Daniel Hogge
Golf
There is a great game that I love but not many people talk about. A
game so to speak “flies under that radar.” One that my father has taught
me to play since I was very little. This game has made me happy,,,, and
has disappointed me all in the same afternoon. I actually have many fond
memories of playing this game. If you haven’t already guessed, and you
don’t know me very well, I’m going to tell you about how important
golf is in my life. I have many great memories of golf and especially
with my family.
Golf has been a part of my life since I was about 3 or 4 years old. I
love the game because when I’m out on the course I’m in my own little
world; I don’t think about anything other the next shot I have to hit. I
love the feeling I get when I hit a solid iron shot out of the fairway and
watch it sail right onto the green knowing that now I have a putt for
birdie or par. Today, I can still remember my dad making me a special
putter when I was younger. He built it to my size because there weren’t
any small enough. He also bought me a 9 iron so that I was able to play.
I tend to play golf mostly during the summer at the Baltimore
Country Club or B.C.C. for short. Last summer was when I really started
to play golf a lot. I went out to the course about 2 or 3 times a week.
Recently I am happy to say I beat my dad in a match-play game on the
last hole after I tied him on the hole before. This made me feel really
good because when I see his friends around the driving range they will
usually tend to ask me, “Hey, have you beat your father yet?” Now I can
say with confidence that I have.
I have a lot of memories from golf. I was in Las Vegas at the
Reflection Bay golf course once and I was violently thrown out of the
golf cart my mom and I were riding in when she made a hard left turn in
the middle of the fairway. Or this past spring break when we were in the
Bahamas and on the 18th hole of the Ocean Club golf course and I out
drove my dad. I still remind him of it often. Finally, when we were in
Anne-Arundel County at the Renditions Golf Course, we were on a par 3
which was modeled after the 17th hole at the T.P.C. Sawgrass Course.
What makes this hole challenging is the fact that the green is surrounded
by water, except for the bridge to get on the green. I remember this
because I hit probably 4 balls off of the tee box and into the lake; and I
was determined to get the ball onto the green. After the 4th ball my
parents told me to stop wasting golf balls. So I walked over to the green,
defeated, and watched my mom and dad putt the balls they hit onto the
green into the hole.
My dad has also been playing golf since he was about my age. He
still plays a lot today. He has won a few tournaments at the club and has
his name on plaques throughout the clubhouse. Just last fall he won a
match-play tournament with one of his friends, Mr. Smith. I remember
him walking in the house with his trophy in-hand and a huge smile on
his face. My dad and I love playing in the father-son tournament that is
usually held in the middle of the summer. Though we have never won, it
is still a lot of fun.
Over the years my dad has given me a lot of advice on how to play,
what the correct swing is, and different course etiquette rules. A couple
of the things he definitely says the most are “Use your hips not your
arms.” Or, “Make sure to keep your weight on your front foot” and the
one that helps me the most now is, “remember, release the club face.”
Now usually I’ll just say, “Yea dad, I got it” like I didn’t want his
advice, but now I have come to realize that the only reason he is giving
me this advice is because he wants to see me become a better golfer and
have fun when I’m playing even if I am not playing well.
So dad I want to say thank you for all of the advice, guidance, and
patience you have given me over the years. Not just in golf but in my
school work and outside of school. Thank You.