I have balls...

I have balls, both figuratively and literally.

I went golfing this morning. I played that 120 yard hole pretty well again. It's just a pitching wedge and putter.

I played a 170 yard hole with a five iron and two iron pretty well. The five iron left me shorter than I wanted the first time I played, so I used a two iron for the next two. I took two other shots on that hole. I sliced one into the woods badly and hit another one that I just lost. The sun was in my eyes so I really had no idea where exactly my shots landed until I got to the hole.

They were all in fairly decent positions. I really don't know what I got on the hole. I may have gotten a legit four once. I wasn't overly concerned with a score because I worked on my chipping. Chipping is easy in a driving range, off of a carpet. It's a lot harder on the side of a hill, in rough (Steele Hill doesn't really have a fairway) and at a distance that requires less than a full swing. I needed to practice those so I really didn't focus on the score.

Putting is useless at Steele Hill, or mostly useless. For example there is a lip in the middle of the green from the edge of where the lawn mower went. There are so many things that are bad about the greens at Steele Hill that basically I'm not too concerned about how I do with my putting.

I also played a 196 yard hole. I used my driver even though I usually drive it past 200-225 yards. I've hit it 250 before. Taking the driver out was dicey but I wanted to try it.

The first shot off the tee was SLICED SO BADLY. It was horrendous. It was embarrassing. I hit it towards the porches of the resort. Imagine if it actually did land on a porch, or went towards the resort.

"Um did a golf ball land in your porch" (While making the facial expression that a UConn Women's Soccer player has made famous...It's amazingly funny)

"Well, it's not on the porch but it's lying on the sofa"

"K, thanks I'll just chip it out"

The next shot I sliced BADLY, but not quite as badly. I had no idea where that ball went.

After slicing two I could have just said...Hmm I'll just practice at the driving range.

I knew I could hit one down the middle. I persevered to take another shot.

I sliced it once again, BADLY.

I could have stopped. Most people who have stopped. But I guess I have some sort of swagger to my golf game. A swagger that doesn't match up at all with my skill level.

I took out another ball, after having lost the last three, and knew that I was going to hit it perfectly, like I said before my third shot that went towards Maine.

I teed up and focused on my arms movement this time as I swung.

I hit a perfect shot with my driver. Not on the green, but right in front of it. It was the perfect tee shot to end the morning with.

I was thrilled that after looking like a fool on my first three drives on that last hole, that I would have enough confidence and mental toughness to go for a fourth shot.

Ask yourself the question. Would you have the "balls" or "toughness" to have gone for that fourth shot? I bet not. I bet most people would have had enough sense to go "hmm, maybe I should stop and just go practice at the driving range more." or "Today just isn't my day"

I was actually lucky that after missing that many shots badly that I did have enough golf balls left to play that fourth shot.

I am thrilled that I made that shot right down the middle though. I sort of felt like that field goal kicker who missed three shots in a game badly, but then was sent in to take a kick in overtime and drove it right through the middle.

I seem to be gaining mental toughness and I guess I think that means I am maturing as an athlete.