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Golf

Yesterday I played golf. Golf is okay.
My family really likes golf, especially my Mom’s side of the family. My parents had me taking golf lessons at, I’d guess, age 7 or 8. They wanted to make sure I knew how to play and the basic rules of golf. At the time I was never very excited about it but now I’m grateful they did that.
Today golf is probably the most convenient sport to play with my friends. I play softball in the summer. All softball requires is that I show up with a glove. But you have to get together a team of nine or more and schedule a season. Golf involves lugging a heavy set of golf clubs so public transit is out of the question. But you only need a friend or two and you can play a round. 
I have never been particularly good at golf. Golf isn’t about physical strength, or physical fitness at all really (hello John Daly). It is about technique, consistency, and mental strength. These are not traits you find in young people. During my teenage years I found golf too frustrating and only played it when I had to do so. About two years ago, I became interested in golf again. I have mellowed out a bit and also have an easier time accepting I’m not going to be great at golf. So I take it as a relaxing physical activity I can do with friends and family. If I’m lucky, I’ll have one or two good shots in a round.
One problem I still have is my instinct to try and hit the ball hard. Just as mental strength is more important than physical strength, a smooth swing is more important than a hard swing. When I approach the ball and take a few practice swings, I do just fine. But then I step up to the ball for my actual shot and my body kicks in like I am trying to hit a home run. 
Being good at golf requires a consistent swing. When I put some time in to work on my swing I can play decently. But when I play sparingly it is hard to internalize the improvements to my swing. If I want to get any good at golf, I guess I will just have to play more.
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Destination: Arizona

Today I am flying to Phoenix, Arizona for the Students For Liberty Arizona Regional Conference. While there I will stay with my maternal grandparents who live in Scottsdale. They spent most of their adult lives in Crystal Lake, a suburb of Chicago, but started splitting time between Illinois and Arizona after retiring.

I have been to Scottsdale at least once a year since my grandparents became “snowbirds” about fifteen years ago. I have many memories there, primarily of swimming, golfing, and playing games. My grandparents have a pool and hot tub in their backyard so swimming is very convenient. They also live in a golf resort community and are members of the Desert Forest Country Club nearby. As a kid we often played Payday, Racko, and a Pokèmon board game. These days it is most commonly Quirkle, Golo, and Gin Rummy.

There are a few pieces of pop culture I strongly associate with visiting my grandparents in Scottsdale. I first remember listening to the album Learning How To Smile Part 1 by Everclear, one of my favorite albums, in Scottsdale. The same goes for Permission To Land by The Darkness (a great album for warm weather). As a kid I watched Good Burger, Spy Kids, and the first Pokèmon movie a lot there.

I have sustained three major injuries while visiting my grandparents. The first time I was about eight years old and I slipped in the shower, slamming my jaw on the soap dish and biting through my lip. The second time, I was maybe eleven. While attempting to set up a telescope on the deck, I ran inside. Well, I ran into a sliding glass door and chipped my front tooth pretty bad. The third (and hopefully final!) injury came about by hitting the brakes on my bike while riding downhill. I flipped over my handlebars, suffering a concussion which knocked me out and a broken wrist. I was about 13 when that happened.

Here’s to hoping for a productive, enjoyable, and injury-free trip to Arizona!