The real reasons I play golf — sunshine, friendship and taking the money

The real reasons I play golf — sunshine, friendship and taking the money

  ByPaul Gueorgieff

I play golf for pleasure — not displeasure.

That point was struck home to me when I played a Wellington interclub match last month.

The weather was wet and there was a strong southerly wind.

If I was not playing an interclub match I would not have played. But because it was an interclub match I was obliged to play because the course was not unplayable.

I said to others afterwards I hated every minute of it.

Two days earlier I had played in wind and rain. I had become sick of playing in such conditions. There had been a number of previous days of wind and rain in January in Wellington and I just wanted some decent weather.

I started thinking I am simply complaining about the weather? Then I thought I should be thankful that Wellington had not encountered the atrocious weather some other parts of the country have had to in January.

I did some more thinking. Yes my brain was in over-drive.  I thought why do I play golf? I didn’t have to think long.

I play for pleasure and the good camaraderie of my golfing friends. Nothing else. If I play well that is simply a bonus. And if I win the money off my friends I might even raise a smile. Deep down I am in stitches with laughter.

Camaraderie is important to me. I have no interest in a playing a round of golf by myself.

I don’t mind practicing on my own as I am trying to improve my game. There is a purpose. But playing on my own, I find purposeless, if there is a such a word. I might play several holes by myself for practice but never 18 holes.

As I write this column I realise what I am really trying to say. I am praying that February brings some real summer weather and with it the pleasure of walking along the fairways with the sun shining on my back — and at the end of the round, the greatest pleasure of taking the money off my friends.

Paul Gueorgieff is a New Zealand based writer