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Series:
Diary of A Golf College Student
Article 7: Pine Tree
by
Jonathan Gibbins
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At
weekends, the team has access to another golf club, which lets us
practice. This is Pine Tree Country Club in nearby Boynton Beach
and about five years ago, it was ranked the 81st best
course in America and boasts many famous people as members including
Sam Snead.
When I first
got there, I was taken aback by the clubhouse which was modelled
on the White House with gleaming white pillars and a lush green
lawn with “Pine Tree” spelt with pretty flowers. I can feel the
wealth hanging in the air like haze.
I grabbed a
bucket of balls and headed for a secluded part of the range where
I could see a couple of ladies practising together with no one around
them. When I got alongside them I noticed from their bags that they
were called Karrie Webb and Beth Daniel (both famous tour players).
I relished the chance to compare my shot making to theirs and quite
happily for me, I was close enough.
I stood there
and hit balls right behind them both and I noticed a beautiful rhythm
had engulfed my golfing brain. The pace of practice was wonderfully
tranquil and I began to feed off the two great players I was close
to. That’s one thing that always impressed me about lady tour players.
They never lose their cool and thrash at the ball. They stay within
themselves all the time. In person though, it was even more impressive
because the striking of the ball was faultless. Ball- turf- woosh.
A lovely sound and a lovely flight were the result. Always hitting
the ball within themselves.
Then they left
to go play and I am all alone. Ball- turf- clank. Turf- Ball- Slash.
Suddenly, the
rhythm is lost and I am battling an over active inner voice that
is persuading me to do this and that in my swing. I realise now
that the pros have a certain inner quietness, which controls their
thoughts and gets them in a nice flowing state of mind, which is
great for optimum playing. I work the rest of the morning on this
and then go and watch Webb and Daniel on the course in the afternoon
to admire their swing and short game, which I could do for a long
time. The ladies are playing with George Burns, an old tour pro
who finished second in the US Open in the seventies. Everywhere
I turn it seems there is someone in the golf world worth admiring.
Come back to the
site next week and read the next installation
of life on a golf scholarship!
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