Me? Golf? Doesn't that involve patience? And silence?

Up until about a year and a half ago, my golf vocabulary consisted of two words: Putt-Putt. Okay, so that's only one word said twice, but you get the idea here. . . i knew nothing about golf.

My first golf experience (outside of Putt-Putt) happened when I was in New York on business. Having a couple hours to blow and not enough cash to shop the way I wanted to, we decided to go hit golf balls at Chelsea Piers. My traveling companion (and best friend) happened to be a lifelong golfer and former instructor to young children, so he was a perfect coach for me. After learning the 47 fine points of set-up, I was on my way to having a pretty good foundation for my golf game.

A few months later, I played my first nine holes back at home in Minnesota with my new-found "golf coach". I remember feeling overwhelmed by the amount of knowledge needed to play a game that looked so simple. There is also a great deal of etiquette involved when playing with others, and as someone who always likes to appear like she knows what she's doing, it was important for me to understand the unspoken rules. Having someone to tell me what club to grab, how to adjust my setup for different shots/clubs, and what I did wrong was extremely helpful. Thankfully we weren't paired with anyone, so there wasn't any extra attention paid to my swings, misses, divets, and other golf-related embarrassments. I was really, really bad the first time I played, but somehow was able to still have a great time, and didn't feel too frustrated by my perceived lack of natural ability.

I really enjoyed getting out on a beautiful day, getting to wear a cute outfit specific to the occassion, and spending time with one of my favorite people. It was a new way to experience the outdoors--and I was extremely aware of the sounds, smells, and natural beauty around me. I was surprised by how relaxed and at peace I felt on the golf course. I found that taking time to be quiet, focus on each shot, and get lots of walking in was a perfect recipe for a few hours of happiness.