I recently played my first round of ‘proper’ golf with the support of Pip on the Tee.
We met at Snainton Golf Club on a lovely autumn day, which is a nine-hole course between Scarborough and Pickering, North Yorkshire.
When you give something new a try, what thoughts go through your head?
I’m excited?
I’m worried?I’m so anxious I’m going to call it off …?
For me it was ALL these things … and then some!
So, I rocked up on a lovely September afternoon, swathed in lots of layers of clothes, along with my spectacles and a cheap pair of sunglasses.
Golf clubs? Nah.
Golf kit? What’s that?
Golf cart? Err …
Rules stress? Well, yes …I met Pip and Jen in the car park and before I knew it, there was a set of clubs at my side.
I was presented with a golf tee (the bit of plastic your golf ball sits on when you tee off), and absolutely no clue at all as to what to expect.
My golf experience includes visiting (emphasis on visiting, not playing on) two local golf courses; crazy golf; putting greens; and an enjoyment of golf themed films (Tin Cup, Bagger Vance).
I’m also a sneaky fan of the Ryder Cup.
So, if you are thinking of taking the ‘golf plunge’, remember, I didn’t even know how to push/pull the golf trolley … you get the picture!
Having emptied my bladder at the golf facilities, it was straight onto the first tee.
After some excellent initial tuition, they said “You just have to give it a bash. It’s the only way!”, and they were right!
First of all, my golf ball wobbled off the tee several times … this was met with complete encouragement and soothing words.
Following about three air shots (which, as it sounds, is where you completely miss the ball), I managed to hit the ball, and also hit it straight.
I’m a runner and this really shows as I don’t have what I’d call upper body strength.
Yet it’s also down to technique with golf which, thanks to the quality of the tuition, I started to understand early on in the session, even if I didn’t quite have the confidence to put it into practice.
So, once I’d hit the ball, it was heading in the right direction, which is the green in the distance.
I managed to dig a few divots (clumps of earth) in the fairway … sorry!
However, I persisted, and hit the ball towards the first hole with the flag marking it; I’m proud to say it took about five shots to get there!
Yet by the time I’d completed this first hole, I knew the difference between several clubs (and when to use them); some basic rules (no golf bags or trolleys on the green); and etiquette to other players (for example, not holding them up).
By the third hole I was sweating a lot and swearing a great deal … Yet I’d also lost track of time, felt totally supported, and found that I take myself too seriously at times (I’m pompous in other words!).
My golf ball landed in every bunker (the sandy things) and yet I managed to get out of the bunkers too.
This was thanks to the endless patience of Pip and Jen.
But … the sun was shining; I was with some fantastic women who put me at ease and who found the right balance between fun and tuition.
I’m like many women who are menopausal …. You’re grappling with a gamut of symptoms, which for me are severe nausea, agitation, hot sweats, and … mind fog.
Due to an existing medical condition, I don’t take HRT.
For me it’s more about physical fitness, a reasonable diet, fresh air, support and understanding.
And Pip on the Tee ticks several of these boxes!
And of course, you don’t have to be experiencing ‘the change’ in order to become part of what Pip on the Tee is all about.
This first foray on the fairway made such a deep impression and I felt relaxed, uplifted and felt like ‘myself’ for the first time in years.
I can’t say it was easy … it was something that pushed me well and truly out of my comfort zone, and I felt all the better for it.
However, by the end of it, I knew some basic golf ‘things’.
These included different clubs, fairway distances and we even discussed birdies, eagles and albatrosses.
I didn’t get chance to shout ‘fore!’ this time (the warning shout to other players) as my technique didn’t pose such a threat!
For me, though, as well as getting to grips with a new sport, it was more about the social situation, feeling better about myself and coming out of my shell a bit without worrying about being judged.
As, like many, I have a very hectic work/home life schedule so fitting things in is often a juggling act.
These demands can take their toll, so having spent a couple of hours in great company, learning a new skill and being completely unjudged ensured I was feeling ready for these challenges with a new vigour.
Now, you’re going to ask … would I do it again?
The answer is yes.
For me it might not be a regular thing however … that said, I felt so brilliant afterwards, why shouldn’t it be?
If you are seeking something to help you cope with work stress, family stress, health stress (or all three), then I would recommend Pip on the Tee.
Give it a try, you have nothing to lose, not even your dignity!
