New golfer???

Am I a new golfer? I've only been playing seriously for about 1.5 years. But am I really a new golfer...

I played golf in 1971 on a mostly dirt 9 hole course on the Fort Gordon, Georgia Army base as a distraction from Army life. The green fees including club rental was $2.00. I played in fatigues and combat boots. I had my one and only hole in one there... Shank to the right... over the ravine... off the tree... on the green... roll into the hole. Not pretty, but a 1 on the card in any case.

I didn't play one more hole until 2005 when a buisness aquaintance asked me to join a charity tournament at a prestigious country club in Danville, California. I hesitated with the possiblity of embarrasment but thougt a day off work, free golf, free food and contributing to a charity wouldn't be the worst way to spend a day even if embarrasement was involved. I had some really bad hand-me-down clubs and splurged for 60 balls on the driving range a few days before the tourny. I was surprised that I could still hit the ball. A famous saying about riding a bike came to mind, but I digress. I played decently and had a whole lot of fun.

That made me want to play more. I bought clubs and started playing regularly. Last November, I was lucky enough to retire at age 57 and joined a local clubs Senior Men's Club. Hmmm... 57.... senior? The club allows you to join at age 55. We play weekly and have alot of fun. When you're in the middle of a fairway, it's sunny, you're surrounded by green grass, birds are in he trees, you can't be anything but happy. Well if I can hit the ball onto the green in regulation, that is.

A few lessons later and many times chasing my ball into the rough, sand or water, my scores are coming down. What a... Ahem... Ball!

Here's looking forward to he next 30 years hitting the little white ball.

Rich Sanders

Welcome!!!!

I actually got to play the Ft. Gordon course in 1995 with the Base General. It really is a great course now.

So, you said that you didn't play a single hole after your hole-in-one?!?! Did you at least save the ball?

I always wondered if there were two courses at Ft Gordon. One for the enlisted men and one for the brass. Still I would believe that they had improved things by 24 years after I was there.

No.. Sadly... I didn't keep the ball. It was part of the $2.00 rental so I turned it in. Now I wish I had it.

Sorry if I mistated. It wasn't that I didn't play a hole after the hole-in-one, it was I didn't play a hole between the time I left Ft Gordon in June 1971 and May of 2005. Now in just over 1.5 years, I've gotten my score below 100 and approaching 90 on a good day. Things are progressing well. It's the best love-hate relationship with a game I've ever had .

Rich