A Pleasant Round

So I golfed with Auntie by myself for the first time yesterday. The ladies league I joined were playing too early the day before, so I decided to play with Auntie in the afternoon. Seri isn't leaving for Korea for another week, but she already shipped her golf clubs back home and has to finish packing. At first I was a little nervous about golfing just with Auntie (what would we talk about? should I bring snacks for her like Seri always did?). But the day turned out to be quite pleasant.

Coincidentally, we were playing a course called Mt. Pleasant. I hadn't played a full 18 at this course for a few years, so I was looking forward to the back nine. When I arrived at the clubhouse, I was surprised to see Bea. She seems to be going through some kind of mid-life crisis, judging from the fact that she often golfs with men who aren't her husband these days. But who am I to judge? Her boy-toy of the moment is a young Korean man who could be her son's age. I politely introduced myself, and then I shuffled off, not wanting to be a part of any tawdriness. Turned out, Auntie and I had the tee time after them, but we played leisurely and gave them plenty of space.

Auntie is a very consistent golfer. She is super-slim and petite and has a great short game. She also has a cool-as-a-cucumber demeanor that instantly put me at ease. She drove the cart and let me walk as much I wanted, since it is better for keeping my leg pain at bay. Our conversation was focused on the golf, just the way I like it. Mt. Pleasant has a few blind tee shots and tilted fairways, so I was always asking questions like, "Is this a dogleg left?," "Where should I aim to keep it in the fairway?" and "Is there a bunker behind that green?" Aside from that, it was comments like "Good putt!" and "Great shot!," the usual niceties that let your golfing partners know that you're appreciative of their game.

After the front nine, I had shot 10 over, so I knew it wasn't going to be a spectacular round. The back nine was harder, I think, starting with a par 5 that had rolling fairways as steep as a roller coaster ride. After a double-bogey on that hole, and a triple-bogey on the next hole, a par 3 shielded by bunkers (I really need a bunker lesson), I knew all was hopeless, so I relaxed a little, just trying to enjoy the day and enjoy the sunny skies and the breeze on my face. With the pressure off, I managed to make some pars, and then came hole 17, a long par 3 that brought some unpleasant memories to mind.

It's a downhill 167-yard tee shot over thick brush to a long, narrow green with bunkers on both sides and a drop-off of rough so steep on the right that there is a wooden staircase for golfers to climb back up to the green. The last time I had golfed this hole, as I recall, I hit an errant tee shot to the right and landed just at the base of the wooden staircase, just far enough from it not to impede my swing but not far enough for me to hit a wedge shot over it. I was stymied by those stairs, for sure.

This time, I was determined to land the green. I took a few deep breaths and took aim with my 3-wood. I flexed my knees. I kept my arms nice and long. I did not pick up my head too soon. The result? A stick-straight drive that landed at the edge of the green. Of course, I three-putted from there and made bogey, but still... I was darn proud of myself.

Oh, and I noticed that they removed the old wooden staircase, grassed it over and installed a new set of stairs at the back of the green. So I guess I was not the only one who'd been stymied by those old stairs.