the greatest game ever played

it's almost without exception, for me, that playing golf is better than most other things i could be doing at any given time (except maybe enjoying raspberry shortcake, even golf can't top that). i played yesterday for the second time this year, and something like the fifth time in the last two years. when it's the case that at one point in your life you did something not only frequently (averaging maybe 27 holes each day the summer after high school), but competitively , it lends a sensation akin to discomfort sometimes, before playing again. there's a certain apprehension in knowing that you're about to do something poorly which you used to be able to do quite well, even artistically.

and then some days you simply surprise yourself. it wasn't a difficult course by any stretch of the imagination, but the for-the-most-part beautiful day, company of good friends not seen in months, and joy of again playing a once-true (and still-true, but somewhat forgotten and awkwardly new) love, all worked in concert towards producing the best score i've shot in the last 7 summers of golf. and had i not 3-jacked the 18th green only seconds after saying that was the last thing i wanted to risk doing (i may have mentioned phil mickelson at some point, the poor guy), it would have been one stroke even more stellar.

but that's golf; it can always, always be that little bit better. and that's a really fun thing, especially when it's already so f'ing great in the first place.


if you play, want to, or just appreciate the thought, here's to you.
jh..