You see it every outing as a Marshall. Lots of self blame and sometimes loathing flows all over the course with bad shots and putts often accompanied by foul language. And you see plenty of those to the point you might say golf is but a collection of bad shots and errant putts. I try and say to golfers on occasion forget that shot as you have some tremendous ones coming up and after all you are in a beautiful setting and enjoy your surroundings even if your golf game is not going well. That’s my personal philosophy about golf. Best to be mindful and let the bad shots go. Then there are those beautiful shots you know are beautiful the moment you hit them. I’ll give a thumbs up and say words of praise. Then there are the hole in one moments that can send a golfer to the great beyond. I have been there once in 60 years and will be there again soon…I can feel it. I feel it for each game and if there is a day I don’t why bother coming back?
But I guarantee for each shift I have as a Marshall there are shouts of joy and cheers but those overt moments of joy are always outnumbered by four letter words. There are the occasional downcast and beaten-up looking golfers and you know it is a golf tragedy going on in their mind. On occasion I’ll lighten their spirits by giving them a golf ball that has been “blessed” by me as a Marshall. Of course, that is baloney but it really puts a smile on their face and once or twice it actually improved their game. One happy recipient of this blessing actually requested I bless his newly purchased case of golf balls.
Let’s not forget the steady Eddy who neither shouts for joy or curses like a sailor. There are many of those silently struggling and rejoicing.
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