wednesday while my other friend plays in Naples with another friend of his.

An aerial shot of Treasure Bay Golf Course. The second green is in the foreground with the first and seventh fairways beyond.

Thanks for reading! Come back soon!

--Tom K.