I will use some of the tumblemind blog space to write about a passion of mine – the game of golf. The number of topics relating to this passion is vast and I can write in my own voice and detail thoughts and experiences on how I think about and play the game. The hope is that some people will find the information interesting.

So, what is my golf history? After 12 years in U.S. Army, eight as a computer technician, I left in 1990 to pursue an electrical engineering degree with the goal to design instead of repair computers. I chose Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas and upon entering, was informed I needed to take Physical Education credits. “What,” I responded, “after twelve years marching and running around the world, I need PE?” “Yes,” they responded, “it’s a requirement.” So I perused the catalog for PE offerings and decided golf would be fun to take, especially since I’ve always liked watching the Masters. Lo and behold, it was a fun class and I really enjoyed whacking balls. So I purchased a student with family budget second-hand set of clubs and started playing golf.

My memories of the early years are vague and far between. I recall once, after a heavy rainfall hitting one of my most beautiful drives into the middle of the fairway in Beaumont, and never finding the ball because it was so sloppy the ball buried out of sight. That was my first good-ball-bad-break memory. The second memory was of playing a round in Beaumont with a 70-plus older gentleman who shot a 74. What impressed me was that he consistently poked his drive into the middle of the fairway, maybe 150 out, poked an iron near the green, the chipped and putted out for par. Over and over again! I always wanted to play like that but haven’t got there yet.

My first job after school was in Massachusetts and I joined a company 9-hole league and though I only played a few rounds with them, really loved the competition. However, I moved my job to Texas because it’s home and the winters were too brutal up there. I really got a kick playing a round in January at 78 degrees in Austin and sending an email back to Mass to my league members letting them know what fun I had playing in January (while they endured a snowstorm.)

I played 20-plus courses around Austin with a personal best of 89 at Star Ranch. But a couple of weeks later I shot a 122 at Lions Muni and my feet hurt so bad, that I just quit. That was around 2008. I kept thinking about the game and watched majors on TV, but stayed away from play. Then a friend offered a free round due to a team member drop-out and I started playing again in 2013. The format was a scramble and only two of my shots were used, because I sliced the ball everywhere, but it was fun and I enjoyed being outside and with friends so I started playing again.

So I have a before and after golf life. It took a few months to cure the slice, but I knew I could from the previous time. This second iteration of golf involves much more study and thought and practice. To date, no lessons, other than youtube and books. I am on a budget now and would rather spend the money playing. Recalling that I enjoyed the league competition up north, I decided to join the Austin Golf Association (AGA) which puts on two tournaments a month on local public courses. I will write a lot about this experience in the future. The main thing to note is it took four years to break 100 and the first time I did so was in my first AGA tournament where I shot a 95 at a course I’ve never played on before. (And after starting the first two holes triple, triple!)

My home course is Avery Ranch where I play from the whites with slope/rating of 68.9/125 – a score indicating a tough course. Over time I will post articles of my play, good and bad, for each of the holes there.