"G*d D**m!! Those girls are LONG off the tee!!!"

[Julie Marie]

That's what Julie heard when she was in the ladies' room at the turn.  We had just finished the first 9 of our third round yesterday.  A single gentleman joined us for the first 9.  When he went into the pro shop after his round Julie heard him exclaim this to the pro behind the counter.  It was so loud she could hear it through the bathroom walls.

What was cool was he had just spent a couple of hours with us on the course.  We talked a lot and had plenty of close up conversations on the tees & greens.  He only saw women.   

When you take into consideration the different tees, he usually out drove us but there were a couple of times one of us would hit it right up there with him.  What amazes me is this guy was at least ten years my junior, was a good golfer and on at least one hole I out drove him.  You'd think age alone would make that tough but with almost no T in my system that feat should have been practically impossible. 

Julie drove over a green that was 235 yards by at least 20 yards.  My longest was probably 240.

Maybe it was the new clubs. 

But what puts a smile on my face is I know this guy went back home and talked about the long driving ladies he played with while on vacation in Michigan.  I'm sure he'll talk about that for a long time. 

Julie

[sd]

I used to play a little.
One thing I learned very fast... Technique, is far more important than strength. Our first time out both my (much younger) brother and myself could hit almost as far as other who had been playing for years.

[K8]

What was cool was he had just spent a couple of hours with us on the course.  We talked a lot and had plenty of close up conversations on the tees & greens.  He only saw women.   

Congratulations.  How sweet it is!

- Kate

[Julie Marie]

We played golf again today and they paired us up with a younger couple (maybe 30 or so).  He played, she was along for the ride.  She said golf was too hard.  Julie and I were compelled to prove her wrong.

We talked a lot during the round, mostly with her.  Her only exposure to golf was watching her boyfriend.  But she did say it was it was interesting to watch women play but she could never hit the ball like we do.  Now, we're not talking shot lengths like men can do.  We're talking drives of 200+ yards with a few 30-40 yards past that.  Julie let her know our occasional long drive wasn't the norm and we (unfortunately) proved that more than we wanted.  Today was nothing like our last round.  We stunk off the tee.  But we scored well.  (Julie 94, me 88)

At one point Julie asked her if she was a runner.  This was because we saw her run between her boyfriend's shots, rarely riding the cart with him.  She said she used to run a lot but she just got into kickboxing.  Julie's eyes lit up. 

When three of us ended up in the sand trap and only one got out I told her, "This shows you the most important part of golf is from 100 yards in."  She was finishing my sentence as I ended it.  She was no dummy.

As the round went on she seemed to be more and more interested in taking up golf.  Early in the round she said this was the time she and her boyfriend could bond.  As we walked off the 18th green she looked at us and said, "I think I may give this a try."  Her boyfriend smiled.  Then she said, "next time we'll all play together."

I never thought there would come a time like this.  That I could be me, out there in "normal world" doing the things I love and the people I interact with see me as I've always seen myself.  Pretty cool.

I remember hearing something a long time ago.  I don't remember who said it but it was an analogy about golf and life.  It was something like golf will expose the real you, or something like that.  What it has done for me is get me active again and allow me to interact with society in places other than bars and restaurants and grocery stores.

I guess that's priceless.

Julie

BTW: There was no sign the couple playing with us knew about our past or if they did they just didn't they just didn't care.  If I had my choice I'd take the latter.

[juliekins]

Yes, my dear, that was a fun time.  And yesterday was just as fun.    When will we have time for work?

[K8]

I guess that's priceless.

Julie

BTW: There was no sign the couple playing with us knew about our past or if they did they just didn't they just didn't care.  If I had my choice I'd take the latter.

Congratualations!  It sounds like it was a wonderful day.

As to your BTW, I agreee.  I know some people think I am a woman, and I know when I've been read, but most people I just can't tell.  How wonderful that they treat everyone the same.   We've come a long way, Virginia.

- Kate

[gennee]

I used to play a little.
One thing I learned very fast... Technique, is far more important than strength. Our first time out both my (much younger) brother and myself could hit almost as far as other who had been playing for years.

Good technique is true for any sport. When I played football, the guys who had good technique and solid fundamentals were the one who gave me the most trouble. As a coach, I'm a stickler for fundamentals.

Gennee

[Bombi]

Golf is a great equalizer. Everyone can play with everyone. Keep it fun and it is.