Everything is still at an early stage - at the moment, I'm enjoying some introductory lessons to learn the basics, will then graduate to playing a 9-hole course, and then onwards to the full 18. I very much doubt that Lee Westwood is looking over his shoulder but it's good fun, a good challenge, good exercise and at the present time, it's all about incremental progress. I'm even buying golfing magazines alongside Fast Bikes, Motor Cycle Monthly and Classic Rock!
Now, you may laugh but what has surprised me is how close golf is to biking. Yes, you read that right - golf and biking actually share very similar characteristics. Let us consider the evidence....1. It's all about the wrists and arms (and posture) - something I've learned very early on is the importance of getting into the right position(s), of not gripping the club too tight or tensing the arms. This of course is the same in biking - tensing on the bars and throttle is not good. Nice and smooth and relaxed is the way forward in both (mind you, it ain't easy teeing off in helmet & leathers....)
2. Look good and feel good - get the right gear, make sure it's comfortable and that you're looking good (as with John Daly, below right, it doesn't matter if others don't think so, just as long as you do!). If you look good you feel good and you will play better - just as in biking, you will always ride better in decent gear on a clean, well-looked after machine rather than some filthy, rusty old nail. It's sycolojikal innit?
3. The balance of patience, power, poise, touch and concentration - whether you're golfing, racing, off-roading, green-laning or commuting you need to learn how to develop and balance these attributes. Too much (or too little) of any one in the wrong place and it's Goodnight Vienna.4. Accessorize (and make sure your wallet can stand the strain) - oh yes, both pastimes can be bloody expensive with all the little "extras" that are on offer in showrooms and golfing shops. I'm not a huge fan of golfing "fashion" but the missus is already wincing at the prospect of an open wallet.....for starters, check out this bad boy golf caddy....
Keeping the biking links going, I'm currently using a set of FAZER clubs and as a nod to my favourite tyre manufacturer, will use BRIDGESTONE balls (you can poke Dunlop stuff....)
So there you have it. Bikes....Football....Beer....and now GOLF. Quite unexpectedly, I'm now embracing fully a game that I had previously thought of as only of relevance to old men and oddballs. How wrong I was....
