The Other Dance Floor

Winter seemed to last forever. Hubby and I were so tired waiting for spring to actually spring, we decided to take up an off-season hobby that didn’t depend on the weather: ballroom dancing. After a few lessons learning basic steps in swing, chacha and fox trot, we were hooked. Once the weather actually did warm up, we decided to continue with dancing lessons throughout the golf season. I've found that dancing is a great complement to golf. My feet have become stronger from dancing, which has actually helped out my golf game. And both activities are not dissimilar. Here are:

6 Things Ballroom Dancing and Golf Have in Common

- They are both sports. Did you know ballroom dancing is a sport? It’s called dancesport. Forget Arthur Murray. No more "dancing like no one's watching." These days, thanks to shows like “Dancing with the Stars,” you have to dance like three judges are watching. And colleges have competitive ballroom dance teams, just like golf and other sports.

- They’re a lot harder than it looks. Professional golfers swing fast and smooth. Professional dancers step quickly and lightly. They make it look so easy. But it’s not. Both require technique, and you can feel like a beginner for years before you get the hang of it.

- Both require special shoes. Golf shoes have cleats and are built for comfort. But it was a revelation to me that ballroom dance shoes, which have steel shanks and sueded soles, are actually flexible and comfortable, even in a 2.5-inch heel. I mean, a sport that requires me to buy cute shoes? Yes, please!

- Both require good posture and a strong core. Who knew the chacha, which is all about the hip motion, would translate to a faster swing speed when you fire the hips in a golf shot?

- They both have a dance floor. Literally, in the case of ballroom dancing. And figuratively, in the case of golf, where “You’re on the dance floor” is what people say when your approach shot lands anywhere on the green.

- They are both sports that can last a lifetime. And if the day comes when hubby and I are so old we can no longer swing a golf club, I think we’ll at least be able to manage a waltz box step.

Now that spring has officially sprung, hubby and I have been golfing every weekend. But this past week, we’ve had rain every day. And this weekend looks like another soaker. Usually I’d be down about the weather, but now this just gives me an excuse to make hubby take me out to cut a rug. And if the rain keeps up, I just might have to switch the topic of this blog to ballroom dancing!

Ersatz Golf

So hubby and I finally got to play Pebble Beach last week. Wish I could say it was at the real course in California, but it was just a simulator round at a course in a neighboring county. With temps in the teens and no golf trips in sight, we decided to try a couple of golf substitutes to see if they even come close to the real thing.

The simulator round involved bringing our real golf bags to a real golf course. Out on an enclosed patio with space heaters, they'd set up a computer and hitting bay with a screen. It cost $45 an hour, which was enough time to play 9 holes. Using the computer, you pick a famous course you'd like to play -- we picked Pebble Beach. Before each shot, you drag a pointer in the direction you're aiming, and the screen view adjusts so it looks like you're facing that way.

The big projector screen reflects whatever is shown on the computer. Then, it's up to you to take a swing at a real ball with your real club. There's a lighted box area on the turf where you can tee up your ball or hit it off the mat and a camera device will register your swing. After you take your shot, the computer will show you some stats like your clubhead speed, yardage, etc. Both hubby and my shots were tracking about 20-50 yards shorter than normal, but this could have been due to the fact that it was about 30 degrees on the covered patio, even with space heaters around.

If you hit a bad shot, like I did when I was still getting used to the whole set up, you can end up off in the deep rough. But fortunately there aren't any bugs.

The computer will even show you the break on the green. On one shot, I had to hit out of a bunker. It's much easier when the sand isn't real. Once on the green, it's virtually impossible to make a decent putt. We were advised to set the game so that putts within 10 feet were gimmies. Otherwise, it might take a half hour to get through one hole.

Hubby and I got through 10 holes in the allotted hour, and we didn't do half bad. Hubby made a birdie and I made a few pars. Overall, it was fun, but I don't think I'd make a regular habit out of it. The projected screen didn't have high enough resolution to transport me to Pebble Beach in any way. While it was enjoyable to watch the computer-generated flyovers between holes on the screen, the rest of the scenery was uninspiring. There's nothing like looking out at the real ocean and feeling the warmth of real sun when you're playing in real life. 

The other golf substitute we tried was Top Golf. The outpost we went to was in a modern building with an industrial vibe.

You have to pay $5 to become a member, then you get charged by the hour for up to 6 people in one hitting bay. At the location we went to, it was $35 per hour.

A guest attendant brings you and your party to a covered hitting bay, where they have men's and ladies' clubs to use. You can also bring your own clubs. There's a computer screen where you can try a variety of target games and keep score. There's also a big coffee table surrounded by comfy sectional furniture, and you can order from a bar menu of things to eat and drink. Top Golf seems to be more of a social activity, like bowling, where even novices can enjoy themselves without pressure.

Of course, I was there to get my swing on. I wasn't impressed with the stock clubs, but even if I had brought my own, the balls they make you use are limited-flight balls, which really takes the air out of the whole venture. The farthest target was around 180 yards, and the net behind it was about 200, so the focus was more on taking aim at a flag and hitting straight. The hitting bay is completely open in the front, so even with heat on the other sides, you can feel the chill on a cold winter day.

The Top Golf tab was about $105 for 2 hours with food and drink, so it was pricier than the simulator round. Would I do either again? Well, I'm glad I tried these substitutes and I did have fun. But I'd rather wait for a spring thaw since neither was as good as the real thing.

Golf Resolutions for 2018

Happy New Year. Again. Can you believe I've been writing this golf blog for 6 years? And once again, I begin the year with a look back at my golf resolutions and a look forward to new ones.

Last year, I kept it simple with:

#1: Stay fit for golf. Well, I made it through the year without any major injuries. My gluteal pseudo-sciatica pain seems to be under control and I've been able to survive 5-hour plane rides and even 8-hour car drives without a relapse. I still stretch like crazy, do Pilates every week, and do at least 30 minutes of low-impact cardio every day, with hand-weight and upper-body exercises a few times a week. I was fit enough to play at least 50 rounds this past year, so I think I did okay with this resolution.

Now how about 2018?

Resolution #1: Continue to stay fit for golf.  Since I started golfing, I have avoided riding golf carts and walk with my pull-cart instead. As a result, I routinely develop minor foot issues such as black toenails and calluses. Toward the end of the 2017 season, I developed a rather persistent corn on my left pinky-toe, which is taking more than a week to heal. So, foot care is something I will need to work into my overall fitness routine. (Sorry if that's TMI, but on the other hand, if you have a foot fetish, maybe that paragraph turned you on in a weird way.)

Resolution #2: Break 80. I broke 100 in 2011, I broke 90 in 2012. Theoretically, I should have broken 80 in 2013. But, as most amateur golfers know, it just ain't that easy. However, in late-August, I shot my personal best of 83. And thanks to a bunch of other rounds in the low-to-mid 80s this past year, I ended the season with a 14.5 handicap. If all goes well, in 2018, I may just shave off 4 more strokes off my all-time low and break 80.

Resolution #3: Grow the game. I've always been kind of a golf evangelist among my family and friends. Ever since I started playing, I've made an effort to take my young nephews out to the putting green or the driving range just for fun. I've taken several of them to their first golf lesson or their first round on a real golf course. When my oldest nephew was 12, I let him drive a golf cart by himself for the first time. Now, he's 25 and has rekindled his interest in golf. He said he likes golf because "It's a gentleman's game, but you still get dirty and stuff." He also likes that he can hit balls really far. Hubby and I have taken him out golfing a few times and we really enjoy watching his game develop. I have 7 nephews, so if all of them end up being golfers, I think I will have done a decent job growing the game.

I can also take credit for introducing my goddaughter to golf. I gave her a Snoopy set of plastic golf clubs when she was a toddler, so I started the brainwashing early. Now she's 8 and has been taking lessons for less than a year, but her mother says she's ready to play tournaments soon. Hubby and I took her to her first round on a par-3 course. We look forward to taking her out to an 18-hole course this summer.

If I knew when I was young that golf was this much fun, I would have started at a much younger age. But watching these young people fall in love with the game is the next best thing.

That's it for now. I better stop making resolutions before the year has even begun. The weather is in the teens around here, and all the local golf courses are closed. In a week or so, temps might edge back into the 30s, so I might manage to get out for a winter round. Stay tuned.