Bad Golf Guy took a bit of a writing hiatus over the past two months, having stockpiled a number of posts in anticipation of foot surgery and a thousand mile move.
During my hiatus, I was required to suspend all physical activity including my practice/play thanks to two new screws in my left big toe. Over the same period of time, we were unceremoniously waxed by the Europeans in the 42nd Ryder Cup (if you’ve been following along remember tighter fairways, longer rough and slower greens!)
The combination of not playing or practicing, not hanging out with my golfing buddies, hobbling around in my fashionable, blue Velcro double strapped open-toed shoe and lethargic, uninspired, unemotional play by our boys in Paris had me in a bit of a golf depression. Not to mention Captain America (Patrick Reed) was critical of Lancaster’s own Ryder Cup Captain (Jim Furyk) suggesting he was blind-sided by his new playing partner, Tiger Woods. I apologize in advance if I offend anyone however I am calling bullshit on this one. Don’t get me wrong, I really don’t mind that we lost (we seem to do it with some degree of regularity) but I DO mind how we lost.
Anyway, back to more important things: me (hope somebody got a kick out of that!) After forty-four days of inactivity and an additional ten pounds of jelly roll, I ventured to the driving range, spurring my blue shoe in lieu of my white waterproof Foot-Joy‘s. As ridiculous as it sounds, my heart was racing as I slid my new black Sun Mountain carry-bag off my shoulder onto its stand, wondering if my grooved, rhythmic swing would be intact. After a few practice swings with my orange whip, I brazenly, confidently pulled my pitching wedge out of my bag, taking dead aim at a yellow flag some forty–five yards out. Ten balls, ten swings, incredibly consistent results; first three scalded to the seventy-five yard marker, two squirreled off to the left, three reasonably close to the target (within ten yards) and two chunked to about twenty-five yards. I AM BACK, BABY!
As I reflected on my forty-four days, I came to understand how important golf is to my overall well-being. I have missed the physical component, the strategic component (regardless of execution) and the social component. I know I have an enormous bag of rocks with my swing however my swing, my inconsistency, and my scores are meaningless in the grand scheme. Oh, what a little finely trimmed grass under ones feet can do for the soul!
Furyk Facts
*Born in West Chester, PA
*Graduated Manheim Township High School, Lancaster, PA
*Pennsylvania High School State Champion
*Two-time All-American, University of Arizona
*1992 NCAA Team Championship, University of Arizona
*17 PGA Tour wins
*1 major championship (2003 US Open, Olympia Fields)
*2010 Fed-Ex Cup Champion
*2010 PGA Player of the Year
*PGA scoring record (58) on August 7, 2016…12 under par*
*2016 Payne Stewart Award
*2016 Vardon Trophy
*9 times Ryder Cup participant
*7 times President’s Cup participant
*4th All-Time earnings list
*2018 Ryder Cup Captain
*Only player with two sub-sixty rounds
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The back nine can only get better!
glad your getting better
So glad you made it safely to your new home and that you are on the range Jim.
it was worth the wait to get something as funny as the first practice swings described to us. Welcome back to the game. It missed you.