Sunday, February 8, 2015

First Round

Today I used my $8.52 clubs for the first time.
I played the executive course at Los Altos Golf Course.
Beautiful day. 
I had fun!
Even got a birdie!
I guess I can play like this for the rest of the year!

Friday, February 6, 2015

Lessons

I first pick up a seven iron in 1996. Before that, I could spent hours in front of the television watching Jack Nicklaus play.

It was a driving range in Pontiac, Michigan. I was doing my residency training in Family Medicine.
The instructor handed me a seven iron. He showed my how to grip the club. He told me to imagine that I was in a phone booth, turn to the right and then turn to the left. That's it.

He put a ball on the tee. I turned and turned. The ball went up towards the sky, made a beautiful arc, and landed 100 yards away. I was hooked.

Since then, I bought custom clubs, expensive clubs. I took lessons, had video lessons. I also read many magazines and books. I did it to pursue the ultimate dream of a par golf. Sometimes it felt like work. Sometimes it was very frustrating. After spending all those time and money, I am back to square one.

The golf world these days can be very confusing. We allowed people to tweak our swing. Before long, we are lost. It is no different than life. All the education, rule and tradition get us so tight up that we sometimes forget what's important in the basic human interaction. We are lost in the game of golf. We are lost in the game of life.

It is my hope this year to simplify and remind myself of the real purpose of golf. It is recreation. It is a pastime. It is spending time with nature. It is human interaction at its best. Many times, after playing nine holes with three strangers, we look like we were good friends for years. That is one of the beauties of golf!

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Introduction

What is rebel golf?

It is unconventional golf. It is not allowing commercialization of golf to make us believe that we need to buy more new clubs to enjoy the game.

Golf is a game. Golf is supposed to be fun.

Rebel golf is about the real F. U. N., which stands for fresh air, unwind and nature. Golf is a job for the professionals. As amateurs, it should not feel like work.

Today I went to Play It Again Sports and spent $8.52 for 4 clubs. I got a 3 wood, 6 iron, SW and putter. For this year, I want to play these for clubs only. I want to play for F.U.N., not the score, not the handicap. I am not buying new golf balls. I am not using gloves. I am not wearing golf shoes. I am not going to use my GPS or range finder. It will be as minimalist as I can.

Let the fun begin!